SOCAR, Inc. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance

Goolsby, Judge:

The dispositive issue involved in this appeal by SOCAR, Inc., is whether SOCAR was a subcontractor under a contractor’s bond issued by the respondent St. Paul ETre and Marine Insurance Company.

The Charleston County School District awarded a construction contract to Hill Construction Corporation. Under its contract with the school district, Hill was required to provide a “Labor and Material Payment Bond.”

Hill obtained the bond from St. Paul. Under its terms, St. Paul undertook to guarantee payment to any claimant not paid by Hill. The bond defines a “claimant” as “one having a…