Connolly v. People's Life Insurance

Goolsby, Judge:

This appeal involves an action based on the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act. The jury found that the appellant People’s Life Insurance Company of South Carolina willfully violated the act and awarded the respondent John M. Connolly $75,000 in actual damages. The trial judge trebled the damages and awarded Connolly attorney fees and costs pursuant to the act. The dispositive issue is whether People’s Life’s conversion of a note and mortgage given by Connolly to another constitutes a violation of the unfair trade practices act. We hold that it does not do so and reverse.