Wofford v. Ethyl Corp.

Harwell, Chief Justice:

Ethyl Corporation (Employer) contends that the trial judge erred in ordering it to allow Lee Ann Shuler Wofford (Administrator) to enter its plant for the purpose of inspecting the site where William S. Wofford, Jr. (Decedent) was injured even though no civil action existed to which discovery was relevant. We disagree and affirm.

I. FACTS

Decedent sustained a fatal on-the-job injury at Employer’s plant. After Employer paid all benefits required by the South Carolina Worker’s Compensation Act, Administrator sought to determine whether a claim existed against a third-party…