McCullough v. Author Solutions, LLC

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

George C. McCullough, Appellant,

v.

Author Solutions, LLC, Respondent.

Appellate Case No. 2017-001448

Appeal From Anderson County
R. Scott Sprouse, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2019-UP-249
Submitted May 1, 2019 – Filed July 3, 2019

AFFIRMED

George C. McCullough, of Anderson, pro se.

PER CURIAM: George C. McCullough appeals the circuit court's affirmance of
the magistrate court's dismissal of his consumer fraud claim against Author
Solutions, Inc. (ASI), arguing the magistrate court erred in (1) finding the
arbitration clause binding, (2) dismissing his claim for lack of jurisdiction, (3)
failing to find ASI's appearance waived its argument on jurisdiction, (4) failing to
issue an entry of default and default judgment, and (5) finding he presented no
evidence. We affirm1 pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the following
authorities:

1. As to whether the magistrate court erred in finding the arbitration clause
binding: Dean v. Heritage Healthcare of Ridgeway, LLC, 408 S.C. 371, 379, 759
S.E.2d 727, 731 (2014) ("Arbitrability determinations are subject to de novo
review. However, a [magistrate] court's factual findings will not be reversed on
appeal if any evidence reasonably supports the findings." (citation omitted));
Schulmeyer v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 353 S.C. 491, 497, 579 S.E.2d 132,
135 (2003) ("[T]his [c]ourt is required to give effect to the plain meaning of the
words in an unambiguous contract.").

2. As to whether the magistrate court erred in dismissing McCullough's claim for
lack of jurisdiction and failing to find ASI's appearance waived its argument on
jurisdiction: Futch v. McAllister Towing of Georgetown, Inc., 335 S.C. 598, 613,
518 S.E.2d 591, 598 (1999) (declining to address remaining issues when prior
issue is dispositive).

3. As to whether the magistrate court erred in failing to issue an entry of default
and default judgment: Staubes v. City of Folly Beach, 339 S.C. 406, 412, 529
S.E.2d 543, 546 (2000) ("[A]n issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal,
but must have been raised to and ruled upon by the [circuit] court to be preserved
for appellate review.").

4. As to whether the magistrate court erred in finding McCullough presented no
evidence: In re Michael H., 360 S.C. 540, 546, 602 S.E.2d 729, 732 (2004) ("An
issue may not be raised for the first time on appeal. In order to preserve an issue
for appeal, it must be raised to and ruled upon by the [magistrate] court.").

AFFIRMED.

HUFF, THOMAS, and KONDUROS, JJ., concur.

1
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.