Sean D. Houseal Principal

Phone: (843) 720-4622  |  Fax: (843) 723-7398  |  Email: shouseal@buistmoore.com

Practice Areas
Admiralty and Maritime
Civil Litigation
Construction
Environmental
Insurance
Product Liability
White Collar Crime

Sean Houseal has more than fifteen years of trial experience, and has litigated a broad range of cases in the state and federal courts of South Carolina.  A former criminal prosecutor specializing in environmental and white collar crime, Mr. Houseal joined Buist Moore in 2001 and became a principal in 2006.  He concentrates his practice in the areas of admiralty and maritime matters, environmental law, product liability, and in handling “white collar” criminal matters for companies and individuals.  Mr. Houseal’s admiralty practice focuses on the representation of ship owners, manufacturers of recreational boats and personal watercraft, marinas and other maritime entities and individuals in connection with accidental death and personal injuries, vessel groundings and allisions, cargo damage, vessel security breaches, natural resource damage assessments stemming from pollution incidents, and other maritime emergencies.

Representative Matters:

•	Obtained favorable outcome at trial as co-counsel for multi-national corporation accused of breach of contract, business torts and violations of the SC Unfair Trade Practices Act
•	Achieved dismissal by District Court of lawsuit against vessel and owner involving salvage, breach of contract, unjust enrichment and quantum meruit claims
•	Negotiated favorable settlements for international client in defense of multi-million dollar environmental damages claims
•	Successful defense of individuals and businesses under federal investigation for suspected criminal activity
•	Obtained award in excess of $100,000 at arbitration on behalf of homeowner clients against construction managers for breach of contract, fraud and negligent misrepresentation; prevailed on motion to vacate award and successfully negotiated settlement while case was on appeal
•	Obtained favorable results for employers and workers’ compensation carriers in defense of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act claims and South Carolina Workers' Compensation Act claims
•	Successful defense of contractors and construction product manufacturers in numerous construction defect lawsuits

Educational Background:

•	University of South Carolina School of Law, 1993 - J.D.
	Editorial Staff, South Carolina Environmental Law Journal American Jurisprudence Award Winner, Moot Court Competition
•	Wake Forest University, 1990 - B.A., Economics

Professional Background:

•	Buist Moore Smythe McGee P.A., 2001-Present
•	Criminal Prosecutor (specializing in environmental and white collar crime), Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office, Charleston, South Carolina, 1995-2001
•	Criminal Prosecutor, Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office, Greenville, South Carolina, 1993-1995

Honors:

•	Best Lawyers In America, Environmental Law

Publications, Papers, Programs and Seminars:

•	Electronic Discovery and Its Impact on Maritime Practitioners, Author, Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, 2007
•	Key Environmental Issues in U.S. EPA Region 4 – Hot Topics and Recent Developments, Planning Committee, American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, April 2005 biennial seminar
•	The Wetlands Controversy: Perspectives and Practical Advice on Post-SWANCC Wetlands Law and Regulation in South Carolina, Moderator, Panel discussion, South Carolina Bar Convention, January 2005
•	Key Environmental Issues in U.S. EPA Region 4 – Regional Growth and the Environment, Planning Committee, American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, May 2003 biennial seminar

Professional Organizations:

•	American Bar Association •Environment, Energy and Resources Section • Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section • Vice Chairperson, Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee, 2007-Present • Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee
•	South Carolina Bar Association • Environment and Natural Resources Section    • Former Section Delegate to the SC Bar House of Delegates    • Chairperson, 2004-2005    • Chairperson-Elect, 2003    • Secretary, 2002    • Council Member, 2001
•	Maritime Association of South Carolina
•	Maritime Law Association of the United States
•	Propeller Club of the United States
•	Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute • Port Director, Charleston, South Carolina, 2003-2005
•	South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association

Bar Admissions:

•	South Carolina Supreme Court, 1993
•	United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2001
•	United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, 2001