Court: Ex-County Attorney 'Lacked Competence'
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
| PAGE LABEL EVEN | FRIENDLY FOES T Vol. 117HE No. 65 JOURNALFriday, April 2, 2021 $100 Gamecocks’ Staley T J set for Final Four NEW START: Shaking off a dark winter with a spring cleaning, refresh. B1 rematch against STILL HUNGRY: US food insecurity persists, especially for kids, older adults. D1 former coach. C1 SALEM Court: Ex-county attorney ‘lacked competence’ since 2009. Before that, preme Court levied seven “Respondent lacked securing two adoptions he served as lead legal charges against Norton competence in handling for a family. Norton suspended 1 year, counsel for Oconee Coun- on a variety of the personal injury “Client F … wanted to ty from the 1990s until he issues, includ- matter and ultimately obtain legal custody of was terminated in 2009 by ing engaging the trial court dismissed (two children). Respon- set to lose Salem position a new county council. in “conduct the litigation for failure dent advised Client F that Norton admitted to prejudicial to prosecute,” the ruling adoption was preferable the alleged misconduct, to the admin- said in reference to a case over legal custody because BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR over various job failures, according to the filing. istration of that spanned from 1994 to adoption would protect THE JOURNAL according to a March Norton declined to com- justice.” 2007. Client F’s interests in pro- court filing. ment to The Journal about Norton Norton In another matter, Nor- viding a stable home envi- SALEM — The South The court issued the the ruling. admitted to ton admitted he violated ronment for the children,” Carolina Supreme Court suspension on March 17 canceling meetings and the Rules of Professional the filing said. “After the has suspended a long- against Bradley Norton, THE CHARGES failing to communicate Conduct dealing with temporary hearing, com- time local attorney from who has practiced as A definite suspension with clients, dating back competence and commu- practicing law for a year Salem’s town attorney issued by the state Su- to 1994. nication in the failure of SEE ATTORNEY, PAGE A2 SENECA SENECA with Georgia man, Changing the times 20, dies after motorcycle hit Coroner set to announce victim’s identity today BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR his injuries at 4:19 p.m., THE JOURNAL shortly after a crash on Seneca Creek Road SENECA — A 20-year- at approximately 3:15 old Georgia man died at p.m. He was wearing a Oconee Memorial Hos- helmet at the time of the pital a little more than wreck. Addis said the an hour after he was hit name of the man will be while driving a motor- released today after no- cycle on Thursday. tification of the family Oconee County has been completed. Coroner Karl Addis S.C. Highway Patrol announced the Rabun County man died from SEE MAN, PAGE A2 LAUREN PIERCE | THE JOURNAL From left, Seneca Police Department officers Jerry Wirtz, James Peppers (facing backward), Mike Teramano and Am- ber Watts spent Thursday afternoon taking part in active shooter training in a former school building next to Walhal- la Middle School. Real-life events cause ‘tweaks’ in local active shooter training BY LAUREN PIERCE active shooter training each year, same mentality, it’s just different AND NORM CANNADA but Seneca Police Chief Casey Bowl- scenarios. Our mentality is still THE JOURNAL ing said the types of exercises and a more active approach to active settings change based on lessons shooters instead of sitting back and WALHALLA — Seventeen Seneca learned from new types of shoot- waiting for a bunch of people to Police Department officers spent ings around the country. Thurs- show up. RILEY MORNINGSTAR | THE JOURNAL part of Thursday afternoon prepar- day’s simulated situation took place “We’re focusing on schools and The driver of a motorcycle was flown by helicopter ing for a situation they hope they in a former school building next to homes and public buildings,” he to Oconee Memorial Hospital after a wreck Thursday will never face. Walhalla Middle School. added. “We have to tweak it now afternoon that caused a portion of Seneca Creek Officers in Seneca and through- “You change it with the times,” Road to be closed. The 20-year-old old Georgia man out Oconee County take part in Bowling told The Journal. “It’s the SEE TRAINING, PAGE A2 was later pronounced dead at the hospital. SENECA OCONEE COUNTY Blood donor turnouts Nearly 25 percent of Oconee residents reach a ‘historic low’ have gotten first COVID-19 vaccine BY LAUREN PIERCE donations each day on the BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR Health and Environmen- THE JOURNAL days it was THE JOURNAL tal Control (DHEC) data open. provided on Tuesday. SENECA — Blood In the past SENECA — After The U.S. Census donor turnouts have hit two weeks, the receiving initial doses in Bureau estimated there a “historic low,” drop- average was the middle of December, were approximately ping to numbers lower 17 donations, approximately 25 per- 79,546 people living in than during the worst of which is only cent of Oconee County Oconee County in 2019. the COVID-19 pandem- 63 percent of residents have received Those 65 years and older ic, said Allie Van Dyke, Van Dyke the organiza- at least one shot of the were estimated to make partnerships and media tion’s daily COVID-19 vaccine. up almost 24 percent of coordinator for the Blood goal, Van Dyke said. Approximately 21,406 the entire population. Connection. “Not one day out of county residents have re- Nearly 20 percent of the In March last year, the the last 14 days have we ASSOCIATED PRESS ceived at least one shot, population was young- Blood Connection in Sen- Signs line the pathway to a COVID-19 vaccine site op- according to the most re- eca averaged its goal of 27 SEE LOW, PAGE A4 erated by PRISMA Health in Columbia on Feb. 9. cent S.C. Department of SEE VACCINE, PAGE A4 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A4 COMICS B2 OPINION A3 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B3 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 We did it to see if y’all CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B2 OBITUARY B4 WORLD | NATION D1 were awake! B4 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 ATTORNEY: ‘It was definitely a shock’ FROM PAGE A1 posted in 2012, 2014, 2018 — left poor new attorney for the town. Jennings comments about Norton’s services. said Shacker recommended Mary Thursday’s COVID-19 munications between Respondent “Never returns calls, puts off McCormac, who provides legal and Client F broke down.” voice messages, avoids any type of services for the city of Clemson and numbers at a glance In one instance, the court ruled communications,” one reviewer town of West Union. Confirmed Confirmed Percent Norton didn’t file a lawsuit for his wrote. “My accident was in 2011. I’m “We have talked with her,” she cases deaths positive client after she was assured Norton nearing the three-year statute of said. “We’ve never been through was waiting on a court date over an limitations and Mr. Norton should this.” South Carolina 510 14 5.7% automobile accident. have the common courtesy to let On March 23, Jennings said mem- Oconee County 8 0 1.7%* “In 2014, Client C learned that Re- someone else handle my case.” bers of town council came two at spondent had never filed a lawsuit a time to meet McCormac at Town Pickens County 31 1 2.2%* on her behalf because Respondent TOWN EYES TERMINATION Hall to avoid having a quorum to * Seven-day moving average did not know where to file the suit,” Salem Town Council will meet at 5 meet her. She is expected to attend the filing said. p.m. April 20 to terminate Norton’s the April 20 town council meeting. Cumulative cases Norton is required to pay the costs services. The last time council met Salem Mayor Lynn Towe said South Carolina: 465,650 cases, 8,087 deaths incurred in the investigation and was March 9. Town clerk Marti Jen- he was respecting Norton’s priva- Oconee County: 8,313 cases, 125 deaths prosecution, the court filing said, nings said the town had been paying cy about the issue, but added he although no specific amount was Norton by the hour at a $90 rate. wanted to speak with him about his Pickens County: 16,157 cases, 246 deaths ever mentioned. Norton will also be On Thursday, Jennings said she relationship with the town. required to complete a Legal Ethics spoke with Norton the day after the “I haven’t talked to Brad since our Oconee Memorial Hospital ICU occupancy and Practice Program Ethics School ruling and shared the entire coun- last meeting. I would like to speak Beds available: 12 Beds taken: 8 course within one year to file a peti- cil was “stunned” by the news. with him, because he was there tion for reinstatement. The South Car- “We had no complaints with him,” before I was — he’s done a lot to Beds occupied by COVID patients: 2 olina Judicial Branch’s Court Admin- she said. “It was a shock. It was help our town,” Towe said. “Every- istration did not respond to a media definitely a shock. … We all hated it body is not immune from anything SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL inquiry by press time Thursday. for him, because he was such a nice happening, and I wanted to tell him Norton’s page on lawyers.com person.” I was so sorry for what happened, said he practiced personal injury Jennings said she contacted and he’s got my full support when litigation, domestic relations, em- Municipal Association of South he gets through this.” | CALENDAR | ployment law and worker’s com- Carolina field services manager pensation.