24 Nov Press Release: Connor Hickman v. National Collegiate Athletic Association

November 21, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUDGE GRANTS EMERGENCY ORDER AGAINST NCAA

CONNOR HICKMAN ELIGIBLE TO PLAY IMMEDIATELY 

FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

Charleston, SC – Connor Hickman, a 23-year-old grad student at the College of Charleston, is finally able to play for the Cougars men’s basketball team. He will make his first appearance this afternoon at 3pm against the University of Massachusetts at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam and shall remain eligible until a formal court hearing is held the week of December 8, 2025. Hickman is represented by The Peper Law Firm, PA of Charleston, SC and Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick of Toledo, Ohio.

The order granted Tuesday in Charleston County allows Hickman to compete immediately as the court reviews his ongoing petition for an additional year of eligibility.

After starting 7 of Cincinnati’s first 8 games of the 2024 – 25 season, Hickman suffered a significant injury prior to his 9th game, which was diagnosed as a broken foot on December 18, 2025. However, at the directive of Cincinnati’s medical staff, he attempted to participate in 4 additional games, thereby exceeding the 10-game limit to qualify for a medical hardship, per the NCAA. Contrary to the best practices of sports medicine, however, Hickman was never informed by UC medical staff that surgery was an option until almost 2 months after the injury, which was performed. Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, NC on February 18, 2025. Given the certainty that he’d receive a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA this summer, Hickman transferred to the College of Charleston to play his final season for Coach Chris Mack.

On November 6, 2025, however, the NCAA denied his medical hardship waiver, and on November 17, 2025, Hickman moved for an emergency temporary restraining order allowing him to play immediately. As reflected in the order, the Court found Hickman likely to succeed on the merits of his claims against the NCAA and if not allowed to play immediately, will continue to suffer irreparable harm. Hickman has already missed the College of Charleston’s first five games of the 2025-26 season, and the Cougars are scheduled to play 3 additional games in St. Thomas, USVI this weekend before returning home to play Belmont on November 30, 2025.

Lead attorney Mark A. Peper of the Peper Law Firm in Charleston, South Carolina issued the following statement:

“Connor deserves this victory and is ecstatic to finally join his teammates on the court. The adults in the room at UC failed him, as did the NCAA when given the chance to make it right. With the objective medical documentation presented to the Judge this week, coupled with the ongoing support of both athletic departments at Cincinnati and Charleston, we hope the NCAA will finally allow Connor to play this season without the need for additional litigation. Connor’s senior year was cut short through no fault of his own, and just as the NCAA bylaws allow, he deserves the opportunity to complete his college career both on and off the court. Connor and his fiancé look forward to finally enjoying everything Charleston has to offer, to include the best basketball fans in America.”

For media inquiries, please contact:

The Peper Law Firm, PA (843-225-2520 / mark@peperlawfirm.com)

ORDER Granting TRO

18 May Newington Press Release

May 18, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TWO TEACHER ASSISTANTS ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT

Summerville, SC – Two former teacher assistants at Newington Elementary School have been arrested for violently assaulting an 11-year-old special needs student. The minor child, who is non-verbal and deaf, was assaulted in the autism room the morning of May 8 and May 10, 2023. Both incidents were captured on video surveillance and provided to the Summerville Police Department.

On May 10, 2023, Emily Westermann is seen grabbing the special needs student from behind and shoving the child while lifting her fist, causing him to lose his balance. She then shoves the student to the ground before exiting the classroom. A short time later, Westermann was escorted off the premises. She was arrested on May 16, 2023 and charged with Assault & Battery 3rd Degree.

Further investigations revealed a separate assault on May 8, 2023. Patricia Fuller, a teacher’s aide, is seen pinching and pushing the special needs student before forcefully grabbing him by the neck and shoving him into his chair. While seated, Fuller continued to violently grab the student by the neck and jaw. As the assault progresses, the student continues to flinch and scream in fear while raising his arms into a defensive posture. Fuller continues to scream in the student’s face while rolling up her sleeves before being removed from the classroom. Fuller was arrested on May 18, 2023 and charged with Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child, a felony carrying up to 10 years in prison.

On behalf of the family of the special needs child, The Peper Law Firm, PA of Charleston, SC, issued the following statement:

“As parents, we expect our children to be safe from harm when we walk them into school each morning. To violently attack any student for any reason is intolerable; to attack a non-verbal, deaf, special needs student out of pure frustration is unforgivable. We intend to hold these individuals and those responsible for their employ accountable with the same wrath of fury directed upon them.”

03 Mar Seacoast Press Release

March 3, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VICTIMS RESPOND TO ARREST OF FORMER SEACOAST YOUTH PASTOR

Charleston, SC – A former youth pastor at Seacoast Church has been arrested on 13 counts of Assault & Battery 2nd degree. He is currently detained at the Al Cannon Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing scheduled for Saturday, March 4, 2023, at 10am.

In December 2022, Seacoast Church placed its Youth Pastor, Vernon Willis, on administrative leave after multiple minors reported being touched inappropriately by Willis while attending youth group at Seacoast Church in North Charleston, SC. Following an internal investigation, Seacoast families were informed in a letter dated December 14, 2022 of his ultimate termination and encouraged to report any concerns to Seacoast Executive Team members.

With the assistance of the North Charleston Police Department, forensic evaluations were conducted on multiple minor children, culminating in arrest warrants being issued and served on Mr. Willis.

“Immediately upon being retained by these families, The Peper Law Firm initiated an investigation into the acts of Mr. Willis and Seacoast Church. Our investigation confirmed that Seacoast Church allowed Mr. Willis unfettered access to one-on-one contact with multiple female minors without any supervision, all while acting within the course and scope of his employment. Further, Seacoast had direct knowledge of his proclivity to use his role as youth pastor to unlawfully touch and seclude minor females on the church campus as far back as 2020, yet continued his employ without providing any training or supervision. Seacoast Church had the ability to protect these innocent children and purposely failed to do so. This is intolerable, and the families intend to hold Mr. Willis and Seacoast responsible for their actions and inactions.”

For media inquiries, please contact:
The Peper Law Firm, PA – 843-225-2520 / mark@peperlawfirm.com

15 Aug Evans Press Release

August 15, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EVANS FAMILY ANNOUNCES FILING OF LAWSUIT AGAINST LAURENS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Laurens, SC – In response to the agreement reached between the Estate of Jamal Sutherland and the government entities announced at last evening’s Charleston County Council meeting, the family of Jamal Sutherland offers the following:

Justice for Jamal will come in many forms. We are pleased to have negotiated a settlement with the government entities that provides the type of civil justice he deserves, but our work is not yet done. With God’s help, we will continue the necessary conversations with local, state, and federal leaders to ensure that everyone affected by mental illness is treated with the same dignity and respect we all deserve and demand. As we move forward, please continue to pray for our family, our community, each other, and justice for Jamal.

While the agreement announced last evening resolves the claims against the government entities and their individual employees, to include the City of North Charleston, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, and Charleston County, Attorney Mark A. Peper and Attorney Gary Christmas intend to aggressively pursue litigation against all others responsible for Jamal’s tragic death, to include Palmetto Behavioral Health and the third-party medical provider at the Charleston County jail, Wellpath.

For media inquiries, please contact the Evans family via their counsel:
The Peper Law Firm, PA – 843-225-2520 – mark@peperlawfirm.com
Henderson Law Group – 843-884-6855 – rhmyers@hendersonlawgroupsc.com

07 Aug Damon Doyle Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 2019

Media Contact: Tyler Jones – 252-675-7606
tyler@speakstrategic.com

Family of Slain SCDC Inmate Hires Attorney

Charleston, SC – The family of Damon Latroy Doyle, 43, has retained The Peper Law Firm, PA to investigate the circumstances of his death Monday at Broad River Correctional Facility in Columbia, SC.

As evidenced by the video taken by a fellow inmate, which can be viewed here, Mr. Doyle was beaten with a broom stick and stabbed numerous times by upwards of six inmates at the high-security prison. Three correctional officers stationed nearby failed to intervene; one of whom turned his back and walked away. Mr. Doyle was pronounced dead at Richland Memorial Hospital hours later.

“The video speaks for itself; this was a planned attack by violent, unsupervised inmates. Not a single correctional officer at the high-security prison made the slightest attempt to prevent the attack, intervene, or render aid. They simply walked away with no concern for his well being or the safety of the other inmates,” said Attorney Mark Peper.

Peper plans to fully investigate the incident and share his findings with the family, public, and state lawmakers.

“My brother deserves better. Just because someone commits a crime and goes to prison doesn’t mean they deserve to die and it seems like that’s what every prison inmate is faced with recently, a death sentence,” said Doyle’s brother, Gerard Doyle.

The Peper Law Firm is a criminal defense and personal injury law firm in Charleston, South Carolina.

www.PeperLawFirm.com

02 Jan Gethers Press Release

January 2, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Tyler Jones – 252-675-7606
tyler@speakstrategic.com

LAWSUIT FILED ON BEHALF OF MINOR VICTIM OF FORMER CCSD EMPLOYEE MARVIN GETHERS
PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT 12 NOON JANUARY 2, 2019 AT 75 CALHOUN ST. CHARLESTON, SC 29401

John Doe, a minor under the age of eleven years old, by his parents, Mother and Father Doe vs. Charleston County School District; City of North Charleston; and Alton Cannon, in his Capacity as Sheriff of Charleston County.

Charleston, SC – The Peper Law Firm, PA and David Aylor Law Offices filed a lawsuit this morning on behalf of a former first grade student at Dunston Elementary who was physically and sexually assaulted by former CCSD employee Marvin Gethers on multiple occasions in 2013–2014. A press conference to discuss the factual allegations contained therein will be held at 12 noon today at 75 Calhoun Street Charleston, SC 29401.

As alleged in the filed complaint, Gethers downloaded and viewed thousands of pornographic images and videos, including child pornography, on his CCSD-issued laptop while working as a Student Concern Specialist at Dunston. Upon being notified of same, CCSD allowed Gethers to return to work after five (5) days of paid administrative leave, where he would then sexually assault at least three (3) minor victims, including John Doe. During the twenty-three (23) months it took law enforcement to finally confirm what CCSD already knew, Gethers was promoted and provided a new iPad, professional development bonus, and use of a new automobile after being named “Classified Employee of the Year” for the 2013–2014 school year by CCSD.

Lead attorney Mark A. Peper, Sr. filed the lawsuit and stated, “These tragic events would not have occurred but for the multiple acts of gross negligence by those responsible for his training and supervision and their conspiracy to cover it up. This case is not about the lion, but the individuals that let the lion lock these innocent children in his cage.”

The complaint, which is available at https://peperlawfirm.com/in-the-news/ is filed in the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Charleston County, South Carolina and demands a jury trial against all Defendants.

20 Sep Burke High School Press Release

WWW.PEPERLAWFIRM.COM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 20, 2018

Media Contact: Tyler Jones – 252-675-7606
tyler@speakstrategic.com

LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AFTER BURKE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER COERCES MINOR STUDENT TO PERFORM SEX ACTS FOR BETTER GRADES

Charleston, S.C. – The Peper Law Firm, PA filed a lawsuit today on behalf of a former Burke High School student alleging the Charleston County School District failed to protect the minor from a teacher who coerced the student into performing repeated sexual acts. The complaint further alleges the teacher lowered the grade of the student after resisting the teacher’s continuous sexual advances.

The complaint brings two causes of action against the Charleston County School District: gross negligence and recklessness; and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Attorney Mark A. Peper released the following statement:

“Where the safety, protection, and well-being of our students is paramount, acts such as these and others by employees under the direct supervision of the CCSD are outrageous, and must be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable. If the District won’t fix the problem, the Courts will.”

The complaint, which is available here, is filed at the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Charleston County, South Carolina.

THE PEPER LAW FIRM, PA
548 Savannah Highway
Charleston, SC 29407
843.225.2520 (O)
843.225.2554 (F)

29 Mar Van Dyke Press Release

March 29, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: David Aylor – 843-577-5530

Father of Deceased Colleton County Fifth Grader Seeks Answers

Press Conference Scheduled for Monday, April 1, 2019 at 11:00am

Charleston, SC – Attorneys David Aylor and Mark Peper issued the following statement on behalf of Jermaine Van Dyke, the father of 10-year-old Raniya Wright, who died of injuries sustained from a fight at Forest Hills Elementary School in Walterboro.

“To date, Jermaine Van Dyke has been provided no pertinent information from school officials or local law enforcement regarding the death of his daughter while in the custody and care of the school district. Rightfully so, he is distraught and frustrated by their lack of communication and refusal to allow him access to any videos or investigative findings related to this matter. Mr. Van Dyke would like to thank the community for their support and prayers during these very difficult times and vows to fight for the answers his family and this community deserves,” said attorney David Aylor.

A press conference will be held Monday, April 1, 2019 at 11:00am at the front of Forest Hills Elementary School, at which time the attorneys will update the community on the results of their investigation and present Mr. Van Dyke for brief comments.

Press Conference Details:

• Date: Monday, April 1, 2019
• Time: 11:00am
• Where: Forest Hills Elementary School, 663 Hiers Corner Road, Walterboro, SC 29488

03 Aug Tyler Kim Press Release

August 3, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Tyler Jones – 252-675-7606
tyler@speakstrategic.com

THE PEPER LAW FIRM, PA FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY ON BEHALF OF FORMER COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STUDENT FOR ACTS THAT LED TO HIS SEVERE BEATING

Tyler Kim vs. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity; Alpha Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity; Pi Kappa Phi Properties; Richard M. Pierce, Individually and in his Official Capacity as Alpha Chapter Advisor; Brooke M. Kingsley Isbell, Individually and in her Official Capacity as Pi Kappa Phi Director of Prevention Education; Justin Angotti, Individually and in his Official Capacity as Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Assistant Executive Director of Education & Accountability; Sean Daily; Matthew Louge; Nikos Lara; and Steve Leone.

Charleston, SC – The Peper Law Firm, PA filed a lawsuit this week on behalf of a former student at the College of Charleston who was severely beaten by brothers of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity on April 16, 2017.

As alleged in the filed complaint, Pi Kappa Phi hosted an initiation party wherein it provided copious amounts of alcohol and illegal drugs to its members and guests. After forcefully kicking the student out of the party, members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity threatened to kill him, both orally and in writing, and dispatched four of its members to do so. They broke into the student’s house and physically beat him to a pulp, leaving him unconscious.

Following the lynching, the student was held captive to prevent him from filing a police report or seeking medical treatment.

Lead attorney Mark A. Peper filed the lawsuit and stated, “The results of our research in preparation for filing this lawsuit is shocking. We believe we will prove this organization has created an ‘anything goes’ custom and culture by encouraging excessive drug and alcohol use, hazing, acts of extreme violence, and a sole mission to protect the interests and image of Pi Kappa Phi at all costs.”

The complaint, which is available at www.peperlawfirm.com/blog, is filed in the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Charleston County, South Carolina and demands a jury trial against all Defendants.

17 May Goose Creek HS Student Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: May 17, 2017

Media Contact: Tyler Jones – 252-675-7606
tyler@speakstrategic.com

Attorneys of Goose Creek High School Student Raise Additional Concerns Regarding School’s Cell Phone Policies

Charleston, SC – Mark A. Peper and David Aylor, attorneys for a 16-year-old Goose Creek High School student who was filmed in a bathroom stall on school property by a fellow student, sent a letter to the attorney for Berkeley County School District outlining the gross negligence demonstrated by faculty and administrators at GCHS in regards to the school’s cell phone recording policies.

The video footage of the incident was posted by a student to the popular social media application, Snapchat.

In the letter, attorney Mark A. Peper asserts that after speaking with various students, parents, and faculty members, and despite school policy that expressly prohibits the use of electronic devices to record any student or staff member at school, the practice of unauthorized cell phone recording by students is the custom and culture at Goose Creek High School.

“In speaking with various students, parents and faculty members this week, it cannot be disputed that unauthorized cell phone use by students during the school day is the custom and culture at Goose Creek High School, which can only be attributed to the actual or tacit approval of the entire administration, and specifically, Principal Jimmy Huskey, since deviating from the policies, procedures, and rules requires prior permission from the principal himself. In speaking with the School Resource Officer assigned to GCHS, I am confident that we can prove the school was on actual notice of students’ habitual use of cell phones to record daily events, and further, that the use of cell phones to record students, teachers and faculty has become so customary that it is considered condoned by the Principal himself.”

Additionally, attorney Peper points to the fact that Goose Creek High School’s own website still lists the cell phone policies of the previous academic school year, which prohibits even the possession of cell phones during the school day, as proof of the custom and culture regarding cell phone recordings at the school.

In the letter, attorneys Peper and Aylor state their intention to file a lawsuit against the Berkeley County School District if immediate steps are not taken on or before May 24, 2017 to amicably resolve this matter.

The letter from attorney Mark A. Peper to the Berkeley County School District is attached to this press release.