CUSTOMIZED, CREATIVE LEGAL STRATEGIES LET'S GET STARTED

DAVID F. STODDARD

Some lawyers make their living in the courtroom; others find their calling reviewing contracts and handling transactions. As for me — I’m a trial lawyer.

Throughout my 25-year career (and counting!), I have litigated cases in courtrooms throughout South Carolina. Seeing as my casework revolves around DUIs, other criminal charges, and personal injuries of every variety, it’s no wonder why. When faced with a legal concern that falls within the realm of criminal defense or personal injury, you need a trial-ready lawyer to ensure you’re well represented no matter which direction your case may take.

A UNIQUE LEGAL BACKGROUND

If you’re not a lawyer, terms like “civil litigation” and “criminal litigation” may seem foreign. Allow me to put aside the legal jargon and explain how my unique background in law can benefit your case whether it’s criminal (you v. the state of South Carolina) or civil (you v. another person or business).

After law school, I started out my career as a criminal prosecutor — meaning it was my job to put the guilty behind bars. In that role, I prosecuted those accused of murder, rape, drug crimes, white collar crimes, and much more. When, 8 years later, I decided to switch sides and defend the criminally accused, I was already extremely familiar with the local courts, judges, laws, and procedures. Fast forward to now, more than three decades since the start of my career, and you can rest assured that my criminal defense experience is hard to match.

Some things in life are worth fighting for. Your peace of mind is one of them.

EXPANDING INTO PERSONAL INJURY & FAMILY LAW

It was after I worked as a criminal prosecutor that I decided to branch out my practice into the areas of personal injury and family law. The reason: I realized how much my trial skills could help those in seriously stressful situations. Getting hurt in an accident is painful enough; add medical bills, time missed from work, and an insurance dispute to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Likewise, there’s nothing easy about going through a divorce or struggling to set up a fair child custody and visitation arrangement. I knew I could help.

As I’ve said, I’m a trial lawyer by nature. However, going to trial is not my top priority; taking care of my clients is. In other words, if I see a way to resolve your matter without you having to step foot in a courtroom — that’s what I’ll strive to do. If, on the other hand, your case requires a more aggressive approach, you can bet that I’ll already have Plans B-Z ready to go. That is the advantage of working with an experienced trial lawyer.

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • South Carolina, 1985

EDUCATION

  • J.D. - University of South Carolina, 1985

  • B.S. - Clemson University, 1982

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIP

  • South Carolina Bar Association

  • American Bar Association

  • South Carolina Association for Justice

  • American Association for Justice