Lawsuit Alleges State Ports Authority Violated Open Meeting, Public Records Laws

Greenville Spartanburg Asheville Anderson, SC, August 19, 2026 —

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. – A lawsuit has been filed in Charleston County, South Carolina, asserting that the S.C. State Ports Authority (SCSPA) has violated state laws concerning open meetings and public records.

The legal action specifically claims that the authority did not conduct a public vote to approve a severance package valued at nearly $1 million for former CEO Barbara Melvin. According to the lawsuit’s allegations, state law requires a public vote for the approval of executive compensation, which includes severance pay.

The plaintiff’s claim centers on the contention that the SCSPA’s actions circumvented established legal procedures designed to ensure transparency and public accountability in the handling of public funds and executive remuneration. The requirement for a public vote on such significant financial matters is a key point in the legal challenge.

Details regarding the specific provisions of the open meetings and public records laws that the lawsuit alleges were violated were not fully elaborated upon in the provided summary. Furthermore, the identity of the plaintiff filing the lawsuit was not specified.

The amount of the severance package in question is reported to be close to $1 million. The lawsuit seeks to address the alleged breaches of state statutes governing the approval process for executive compensation packages within state-affiliated authorities.

Further information, including the specific legal grounds for the alleged violations and the entity or individuals initiating the lawsuit, was not available. The case is proceeding in Charleston County.

Story summarized from the original created by David Wren on scdailygazette.com, see more information here.

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