Mr. Runyan is a partner in Speights & Runyan. For over 23 years, he has actively litigated and tried cases in more than ten states. His cases include Kansas City v. W.R. Grace & Company, 778 S.W.2d 264 (Mo.App. 1989) appeal after remand 855 S.W.2d 360 (Mo. en banc 1993), rehearing denied (Mo. en banc June 29, 1993); Clayton Center Associates v. W.R. Grace Company, 861 S.W.2d 686 (Mo.App. 1993), reviewed and denied (Mo. September 8, 1993; and Northridge Co. v. W.R. Grace & Co., 556 N.W.2d 345 (Wis.App. 1996), all three resulting in multi-million dollar awards.

He obtained his undergraduate and law degree (cum laude) from the University of South Carolina. He clerked for two judges in the state and federal courts of South Carolina. He has lectured on construction and environmental issues, the latter principally relating to asbestos property damage. He is presently representing clients in Missouri, California and South Carolina in these matters. He has represented clients and been admitted pro hac vice in the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, South Dakota and Wisconsin. He is also representing clients in other environmental matters, including soil and groundwater contamination and lead paint contamination. He has also represented clients in computer software development issues, including Y2K matters. He has represented clients in complex construction disputes including those involving power plants and wastewater treatment facilities. He has been actively involved in several certified class actions involving asbestos property damage and soil and groundwater contamination

C. Alan Runyan, Partner

Practice Areas

Asbestos property damage, products liability, environmental litigation, computer software development suits and class actions.

Education

Diplome D’Etudes Francaises, 1969 – University of Poitiers, Tours, France.

B.A., 1973, University of South Carolina.

J.D. (cum laude), 1976, University of South Carolina; Legal Writing Instructor; Executive Editor, South Carolina Law Review.

Professional Activities and Experience

During law school, Mr. Runyan served as Law Clerk to the Honorable W.L. Rhodes, Jr., Resident Judge, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit (later Associate Justice, South Carolina Supreme Court), 1974-1976.

Mr. Runyan was admitted to bar, 1976, South Carolina; U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina; and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.

Mr. Runyan served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert F. Chapman, United States District Judge – District of South Carolina (later Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Judicial Circuit), 1976-1977.

Associate, Glenn, Porter & Sullivan, Columbia, South Carolina, 1977-1979.

Associate & Partner, McNair Law Firm, P.A., Columbia, South Carolina, 1979-1987 (Glenn, Porter & Sullivan merged with this firm in 1979).

Mr. Runyan and Mr. Speights formed Speights & Runyan in 1987 and he is a partner in that firm.

Memberships

Member of the American Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, South Carolina Bar, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, and the Forum Committee on The Construction Industry of the American Bar Association.

Author

“The Safe Buildings Alliance: For Whose Safety?,” published in the July/August 1990 issue of Asbestos Abatement Magazine.

“Liability Perspective,” published in the July, 1989 issue of Asbestos Issues ‘89.

“Asbestos Removal: A Question of When, Not If,” published in the April 1989 issue of Asbestos Issues ‘89.

“The Prosecution and Defense of Construction Claims: The Owner’s Perspective.” published in the March/April 1985 issue of The Bulletin, a Trial Lawyers Association Publication.

“The New Federal Rules of Evidence and South Carolina Evidentiary Law: A Comparison and Critical Analysis.” published in February 1977 in Volume 28, South Carolina Law Review, Page 481.

“Debate for Abatement — Reasons for Asbestos Removal” published in the October 1992 issue, Volume 6, Number 5, Indoor Pollution Law Report.

Moderator And Lecturer

“The Safe Building Alliance: Falling from Grace,” sponsored by California Asbestos Abatement Business League, held in San Francisco, California on October 4-6, 1990.

“Making the Asbestos Companies Pay for Asbestos Abatement,” sponsored by National Asbestos Council, held in Anaheim, California on March 29, 1989.

“Preparing a Defense Against Future Plaintiffs” sponsored by Environmental Management Group, Inc., held in San Francisco, California on January 20, 1989.

“Cost Recovery Litigation for Schools” sponsored by Hall-Kimbrell Environmental Sciences, held in Richmond, Virginia on December 2, 1988.

“Cost Recovery Litigation for Schools” sponsored by Hall-Kimbrell Environmental Sciences, held in White Plains, New York, on October 21, 1988.

“Multi-Party Construction Litigation: Duties and Theories of Liability” at a Continuing Judicial Education Seminar for the South Carolina judiciary sponsored by the South Carolina Bar and held in Columbia, South Carolina on October 23, 1986.

“The Fundamental Rights of the Owner: A Legal Perspective” at a Continuing Legal Education Seminar open to members of the bar of all states which dealt with the problems associated with construction disputes, held in Columbia, South Carolina, on August 14, 1981.

“The Leaking Roof Syndrome: Claims and Defenses” at a Continuing Legal Education Seminar open to members of the bar of all states which dealt with construction litigation, held in Columbia, South Carolina on October 31, 1980.

Personal History

Mr. Runyan was born in Ogbomosho, Nigeria, West Africa, October 25, 1951.  Alan and his wife, Elizabeth, are the parents of three sons. They reside in Beaufort, South Carolina.