Damages diminished to avoid double recovery

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that a law firm sued for negligence may have its $10,000 jury verdict reduced by about $1,500. The law firm had transferred $10,000 in proceeds from a real estate sale to a hacker’s bank account instead of its client’s, but was able to recover and return $1,500 to the client from that account. That money was not a payment from a collateral source, as it had a direct connection to the “wrongdoer” here, so the $10,000 verdict should be reduced by the amount already repaid; otherwise it would be a double recovery.