Susan Bennett, Paralegal
803.254.4190
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Appellate Practice
- Banking and Finance
- Construction Law
- Insurance Litigation
- Washington and Lee University, 1984, B.A. cum laude
- University of South Carolina School of Law, 1987, J.D., distinguished Claude A Sapp award, National Moot Court Team, Order of the Barristers, South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Service Award
- Member, South Carolina Bar
- Member, Richland County Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association (Forum on the Construction Industry and Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section)
- United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Member, Defense Research Institute
- Selected, 2010-2011 Best Lawyers in America
- Selected, 2009-2011 South Carolina Super Lawyers
- Admitted, U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina
- Admitted, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
John McCants’ practice focuses on construction, commercial law, including bankruptcy law. He has served as lead counsel in numerous cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts, in several states and multiple venues in South Carolina. John is very experienced in jury trials, non-jury trials, mediation and arbitration.
Drawing upon twenty-three years practicing law, John’s experience includes:
- Practicing the law of construction defects, fidelity and surety, mechanic liens, products liability, the Uniform Commercial Code, bankruptcy and insolvency, debtor and creditor, appellate advocacy, insurance coverage, business torts, toxic torts, dispute avoidance and resolution, contract documents, mass torts, real estate litigation and class actions.
- Representing owners, developers, general contractors, homebuilders, subcontractors, manufacturers and suppliers in residential and commercial construction cases involving the construction of single-family houses, multi-family dwellings, multi- and high rise condominium and hotel buildings, and commercial office buildings.
- Representing insurance companies in insurance coverage litigation involving homeowner insurance, business (e.g., property and casualty insurance), including construction defect and bad faith law.
- Representing creditors in commercial and debtor/creditor law cases, particularly concerning bankruptcy law. Experience includes Chapters 7, 11 and 13; and the representation of creditors in substantial claims involving dischargeability, fraudulent conveyance, preference, class actions and lender liability.
John is a member of the South Carolina Bar Construction Law Section. He is a past President of the Richland County Bar Association and the South Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association. John conducts seminars on construction, commercial and bankruptcy law.
Publications:
"Converging Product Liability, Sales and Construction Law," For the Defense, Defense Research Institute
"Bankruptcy Law: Fundamentals for the Construction Law Practitioner," For the Defense, Defense Research Institute
Contributing Author, "Builder Negligence," Construction Law Digests, WEST
"Current Issues in South Carolina Construction Law," South Carolina Bar 2009
Co-Author (South Carolina Chapter), Construction Litigation Desk Reference: A State-By-State Compendium, Defense Research Institute’s (DRI) (2010)
Recent Published Decisions
In re Berry, 189 B.R. (Bkrtcy.D.S.C.,1995)
Auto-Owners Ins. Co., v. Zurich US, 377 F.Supp.2d 496 (D.S.C. 2004)
Fields v. J. Haynes Waters Builders, 376 S.C. 545, 658 S.E.2d 80 (2008)
Auto Owners Ins. Co., Inc. v. Newman, 385 S.C. 187, 684 S.E.2d 541 (2009)
