THOMAS H. POPE III

Managing Member | Shareholder

Tom Pope has tried cases in state and federal courts for over 45 years. He previously served as a member of the South Carolina State Senate from 1984-1992. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and from 2015-2017 he served as Chair of the ACTL State Committee.  He is past-President of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and was honored as the Jeter E. Rhodes, Jr. Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2017.

Pope’s recent cases include: breach of fiduciary duty, serious personal injury, products liability, insurance bad faith, consumer class action, legal malpractice, will contests, minority shareholder oppression, securities fraud, trucking litigation, condemnation (on behalf of landowners), defamation, and representing attorneys in disciplinary matters. He also represents defendants in a variety of litigation matters.

Pope has been listed in South Carolina Super Lawyers since its inception. Since 2008, he has taught American Civil Litigation and mock trial to law students in former Communist countries of eastern Europe and Asia to enhance their understanding of civil trials.

Pope served as a member of the Board of Law Examiners of the South Carolina Supreme Court (2006-2014). He was awarded The Order of the Palmetto by Governor Carrol Campbell in 1991.

Mediation:  Pope has been a certified mediator and arbitrator since 1998.  Since 2020, he has mediated cases involving product liability, breach of fiduciary duty, real estate disputes, wrongful death, premises liability, and serious personal injury in several different counties.

Areas of Practice

Personal Injury

  • Product Liability
  • Wrongful Death
  • Premises Liability
  • Auto & Truck Accidents

General Litigation

Mediation & Arbitration

  • Certified Mediator & Arbitrator

Business Litigation

  • Insurance Bad Faith
  • Minority Shareholder Oppression
  • Electric Cooperative territorial disputes
  • Breach of Fiduciary Duty
  • Business Disputes

Estate and Fiduciary Litigation & Miscellaneous 

  • Will contests
  • Minority shareholder oppression
  • Defamation
  • Suits against fiduciaries (trustees, personal representatives, attorneys, attorneys-in-fact)

Contact

1508 College Street
P.O. Box 190
Newberry, SC 29108

LOCAL

803.276.2532

FAX

803.276.8684

EMAIL

Contact Tom

Bar Admissions

  • S.C. Supreme Court, 1974
  • U.S. District Court – DSC, 1974
  • U.S. Court Appeals for 4th Cir., 1975

Awards and Memberships

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (1995 to present; State Chair, 2015-2017)
  • Chair, South Carolina Fellows of American College of Trial Lawyers (2015-2017)
  • SC Super Lawyers, 2008 to present
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, 1997 to present
  • 2017 ABOTA Jeter E. Rhodes, Jr. – Trial Lawyer of the Year
  • President, S.C. Chapter – 2005
  • American Association of Justice, Member (1982 to present)
  • SC Supreme Court, Board of Law Examiners (2006 to 2014)
  • Permanent Member, 4th Circuit Judicial Conference
  • Member, John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court
  • Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D. – 1974
  • University of The South, B.A. – 1968

Military

  • U.S. Navy, 1969-1972
  • Office-in-Charge Swift Boat 102
  • Republic of VietNam (1969-70)
  • Mekong Delta
  • Bronze Star