Vernon F. Dunbar
Vernon Dunbar began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Ernest A. Finney, Jr., Associate Justice and later, Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court. By virtue of a gubernatorial appointment, Vernon served as a commissioner and later as chairman of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission from 1989 to 1995. His duties required him to adjudicate workers’ compensation claims and regulate workers’ compensation insurance carriers and self-insured businesses.
Vernon entered into private practice in 1995, initially concentrating his practice in the areas of workers’ compensation and insurance defense. This aspect of Vernon’s practice allowed him to develop an appellate practice before South Carolina’s appellate courts, and the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Vernon’s practice is currently concentrated in business and commercial litigation matters, complex workers’ compensation claims involving occupational disease claims, and matters before the Administrative Law Court. Vernon routinely litigates cases involving jury trials.
Vernon represents clients, both as plaintiffs and defendants, in the areas of business litigation disputes and breach of contract claims. He represents clients in regulatory proceedings and investigations before the South Carolina Administrative Law Court, Physical Therapy Board, Architectural Board, Funeral Board and other administrative agencies. Vernon’s experience in matters before judges and juries has enabled him to provide his clients with the best information regarding expected monetary outcomes in cases.
“In representing my clients who have been wronged, I demand accountability and compensation from our judicial system. Conversely, for my clients who have been accused of wrongdoing, I demand fairness and a just outcome. The goals of accountability, compensatory relief, fairness and justice can only be achieved by artful and persuasive communication skills.”
Representative Matters
Business Litigation
- Represented Crescent Inks, Inc., a dye manufacturing entity, in a lawsuit brought by a Fortune 500 company with respect to allegations that the dye was not waterproof and caused damage to a manufactured homebuilding product. Vernon’s ability to discredit the plaintiff’s experts’ engineering opinions persuaded the Fortune 500 company to abandon its multi-million dollar lawsuit and resolve the claim for less than $100,000.
- Represented an insurance brokerage services entity against another insurance brokerage firm over allegations of violations of a covenant not-to-compete, the raiding of employees and obtaining misappropriated trade secrets.
- Successfully defended Fox News in an action for injunctive relief sought by a presidential candidate who was not included in a televised 2008 presidential primary debate.
Workers’ Compensation
- Successfully defended hospitals against employees’ allegations that the use of latex gloves resulted in medical problems and caused permanent disability.