Hutson S. “Buster” Davis, Jr. is a Shareholder of the Firm. Mr. Davis joined Johnson Davis's predecessor, BARRY L. JOHNSON, PA, in 2009. From 1973 to 1976, Mr. Davis was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of South Carolina and engaged in civil and criminal litigation on behalf of the State of South Carolina. Moving to Beaufort, South Carolina in 1976, Mr. Davis entered the private practice of law. Since that time, his practice has evolved from general defense litigation to almost exclusively the defense of physicians in malpractice actions. Mr. Davis is also a certified mediator for civil cases.
Born in Albertville, Alabama, Mr. Davis moved at an early age to Greenville, South Carolina. He is an Eagle Scout. Mr. Davis graduated from the University of South Carolina, B.A. – History, in 1969 and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1972. During his undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Davis was a member of the University Debate Team and was the Atlantic Coast Conference Debate Champion. Mr. Davis was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity and Blue Key Honor Society. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Davis served in the United States Air Force as Captain in the JAG Corps.
A frequent lecturer at the South Carolina Defense Trial Lawyers Academy and CLE courses, Mr. Davis has made numerous presentations to medical groups concerning medical malpractice, including the South Carolina Medical Association. He has been published by, and lectured for, The National Business Institute on “The Subjects of Civil Damages and Advanced Issues in Medical Malpractice.” Mr. Davis is also published in the Federation and Insurance Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Vol. 42, #14, “Protecting Thoughts and Communications from Invasive Discovery: The Attorney/Client Work Product Privileges.”
Active in the community, Mr. Davis is the Founder of the Beaufort County Charities Golf Tournament, has served as Chairman of the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation, was the first Co-Chairman of the Beaufort County Hospital Ball, and past President of the Beaufort County Bar Association. He has coached little league baseball and basketball in the Beaufort area, and is actively involved with speech and hearing impaired students, and a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. Mr. Davis is a practicing Episcopalian, serving two terms as a Vestryman. Mr. Davis is serving his 3rd term as Delegate to the Diocesan Convention of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina and has been appointed by The Bishop as The Church Attorney for the Diocese.
Mr. Davis is married to Debbie Dawsey-Davis, a Speech Language Pathologist and Lowcountry Regional Special Education Coordinator for the South Carolina Public Charter School District. They have 2 daughters, 2 stepdaughters and 3 grandchildren.
Education
University of South Carolina, B.A. in History, 1969
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1972
Bar Admissions
South Carolina
United States District Court, District of South Carolina
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Claims
United States Customs Court
United States Supreme Court
Awards & Honors
Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
South Carolina Super Lawyers: 2013, 2014, 2015
Professional Associations
American Bar Association
South Carolina Bar Association
Beaufort County Bar Association
Hilton Head Island Bar Association
Reported Cases
Following are some of the cases in which Mr. Davis has been involved, either at the trial or appellate level, which resulted in reported decisions:
Insurance Service of Beaufort vs. Aetna, 966 F.2d 847, C.A.4 (S.C.);
H.G. Hall Const. Co., Inc. v. J.E.P. Enterprises, 283 S.C. 196, 321 S.E.2d 267 (Ct.App. 1984);
Bannister v. Ohio Cas. Ins. Co., 314 S.C. 388, 444 S.E.2d 528 (Ct.App. 1994);
U.S., ex rel. Bruce G. Lowman vs. Hilton Head Health System, L.P., et. al, 487 F.Supp 2d 682, D.S.C., April 24, 2007 (NO. C.A. NO: 9:05-2533PMD);
Guinan vs. Tenant Health Systems, et. al, 677 S.E.2d 32, S.C. App., May 7, 2009 (NO. 4543).
