Thornton v. South Carolina Electric & Gas Corp. (SCE & G)

Brian and Catherine Thornton brought this lawsuit as a class action for negligence, strict liability, and nuisance arising out of blasting activities conducted by South Carolina Electric and Gas Corporation (SCE & G) at the Lake Murray dam. SCE & G made a motion titled “Motion for Summary Judgment and to Strike Class Action Allegations.” In substance, the motion sought three rulings relevant to this appeal. First, in what it labeled “motion to strike,” SCE & G claimed “Plaintiffs cannot establish the requisite elements required for this case to be certified as a class action under Rule 23,…