Municipal Law
Turner Padget’s Municipal Law Group brings value to its local government clients with a broad range of services and a wealth of experience. Our attorneys offer a unique combination of experience in nearly every aspect of law touching municipalities, including annexation, land use and zoning, employment and personnel, eminent domain and inverse condemnation, business licenses, Freedom of Information Act issues, contracts, economic development, tort liability and public litigation, procurement and bidding, real estate acquisitions, construction contracts and litigation, drafting of ordinances, municipal powers and procedures issues, and intergovernmental agreements for the sharing of municipal services.
Our Group’s attorneys have served as appointed municipal attorneys for seven municipalities, including three municipalities currently, and we have served as specially retained counsel for nearly 100 other municipalities. Our attorneys belong to and have attained leadership positions in organizations focused on the issues of municipalities such as the South Carolina Municipal Attorneys Association, the Government Law Section of the South Carolina Bar, and local planning commissions. We frequently speak on municipal law issues at programs for these organizations and at meetings of the Municipal Association of South Carolina and state associations of business licensing officials, clerks and finance officers.
Whether serving as corporate counsel, local counsel in bond and financing transactions, or special counsel in assigned matters assisting the municipal attorney, our goal is to bring our experience and knowledge to bear for effective representation of the interests of the municipality.
We serve our clients in the following areas:
- Annexation
- Bidding
- Business Licenses
- Contracts
- Economic Development
- Eminent Domain
- Employment and Personnel
- Fee-In-Lieu-of-Tax Agreements
- Freedom of Information Act
- Intergovernmental Agreements
- Inverse Condemnation
- Land Use and Zoning
- Multi-County Business/Industrial Parks
- Municipal Powers
- Municipal Procedure
- Municipal Services
- Ordinances
- Procurement
- Public Litigation
- Real Estate
Experience
- Negotiated and prepared an intergovernmental agreement for cost-sharing and use of the City of Cayce’s new $65,000,000 wastewater treatment plant.
- Upon assignment by the Municipal Association of South Carolina, currently represent 82 municipalities across the State that are being sued for alleged constitutional deficiencies in their business license tax systems.
- Represented municipalities in leading cases affirming the rights of municipalities to charge higher out-of-city rates for public utilities (Sloan v. City of Conway, 555 S.E. 2d 684 (S.C. 2001)) and to impose franchise and consent fees on private utilities using city rights-of-way (City of Cayce v. AT&T Communications, 486 S.E.2d (S.C. 1997)).
- Represented cities and towns in matters such as appeals and litigation involving zoning issues, business licensing, and document production under the State Freedom of Information Act.