South Carolina Supreme Court Overturns ‘Tony Soprano’ Verdicts

South Carolina’s high court has overturned $11 million in verdicts against a Charleston attorney accused of defaming businessmen by comparing them to television mobster Tony Soprano.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported that the state Supreme Court sent a civil case against Paul Hulsey back to Circuit Court.

Hulsey was sued several years ago by Charleston businessmen Lawton Limehouse and Lawton Limehouse Jr.

Hulsey had sued Limehouse’s company on behalf of day laborers, claiming staffing agency L&L Services made fake documents and exploited workers. In 2004, Hulsey told the newspaper that L&L “created a perfect racketeering enterprise, just like Tony Soprano.”

The justices said a lower court was wrong to find Hulsey in default and impose $11 million in judgments against him.