Dixon Robertson, Lawyer.

Construction and Design Contracts and Claims

Professional

Lawyer, 1984 to Present

  • Civil trials in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and appeals
  • Represent commercial contractors, design professionals, subcontractors, material suppliers and bond sureties in bid protests, payment disputes and delay and impact claims
  • Draft, negotiate and review construction and design contracts and other documents used in the construction process
  • Prosecute claims for building and design defects for homeowners, condominium associations and other building owners
  • Conduct general civil litigation, including breach of contract, lender liability, class actions, and product liability claims
  • Brief and argue appeals before South Carolina appellate courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Affiliations

  • Of Counsel, McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC, Columbia, 2008 to 2011 Fifteen-lawyer trial practice representing plaintiffs in civil litigation throughout South Carolina
  • Owner, William Dixon Robertson III, Attorney, Columbia, 1996 to 2008 Solo trial practice representing plaintiffs in building defect litigation
  • Partner, Bowers Orr & Robertson LLP, Columbia, 1989 to 1996 Boutique litigation firm representing varied clientele in South Carolina, Texas, New York, New Jersey and Illinois
  • Associate, Nexsen Pruet Jacobs & Pollard, Columbia, 1985 to 1989 Mid-size full service law firm representing business clients in litigation and transactions
  • Law Clerk to Judge Randall T. Bell, South Carolina Court of Appeals, 1984 to 1985

Accomplishments

  • First lawyer to serve on the board of directors for Carolinas Association of General Contractors, 1997-1999
  • Co-counsel in Addleman v. The Ryland Group, a class arbitration involving over 5000 households in Florida whose homes leaked because of defective construction. Following certification as a class action, settled the case by establishing a fund to pay for repairs
  • Built a solo law practice from a single hourly client into a contingency plaintiffs’ firm with over $700,000 in annual fees
  • Resolved over 100 claims for artificial stucco siding, or EIFS, including two cases tried to verdict, four arbitrations tried to award, and scores of settlements, enabling these homeowners to repair their houses, in most cases by replacing the defective stucco
  • Briefed and argued Kirkman v. Parex, 632 S.E.2d 854 (S.C. 2006), where the South Carolina Supreme Court refused to enforce a warranty disclaimer inserted in the homeowners’ deed and set forth strict requirements for limiting or disclaiming home warranties
  • Briefed and argued Old Claussen’s Bakery Partners v. Mattox Electric Service, 399 S.E.2d 5 (S.C. App, 1990), where the Court of Appeals held that warranty work performed by a contractor extended the time in which to file and serve a mechanic’s lien

Associations

  • American Bar Association, 1985 to present, including its Solo/Small Firm and Litigation sections and Forum Committee on the Construction Industry
  • American Association for Justice, 2004 to present
  • South Carolina Association for Justice, 2004 to present
  • John Belton O’Neall American Inn of Court, 1988 to present

Admissions

  • South Carolina, 1984
  • United States District Court, District of South Carolina, 1985
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 1988
  • Admitted pro hac vice at various times in Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina

Education

University of South Carolina School of Law
Columbia, SC
Juris Doctor, December 1983

  • First Honor Graduate
  • Victor Michalewitz Award for Excellence in Legal Writing
  • Order of the Coif
  • Law Review
  • Student Editor, Journal of Law and Education

University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Bachelor of Arts, May 1980

  • Political Science Major
  • South Carolina Honors Program
  • Delta Chapter, Sigma Nu Fraternity

Other

Bill Saunders for South Carolina State Senate
Charleston, SC
Campaign Manager, March - November 1980

  • First African-American candidate to win a contested primary runoff election in South Carolina since Reconstruction
  • Led all but one Democratic Party candidate on Charleston County general election ballot

United States Army
Schweinfurt, FRG
1974-1976

  • Infantry Soldier (11C20)
  • Specialist Four (E4)
  • Assigned to Combat Support Company and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division
  • Awarded Army Commendation Medal for distinguished service

References available upon request.