Vance L. Boone, Thelma Boone, Travis G. Messex, Theresa S. Messex, Brian Johnson, and Kelli Johnson

Summary

The South Carolina Supreme Court held that Quicken Loans, Inc. and Title Source, Inc. did not engage in the unauthorized practice of law in their residential mortgage‑refinance transactions because licensed South Carolina attorneys were involved at every critical step and exercised independent professional judgment. Accordingly, the Court rejected the Special Referee’s recommendation of an injunction and issued a declaratory judgment that no UPL occurred. The decision reaffirmed the Court’s case‑by‑case approach to UPL analysis, emphasizing consumer protection over rigid rules. No class certification was granted.