Lawyer Bio : Charles J. Baker III

Charles J. Baker III

Charleston

Chuck Baker is a trial lawyer with over twenty years experience representing a wide variety of business interests. His clients range from major national and regional companies to locally owned concerns, in court cases in both the state and federal systems. Mr. Baker also has extensive experience advising construction and media clients about their business activities so as to avoid later litigation. While most of his clients are defendants, he has represented business plaintiffs in insurance coverage and construction matters. His product liability clients have included manufacturers of exterior insulation and finish systems or synthetic stucco (over 400 cases), medical devices, air rifles, paintball guns, dye products, fire retardant treated lumber, industrial machinery, and automobiles. In professional liability matters, he has represented lawyers, architects, insurance agents, and real estate agents. Mr. Baker has also argued several appeals before the South Carolina Supreme Court and the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
 
Representative Matters:
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
  • Defense verdict in legal malpractice case involving claim of over $1,500,000.
  • Defense verdict in legal malpractice involving claim of over $500,000.
  • Defense verdict in libel case against television station involving claim of $7,000,000.
  • Representation of contractors and construction product manufacturers in numerous matters involving multi-million dollar repairs to multi-family dwellings and commercial projects.
  • Representation of plaintiff developer in obtaining multi-million dollar settlement in construction defect lawsuit.
Selected Reported Decisions:
  • Colleton Preparatory Academy, Inc. v. Hoover Universal, Inc., 412 F.Supp.2d 560 (D.S.C. 2006)
  • S.C. Dept. of Health and Environmental Control v. Commerce and Industry Ins. Co., 372 F.3d 245 (4th Cir. 2004)
  • George v. Fabri, 345 S.C. 440, 548 S.E.2d 868 (2001)
  • Fleming v. Asbill, 326 S.C. 49, 483 S.E.2d 751 (1997)
  • CFT Seaside Investors Ltd. Partnership v. Hammet, 868 F.Supp. 836 (D.S.C. 1994)
  • Harold Tyner Development Builders, Inc. v. Firstmark Development Corp., 311 S.C. 447, 429 S.E.2d 819 (1993)
  • Raco Car Wash Systems, Inc. v. Smith, 929 F.2d 694 (4th Cir. 1991)

Additional Biography Info

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Professional Activities

Admitted to bar: 1984, South Carolina.
 
Admitted to practice before the South Carolina Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, United States Supreme Court.
 
Professional Organizations:
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel: Construction Section, Past-Chair; Professional Liability Section, Vice-Chair, 2006-2007.
  • South Carolina Bar: Lawyers' Fund For Client Protection Committee, 1995-1999 (Chairman 1998-1999)
  • South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association

Civic Activities

American Cancer Society - Project Advisory Committee, 1992-1996 (Chair 1995-1996); Charleston Contractors Association, Member, 2000-Present; Charleston County Board of Zoning Appeals, Member, 2007-2010; College of Charleston Cougar Club, 1992-1996 (President,1995-1996); Executive Board of the College of Charleston Alumni Association, Member, 2008-Present; Porter-Gaud Fathers Association, Member 2003-Present (President, 2007-2008); St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Vestry, 1995-1998.

Education

University of South Carolina School of Law, 1984 - J.D., The South Carolina Law Review, Order of Wig and Robe, The Order of the Coif.

College of Charleston, 1980 - B.A., magna cum laude.

Prior Legal Experience

Buist Moore Smythe McGee P.A., 1999-2011
Holmes & Thomson, LLP, 1986-1999
Law Clerk, The Honorable C. Weston Houck, United States District Judge, 1984-1986

Presentations

“Construction Management/Design-Build in South Carolina,” Lorman Education Services, January 2002

“Solving Water Intrusion and Mold Problems in South Carolina,” Lorman Education Services, November 2002

“Defending Mold Contamination Claims,” South Carolina Bar Convention, January 2003 

“Construction Defect Claims in South Carolina,” Lorman Education Services, March 2005 and March 2006

“Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects in South Carolina,” National Business Institute, January 2006

“Legal Ethics in South Carolina,” National Business Institute, December 2003, 2004 and 2005

“Building An Ethical Foundation,” National Business Institute, February 2010

Additional Information

Honors

The Best Lawyers In America, Construction Law, 2007
Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, Permanent Member
Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating
James Petigru Compleat Lawyer Award, 1995