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No Decision on Southern Holdings Money

Despite stating he would issue a ruling last week, Judge Doyet A. Early remained silent on the disposition of litigation and settlement money in the Southern Holdings case.

The case before Judge Early is an interpleader action asking the court to rule on who has claim to the remaining Southern Holdings litigation and settlement funds and how much should go to each claimant.

The interpleader case was brought by attorney and Lexington Magistrate John Rakowsky who represented seven individual plaintiffs in the original Southern Holdings case. Rakowsky stated he didn’t know who had claims to the remaining litigation and settlement money he held.

There are problems with issuing a decision in the interpleader case.

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Decision on Southern Holdings Funds Promised this Week

S.C. Judge Doyet A. Early ended last week’s hearing on the alleged Southern Holdings settlement and remaining litigation funds promising a decision this week.

The case before Judge Early is an interpleader asking the court to rule on who has claim to the remaining Southern Holdings litigation and settlement funds and how much should go to each claimant.

No settlement agreement with informed consent by signature from each Southern Holdings plaintiff was presented during the hearing. None has ever been presented either as court record for the Southern Holdings case, this interpleader case or any other legal proceeding.

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The Tangled Web of Southern Holdings – Update

Any time you get close to an issue that stems from the original Southern Holdings lawsuit, the tangled web of deception grows.

The latest involves a hearing before S.C. District Court Judge Doyet A. Early, scheduled for Wednesday August 20, 2014, to hear Emergency Omnibus Motions to Compel the production of a settlement agreement for the Southern Holdings case that includes demonstration of “informed consent” by each of the original Southern Holdings plaintiffs.

The existence of an “informed consent” settlement agreement is required by state and federal law to demonstrate that attorney John Rakowsky, who represented the original seven Southern Holdings plaintiffs, had the “informed consent” of his clients to settle the Southern Holdings case.

Casino Gambling and Horry County

Those who think casino gambling is the answer to the next great tourist boom for Myrtle Beach may want to temper their enthusiasm with the Sun Cruz demise.

It was only a decade ago when casino boats were expected to flourish in Horry County and county officials were planning ways to cash in on the boom.

After several years of haggling over taxing the revenue of the boats was unsuccessful, a $7 per passenger fee was agreed to between the boats and the county.

Southern Holdings and Public Corruption

Public corruption cases are all the news in South Carolina lately and it’s time for the name Southern Holdings to be as scrutinized as Harrell, Metts or Pinson among others.

The Southern Holdings case stems from actions by the Horry County Sheriff’s Department and Horry County Police Department in June 2000 and August 2000, as well as subsequent events.

Southern Holdings, Inc. and several stockholders of this closely held corporation are plaintiffs in the case. Horry County, Horry County Police Department, Horry County Sheriff’s Department and various individuals are defendants in the case.

Any time you study an issue that evolves from the original Southern Holdings case, you get tangled in a web of lies, deceit and public corruption.

VA BENEFITS APPROVED FOR THE PITTSBURGH INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICS – MYRTLE BEACH CAMPUS

May 23, 2014 (Myrtle Beach, SC) – PIA is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has approved the Myrtle Beach campus to receive VA benefits.

Veterans interested in PIA’s Myrtle Beach campus can now utilize the various benefits received from their service to support an education in aviation maintenance. Campus Director Peg Jackson believes this will serve as a great opportunity for local veterans.

“We’re excited for the Myrtle Beach campus to be an avenue for local veterans interested in a quality, hands-on education,” Jackson said.

Coast RTA Shelter Project: Whose Shelters are They Anyway?

An intensive study of documents provided by Coast RTA, SCDOT and the City of Myrtle Beach have brought to light discrepancies between the agencies about what exactly happened with the shelter project and associated funds.

It is obvious from studying the documents why Horry County Council chairman Mark Lazarus established an ad hoc Select Committee on Coast RTA to take an in-depth look at the project.

Presentations made before the Select Committee, at its April 7, 2014 meeting, by both SCDOT and Coast RTA indicate that 73 shelters were purchased by Coast RTA. Of these, 15 shelters were installed by Coast RTA for its use. After nine years, SCDOT cancelled the project and the remaining 58 shelters were inventoried and auctioned by GovDeals.com.

Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce Names New Leader

The Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce Jeff Smith of Greenwood is the new President and CEO for the organization. He will take the helm on March 31.

“After two months of reviewing resumés and meeting with a number of candidates, we are very excited to welcome Jeff aboard,” said Jenna Jordan with Strovis, who currently chairs the Board of Directors and the CEO Search Committee. “

A Brief Shining Moment for Southern Holdings Plaintiffs

Sunshine broke through into a S.C. Circuit Courtroom yesterday highlighting at least one brief shining moment for the plaintiffs of the original Southern Holdings lawsuit.

Judge Doyet A. Early, III showed his courtroom follows the law, which, especially for the original Southern Holdings plaintiffs through the years, has been all too rare. He held forth as a judge who is not interested in the corrupt backroom deals that often smear the S.C. legal system, but, rather, in the truth.

As a result of Judge Early’s decisions yesterday, attorneys John Rakowsky and Adrian Falgione will have to answer questions, both will be deposed and discovery will move forward in the Rakowsky v. Falgione et al interpleader action.

S.C. Legal System on Trial at High Noon

A noon hearing in a Columbia court room could go a long way to proving how much legitimacy should be attached to what passes for a legal system in South Carolina.

The issues aren’t big on their surface – a simple motions hearing on several motions associated with an interpleader action.

An interpleader action originates when a party holds property on behalf of another but does not know to whom the property should be transferred. It asks the court to make the decision.