March 19, 2024

Is Child Support Taxable in SC? – 3 Child Support Tax FAQs

In divorce cases falling under the broad “family law” umbrella, courts consistently prioritize the child’s well-being in their rulings. Therefore, as part of the divorce settlement, the family law court often includes a child support order. With money flowing into or out of the parents’ bank accounts, many often inquire about taxation.  This article addresses the three most common questions about child support taxation. Have you ever wondered about any of these questions as well?
February 22, 2024

Report Your Vaccine Injury in the National VAERS Database

Overall, vaccines benefit human society. They help eradicate diseases, curb the spread of infectious illnesses, and prevent death. Most vaccine administrations don’t trigger significant complications, allowing individuals and society to function smoothly. And although rare, adverse reactions do occur, sparking debates and opposition regarding vaccine safety. Those voices don’t go unheard. The government provides various platforms for the public to report post-vaccination health issues, contributing to ongoing analyses and investigations to refine vaccines. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is one such vaccine safety monitoring system.  In this post, we explain what vaccine injuries and the VAERS are, and what your next steps should be. 
February 22, 2024

5 Types Of Cases Handled In Family Law Court

Family law courts handle some of the most emotional and complex legal matters. Across the spectrum of family law cases, judges oversee life-altering decisions regarding marriage, parenthood, support obligations, and protecting vulnerable parties. This article explores five common types of cases handled in family law courts and provides an overview of the legal processes involved with each matter.
November 28, 2023

Bluestein Attorneys named to Best Law Firms for 14th time in a row

For the 14th year in a row, Bluestein Attorneys has been listed in the top tier of Best Law Firms for the Columbia area. Here are the practice areas in which the firm is honored in the Best Lawyers in America® annual list of top firms for 2024: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants A firm is not considered for this recognition unless it has at least one lawyer included in The Best Lawyers in America® in the same year. Bluestein Attorneys easily met that standard, since in August, three firm attorneys were honored with that distinction: Margaret Miles “Marti” Bluestein for her work in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants; Clarke Newton for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs; and Allison Sullivan in the areas of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Workers’ […]
August 17, 2023

In 2024 edition, Best Lawyers again honors four Bluestein Attorneys

Clients have learned from experience that Bluestein Attorneys will give them the representation they need to put their lives back together. Our community knows this, too. As such, it’s particularly gratifying when a respected national publication such as Best Lawyers in America acknowledges the quality of our work. Best Lawyers in America has named three of our partners to its Best Lawyers list for Columbia, and another of us to its 2024 “Ones to Watch” list. The attorneys and their practice areas are as follows: Margaret Miles “Marti” Bluestein: Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants Clarke Newton: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs Allison Sullivan: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants All three were on the 2023 list in connection with the same practice areas. Both Marti and Allison have made the list 10 times, and Clarke has done so for […]
August 10, 2023

John Nichols presented with SCAJ Founders Award

Attorney John S. Nichols of Bluestein Attorneys, was honored with the South Carolina Association for Justice (SCAJ) Founders Award at the organization’s annual convention on August 5, 2023. Since 1957, the SCAJ has upheld a reputation for leadership in South Carolina’s legal community. By providing continuing education, legislative monitoring and more, the Association has become an invaluable resource for its members and a well-respected professional association statewide. The Founders Award is one of the organization’s most revered recognitions. The SCAJ’s nomination committee presents attorneys for consideration who are advocates of “great skill and confidence.” Nomination criteria includes experience leading the trial bar and teaching trial advocacy, as well as having earned a reputation among peers for ethical, honest practice and character. “John is the lawyer we should all aspire to be. He is an exceptional lawyer who zealously advocates for his clients, but he has always taken time to mentor […]
August 1, 2023

Five Bluestein Attorneys named to 2023 Legal Elite of the Midlands

COLUMBIA, S.C. – This year, Columbia Business Monthly has named five Bluestein Attorneys to its “Legal Elite of the Midlands” list. The list recognizes attorneys in the Midlands based on the views of their peers. The five recognized for 2023, along with the practice areas in which they were cited, are: John Nichols: Appellate Clarke Newton: Criminal – DUI; Personal Injury – Plaintiff; Product Liability – Plaintiff Marti Bluestein: Mediation; Workers’ Compensation – Plaintiff Allison Sullivan: Worker’s Compensation – Plaintiff Stacy Thompson: Social Security Disability The magazine began publishing the Legal Elite feature in 2010. The selection process begins with nominations from more than a thousand active lawyers in the Midlands. While attorneys are allowed to nominate members of their own firm, for each in-firm nomination there must be a corresponding out-of-firm nomination. Attorneys are not allowed to vote for themselves. Attorney votes then narrow the nominees down to the […]
March 23, 2023

John Nichols returns to Bluestein Attorneys

Bluestein Attorneys is proud to welcome back John S. Nichols, who together with Margaret Miles “Marti” Bluestein started the firm in 2000. “It is wonderful to be back to the firm Marti and I founded together more than two decades ago,” said John. “Our goal was to create a law firm in which everyone was committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients. I am proud to say that’s still who Bluestein Attorneys is today, and I am excited to be back to continue that mission.” He returns to the firm after five years as Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Supreme Court of South Carolina. His practice areas with the firm will include professional responsibility/ethics consulting, litigation and trial support, and appellate advocacy. John is admitted to practice in South Carolina’s state and federal courts as well as the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Eleventh […]
March 8, 2023

Safety, Batteries, and You: Reminders About High-Capacity Battery Safety

Every device used to read this article contains a battery. Batteries are essential to our lives. They help us connect with friends and even make video calls during power outages. As devices have become more powerful, the batteries inside have become denser, with higher outputs and quicker charge times. This growth has resulted in less expensive batteries capable of powering even high-performance sports cars. But there is a human cost to these batteries’ increased power and capacity because the energy stored inside a battery can be hazardous—and sometimes fatal. News reports about the dangers of batteries are nothing new but are becoming increasingly common. While we must follow certain limitations when using batteries, such as during air travel, when mailing items, and throwing them away, there are many hidden dangers. Just in January, a multi-family home was burned down in Brockton, NY, after a lithium-ion battery caught fire as a […]