Powell and Harrison | DHD Jessamine LLC v. Florence County | $12.219M Settlement

Hosts Steve Lowery and Yvonne Godfrey interview trial lawyers Taylor Powell and Whitney Harrison about DHD Jessamine LLC v. Florence County, a Fair Housing Act case over a proposed 60-unit LIHTC affordable housing community in an unzoned “donut hole” parcel in Florence County.

CASE SUMMARY: After county officials initially supported the development, neighborhood opposition and a country club meeting preceded withdrawal of support, shifting objections (traffic, drainage, sidewalks), a special meeting to fast-track a development moratorium that was enforced before becoming law, and later rezoning to R-1 to bar multifamily housing. Plaintiffs pursued disparate treatment and disparate impact claims; the court granted summary judgment on the prima facie disparate impact prong. A jury trial featured streamlined exhibits, visual timelines, and expert testimony on disparate impact. On Nov. 5, 2025, the jury awarded $8.219M compensatory and $4M punitive damages; the case later settled for $10M.

GUEST BIOS

Taylor Powell:

Originally from Charlotte, N.C., Taylor Powell brings more than a decade of legal experience to the Lesemann & Associates team. After graduating from The Citadel in 2006 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a Minor in U.S. History, Taylor attended Charleston School of Law and graduated in 2011. After law school, Taylor spent two years serving as the law clerk to South Carolina Circuit Judge Larry B. Hyman, Jr. in Conway, S.C.

During his eight years at Lesemann & Associates, Taylor has helped his clients achieve successful results in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases involving tractor trailer accidents, motor vehicle accidents, accidental shootings, drunk driving accidents, dram shop litigation against bars and restaurants, products liability cases against vehicle manufacturers and car dealerships, and cases involving negligent private security. Taylor has also secured significant settlements and verdicts for clients who suffered injuries resulting from improperly paved roads, dangerous homemade zip lines, dog bites, fireworks accidents, and more. Taylor has been directly responsible for securing and collecting more than $20 million in settlements on behalf of his clients. (READ MORE)

Whitney Harrison:

Whitney delights in nuance, complexity, and unsettled law.  Having clerked in both of South Carolina’s appellate courts, Whitney’s seasoned instincts inform her appellate strategy from the start of every case.  As a key member of our