Prior High School Mock Trial Cases

Prior High School Mock Trial Cases Below are summaries of prior high school mock trial cases. If you would like a copy of any case sent to you electronically, please contact Donald Lanier at dlanier@scbar.org. 

These cases are for educational use only. If another state would like to adopt and adapt any of these cases, please contact Donald Lanier at dlanier@scbar.org.  for permission.

2024 HSMT Case - Civil
2023 HSMT Case - Criminal
2022 HSMT Case - Criminal
2021 HSMT Case - Civil
2020 HSMT Case - Civil
2019 HSMT Case - Criminal
2018 HSMT Case - Civil
2017 HSMT Case - Civil
2016 HSMT Case - Criminal
2015 HSMT Case - Criminal
2014 HSMT Case - Civil
2013 HSMT Case - Civil
2012 HSMT Case - Civil
2011 HSMT Case - Civil
2010 HSMT Case - Criminal
2009 HSMT Case - Civil
2008 HSMT Case - Civil
2007 HSMT Case - Criminal
2006 HSMT Case - Criminal
2005 HSMT Case - Civil
2004 HSMT Case - Criminal
2003 HSMT Case - Civil
2002 HSMT Case - Civil
2001 HSMT Case - Civil
2000 HSMT Case - Criminal

2024 HSMT Case - Civil - Jo Harrelson v. Forester Flight Company
Modern airliners are a marvel of engineering. On an average day over a million people fly across the globe in over 9,500 aircraft. And they do it safely. In fact, flying is statistically the safest mode of transportation in the United States and abroad.

But accidents occur, and the crash of Cardinal Airlines Flight X1027 from Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport haunts the grieving spouse of the pilot flying that day. But what caused the pilot’s Forrester Flight Company FFC 500 Super to crash? Was pilot error to blame? Or was it the airliner itself?

2023 HSMT Case - Criminal - State of SC v. CY Miles
Jody Rivers and Cy Miles are professional musicians in Ross, South Carolina. In 2017, the two met at a musical festival at Buddie’s Burgers and decided to form a band, Ambition. The two made an agreement to share rights to the songs they wrote. 

Ambition enjoyed the growing success. The music journalist, Jett Jones, covered the band extensively and helped to grow their fan base. Tension grew between Jody and Cy after an electric keyboard player was added to their act. In late 2018, Jody and Cy met a record label representative who suggested they add more excitement to Ambition’s show. Jody was all for the added effects, but Cy was not. The tension led to a falling out which resulted in Cy no longer in the band right before a big performance at the Corley Theater. 

The night of the big performance, Cy and Jody saw one another during soundcheck. Their accounts differ as to what occurred when they spoke, but both agree that Cy left the theater after their encounter. As the show was to begin, Jett Jones spotted a Facebook post from a user called “Cynical Songwriter” which implied something bad was going to happen during Ambition’s show. Jett reposted the post and warned people inside the Corley to get out. Concertgoers started to see the post and headed for the exits. As they started to leave, a loud bang came from the area of the stage, causing a panic in the crowd. 

People tried to exit the theater through both exits and found the side exit would not open. The crowd crushing resulted in multiple injuries and one death. Janet Porter was the fan killed. Cy Miles has been accused of tampering with the door and the band’s pyrotechnics, causing the explosion and resulting stampede. The Prosecution alleges that Cy’s actions resulted in the death of Janet Porter. Cy has been indicted for Murder or Voluntary Manslaughter. 

2022 HSMT Case - Criminal - State of SC v. CJ Lannister
For more than seven years, Ross County South Carolina has suffered at the hands of a careful and methodical arsonist. According to the fire investigators, the Ross County arsonist meticulously set over 94 fires. The arsonist could have been miles away or in the crowds to watch the firefighters rush to the scene. Nearly all the fires were set as slow burns to allow ample time for the arsonist to flee the scene before being identified. These fires destroyed empty structures, rundown abandoned homes, fields, and some athletic facilities.

2020 HSMT Case - Civil - Sawyer v. FazioForensics Inc.
Mark Sawyer, a minor child and the only son of Pat Sawyer, sustained serious injuries on June 28, 2018, while attending a forensic science camp hosted by FazioForensics, Inc. at Skyview University in Morgan, South Carolina. On June 27, 2018, head counselor, Carson Green, led Mark and the other campers in Carson’s evening activity group on an off-campus hike to a location Carson had not previously visited. The group became lost and ended up spending the night on a mountain. Around 3 a.m. on June 28, 2018, Mark awoke in a confused state, fell down the mountain, and struck his head. As a result, Mark sustained a spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia and a serious concussion leading to long-term memory impairment.
Mark’s parent, Pat Sawyer, has filed a lawsuit against FazioForensics, Inc., arguing the company was grossly negligent in sending the campers on a hike to an unfamiliar location and is therefore liable for the damages which he sustained. The Defendant denies gross negligence, claiming no negligence or, at worst, ordinary negligence. The Defendant also claims Mark’s own actions in hiding his Type I Diabetes from the camp staff led to his confusion and ensuing injuries.

2019 HSMT Case - Criminal - State of South Carolina v. Lane Hill
The defendant, Lane Hill, has been charged with murdering business partner, Zoe Caine. Zoe Caine apparently had a gambling problem and had been unlucky for some period for time. Thinking her luck would change, Zoe borrowed money frequently from a local loan shark, Lou Carboni. However, Zoe’s luck didn’t change and, under pressure for payment from Lou, Zoe started stealing money from the business. However, with skyrocketing interest and continued gambling losses, Zoe’s debt to the loan shark was still over $200,000, even after she had drained the business dry. Carboni had already given Zoe several physically violent “messages” indicating the debt was to be paid – “or else.” In the meantime, Lane hired an accountant to determine why the business was in the red. When Lane learned Zoe had been stealing from the business and had driven it to the point of bankruptcy, Lane allegedly became enraged and threated to kill Zoe. A few days later, Zoe was found dead. Through a Buy-Sell Agreement and insurance policy, Lane would become a half million dollars richer. Who murdered Zoe?

2018 HSMT Case - Creative Technology Investments v Layton Pierce
In the fall of 2014, high school junior, Layton Pierce along with several class
members, began developing an app with the stated purpose to serve as an
education tool for students and teachers. The app, named Teacher’s Pet, was
developed as part of a computer programming class taught by Alex Hart at Lincoln
High School in Windsor, South Carolina.

After the class ended, Layton continued to develop the app further and began
offering a trial version to the public. By Layton’s freshman year in college, the
Teacher’s Pet, LLC was established and the Teacher’s Pet app was direct property
of the LLC. Creative Technology Investments (“CTI”) decided to invest in the
Teacher’s Pet, LLC to bring it to a wider and more profitable market.

As the app was in the final stages of expansion and re-launch, rumors began to swirl
that the app was being used to help students cheat. Because of these rumors, the
app was pulled from the market. With the app off the market, CTI lost money on their
investment and is now suing Layton Pierce for negligent misrepresentation and
fraud.

2017 HSMT Case - Jamie Crown v Windsor General Hospital and Aiden Cooper
Jamie Crown was an employee of Windsor General Hospital for more than 26 years. In that time, Jamie worked in the accounts receivable department handling various payments and accounting in order to be certain the hospital ran smoothly. During employment with Windsor General Hospital, Jamie and his/her spouse had a daughter named Whitney.  

When Whitney left for college, she was told the university required a flu shot for all incoming freshmen. Within days of the flu shot, she fell ill and was ultimately diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Over the course of five years, Whitney’s health deteriorated, and she passed away. This affected Jamie profoundly. Jamie’s physician, Dr. McClain Lee’s long held and shared medical opinion that the MS had been present in Whitney’s body her entire life, which was triggered by the flu shot.

Just over a year following Whitney Crown’s death, Windsor General Hospital created a new policy requiring flu shots for all employees, regardless of contact or lack of contact with patients. A process for exempting out due to allergic reaction to the flu shot was provided. Jamie Crown and Dr. Lee completed vaccine medical exemption form and submitted it to Windsor General Hospital. The director of human resources (HR), Aiden Cooper, rejected the exemption request and notified Jamie Crown to get the flu shot or be fired.  

The required date for the flu shot at Windsor General Hospital came and went. The day following the deadline, the HR Director personally fired Jamie Crown, causing embarrassment and distress as his/her office was packed up, cleared, and Jamie was escorted off the property.

Jamie Crown is suing Windsor General Hospital and its staff for wrongful termination, wrongful termination/violation of public policy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, or “outrage.”

2016 HSMT Case - SC vs. Devin Emerson - Criminal
On the night of April 5, 2015, the small rural community of Eden, South Carolina, lost a treasure. Lois Mae Alcott (known affectionately to just about everyone as “Aunt Mae”) died when her historic home was consumed by flames. Aunt Mae lived in Emerson Hall, a home built by her grandfather at the turn of the century. Shortly into the police investigation, it was determined that the fire was deliberately set. To make matters worse, it now appears the fire was intended to cover for the violent death of Aunt Mae in the course of a robbery. Scandal now rocks one of the Lowcountry’s oldest families, as one of its own has been charged with Aunt Mae’s murder.

2015 HSMT Case - State of SC v. Peyton Scott - Criminal
Throughout the modern era, there has been an ongoing struggle between tax-paying, law-abiding citizens, and those who seek to steal from them. In the 1950s and 60s this was done through the use of check forgeries. In the 1980s, theft and fraud began to move to electronic means with credit cards. In the late 1990's, theft transitioned to the internet with America Online and various other Internet Service Providers (ISP). In the current decade with the exponential increase of online shopping, the theft and fraud has moved into the arena of electronic hacking. Whereas previous methods of fraud targeted people individually, hackers are now able to defraud thousands if not millions of people in a single attack.

In the fall of 2013, Peyton Scott and Lander Mason were juniors at West Wake University (WWU). Both were computer engineering majors. During the course of the semester, Peyton Scott was working with Professor Hayden Malloy in an effort to evaluate the security risks of Holden’s, a South Carolina based retailer.

During the research conducted by Professor Hayden Malloy, the online shopping site of Holden’s was hacked in excess of the contract terms. During the hack, customer information including credit card numbers and expiration dates were exposed. Following this data exposure, 35 South Carolina residents became victims of fraud, and more than $10,000 in fraudulent purchases were made. Through the Director of Operations of Holden’s, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Computer Crimes Division was able to trace back the source of the hack to a MAC address of a computer on the WWU campus.

Following a search and seizure warrant executed by SLED at the on campus apartment of Peyton Scott and Lander Mason, Peyton Scott was charged with financial transaction card fraud, financial transaction card or number theft, and computer crime. Lander Mason worked with SLED and alleged that everything seized within the apartment was the property of Peyton Scott. Peyton Scott admitted to causing the breach, but claimed to charge only $10 on each of the five contracted credit cards. Further, Peyton Scott reported the website breach to Professor Malloy as part of the contract with WWU and Holden’s.

2014 HSMT Case - Kelly Simon v Terry Swift and Eastside High School - Civil
Jordan Simon was a 17-year old senior in high school who unexpectedly died of a heart attack. Jordan began running as a youngster, and had real promise. Jordan joined Eastside High School’s track team as a freshman, and quickly developed into a star sprinter. At the time of Jordan’s death, Jordan was competing for a track scholarship to a Division 1 university.

The autopsy revealed Jordan’s bloodstream contained the steroid Erythropoietin (pronounced, ah-rith-ro-poy-tin, and abbreviated, EPO). EPO is used medically to treat certain forms of anemia. Athletes use EPO to improve performance, because it increases the oxygen carrying capacity of blood. EPO also increases the blood viscosity, which can cause the blood to sludge and clog capillaries, resulting in a heart attack.
Kelly Simon, Jordan’s surviving parent, has filed a lawsuit against Eastside High School and Terry Swift, the track coach, claiming Eastside and Terry were negligent in causing Jordan’s death. Specifically, Kelly claims Terry and the school’s athletic department: (i) encouraged Jordan to use steroids; and (ii) should have known Jordan was using steroids and taken steps to stop Jordan’s steroid use.

Terry and Eastside deny Kelly’s claims, and contend: (i) Jordan assumed the risk of using steroids; and (ii) Kelly was comparatively negligent in not (a) discovering Jordan was using steroids, and (b) taking steps to stop Jordan’s steroid use.

This is a bifurcated trial on the issue of liability only; damages are not at issue.

2013 HSMT Case - Logan Gray vs. JML Properties, Inc. d/b/a Meadows Resort and Spa - Civil
This civil case is set in Spartan, South Carolina. During the night and early morning hours of July 11-12, 2008, while the Plaintiff attempted to sleep, the Plaintiff suffered numerous bed bug bites. The Plaintiff was employed as a news anchor and investigative reporter, who aired a news story on bed bug infestation occurring at one of the JML Properties. The defendant, JML Properties, alleges that the bed bugs were planted by the Plaintiff. The defendant also claims that the news story was defamatory and deterred potential guests from booking or keeping reservations at the hotel. As a result, the Defendant has sustained substantial financial losses.

2012 HSMT Case - Tony Morganelli v Sandstone Insurance Group - Civil
This case is set in Longstreet, South Carolina. On August 14, 2007, Big Tony’s BBQ Restaurant, owned by Tony Morganelli, burned and was completely destroyed. Tony Morganelli claims that an intruder charged into the restaurant after hours and demanded money from the register. In the ensuing struggle, Tony claims that the restaurant burned down.

Tony filed a claim with his/her insurance company, Sandstone Insurance Group, or Sandstone. Sandstone denied the claim, stating essentially that it believes the fire was set by Tony. They claim that when a local textile plant closed the restaurant lost a significant amount of business, and Tony burned the restaurant down to claim the insurance proceeds and defraud Sandstone.

2011 HSMT Case - Addison Neesen (as Personal Representative on Behalf of Christopher Neesen, Deceased), v. Town of Butler - Civil
June 25, 2010, was a quiet evening in Butler. Park County Schools had let out for the summer a few days before. Now that summer had arrived, students were focused on daily jaunts to the beach, so close to the beach they could make a day of it and still be home by curfew. Sgt. Delaney DeShane was conducting routine patrol operations inside the town limits in addition to supervising the Charlie shift with Butler Police Department (BPD). With Butler being a quiet jurisdiction, Sgt. DeShane spent most of the time dealing with traffic offenses and looking for the odd DUI case. With school letting out, the traffic citations went up, especially with students going back and forth to the beach and trying to beat curfew. As such, on Friday evenings like June 25, 2010, Sgt. DeShane parked on US Highway 52 facing southbound. As an SUV rapidly approached the squad car, DeShane could make out that it belonged to local teen Jamie Adams. As the officer activated the blue lights before even getting the car in gear, DeShane noticed that the Chevrolet SUV didn’t slow down at all. In fact as the tone on the radar system indicated, it was accelerating.

Towards the other end of town, Christopher Neesen, the star soccer player from Butler High School was on his way home from a date after dropping off his girlfriend. He was texting her on the way home. The pursuit coming up US Highway 52 at a high rate of speed arrived at the same time that he entered the intersection. Jamie Adams’ 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe struck the driver’s door of Christopher Neesen’s Dodge Neon SRT4 with catastrophic results. The Dodge was crushed, killing Christopher Neesen. The Tahoe’s occupant, Jamie Adams was injured behind the wheel of the Tahoe. Jamie Adams was transported to MUSC Charleston for care. Coroner Matthews was called to the scene and pronounced Christopher Neesen dead on scene.

While under care at MUSC, Jamie Adams was charged with reckless driving, failure to stop for blue lights, and manslaughter. All blood work was drawn at the time of the accident. The toxicology report showed no alcohol or other narcotics in Jamie’s system.
During the criminal trial, Jamie Adams pled guilty in a negotiated plea to reckless driving, and failure to stop for blue lights. Manslaughter charges were dropped. As a result of the plea, Jamie surrendered driving privileges until 21 years of age, paid a $880.00 fine, and will have to maintain SR-22 Insurance for a period of 3 years following drivers’ license reinstatement.

2010 HSMT Case - State of SC v. Taylor Durden - Criminal
The Greek and honors societies at Daniel Morgan University draw large numbers of students each year through their bid process. As a college predominantly in a rural area, these societies offer the social opportunities that cannot be found in the outside community. Though the honors societies choose their members differently than the traditional Greek organizations, there still remains an honored ritual of bid, acceptance, and initiation. Epsilon Sigma Epsilon (ESE) is no different in that regard. As a University accredited honors society, they are by nature co-ed. ESE engages primarily in service related activities, although there is an optional pledge process, as well as social events. Though not a traditional Greek organization, ESE has its own house through the generous philanthropy of an alumni member. ESE has all of the traditional roles as with Greek societies, like the chapter president, vice president, treasurer, social chair, education chair, and pledge master.

Saturday, August 29, 2009, was the last day in the pledge week for the ESE pledges. Throughout the week they had participated in various activities commonly referred to as the Pledge Olympics. This included activities each day, such as wiffle ball in the back yard, quiz sessions on University and ESE history, and team building activities. What loomed before the pledges on that Saturday afternoon was made out by other members to be the most dreaded event – Water Jeopardy. This was a variant of JeopardyTM that was the culmination of all their studies about ESE and Daniel Morgan University. Much like JeopardyTM, contestants provided questions to the answers that were on the board. Only instead of earning points it was to avoid chugging water. Years ago ESE developed this as an alternative to forcing pledges to chug beer, which was clearly against University rules. Against the wall in the basement of the ESE house was a row of normal office water coolers, all with five gallon water jugs. The penalty for a wrong answer was to drink for a time period that increased with the value of the question. Failure to put the answer in the form of a question necessitated an even longer drinking period. Pledges were told that they could not go to the bathroom while playing the game. Nursing student Tammy Canes (who convinced Jessica Bateson to pledge with her) got fed up with the treatment during Water Jeopardy and quit. Additionally, Tammy said she learned in nursing classes that this was probably dangerous to all the participants. After consuming an excessive amount of water during Water Jeopardy, Jessica collapsed and appeared to have passed out. This scared the pledge master, pledges, and other members of ESE who were present. 911 was called. EMS and University Police responded. EMS found Jessica in an unresponsive state and transported her to the local hospital. Jessica Bateson died within two hours of the collapse without ever regaining consciousness. From the initial investigation, Sgt. Chris Knight found no wrongdoing and concluded that Jessica simply collapsed while playing an ESE game. Further investigation prompted by the results of the autopsy, indicated that Jessica died due to a swollen brain stem brought on by acute hyponatremia from overconsumption of water. Pledge Master Taylor Durden was charged with involuntary manslaughter, and the lesser included offense of hazing. ESE Chapter President Alex Richards was granted criminal immunity and agreed to testify for the state, though civil suits are pending.

2009 HSMT Case - A&M Records v. KC Jones - Civil
KC Jones, the defendant, is a junior at Eagles University. Prior to college KC traveled with his/her parents and eventually anchored in Westover, where s/he became best of friends with Pat Cline. During high school KC became a DJ and delivered pizzas. KC continued with his/her DJ business during college and is being sued by the recording industry trade association for illegally downloading and distributing music. KC claims that s/he is not guilty and suspects others of spoofing. KC Jones is not being accused of illegally downloading and distributing music by just any one. KC was identified by Ricki/y James who now works for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) only after being caught him/herself after a fluke of bad luck.

Pat Cline has been called to testify against KC. Pat and KC were best of friends until Pat also received a letter from RIAA for downloading music illegally. Pat decided to settle for $3,000 and asked KC to pay half since Pat felt like KC downloaded some music for the DJ gigs on his/her laptop. KC denied having anything to do with downloading music and refused to pay half. They eventually made up. In the meantime, the University banned Pat’s Internet privileges for one year with another year on probationary status, which made it difficult to do Internet research for school. Since those occurrences, KC is now being sued for the same illegal activity. Jordan Parks is also a friend of KC Jones and will testify on KC’s behalf.

Chris Autry attends Eagles University pursuing a degree in computer science and works as a computer tech assistant for The Willow Dorm complex. Chris Autry is very confident about his/her computer skills and admits to having spoofed in the past, but that s/he doesn’t do it any more. Chris Autry reports that s/he has worked on KC’s laptop as well as Pat Cline’s laptop in the past as they always seem to need help on their computers. Chris helps people over the phone, goes to their dorms and even will meet students at various meeting places on campus to assist them with their computer needs.

Andie/y Gibb has been attending Eagles University for six years majoring in criminal justice and works at The Beanery Café, which is an Internet café. The café gets a lot of traffic from the students. Andie/y Gibb has been called to testify as to what was witnessed during spring break at The Beanery Café as this was a place that KC Jones, Pat Cline, and Jordan Parks were often seen together with their laptops.

2008 HSMT Case - Lee Cavanaugh v. Winkies Food Corporation - Civil
Throughout the history of the American judicial system, there have been a handful of cases that have captured the attention of the public, stirred debate (both scholarly and pedestrian), and influenced changes in law and public policy. Often, the individuals involved in these cases are ripped from their lives of ordinariness and obscurity to become fodder for a media frenzy and insatiable public consumption. One such person was Stella Liebeck, a 79 year-old grandmother from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Little did she know on that innocuous day in 1990, when she bought a 49-cent cup of coffee at the drive-thru window of her local McDonald's, that even today - seventeen years later - she would be vilified by some as the epitome of a money-grubbing Plaintiff bent on blaming someone for her self-inflicted misfortune and canonized by others as a stalwart underdog who stood up to greedy corporate America for ignoring grave danger its products pose to innocent and unsuspecting consumers. Unfortunately, the truth gets lost in the mire of persistent rhetoric made only more intense with the birth of the blogosphere.

The truth is that we have a system of civil justice in this country that rivals any other in fairness and due process. An injured person is given the opportunity to demonstrate to a jury of peers the facts that support a claim for compensation against the party that person believes to have wrongly caused those injuries. At the same time, the party accused of wrongly causing those injuries has the same opportunity to challenge the injured person’s claim, requiring that the injured person prove the claim by a preponderance of evidence. Also part of this process is a judge, someone with knowledge of the law, who is charged with ensuring that both parties receive a fair hearing and that everyone ??" including the jury - follows the rules set out by our society through our representatives in government. Regardless of whether you are on the side of the money-grubbing Plaintiff or greedy corporate America in the endless debate about the lawsuit that has come to be known as the McDonald’s Coffee Case, we can all agree that there is no system of civil justice in the world like ours and that we are lucky to
have it.

The 2008 South Carolina High School Mock Trial Case was inspired by the events related to Liebeck vs. McDonald’s. Although there are some similarities to the famous case, the facts are significantly altered. As with any mock trial case based on true events, it is important to remember that you are limited to the facts presented on these pages. This exercise is designed to teach you to not get distracted by the hype on the Internet or swayed by the rhetoric of the media when you consider the true facts of a civil dispute brought to our courts. Civil cases are about real people ??" whether they are just trying to sell a cup of coffee or just trying to buy a cup of coffee. And while history and the court of public opinion will always pass their own judgments, in this court, with this case, the parties will have their day and the jury will render its judgment.

2007 HSMT Case - State of South Carolina v. Lane Miles - Criminal
The parties at "The Haunted House" were legendary at Glendon University, especially the Halloween party. Lane Miles, Shannon Phillips and Drew Harding had hosted several parties at their house on Hampton Drive over the past four years. The biggest party each year was on Halloween, when a hooded and masked figure dressed as the Grim Reaper would ominously distribute drinks to certain guests at precisely midnight. The Grim Reaper became a staple at the Halloween parties and it always seemed like one person got a little too "out of control" after the visit from the Reaper. The odd thing is, it was always the one person everyone would least expect to lose control. Nevertheless, the antics livened up the party. Little did everyone know that Lane Miles, Drew Harding and Shannon Phillips were spiking one drink during the Reaper "prank" with MDMA, an illegal drug commonly referred to as Ecstasy or X. Shannon knew where to buy the drug, Drew would make sure the mark would come to the party and Lane would dress as the Grim Reaper and make sure to give the mark the spiked drink. They would meet about a week before the party to decide who was going to get the drink.

The Halloween party on October 31, 2006, seemed to be like the last three Halloween parties at the Haunted House. At midnight, the Grim Reaper entered the main room, passed out a few drinks and then disappeared. The mark that night was Jason Richardson, a student everyone assumed to be meek and shy – a "science geek." Very shortly after drinking the cocktail, Jason suddenly and horrifically dropped dead. After his death, it was discovered that Jason, while on the surface an ordinary guy had, in reality, a very unsavory habit. After an investigation and questioning by Detective Chris Knight, Lane Miles was charged with murder. Shannon pled guilty to simple possession and serving alcohol to minors and agreed to testify for the state. Drew was not charged.

2006 HSMT Case - State of Illinois v. Joseph Jefferson Wofford Jackson - Criminal
In 1919, the Chicago White Sox, owned by Charlie Comiskey and managed by Willie "Kid" Gleason, won the American League pennant and was headed toward the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Because of the quality of their players, the Chicago White Sox team was favored to win the Series.

One or more players on the Chicago White Sox determined to make a deal with a gambling syndicate to fix the World Series. Prior to the end of the regular baseball season, Joseph Jackson, who was one of the star players on the White Sox, was approached by teammate Chick Gandil about a plan to throw the Series. Jackson refused.

In the days that followed players and gamblers made arrangements and agreements which were on one day and off the next, concerning the players' share of the gambling proceeds. For the most part, the gamblers refused to or were unable to meet the players' demands for money in advance. Some payments were made in advance and some during the Series. Two different gambling syndicates were involved, in effect bidding against each other, with both seeking cash from Arnold Rothstein, a wealthy New York gambler. Even as the Series began, there were questions as to whether there was an agreement to throw the Series.

Rumors about a fix circulated before the Series began. Jackson, was sufficiently troubled by these rumors to seek to have himself benched for the first game, but Manager Gleason refused this request. After the first game, which the Sox lost, Gleason discussed the rumors with Comiskey but had no proof to offer. Comiskey took the reported rumors to officials of both leagues, but, in part because he had no direct proof, his concerns were dismissed as sour grapes because his team was losing.

The Reds won five of eight games to become the world champions of 1919. After the Series, Jackson was given $5000 by teammate Lefty Williams. Jackson became irate and claimed that he was not part of plan to throw the World Series. On the next morning, Jackson tried to see Comiskey to report on the money given to him, but his efforts were rebuffed.

Comiskey conducted a private investigation into the gambling rumors but learned nothing, except that Gandil's financial situation had improved. Soon the 1919 Series was forgotten and preparations for the 1920 season began. When Jackson returned, his 1920 contract unsigned, he was visited by Harry Grabiner, Comiskey's secretary, who urged Jackson to sign for the amount being offered and reminded Jackson that Comiskey knew all about Jackson receiving a payment to throw the Series.

When more rumors regarding fixing other baseball games erupted during the 1920 season, baseball's commissioner launched a full-scale investigation into a broad range of alleged misconduct throughout baseball, which included the 1919 Series. One of the gamblers talked, and that broke open the investigation, leading to Jackson and seven other players being charged. Pending the trial, Comiskey suspended Jackson and the other suspected teammates from playing for the White Sox.

Jackson was charged with six crimes: gambling; accepting a bribe; failure to report offer of a bribe; attempt to gamble; attempt to accept a bribe; and conspiracy to gamble.

2005 HSMT Case - Pat Baggins v. Carson Riddle and Cole County School District #36 - Civil
The 2001-2002 athletic season started out as a great one for the teams at Bay City High School. As always, the girls' basketball team started the season with a winning record, and were on their way to another state title. Coach Pat Baggins was leading them all the way, with Coach Tandy Mattison at their side. Michele Jordan was their star player. She was quick, a great strategist, and had a great future ahead of her in basketball. That is, until the ride home from a game in February 2002 when Coach Baggins kicked her off of the team when s/he believed s/he caught Michele dipping snuff on the back of the bus. Bobbie Coozie often traveled with the team and was on the bus the night of the incident.

As part of the school newspaper, "The Weekly Warthog," Bobbie Coozie had set up the newspaper online with several discussion forums under the school's main Web site where students could talk about different issues related to school events and topics. S/he had created one for people to discuss athletics, and the girls' basketball team was a primary interest. But, after Michele was kicked off of the team, the forum evolved into more of a call to fire Coach Baggins. The discussion boards were overloading the server and Bobbie Coozie asked to have a new server installed, dedicated to handling the discussion forums. Previously, however, Bobbie Coozie created another Web link called "FireCoachBaggins.com." The cry to have Coach Baggins removed as head coach continued until a discussion member posted a link to what appeared to be Coach Baggins official resume. This resume indicated that Coach Baggins had credentials that s/he in fact did not have. The group that had been determined to have Coach Baggins fired finally had the evidence they felt they needed to make it so. Unfortunately, the original resume had been given to a previous principal who had left the school a few years before, and could not remember the details of the resume. On checking the school's records, the Principal, Cason Riddle, also could not find the resume in the coach�s personnel file at the district office. Riddle concluded that the resume on the Web site appeared to be legitimate, and fired the coach.

Coach Baggins was fired at a PTA meeting for falsifying his/her resume, and has brought suit against the Cole County School District 36 for wrongful termination. The coach named the School District as the Defendant, since the Principal had authorized the Web site where the resume had been posted, as agent for the District.

Plaintiff Baggins has sued Cason Riddle individually for defamation. Plaintiff Baggins has settled and released all claims against Cole County School District 36, so that Cason Riddle is the only remaining defendant.

2004 HSMT Case: State of South Carolina v. Chris Lee - Criminal
The Abraham Lincoln High School Senior Formal was held on May 16, 2003. Following the formal, several students went to the home of Chris Lee. Chris's parents were out of town for the weekend. When Chris's parents returned, they learned of the unauthorized party when they discovered a broken dining room window, a raided liquor cabinet, and a missing gun. Mr. Lee reported the stolen gun to the police. Chris was grounded until the end of the school year.

In spite of being grounded, Chris attended a party the following Friday, May 23, 2003, at the home of classmate Alex Fisher. Chris was seen at the party arguing with longtime friend Amanda ("Mandy") Jackson. Sometime later, Chris and Mandy reportedly left in Mandy's car with Mandy's former boyfriend, Josh Grant.

Late in the evening on Saturday, May 24, 2003, Mandy's mother reported her missing. She was last seen leaving the party with Josh and Chris. On Sunday, May 25, 2003, Mandy's car was found in the parking lot near the playground at a local park. The police found a bullet and blood stains in the car.

Josh left for the Army on Monday, May 26, 2003, before the police could locate and interview him. He had registered the Monday after the senior formal. The police were unable to contact Josh as he had been deployed to the Persian Gulf.

After interviewing witnesses and conducting extensive forensic analysis, the police arrested and charged Chris Lee for the murder of Mandy Jackson. Mandy's body was never found.

2003 HSMT Case: Winford Mable v. Clearwater Poultry Company
Runoff from our farms and cities -non-point  pollution- is South Carolina's greatest cause of water quality problems, degrading or threatening our streams and lakes, harbors and coastal waters, and substantial groundwater and wetland areas.  The effects of polluted runoff can be seen in fish habitat destruction, fish kills, siltation of harbors and streams, decline in recreational use of lakes, and a reduction in drinking water quality. But non­ point pollution inputs are difficult to measure because of their dispersed origins and because they vary with the seasons and the weather. Under normal circumstances, non­ point pollution is a serious problem, but at times, the problem can be exacerbated and can result in tragic consequences.  Animal waste contains disease-causing pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, and fecal coliform, which can be I 0 to I 00 times more concentrated than in human waste. More than 40 diseases can be transferred to humans through manure.
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South Carolina agricultural regulations define certain larger animal feeding operations as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) based on the number of animals serviced there.  And, smaller animal feeding operations are not subject to agricultural regulations or permit requirements.  The regulations do not require CAFOs to operate coast plants if the facility only discharges to surface waters when a storm event equal to or greater than the twenty-five year, twenty-four hour storm occurs.  In other words, CAFOs are allowed to discharge untreated waste to surface waters under certain conditions, such as when there are catastrophic or chronic rainfall events or the twenty­ five year, twenty-four hour storm occurs or is exceeded.  However, all new agricultural lagoons/treatment  systems must be designed as no discharge systems.  To ensure no discharge to surface waters, many CAFOs use agricultural lagoons.  Agricultural lagoons are designed to have a volume such that the manure generated at the facility during the time period between land applications, the normal rainfall occurring between land applications, and the rainfall from the twenty-five year, twenty-four hour storm event can all be stored in the lagoon while maintaining at least one and one half (I 112) foot of freeboard at all times.  Also, adequate crop land must be provided for land application of the contents of the lagoon at agronomic rates on a viable crop in accordance with an approved animal facility management plan.

The Clearwater  Poultry Company owns 800 acres ofland adjacent to Stuckey State Park in Clearwater  County, South Carolina.  The Company maintains eight poultry houses, two one-acre poultry waste lagoons, and 330 acres of crop fields (primarily corn and soybean).  The 800 acres run along the east branch of Avalon Creek.  The company has used the land to operate its poultry and egg production business for 62 years.

On August 1, 2002 a group of Clearwater High School students went to Stuckey Park and hiked to a spot on Avalon Creek about a mile north of Holmes Lake. On entering the trail, there is a sign put up by the county that reads, "Swim at your own risk."  After some of the students  drank some beer and some homemade grape juice, they went tubing and swimming  in the creek.  A few days later, three of the students became ill from what health officials determined was cryptosporidiosis.  William Mable, one of the students, died.  His parents are suing the Clearwater Poultry Company for wrongful death claiming that the company knew or should have known that the creek had become polluted by runoff  and leaching from animal waste and did not take reasonable steps to address the
issue.

2002 HSMT Case: State of SC v. Toni(y) Hampton - Criminal
Raven Valley High School was well known for their championship soccer team. It seemed that they were invincible and no other team could beat them. They had taken the state title for the last 5 years and 2001 seemed no different. They were playing better than ever and most of the wins were due to the two "star" players; Randi(y) Aiken and Toni(y) Hampton. Randi(y) and Toni(y) were highly competitive both against opponents and with each other. Sometimes that competitiveness spilled over to off the field activities.

In January 2001, the soccer team of Raven Valley High School was staying at the beach for four days while participating in the state tournament. Three students, Randi(y) Aiken, Toni(y) Hampton and Kelly(ey) Greenwood shared a hotel room. On January 25, 2001, the first evening of the trip, Officer Lee Beaufort, the school resource officer traveling with the team, entered the students' hotel room. Upon entering the room, Officer Beaufort found all three students present. Toni(y) was holding a plastic bag containing a green leafy substance and a package of cigarette rolling papers. Both Randi(y) and Kelly(ey) were holding what appeared to be lighted marijuana cigarettes. Officer Beaufort looked at the weed in Toni(y)'s hand, and asked, "Is that marijuana?" Randi(y) admitted it was.

All three were arrested. Randi(y) and Kelly(ey) were charged with possession of marijuana, but since Toni(y) was holding more of the drug, s/he was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute, a much more serious offense. Kelly(ey) pled guilty to Simple Possession and was ordered to pay a fine. Also, Kelly(ey) was expelled from school. Randi(y) entered into a plea agreement; however, his/her charges were dismissed in exchange for his/her testimony against Toni(y). Randi(y) was not expelled from school. Toni(y) has pled not guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute and is now on trial.

2001 HSMT Case:  Taylor Cole v. Mayfield School District
Taylor Cole, a Junior at Jesse James High School, was very good looking, the star athlete and extremely popular.  Taylor had been among the “in-crowd” since elementary school and as a result, had gotten quite used to the idea that anyone that was not accepted by this clique should be shunned and considered a Jesse James “cool crew” outcast.  It became part of the “cool crew” daily ritual to walk the halls with their heads up high as they chastised any pupil that did not wear the latest clothes, listen to the hippest cd’s, or own the newest VW or SUV.

Unfortunately, Jordan Coker was often a victim of the “in-crowd’s” wrath. For, Jordan was not, and had never been, a member of the elite “cool crew”.  Jordan was cursed with a pimply face and stringy oily hair–which in the eyes of the “cool crew” could never be cured by even the hottest clothes and most expensive car.  Not to mention, Jordan was smarter than the rest of the students.  
One Friday morning Jordan awoke and took a look in the mirror and proclaimed to him/herself that s/he was worthy of respect.  S/He would no longer subject him/herself to the ridicule that Taylor Cole and entourage dished out day in and day out!  Jordan put on the coolest outfit s/he owned and proceeded to school, ready to face another day.  

As always, when Jordan passed Taylor and the “Crew” on the way to first period Taylor made jokes about Jordan’s appearance, saying that “the Crew was tired of seeing Jordan’s disgusting face in the hallway.”  Usually Jordan would sulk and slump away (trying very hard to avoid making eye contact with Taylor–the coolest of them all), but today was different . . . Jordan shouted back!  To avoid embarrassment, Taylor did the only thing that any respectable “Crew” member would do . . . Taylor pushed Jordan! (So hard that Jordan’s glasses fell to the ground and were stepped on as a result of the tussle.)  The assistant principal saw the physical altercation and hurried to intervene.  The assistant principal reprimanded Jordan and Taylor and assigned both of them to afternoon detention, and sent them back to their regular morning classes.

As they walked away Taylor whispered something to Jordan and hurried off to class.  Lunchtime followed class and Jordan walked home and took a gun from his/her father’s gun collection.  As Jordan walked back to Jesse James High School, s/he was full of adrenaline and thought smugly “this should show ‘em.”

That afternoon Taylor was first to arrive in the designated detention classroom.  As Taylor began to take out the homework assignment for that night, the door to the classroom swung open and there stood Jordan, gun in hand.  Jordan pulled the trigger several times hitting Taylor once in the left shoulder.  Jordan then threw down the gun and ran out of the room.
 

2000 HSMT Case:  State of SC v. Kit Carson
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 16, 1999, Kit Carson took her child, Drew Carson Sherwood, to Simmons Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room; one year old Drew was unconscious.  Drew was treated in the Emergency Room and then admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the hospital where he slipped into a coma.  He remained comatose until he died Thursday, February 18, 1999.  The cause of death was shaken baby syndrome.  After a police investigation, Kit Carson was charged with the murder of Drew.  The Solicitor's Office is prosecuting 18 year old, Kit Carson.  Kit Carson denies that she murdered her child.

Kit Carson married Sam Sherwood after she found out she was pregnant in 1997.  The two separated around December 1998.  Kit Carson works full-time at Hamburger Heaven as a cashier.  Sam Sherwood works with a construction company as a bricklayer.  Drew was the couple's only child.