Practice Areas
- Admiralty & Maritime
- Appellate & Constitutional
- Commercial Construction & Development Litigation
- Employment Litigation
- Litigation
- Real Estate, Land Use/Eminent Domain
- Securities & Corporate Litigation
Education
- B.A., English, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1999
- J.D., University of South Carolina, 2002
Bar & Court Admissions
- South Carolina, 2003
- North Carolina, 2002
- United States District Court, District of South Carolina
- United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Robert E. Sumner, IV
Mr. Sumner is a civil litigator who represents a variety of clients including professionals, businesses, property owners, manufacturers, and builders. Mr. Sumner has tried cases in North and South Carolina.
Client Services:
- Pre-litigation consulting and negotiation
- Full-service litigation representation
Representative Cases:
Davison v. Scaffe; 2008-CP-08-130; June 5, 2009*
Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of Wells Fargo Bank in a bench trial in the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff sought damages for Wachovia's failure to stop payment on a certified check under Articles 3 and 4 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
South Carolina Federal Credit Union v. Higgins, et al.; 06-CP-10-4730; December 9, 2008*
Obtained a directed verdict in favor of SCFCU for the full amount of damages sought plus attorney's fees in a 4-day jury trial in the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas. SCFCU sought damages for the defendants' breach of a dealership agreement and secured financing agreement. This matter is currently on appeal before the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
Belle Hall v. Nova Modus; 05-CP-10-4957; May 30, 2008*
Obtained a verdict on behalf of Belle Hall in the amount of $202,000.00 plus attorney's fees and defeated fraudulent mortgages under South Carolina's Statute of Elizabeth after a week-long jury trial in the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas. Belle Hall sought damages for defendants' breach of a lease agreement and fraudulent acts to avoid payment for damages arising out of the breach. This matter is currently on appeal before the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
Ratliff v. Crain; 05-CVS-870; April 2007
Obtained a defense verdict after 4 week jury trial in North Carolina Superior Court. Plaintiff sought $2.2 Million in wrongful death damages for medical negligence.
Scarboro v. Klein; 04-CVS-2071; February 2007
Obtained a defense verdict after 3 week jury trial in North Carolina Superior Court. Plaintiff sought $3 Million in wrongful death damages for medical negligence.
Thomas v. Harbury, et. al.; 03-CVS-12406; August 2006
Obtained a defense verdict after 3 week jury trial in North Carolina Superior Court. Plaintiff sought $2.5 Million in damages for medical negligence.
Sowell v. Cross Care, et. al.; 03-CVS-5714; February 2006
Obtained a defense verdict after 4 week jury trial in North Carolina Superior Court. Plaintiff sought $6 Million in damages for medical negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, constructive fraud, and conspiracy.
Reported Case:
Winebarger v. Peterson, 182 N.C. App 510 642 S.E.2d 544; (2007).
The North Carolina Court of Appeals affirmed trial court’s ruling in favor of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment on the grounds that Plaintiff had not obtained appropriate expert review prior to filing the complaint.
* First chair trial counsel
Of Note
- Member of Moot Court Bar at the University of South Carolina School of Law
- Articles Editor of the South Carolina Environmental Law Journal
Professional Affiliations
- Member, Defense Research Institute
- Member, Charleston County Bar Association
- Member, Federal Bar Association
- Member, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys
- Member, Rotary Club of Charleston