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July 30, 2020
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B. Rush Smith III
Partner
Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
rush.smith@nelsonmullins.com
Rush Smith concentrates on complex civil litigation, primarily consumer class actions. He serves as leader of the Firm's consumer financial services litigation practice group.
Rush Smith concentrates on complex civil litigation, primarily consumer class actions. He serves as leader of the Firm's consumer financial services litigation practice group.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- The defense of consumer class actions in state and federal courts in a number of industries
- The representation of financial institutions in litigation, including mortgage lenders and servicers
- The defense of businesses accused of engaging in the unauthorized practice of law
Representative Cases
- Defended online loan lead generator in multiple coordinated actions involving application of S.C. Mortgage Lending Act
- Represented a provider of online legal forms and services, defending unauthorized practice of law claims in the original jurisdiction of state supreme court
- Coordinated the Firm's defense of numerous class actions arising under the South Carolina "attorney preference" statute
- Served as lead counsel for hospitals in a bilateral class action arising under a tax refund "debt set-off" statute
- Represented a state utility in a class actions arising from allegations about rates and disposition of property
- Represented lenders accused of violating the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) in connection with the payment of broker compensation
- Represented retailers accused of collecting sales taxes from consumers in violation of state law in a bilateral class action
- Represented lenders accused of violating the UCC's "notice of sale" provision
- Represented lenders accused of violation The State's rules governing the unauthorized practice of law
- Represented mortgage insurance company accused of "adverse action" and lender accused of sending unlawful prescreened solicitations under the FCRA
- Represented regulated entity sued by the State for alleged violation of mortgage brokerage laws
Education
-
University of South Carolina School of Law,
JD,
cum laude
(1989)
- Order of Wig and Robe
- Order of the Coif
- Articles Editor, South Carolina Law Review (1988-89)
- Clemson University, BS, Engineering Analysis (1980)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- The defense of consumer class actions in state and federal courts in a number of industries
- The representation of financial institutions in litigation, including mortgage lenders and servicers
- The defense of businesses accused of engaging in the unauthorized practice of law
Representative Cases
- Defended online loan lead generator in multiple coordinated actions involving application of S.C. Mortgage Lending Act
- Represented a provider of online legal forms and services, defending unauthorized practice of law claims in the original jurisdiction of state supreme court
- Coordinated the Firm's defense of numerous class actions arising under the South Carolina "attorney preference" statute
- Served as lead counsel for hospitals in a bilateral class action arising under a tax refund "debt set-off" statute
- Represented a state utility in a class actions arising from allegations about rates and disposition of property
- Represented lenders accused of violating the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) in connection with the payment of broker compensation
- Represented retailers accused of collecting sales taxes from consumers in violation of state law in a bilateral class action
- Represented lenders accused of violating the UCC's "notice of sale" provision
- Represented lenders accused of violation The State's rules governing the unauthorized practice of law
- Represented mortgage insurance company accused of "adverse action" and lender accused of sending unlawful prescreened solicitations under the FCRA
- Represented regulated entity sued by the State for alleged violation of mortgage brokerage laws
Articles & Speeches
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney’s inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- The Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year for Financial Services Regulation Law in Columbia, S.C. (2020)
- The Best Lawyers in America® – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions (2003-2020)
Professional Activities
- Business Law Section, Consumer Financial Services Committee, American Bar Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
- John Belton O'Neall Inn of Court
- Richland County Bar Association
Community
- Harvest Hope Food Bank, Executive Committee, Governance
Rush Smith concentrates on complex civil litigation, primarily consumer class actions. He serves as leader of the Firm's consumer financial services litigation practice group.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- The defense of consumer class actions in state and federal courts in a number of industries
- The representation of financial institutions in litigation, including mortgage lenders and servicers
- The defense of businesses accused of engaging in the unauthorized practice of law
Representative Cases
- Defended online loan lead generator in multiple coordinated actions involving application of S.C. Mortgage Lending Act
- Represented a provider of online legal forms and services, defending unauthorized practice of law claims in the original jurisdiction of state supreme court
- Coordinated the Firm's defense of numerous class actions arising under the South Carolina "attorney preference" statute
- Served as lead counsel for hospitals in a bilateral class action arising under a tax refund "debt set-off" statute
- Represented a state utility in a class actions arising from allegations about rates and disposition of property
- Represented lenders accused of violating the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) in connection with the payment of broker compensation
- Represented retailers accused of collecting sales taxes from consumers in violation of state law in a bilateral class action
- Represented lenders accused of violating the UCC's "notice of sale" provision
- Represented lenders accused of violation The State's rules governing the unauthorized practice of law
- Represented mortgage insurance company accused of "adverse action" and lender accused of sending unlawful prescreened solicitations under the FCRA
- Represented regulated entity sued by the State for alleged violation of mortgage brokerage laws
Education
-
University of South Carolina School of Law,
JD,
cum laude
(1989)
- Order of Wig and Robe
- Order of the Coif
- Articles Editor, South Carolina Law Review (1988-89)
- Clemson University, BS, Engineering Analysis (1980)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
- Banking & Financial Services
- Consumer Financial Services
- Cybersecurity & Data Breach Response
- Litigation
- Multi-Claim & Class Action Litigation
Industries
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- The Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year for Financial Services Regulation Law in Columbia, S.C. (2020)
- The Best Lawyers in America® – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions (2003-2020)
- Business Law Section, Consumer Financial Services Committee, American Bar Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
- John Belton O'Neall Inn of Court
- Richland County Bar Association
- Harvest Hope Food Bank, Executive Committee, Governance
Highlights from the Firm’s Idea Exchange
Change in Return to Work Guidance
July 28, 2020
