Bad Faith Actions in South Carolina: Will Attorney-Client Privilege Survive?

South Carolina’s attorney-client privilege protects against the disclosure of communications pursuant to which legal advice of any kind is sought by a client from a professional legal adviser, acting in that capacity. At the client’s discretion, such confidential communications are protected from disclosure by the client or the legal adviser except if such protection is waived. The only recognized exception to this time-honored privilege recognized by the South Carolina Supreme Court includes communications in furtherance of tortious or fraudulent conduct. South Carolina has long revered the sanctity of attorney-client communications. How, then, are we now faced with the potential destruction of that privilege if an insurer denies bad faith liability?