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(Columbia, SC) — The S.C. Bar Foundation received a check for more than $630,000 Thursday that will allow it to fund two significant South Carolina projects.

The funds were presented by Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC (RPWB) and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and the National Bank of South Carolina. The money came from an account set up during a multi-district litigation that began in the early 1990s and was assigned to U.S. District Judge Matthew Perry in Columbia. The two law firms participated in the multi-district litigation as liaison counsel, and the bank served as account custodian. All cases consolidated in the litigation recently ended.

One-half of the funds will serve as the initial loan awards for the Ness-Blatt Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist with educational debts of legal service lawyers. The other half has been awarded to the SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center to assist in the purchase of a new facility. This nonprofit center provides and promotes access to justice for all South Carolinians.

"We are happy to be able to support these important and meaningful endeavors through the programs," said Terry Richardson, Senior Partner of Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC. Richardson Patrick Partner Tom Rogers served on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and Liaison Counsel and RPWB attorney David Suggs served on the Plaintiffs’ Discovery Committee during the multi-district litigation.

RPWB is one of the leading complex litigation law firms in the country with extensive experience in asbestos, consumer lending, securities, environmental, pharmaceutical and medical devices, products liability, class actions and catastrophic personal injury. RPWB has offices in Charleston, Barnwell and Mt. Pleasant, SC.

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PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 7/19/07
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mason Scott
mscott@rpwb.com