Paul E. Sperry
Partner / Charleston
Paul is managing partner of the Charleston office where he concentrates his practice on construction litigation and general liability matters. He represents general contractors, subcontractors, developers, material suppliers and owners in lawsuits involving construction related disputes. Paul has experience defending architects and engineers in design defect claims, site work design and more. Furthermore, he provides non-litigation support for construction clients, including contract review and advice related to payment and industry issues. In addition to construction litigation, Paul handles premises liability matters where he defends clients against claims for injuries sustained on private and public properties.
Paul frequently presents at seminars, teaching a wide variety of construction law topics, including mechanical liens, delay claims and construction contract clauses.
Along with serving as the Chair of the Construction Practice Group and Charleston managing partner, Paul was named to South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars® in 2013, where no more than 2.5% of attorneys are named. Paul was nominated by his peers and was honored as one of the top construction attorneys in the area by Charleston Business Magazine’s Legal Elite Feature in 2018 and 2019.
Results
Paul Sperry and Tyler Winton Prevail in South Carolina Court of Appeals
January 16, 2019
Paul Sperry and Tyler Winton recently obtained a decision from the S.C. Court of Appeals upholding the decision of the trial court granting their Motion for Summary Judgment on behalf of the architectural firm they represent. Plaintiff filed her lawsuit on October 8, 2014 against numerous defendants, including the client, seeking recovery for damages allegedly related to design and construction deficiencies with her 11,000 square-foot beachfront home. After the collection of facts and key testimony through written and deposition discovery efforts, Paul and Tyler filed and argued a Motion for Summary Judgment based on numerous grounds including the contention that the claims by Plaintiff were barred based on the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. The trial court granted the Motion for Summary Judgment. Plaintiff then appealed the decision to the S.C. Court of Appeals. After briefing and oral argument, the S.C. Court of Appeals issued a decision on January 16, 2019, affirming the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Paul and Tyler’s client. It should be noted that the time has not expired for the homeowner to seek a rehearing from the Court.
For informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in future cases.
Paul Sperry Negotiates Voluntary Dismissal for Engineering Client
2/15/2019
Paul Sperry recently obtained dismissal of his clients in a construction defect claim. The case involved allegations of vibration damages to a commercial structure resulting from construction of a road and overpass in Charleston, South Carolina. After negotiations, Plaintiffs agreed to voluntarily dismiss the clients, a professional engineer and an engineering firm, from the action.
For informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in future cases.
Events
Paul Sperry Instructed a Themis Construction Defect Law Update Webinar – January 29, 2020
January 29, 2020
Paul Sperry co-instructed The Carolinas Construction Defect Law Update Webinar in conjunction with Themis Advocates Group on January 29, 2020 in Scottsdale, AZ. This program was designed to update insurance carriers on changes to North and South Carolina's laws regarding construction defect. Topics covered anti-indemnification statute revisions, including contractual and equitable indemnity. Additionally, the webinar examined the Economic Loss Rule, Apportionment of Liability and recent insurance updates using recent cases in the Carolinas as examples. Paul is the managing partner of the South Carolina office of CSVL and a frequent presenter at seminars where he teaches a wide variety of construction law topics. For more information on this presentation and firm speaking engagements, please contact Michelle Mattox.
Carlock Copeland Seminar – Risk Management for Design Professionals – Atlanta – November 17, 2016
November 17, 2016
Kent Stair, Bill Jones and the Design Professional Group presented How to Avoid, Manage and Resolve Claims Against Design Professionals and led a discussion regarding claims against design professionals which included advice on the best practices to avoid claims, how to handle claims when they cannot be avoided, and the various ways to resolve claims. This event was held at the Cobb Energy Centre on November 17. Please contact Patty O'Toole at potoole@csvl.law for more information.
2nd Annual National Construction Defect Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL – Paul Sperry and Patrick Norris attended
November 16, 2016
Paul Sperry and Patrick Norris attended the National Construction Defect Conference from November 16-18 held at The Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Paul Sperry attended the ABA Construction Forum Annual Conference in Nashville, TN
April 28, 2016
Paul Sperry attended the 2016 ABA Construction Forum Annual Conference in Nashville, TN from April 28-30, 2016.
ABA Forum on Construction Law – Paul Sperry Conducted a Presentation on Contract Administration
March 4, 2016
Paul Sperry conducted a presentation on Contract Administration on March 4th. On February 26, 2016 and March 4, 2016, the ABA Forum on Construction Law presented in six cities across the country, “Construction Contracts Finding Common Ground in Drafting and Negotiating Design and Construction Clauses.” The design and construction concepts covered apply to projects ranging from personal residence to complex infrastructure improvements. For more information, please click here.
1st Annual Construction Defect Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Nov. 19-20
November 19, 2015
Sarah Wetmore and Paul Sperry attended the 1st Annual National Defect Conference held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Nov. 19-20, 2015.
CLM Construction Conference – November 5-6
November 5, 2015
Carlock, Copeland and Stair, LLP was a sponsor at the CLM Construction Conference in Atlanta. The event encompassed Claims Litigation Management, Construction and Environmental matters. Paul Sperry attended. Counsel and clients often assume they have a clear understanding of each other’s goals. Most would agree that winning a litigated case would be a good example of a shared goal. Yet the question of whether or not this is actually a shared goal, or even one of the more important outcomes desired by the parties, can become complex when the culture of each organization is brought to the discussion. This critical first stage - analysis of what constitutes success – must be reached before the organizations can have meaningful discussion of success measurement. More to the point of today’s discussion, we would state the question as one of performance management. We will discuss the behaviors that should be encouraged to generate success as you have defined it, and how we measure the elements of that behavior in order to have meaningful, productive, and non-pejorative discussion towards those goals.
Professional Ethics in Design and Building Seminar
March 20, 2015
Paul Sperry will be presenting on Architecture and the Law at the Professional Ethics in Design and Building seminar March 20th at Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport-Convention Center. The aim of the Professional Ethics in Design and Building seminar is to enhance practical understanding of relevant state law and, in particular, ethical principles relevant to architectural practice.
Location: Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport-Convention Center, 4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd. North Charleston, SC 29418 / Event Details/Registration
News
CSVL Attorneys Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® Lists in Multiple Practice Areas and in Each Office Location
August 19, 2021
Copeland Stair Valz & Lovell, LLP is pleased to announce our Attorneys named to 2022 Best Lawyers® lists in multiple categories and office locations.
- Anna Beaton, 2022 Best Lawyers®; Ones To Watch recognition for Insurance Law and Transportation Law in Atlanta, GA
- Sarah E. Butler, 2022 Best Lawyers® recognition for Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Insurance in Charleston, SC
- Eric Frisch, 2022 Best Lawyers® recognition for Litigation - Health Care and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants in Atlanta, GA
- Angela C. Kopet, 2022 Best Lawyers® recognition for Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance in Chattanooga, TN
- Gary Lovell, Jr., 2022 Best Lawyers® recognition for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants in Atlanta, GA and Charleston, SC
- Rolfe M. Martin, 2022 Best Lawyers® recognition for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants in Atlanta, GA
- Paul Sperry, 2022 Best Lawyers® recognition for Construction Law and Litigation - Construction in Charleston, SC
- Kent T. Stair, 2022 Best Lawyers® recognition for Construction Law and Legal Malpractice Law – Defense and Litigation - Construction in Atlanta, GA and Charleston, SC
- Fred M. Valz, III, 2022 Best Lawyers® recognition for Insurance Law in Atlanta, GA
- Lee C. Weatherly, 2022 Best Lawyers® recognition for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants in Charleston, SC
Publications and Presentations
Paul Sperry Joins Panel for THEMIS’s Webinar – Back in Business: Litigation in the Post COVID World – September 14, 2021
September 2, 2021
CSVL Partner Paul Sperry will join the panel for Themis Advocates Group's Webinar Back in Business: Litigation in the Post COVID World on September 14, 2021. This presentation will offer jurisdictional updates, new legislation and case law, as well as discuss COVID's impacts on litigation that are likely here to stay.
For more information on Themis Advocates Group or educational events they provide, please click here.
Paul Sperry Instructed a Themis Construction Defect Law Update Webinar – January 29, 2020
January 29, 2020
Paul Sperry co-instructed The Carolinas Construction Defect Law Update Webinar in conjunction with Themis Advocates Group on January 29, 2020 in Scottsdale, AZ. This program was designed to update insurance carriers on changes to North and South Carolina's laws regarding construction defect. Topics covered anti-indemnification statute revisions, including contractual and equitable indemnity. Additionally, the webinar examined the Economic Loss Rule, Apportionment of Liability and recent insurance updates using recent cases in the Carolinas as examples. Paul is the managing partner of the South Carolina office of CSVL and a frequent presenter at seminars where he teaches a wide variety of construction law topics. For more information on this presentation and firm speaking engagements, please contact Michelle Mattox.