Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Charleston Partners J. Patrick Norris and Arden Lowndes secured a complete summary judgment victory for their client, a professional land surveyor, in a complex property rights dispute involving a waterfront parcel in coastal South Carolina.
The plaintiff, a homeowner who purchased a waterfront property around 2021, originally accessed their lot via a dirt road that crossed approximately 25 acres of adjacent undeveloped land. When that land was later developed into a 246-unit apartment complex and the dirt road was eliminated, the homeowner filed suit.
The plaintiff brought three claims against GRSM’s client: intentional interference with easement rights, civil conspiracy, and slander of title. These claims were based on alleged easements over five separate areas, and each claim relied on a different legal theory, including prescription, grant, and implication. GRSM’s defense required a detailed analysis of plats prepared by the client between 1997 and 2022, and a thorough explanation of how those surveys demonstrated no interference with any valid easement rights. After submitting a detailed brief, the team participated in nearly three hours of oral argument to address each of the plaintiff’s theories and claims.
The court adopted GRSM’s arguments in full and granted summary judgment on all claims, dismissing the case outright and sparing the client further litigation.
This outcome reflects GRSM’s depth of experience in handling real estate and professional liability matters, particularly those involving technical land use issues, easement rights, and title claims. With a proven track record in defending surveyors, engineers, and other professionals in high-stakes litigation, GRSM’s attorneys provide clients with strategic, knowledgeable advocacy across jurisdictions.