James Meggs

James Meggs

Of Counsel

1812 Lincoln Street
Columbia, South Carolina

Biography

Jim Meggs graduated from The Citadel in 1974 and received his Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina in 1977. 

After several years in private practice, he joined the office of the City Attorney for the City of Columbia, South Carolina.  In his early years with the City, he was the primary civil litigator for the office.  In 1990, he was promoted to City Attorney and served for 17 years in that capacity before joining the firm in 2007.  Until June 30, 2010, he served the City as Corporation Counsel, responsible for special projects and providing on demand resources for the City Council.

During his municipal law career, Jim represented Columbia and its officials in a wide array of cases including tort liability, eminent domain, construction disputes, intergovernmental relations, land use planning, and zoning.  He was trial counsel in a prominent federal anti-trust case which found its way to the United States Supreme Court in 1991 and effectively ended the threat to local governments for money damage liability under federal antitrust law.  City of Columbia, et al. v. Omni Outdoor Advertising, Inc. 499 U.S. 365, 111 S.Ct. 1344,113 LEd. 2d 382 (1991)  In addition to his trial experience, he prepared and argued over twenty-five cases in the appellate courts of South Carolina and in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jim was admitted to practice in South Carolina in 1977, to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1984 and the United States Supreme Court in 1989.

He served as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law teaching in the areas of land use regulation and local government.

He was elected to two terms as President of the South Carolina Municipal Lawyers Association, chaired the Government Law Section of the South Carolina Bar, and served for a number of years as the South Carolina State Chair of the International Municipal Lawyers Association.

Jim's practice concentrates on litigation, zoning and land use planning, local government, and assisting firm clients in navigating through the maze of the local government environment.

Representative Cases:

DISCLAIMER:  THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES ARE INTENDED ONLY TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF MR. MEGGS’ PRACTICE.  MR. MEGGS IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CONTENT.  THESE EXAMPLES ARE NOT INTENDED TO, AND CANNOT BE RELIED UPON TO PREDICT THE RESULTS IN ANY OTHER CASE.

  • City of Columbia & Columbia Outdoor Advertising. Inc. v. Omni Outdoor Advertising, Inc., 499 U.S. 365,111 S.Ct. 1344 (1991)
  • State of South Carolina, ex rel. Charles M. Condon v. City of Columbia, 339 S.C. 8, 528 S.E. 2d 408 (2000)
  • Calcaterra v. City of Columbia, 315 S.C. 196, 432 S.E. 2d 498 (Ct. App. 1993)            
  • State By State Budget & Control Bd. v. City of Columbia, 308 S.C. 487, 419 S.E. 2d 229 (1992)    
  • Newman v. Richland County Historic Preservation Commission, 325 S.C. 79, 480 S.E. 2d 72 (1997)
  • City of Columbia v. Town of Irmo, 316 S.C. 193, 447 S.E. 2d 855 (1994)
  • Bannum, Incorporated v. The City of Columbia, 1999 WL 672108 (4th Cir. (S.C.) 1999)
  • John F. Williams v. City of Columbia, 906 F. 2d 994 (1991)
  • Brabham v. City of Columbia, 293 S.C. 266, 360 S.E. 2d 144 (1987)
  • Torrie Taylor v. Douglas Murphy and The City of Columbia. Beverly Mobley v. Checker Yellow Cab and City of Columbia, 316 S.C. 360, 314 S.E. 2d 293 (1987)                        
  • Manning v. City of Columbia, Columbia, 297 S.C. 451, 377 S.E. 2d 335 (1989)
  • Jennie Dreher Evins v. Richland County Historic Preservation Commission City of Columbia, South Carolina.  County of Richland, South Carolina and the Historic Columbia Foundation, 341 S.C. 15, 532 S.E. 2d 876 (2000)    
  • City of Columbia v. Jennings, et al., 288 S.C., 79, 339 S.E. 2d 534 (Ct. App. 1986)
  • Ballenger Corporation v. City of Columbia, 286 S.C. 1, 331 S.E. 2d 365 (Ct. App. 1985)
    Practice Areas
    Admissions
    • South Carolina, 1977
    • U.S. District Court District of South Carolina, 1977
    • U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1981
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    Education
    • University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D. 1977)
    • The Citadel (B.A. 1974, Political Science)