Richland jury hits Gov. McMaster's brother with $100K verdict in Palmetto Club case

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A Richland County jury Tuesday returned a $100,000 verdict against the brother of S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster in a civil trial arising from a 2014 assault.

George McMaster pleaded guilty in 2016 to assault and battery, third degree, after being accused of accosting a waiter at the Palmetto Club on May 13, 2014, pulling down his pants and touching him on his genitals and rear.

In this week’s civil trial arising from that incident, the 12-member jury on Tuesday afternoon returned a unanimous verdict awarding the now-26-year-old waiter $50,000 in actual damages and another $50,000 in punitive damages for emotional distress caused by the assault.

“We’re pleased with the jury’s verdict, as always, because we feel it’s fair and reasonable,” said the waiter’s attorney, Reece Williams.

Read more: https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article217450500.html