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 trial teams, she anticipates and addresses legal issues at each stage of litigation while preserving the record for an appeal. By treating every case as one that will involve a trial and an appeal, Whitney provides comprehensive courtroom advocacy. Whitney has tried multiple cases to verdict, as well as handled landmark cases involving civil, criminal, family, utility, and administrative law. Firms across the state associate her to assist with complex motions, trials, and appeals. Whitney has handled over fifty appeals—with issues ranging from constitutional challenges to corporate governance to novel law—before the Supreme Court of South Carolina and the South Carolina Court of Appeals. In January 2020, Whitney became the first woman to receive the South Carolina Bar’s Trial and Appellate Advocacy Award. The award—not given annually—“recognizes a member of the Bar who has demonstrated substantial dedication to the furtherance of the art and techniques of trial and appellate advocacy in South Carolina, outstanding and exemplary skill and conduct in the practice of advocacy, and has devoted substantial time and effort to the education and training of lawyers.” (READ MORE) FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Podcast Cold Open 00:29 Meet The Hosts 01:13 Introducing The Guests 01:54 Taylor Powell Bio 03:04 UCLA Office And Softball 04:41 Whitney Harrison Bio 06:11 Prizewinning Pound Cake 07:11 Case Setup And Timeline 09:41 Fair Housing Case Overview 14:10 Verdict And Damages 15:08 Crafting The Opening 18:08 Explaining FHA Theories 21:06 Sponsor Break 21:51 Donut Hole Moratorium 26:56 Ordinance Readings And Enforcement 27:48 Trial Team And Appellate Strategy 29:30 Summary Judgment Strategy 31:39 Expert Testimony Impact 34:05 Humanizing The Development 35:50 Punitive Damages Surprise 39:32 Rare Jury Trial Stakes 45:02 Witness Order And Exhibits 49:40 Trial Tech And Impeachment 52:19 Klan Comment Sidebar 58:58 Closing Argument Masterclass 01:01:07 Wrap Up And Next Steps
