Arthur E. Justice, Jr
South Carolina
Turner Padget Graham and Laney P.A.
1831 W. Evans Street
Suite 400
Florence, SC 29501
Tel: 843-656-4412
Email:
ajustice@turnerpadget.com
Web:
www.turnerpadget.com
Art Justice has been providing legal advice to businesses for over 37 years. Art’s counsel encompasses all areas of business, but particularly the areas of employment issues, professional liability, and risk management.
A key to Art’s approach to such counseling is to assess his client’s options to include avoidance of expensive and protracted litigation. Art likes to be involved in his client’s legal issues on the front-end, helping to manage the risk so as to avoid expensive lawsuits on the back end. When, however, a lawsuit is judged the better option, or more often for businesses, when it is unavoidable, Art’s courtroom experience of over 3 decades comes into play. Art has tried well over 100 cases to verdict. Art acts as defense counsel for lawsuits involving employment practices, such as Title VII, ADA, age, and wage and hour claims and professional liability claims against attorneys, accountants, health providers, insurance agents and brokers, and other professionals. He also serves as senior counsel on other types of business litigation.
Art also provides legal assistance to companies in obtaining economic development incentives from local and state governments. Art is a certified mediator and is often called on by his peers on the extremely difficult cases. Art serves as the firm’s risk management and ethics counsel.
- Defended a building supply company in a federal suit alleging that the plaintiff had been fired from his job because he complained about a female supervisor who used profane language around the plaintiff. Art obtained a dismissal of the suit before it ever got to trial because he showed, through employee affidavits, that everyone in the warehouse, including the plaintiff, used bad language every now and then.
- Represented an employer in a lengthy and involved wage and hour investigation by the Department of Labor, in which Art and his team were able to demonstrate that Fourth Circuit case law clearly held that the client’s treatment of meal and wait time was in compliance with the FLSA. When one of the client’s former employees wanted to continue to pursue the matter by threatening a lawsuit, Art met with her attorney and fully explained the client’s position, resulting in the former employee dropping her claim.
- Assisted a major building materials company determine the most economical way to downsize its multi-state warehouse system and develop and implement a reduction in force plan. As a result, the client is now experiencing a return to growth.
Offering seasoned advice and practical counsel in all employment and labor-related legal disputes, we cater to the unique business needs of our diverse client base. Knowing that when it comes to the complex and often rapidly evolving web of labor and employment law, our team respects that litigation is but one of many possible resolution options to consider when it comes to resolving disputes.
When it comes to employment disputes, companies need a holistic perspective and practical approach to get to the core of the problem quickly.
Grounded in the highest levels of integrity and professionalism, our Employment Litigation Practice includes straight-talking attorneys who serve clients across the Southeast ranging from large, complex corporations with thousands of employees, to mid-level and small businesses with detailed needs.
Using this practical approach and solution-driven processes, our team works on matters that touch nearly every area of the employment spectrum, including:
- Administrative hearings and appeals
- Employee handbooks
- Employment contracts
- Employment discrimination and harassment
- Employment torts
- Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) matters
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) compliance
- Hiring and firing practices
- Non-compete, trade secrets and restrictive covenants
- Retaliation
- Sexual harassment claims
- Wage and hour compliance
When litigation can’t be avoided, we work collaboratively to exceed our client’s expectations and treat each engagement with a high-touch level of service, understanding that complex problems can stress a company’s bottom line.
With a rich history as one of South Carolina’s largest law firms, Turner Padget is on the move in neighboring states with a strategic expansion in Augusta, Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville and Myrtle Beach. With a strong understanding of what it takes to do business in the Southeast, along with a comprehensive familiarity of the court systems and laws, Turner Padget exceeds expectations and works tirelessly to get each situation right for our clients.
For companies doing business in the Southeast, Turner Padget provides a single source for all their legal needs and serves both as general and local counsel. Many of our lawyers focus on counseling and transactional practices and help clients navigate the complexities of running and growing businesses in the Southeast. Our renowned litigation team is known for its effectiveness and strong history of grooming young lawyers to be skilled litigators. Not only do we represent our clients effectively in the courtroom, but we also have the necessary experience to counsel clients regarding alternate strategies, such as managing risk to avoid litigation altogether.
Equally as important to what we do is how we do it. Our clients say they value their relationships with our lawyers as individuals. We are real and genuine, with a bit of Southern charm. We take pride in these relationships, always listening to our clients and investing the time to understand their unique business issues as if they were our own. At the end of the day, we take your interests, your business and our relationships personally.