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The Specialization of Employment Law Solicitors

Ana R. Cheatwood

In the intricate realm of employment law, the guidance and support of skilled professionals are paramount. Employment law solicitors play a pivotal role in ensuring that both employees and businesses navigate the complexities of workplace regulations, disputes, and discrimination issues. This article explores the significance of employment law solicitors, particularly in the context of handling employment disputes, providing legal counsel for businesses, and addressing discrimination at work.

Guardians of Workplace Rights:

Employment law solicitors serve as guardians of workplace rights, offering expertise to individuals facing legal challenges in the employment domain. Whether employees are dealing with unfair treatment, wrongful dismissal, or contractual disputes, the role of employment law solicitors is to provide legal guidance and representation. Their comprehensive understanding of employment legislation empowers individuals to assert their rights and seek fair resolutions.

Employment Dispute Solicitors: 

When workplace conflicts escalate into disputes, the services of employment dispute solicitors become indispensable. These legal professionals specialize in resolving conflicts through mediation, negotiation, or, if necessary, litigation. Whether the dispute revolves around unfair dismissal, breach of contract, or workplace harassment, employment dispute solicitors bring a wealth of legal expertise to the table.

Their role includes assessing the merits of a case, advising clients on potential courses of action, and representing them in legal proceedings. The objective is to achieve just and equitable resolutions while minimizing the adversarial impact on all parties involved.

Employment Law Solicitors for Businesses: 

Businesses grappling with employment-related legal issues benefit immensely from the services of employment law solicitors for businesses. These solicitors act as strategic advisors, guiding employers through the intricacies of employment law to ensure compliance and mitigate legal risks. From drafting employment contracts and company policies to navigating disciplinary matters, employment law solicitors for businesses play a crucial role in fostering a legally sound and harmonious work environment.… Read the rest

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Enforcing and Modifying Separation Agreements: What You Should Know

Ana R. Cheatwood

Embarking on a separation agreement is a significant step towards a smoother transition during challenging times. However, the journey doesn’t end once the agreement is in place. In this blog post, we’ll explore the crucial aspects of enforcing and modifying separation agreements, providing you with essential insights to navigate this often overlooked part of the divorce process.

Enforcing Separation Agreements:

  1. Understanding Legal Validity: Once an Alberta separation agreement is drafted, it must be legally valid and enforceable. Consult with a legal professional during the creation phase to ensure the agreement adheres to all relevant laws and regulations, establishing a solid foundation for enforcement.
  2. Court Approval and Incorporation: Some separation agreements benefit from being court-approved and incorporated into the divorce decree. This adds an extra layer of enforceability, making it easier to address non-compliance issues through the legal system if necessary.
  3. Documentation and Communication: Maintain clear and thorough documentation of all transactions and interactions related to the separation agreement. Effective communication between both parties is vital, and having a record of exchanges can be invaluable if disputes arise. A well-documented process enhances the enforceability of the agreement.
  4. Legal Assistance in Case of Violation: If one party fails to comply with the terms of the separation agreement, seeking legal assistance is essential. A legal professional can guide you through the enforcement process, which may involve court intervention to ensure the responsible party fulfills their obligations.

Modifying Separation Agreements:

  1. Change in Circumstances: Life is dynamic, and circumstances may change post-separation. Loss of employment, health issues, or other significant life events may necessitate modifications to the original agreement. Recognizing and promptly addressing these changes is crucial for maintaining a fair and equitable arrangement.
  2. Mutual Agreement and Mediation: The process becomes smoother when both parties agree to modifications. Mediation can be a valuable tool in
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Types of Family Law: A Comprehensive Guide

Ana R. Cheatwood

Family law encompasses a wide range of legal issues that revolve around the relationships and dynamics within families. From marriage and divorce to child custody and adoption, family law plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being and protection of individuals and families. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different types of family law and provide insights into the key aspects and considerations within each area.

Now, let’s delve into each type of family law and explore the intricacies and considerations within each area.

1. Introduction

Family law is a specialized area of law that deals with legal matters concerning family relationships and domestic issues. It encompasses a broad spectrum of cases, ranging from marriage and divorce to child custody, adoption, and domestic violence. Family lawyers are skilled professionals who navigate these legal complexities to ensure the best possible outcomes for their clients.

Family law cases are considered civil cases, as they involve conflicts between individuals or institutions rather than criminal offenses. Family lawyers bring their expertise in negotiation, litigation, and counselling to help clients navigate the emotional and legal challenges associated with family law matters.

2. Marriage Dissolution

Marriage dissolution refers to the legal process of ending a marriage. It can take various forms, including divorce, annulment, or legal separation. When a couple decides to dissolve their marriage, family law comes into play to address several crucial aspects, such as property division, child custody, and alimony.

Divorce: Divorce is the most common form of marriage dissolution. It is a legal process that terminates a marriage and legally separates the couple. Divorce involves resolving property division, child custody, visitation rights, and spousal support issues. 

Annulment: Unlike divorce, which ends a valid marriage, annulment declares a marriage null and void as if it never took place. Annulment … Read the rest

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What Are Bed Bugs and How Do They Lead To Compensation Claims?

Ana R. Cheatwood

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood. They are a common problem in hotels and homes, and their bites can be itchy and uncomfortable. In this blog post, we will discuss what bed bugs are, what they look like, where they live, what the bites are like, and how people can claim bed bug compensation if they happened in a hotel either in the UK or abroad.

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects that are about the size of an apple seed. They are reddish-brown in color and have six legs. Bed bugs are nocturnal and feed on human blood, usually at night while people are sleeping. They are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide, which is why they are often found in beds.

What do bed bugs look like?

Bed bugs are small, flat, and oval-shaped. They are reddish-brown in color and have six legs. Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, and they can be difficult to see because they are so small. They are often mistaken for other insects, such as fleas or ticks.

Where do bed bugs live?

Bed bugs can be found in many places, including hotels, homes, and public transportation. They are often found in beds, but they can also be found in other furniture, such as chairs and sofas. Bed bugs can also be found in cracks and crevices in walls and floors.

What are bed bug bites like?

Bed bug bites are usually painless at first, but they can become itchy and uncomfortable. They are often in a line or cluster and can be mistaken for mosquito bites. Bed bug bites can take several days to appear, and they can last for several weeks.

How can people claim compensation for

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The Role of Governance Recruitment Agencies in Strengthening the Legal Sector

Ana R. Cheatwood

Are you tired of sifting through endless resumes and struggling to find the perfect candidate for your legal team? Look no further than governance recruitment agencies. These specialised firms are experts in identifying top-tier talent and connecting them with organisations that need their skills. In this blog post, we will explore the crucial role that these recruitment agencies play in strengthening the legal sector by providing access to qualified professionals who can enhance governance practices and promote accountability. Whether you’re an employer looking for a stellar addition to your team or a job seeker seeking career advancement opportunities, read on to learn more about how governance recruitment agencies can help elevate the legal industry as a whole.

Introduction to Governance Recruitment Agencies

Governance recruitment agencies play an important role in supporting and strengthening the legal sector. By identifying and recruiting talented individuals with the right skills and experience, they help to ensure that organisations have the right people in place to meet their governance needs.

Governance recruitment agencies typically offer a range of services, including executive search, interim management, and consultancy. They work with clients across the public, private, and third sectors, and have a deep understanding of the unique requirements of each.

The role of governance recruitment agencies has come under scrutiny in recent years, with some critics suggesting that they are little more than headhunters who simply fill vacancies without regard for the wider needs of the organisation. However, there is no doubt that they play a vital role in ensuring that organisations have access to the best talent possible.

If you are considering using a governance recruitment agency to support your organisation, it is important to do your research and choose one that you feel confident will understand your specific needs.

How Do Governance Recruitment Agencies Help

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Woman says jailed estate lawyer took hundreds of thousands of dollars

Ana R. Cheatwood

ALEXANDRIA, Ky. (WXIX) – A Northern Kentucky woman says a jailed attorney stole hundreds of thousands from her grandmother’s estate.

Jennifer Zaccheus-Miller was arrested in Powell County on Monday after being reported missing last week. She was found by the Kentucky State Police hiding near Red River Gorge.

According to court documents, she stole $26,000 from an estate in Campbell County. A woman said Thursday she also stole hundreds of thousands from her grandmother’s estate.

MISSING NKY ESTATE ATTORNEY FOUND, ACCUSED OF STEALING $26,000

The woman, who asked not to be identified, said the news of Zaccheus-Miller’s arrest has her frustrated and furious.

“We’re really mad,” she said. “The fact that she evaded it for so long. I’m not surprised that she was accused of stealing.”

The woman said Zaccheus-Miller was appointed by a court to handle her grandmother’s estate. She said she tried to have Zaccheus-Miller removed, but couldn’t. When she saw Zaccheus-Miller was missing, she assumed she was on the run.

“I thought she left the country with everyone’s money,” she said. “I know there’s no way in the world it’s just us.”

The woman said Zaccheus-Miller was difficult to get ahold of on the phone, but she let them into her grandmother’s home to get belongings before it was sold. The woman accused Zaccheus-Miller of stealing funds from the sale of the house.

Court documents say Zaccheus-Miller wrote a letter to a significant other admitting she stole money from clients and intended to replace the funds. The woman who says Zaccheus-Miller stole from her grandmother’s estate said she’s glad she’s in jail.

“She can’t scam anybody else,” she said.

Records showed authorities know about other estates she’s handled with missing funds. Zaccheus-Miller is likely facing additional charges.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please

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Meet the lawyer who’s trying to flag judges who harass their clerks

Ana R. Cheatwood

Aliza Shatzman is devoting herself to giving judges a hard time.

She spends a lot of time fielding complaints from law clerks, who tell her stories about bullying, gender discrimination and harassment. She said those complaints come from mostly young law school graduates at the start of their careers who have few places to turn inside the federal judiciary to report their concerns anonymously.

That’s why she’s created a database to gather such stories and warn students about hostile situations, before it’s too late.

“The judiciary needs some more people to poke at it,” Shatzman said. “There are far too many judges who are mistreating their clerks and we need to hold them accountable.”

Some 30,000 employees who work for the federal courts are not covered by civil rights protections most other workers enjoy. Congress has proposed expanding their rights, but the judiciary for years has successfully resisted, citing concerns about its independence and the separation of powers. That means courts that hear employment discrimination and retaliation claims filed by workers are themselves exempt from such lawsuits.

A new legislative push to expand civil rights protections could come later this year, according to aides for Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., and Norma Torres, D-Calif.

Until then, Shatzman’s Legal Accountability Project has been surveying clerks to try to identify problematic situations. She recently launched a database that’s gathered 1,000 such surveys from former clerks, who are encouraged to share anonymously the good, the bad and the ugly experiences they’ve had — even as some of the country’s largest and most prominent law schools resist the effort.

“Law schools have not been held accountable for their role in these problems,” Shatzman said. “They have been sending students to known or suspected harassers for decades.”

Shatzman said she thinks some law schools

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Newsom taps top City of Fresno lawyer to serve as judge

Ana R. Cheatwood

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a slate of new judicial appointments, with the Valley’s delegation headlined by one of the senior-most members of the Fresno City Attorney’s Office.

Friday, Newsom tapped Raj Singh Badhesha, a Selma native and Democrat, to fill a vacancy on the Fresno County Superior Court.

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Driving the news: Badhesha serves as Chief Assistant City Attorney under Fresno’s top lawyer, Andrew Janz, with a portfolio that is heavy on legislative counsel and intergovernmental affairs.

  • Prior to his service at Fresno’s City Hall, Badhesha – an alum of the University of California College of Law in San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) – was an associate at Baker Manock and Jensen from 2008 to 2012.
  • Badhesha will fill the vacancy created by Judge Jon Kapetan’s retirement.

What they’re saying: Janz, the Fresno City Attorney, praised Badhesha as a key part of the management of his office and one of his closest advisors.

  • “Raj has been an instrumental part of my management team because of his broad-based knowledge of various aspects of the law and his ability to deal with sensitive situations with tact and poise,” said Janz. “When I was appointed City Attorney, he quickly became my closest advisor and made my transition into this position seamless. Raj has all the qualities one hopes to find in a judge; he is open-minded, thoughtful, deliberate, well researched, and diplomatic. While his broad legal experience and expertise is going to be a big loss to the City of Fresno, there is not a more fitting individual to serve Fresno County and the State of California with honesty and integrity.”
  • Badhesha, in a statement, expressed sincere gratitude for his appointment
  • “I would like to thank Governor Gavin Newsom for having confidence in my ability to serve as a Fresno County Superior Court
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Oregon governor declares May 5 as MMIP Awareness Day

Ana R. Cheatwood

On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon also announced the appointment of an MMIP regional coordinator based in the state.

SALEM, Ore. — On Saturday, Gov. Tina Kotek issued a proclamation declaring May 5 as Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day.

“For far too long, the unsolved deaths and disappearances of Indigenous persons, especially women, have not seen justice,” Gov. Kotek said in a statement. “On Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, we recommit ourselves to addressing the root causes and systemic obstacles contributing to this crisis.” 

Oregon joins the federal government in recognizing Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. 

On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced the appointment of an MMIP regional coordinator based in the state, Cedar Wilkie Gillette. Gillette has served as the District of Oregon MMIP Coordinator since June 2020. Gillette will work beside Bree R. Black Horse, who was appointed in Feb. 2024 in the eastern district of Washington to serve as the MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northwest Region.

The regional coordinator for Northwest Region — which includes California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington — will fall under the Justice Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program. The program places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions nationwide “to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

“There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a press release on Friday. 

“In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still

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The Lawyer Who Landlords Don’t Want to See in Court

Ana R. Cheatwood

Mark Melton stands in the eye of a storm, a waiting area outside the 1-1 Justice of the Peace Court, in the South Dallas Government Center, an uninspiring building off Interstate 20. Two other lawyers whip around the room, clutching clipboards and trying to reach about two dozen tenants in the next 20 or so minutes before court is called into session. Two legal assistants sit at a card table, hurrying through paperwork with clients. Melton, a partner at Holland & Knight who specializes in tax law, has the height and build of an edge rusher, one who prefers Maker’s Mark to protein shakes, with a charcoal beard and a fleeing hairline. Today, he’s wearing a tailored navy blue suit with a baby blue tie, a lighter blue dress shirt, and black Oxfords. If the outfit doesn’t make it clear enough, Melton, 46, is perched near a sign that reads, in English and Spanish, “FREE ATTORNEY FOR TENANTS.” 

Sixty-one cases are on this Friday’s eviction docket. Years of data show that without an attorney arguing their case, nearly all of them will lose their apartments in a matter of minutes. The attorneys are here to stop that, if they can. 

“This is a well-oiled machine now,” Melton says, still avoiding the fray. “I think I’ll fuck it up if I jump in.” 

The machine is the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, a team of 10 lawyers and seven support staffers. Housing experts have not been able to find another operation like it in the entire country. Legal Aid works in the same space but is federally funded and far more limited in terms of whom it can serve. Melton started this work with his wife, Lauren, in the first week of the pandemic. It began as a Facebook post to

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Monroe Co. woman charged with murder in boat club crash that ‘took those babies’

Ana R. Cheatwood

Monroe — Distraught relatives of two young siblings killed by an alleged drunken driver at a birthday party at a boat club lashed out at the suspect Tuesday in a Monroe County courtroom, accusing her of taking “those babies from us,” while the woman’s attorney suggested she suffered from a seizure that contributed to Saturday’s crash.

Marshella Chidester, 66, showed little emotion as the aunt of the two children who were killed, Lana Phillips, 8, and Zayn Phillips, 4, addressed the court before Chidester’s bond was set.

“She chose to drink and those were my grandbabies. She made the choice to get in that car, and she chose to drink and drive, and she took those babies from us,” grandmother Kathy Phillips said.

Chidester, a former commodore of the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township where the crash took place, was formally charged in Monroe’s 1st District Court with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing death and four counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing serious injury. She faces up to life in prison if she is convicted.

At her arraignment, Chidester limped into the courtroom with her right arm in a splint.

In an unusual move during the arraignment, District Judge Christian Horkey allowed relatives of the crash victims to address the court in person and via Zoom before setting bail at $1.5 million for Chidester. Some blared out comments via Zoom.

Marshella Chidester, right, was charged Tuesday with second degree murder and other charges connected to the Saturday crash at the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township. Chidester's attorney Bill Colovos, left, said his client drives “like a little old lady” and has a history since November of having epileptic-type seizures in her legs that result in paralysis.

Bill Colovos, Chidester’s attorney, said his client believes she had a seizure at the wheel Saturday and said she does not remember entering the parking lot of the boat club or anything that happened leading up to the crash. He said she was invited to the birthday party by the person hosting it.

“She was meeting

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How will Arizona’s near-total ban on abortion be enforced?

Ana R. Cheatwood

PHOENIX — There are many questions about how Arizona’s Supreme Court ruling and near-total ban on abortion will be enforced.

Under the ruling, there is a 14-day stay followed by another 45-day delay in enforcement stemming from another court case. After that, it’s unclear how or if the law will be enforced.

Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes made clear Tuesday she will not prosecute any abortion cases, even though the 1864 law reinstated by the state supreme court mandates prison time for anyone providing an abortion.

“Let me be completely clear: As long as I am attorney general of the State of Arizona, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law,” Mayes told a crowd of people outside the Arizona Capitol.

Governor Katie Hobbs signed an executive order last year, giving all the power to enforce abortion laws to the state attorney general and essentially stripping the state’s 15 elected county attorneys of their authority to prosecute abortion cases. But county attorneys could challenge the order.

“What I have said and what the governor has said in her executive order is that … the authority for prosecuting abortion sits now in my office where it belongs,” Mayes said.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell issued a statement about the ruling Tuesday, urging the governor and legislators to delay enforcement of the decision.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a serious one that needs to be addressed by lawmakers,” Mitchell said in the statement.

Mitchell also said her office has not received any requests, in almost two years, to prosecute an abortion case.

“It is important to remember that under Arizona’s law, women who get an abortion cannot be prosecuted. Today’s ruling does not change that: women cannot and will not be prosecuted for receiving an abortion,” Mitchell also

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Alleged arsonist won’t get hate crime charge in synagogue fire

Ana R. Cheatwood

The Broward State Attorney’s Office has decided to charge Scott Hannaford with arson and not a hate crime for a fire that destroyed a synagogue.

The Broward State Attorney’s Office has decided to charge Scott Hannaford with arson and not a hate crime for a fire that destroyed a synagogue.

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A blaze “intentionally” started by a mentally ill man that destroyed a Fort Lauderdale synagogue and restaurant last month was not deemed a hate crime by Broward prosecutors. However, arson charges were officially filed against him Wednesday.

On March 16, Scott Hannaford set fire to Rabbi Chaim Slavaticki’s car near the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, the Broward State Attorney’s Office said. It quickly spread to the synagogue and the Friendship Grill inside.

Hannaford, 50, tried to set fire to the Kavasutra Kava Bar next door ten minutes earlier, the state attorney’s office said.

Broward prosecutors say that attempted arson to a nonreligious location was a key factor in determining why there was no hate crime enhancement, which would have increased the already lengthy prison time Hannaford is possibly facing.

Hannaford was charged with first-degree and second-degree arson, third-degree felony criminal mischief involving a synagogue or place of worship and third-degree felony possession of cocaine.

“Our commitment to combating hate crimes is steadfast and vigorously pursuing these heinous and serious crimes is a top priority for me and the Broward State Attorney’s Office,” said Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor in a statement. “When there is evidence to support a hate crime enhancement, we will file it.”

If he is convicted and sentenced to the maximum penalty for the four charges, Hannaford would face 65 years in state prison.

As of Wednesday, he was still being held at the Broward Jail on a $102,000 bond.

“During my meeting with the rabbi this week, I assured him, his congregation, and our entire Broward community that we will continue to stand together against

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Boise hangar collapse investigation continues

Ana R. Cheatwood

BOISE, Idaho — Attorney Enrique Serna gives Idaho News 6 an update on his investigation into the cause of the Boise hangar collapse.

  • Serna says the families of two of the victim’s families are frustrated
  • More people are coming forward with information
  • Serna hopes people won’t have to look at the wreckage much longer

(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story.)
 

I spoke with Attorney Enrique Serna representing the families of two of the three victims killed here at the hangar collapse near the Boise Airport. I asked Mr. Serna how the families of Mariano Coc Och and Mario Sontay are doing at their homes in Guatemala. “Well, the families are hoping for a prompt resolution they are indigent they do not understand our processes they don’t understand the law the jury and trial system they don’t understand timelines from OSHA and Federal government or State authorities so we’re explaining it to them”.

 
I then asked Enrique Serna about the scope of the investigation. “Let me tell you that I’m grateful for everyone who watches this broadcast. We have had a lot of people coming forward to us of two types. They told us to keep my information confidential, or please let me share it with you so I can share it again. That has led us to dive deep into the documentation that we get from the state and city and some of the participants here.

 
I wanted to know if people are still coming forward with information about the hangar collapse. ”This time I find that the people that I find come forward they come forward with true conviction they drive by here and see this wreckage they don’t want to see it like this it doesn’t feel right in their heart.”

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Attorney plans Orangeburg winery

Ana R. Cheatwood

A prosecuting attorney from Savannah is planning to open a winery on family land Orangeburg.

Harrison Pratt has purchased 4.46 acres of family property on Watersprings Road in Orangeburg with the intention of building a moderately sized winery and vineyard on the lot. Watersprings Road is located off Columbia Road.


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His plan is to construct a 2,500-square-foot to 3,000-square-foot winery building and a 2-1/2-acre to 3-acre vineyard where there will be a fully functional vine-to-bottle operation.

Grapes will be harvested and processed into wine on site, Pratt said.

He anticipates making 20,000 to 30,000 bottles of wine annually.


Orangeburg skate park groundbreaking in June

If all goes well, Pratt expects to be able to open to the public in the summer of 2027, depending on zoning, permitting and funding. Pratt estimates the winery will employ about five to six people.

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Pratt’s great-grandfather on his mother’s side, Charles Harrison Hubbard, was a farmer who passed down his land to his children and then grandchildren.

“One of his children, Robert Hubbard, built the first Hubbard Vineyard in Orangeburg back in the late 80s/early 90s,” Pratt said. “In his vineyard, he grew muscadine grapes and eventually began to make wine and share it with family and friends.”

“After his passing in 2015, the wine making had stopped, but his vineyard still lived on,” Pratt continued. “I was lucky enough to try some of his wine before he passed, but had no idea the small tasting at his house would set me down a path to build my own vineyard and winery.”

In the summer of 2017, Pratt moved to Orangeburg while studying for the South Carolina Bar exam.

“While living out in the country, I got to spend a lot of time in my great-uncle Robert’s vineyard,” Pratt said. “I was curious if

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