Robert E. Sumner, IV

• Charleston Office
• TEL: (843) 579-7018
• FAX: (843) 579-8743
• robertsumner@mvalaw.com
• vCard

Member

40 Calhoun Street
Suite 300
Charleston, SC
29401-3535

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Mr. Sumner is a civil litigator who represents a variety of clients including Fortune 500 companies, banks, manufacturers, builders, small businesses, property owners, vessel owners, institutional trustees and private trustees. Mr. Sumner has tried cases in state and federal courts in North and South Carolina. Mr. Summer has handled appeals before the Court of Appeals and Supreme Courts of North and South Carolina.

Client Services:

• Pre-litigation consulting and negotiation
• Full-service litigation representation

Representative Cases:

Microclean Technology, Inc. v. Envirofix, Inc.; 06-CP-07-2689; February 24, 2011

 Lead trial counsel for Defendant in a bench trial in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Plaintiff sought damages in excess of $200,000 for breach of a License Agreement. Defendant was ordered to pay total damages in the amount of $313.00. This matter is currently on appeal before the South Carolina Court of Appeals.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, et al. v. Amisub of South Carolina, Inc. et al.; 06-ALJ-07-0713-CC; September 2009   

Trial counsel for Petitioner in a four 4 week contested case hearing challenging the grant of a Certificate of Need to a competing hospital. The Administrative Law Judge reversed and remanded the matter to the Department of Health and Environmental Concerns for reconsideration of the competing applications.

Toomer v. Weeks; 2:07-CV-03458-CWH; March 1, 2010

Trial counsel for Defendant vessel owner in a 3-day bench trial in the US District Court in the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division in Admiralty. Plaintiff, a Jones Act seaman, sought damages for injuries allegedly suffered while working on board a tug boat. The parties entered into a confidential settlement agreement after the trial court’s ruling.

Davison v. Wells Fargo; 2008-CP-08-130; June 5, 2009

Lead trial counsel for Defendant 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. The trial court issued a defense verdict on behalf of Wells Fargo Bank. On June 27, 2011, the South Carolina Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's ruling in Unpublished Opinion No. 2011-UP-238. 

South Carolina Federal Credit Union v. Higgins, et al.; 06-CP-10-4730; December 9, 2008

Lead trial counsel for Plaintiff, SCFCU, 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. The trial court issued a directed verdict in favor of SCFCU for the full amount of damages sought plus attorney's fees. This matter is currently on appeal before the South Carolina Supreme Court. Mr. Sumner argued the appeal before the South Carolina Supreme Court on May 4, 2011. The matter has been taken under advisement.

*Belle Hall v. Nova Modus; 05-CP-10-4957; May 30, 2008

Lead trial counsel for Plaintiff, Belle Hall, in 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. The jury issued 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.  

Ratliff v. Crain; 05-CVS-870; April 2007

Trial counsel for Defendant in a 4 week jury trial in North Carolina Superior Court. Plaintiff sought $2.2 Million in wrongful death damages for medical negligence against an emergency room physician. The jury issued a verdict for Defendant.

Scarboro v. Klein; 04-CVS-2071; February 2007

Trial counsel for Defendant in a 3 week jury trial in North Carolina Superior Court. Plaintiff sought $3 Million in wrongful death damages for medical negligence against a plastic surgeon. The jury issued a verdict for Defendant.

Thomas v. Harbury, et al.; 03-CVS-12406; August 2006

Trial counsel for Defendant in a 3 week jury trial in North Carolina Superior Court. Plaintiff sought $2.5 Million in wrongful death damages for medical negligence against a neuroradiologist. The jury issued a verdict for Defendant.

Sowell v. Cross Care, et al.; 03-CVS-5714; February 2006

Trial counsel for Defendant in a 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 against nursing home medical providers. The jury issued a verdict for Defendant.

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.

News

• Sumner article published in the Verdict
• Sumner presents at SCLS Attorney Annual Meeting
• MVA Announces New Members

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Charleston County Bar Association
• Member, South Carolina Bar Association
• Member, North Carolina Bar Association
• Sub-Committee Chairperson, American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Trial Practice Committee
• Member, Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLAUS)
• Member, Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Charleston
• Leadership Charleston, Class of 2012