SC Venue Crisis

In this article published by Greenville Journal on January 4, 2024, the writers lay it out in plan terms.

The crux of the matter revolves around the state’s joint and several liability law. For restaurants and bars serving alcohol, the upshot is each establishment that serves a patron within a 12-hour window is potentially on the hook in terms of liability if the patron subsequently causes death, injury or property damage while impaired.

The problematic aspect of the law — and this applies to businesses of every type, not just restaurants and bars — is a business that fights and loses a suit could be responsible for the entire settlement even if other businesses named in the same suit are more at fault. 

“We actually renew [our insurance] in February, so I’m very anxious to see what our renewal will come back as. I can’t remember exactly how much it went up this past year, but it was significant, and unfortunately, the minimum premiums are really just going to be a huge barrier for new businesses to enter the market.” – Tammy Johnson, CEO of High Spirits Hospitality in Greenville

Story by Jay King, Megan Fitzgerald and Tiare-Leiana Solis 

Read the full story here. Then, make your plans to join us for the SC Tort Reform Rally on Tuesday, January 9th on the front steps of the SC State House. There’s a meet-up scheduled for Monday at Art Bar in Columbia from 6:30-9 pm.