SC Venue Crisis

Have you read our last few blog posts? If so, you know the SCVC team hoped to enjoy the summer. Of course, we were still planning to remind folks about the upcoming primary election on June 11th and the November 5th general elections. (Please stop voting straight party, start paying attention to the candidates, and compare what they SAY to what they DO. Support those that support small SC businesses.)

You also know The Blind Horse Saloon closed “due to the South Carolina liquor insurance requirements,” which felt like it blew our “chill by the pool” plans ALL to hell.

A few weeks ago, several “political types” contacted us about a last-ditch effort for the SC Justice Act to be discussed BEFORE next January.

Here it is… some elected officials and business owners from across the state announced a joint letter to South Carolina House and Senate leadership and the Governor requesting members of the General Assembly include the SC Justice Act (S.533) when they meet on June 5th to discuss the Executive Office of Health Policy (S 915). 

We need YOU to SIGN THE LETTER. Then, show up at Pinky’s Revenge for a press conference on Wednesday, May 29th. If you can’t be there, at least share the link on your social media channels. (Please and thank you.) Scroll down for the official press release. Copy and paste that into your email list and share it with your contacts if you feel incredibly awesome. 

Finally, HUGE thanks to the always-amazing Lara Shaw at iHeart Media for setting up an interview with Bill Ellis for us in the Whistle 100 WSSL studio. He asked all the questions that folks need answers to. So, listen up and share the podcast link with people who don’t know what’s happening, especially those who know just enough to be dangerous. We need less misinformation in the world. 

THANKS, Y’ALL!
Sheila, Tribble, Asheton, and Lauren
The SC Venue Crisis Team

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PRESS RELEASE:

Coalition of Business Owners and Elected Officials Stand Together, Calling for Tort Reform

When: May 29th, 10 AM 

Where: Pinky’s Revenge, 250 Mill St. Taylors, SC 

Who: Concerned business owners and elected officials

May 26, 2024 – On Thursday, May 23, elected officials and business owners from across the state announced a joint letter to South Carolina House and Senate leadership and the Governor requesting that Sine Die be amended on June 5 to include Executive Office of Health Policy (S 915), members of the General Assembly also amend to include the SC Justice Act (S.533). The latter bill, if passed, would modify the SC Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act. This change would allow a court to consider the percentage of fault of any nonparty or party with a settlement agreement when determining the rate of fault of the named parties. Such a modification would be a significant boon for South Carolina’s small businesses, relieving them of the burden of high liability insurance costs.

During the past two weeks, several more family-owned restaurants and music venues had to shutter their doors due to the increasing cost of carrying liability insurance. Rep. Adam Morgan, Chairman of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus and a signatory of the letter said, “We have a priority problem in South Carolina, and sadly, small businesses seem to not be on the list of priorities for either chamber.” Rep. Morgan said, “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are hurting more than ever before. We must do something immediately to protect them.” 

The SC Venue Crisis team and many of the businesses who support their efforts to change Joint and Several Liability laws, as well as many of the elected officials who have signed the letter, are planning a press conference in Greenville, South Carolina at Pinky’s Revenge at 10 AM on Wednesday to stress the urgency of this issue further.