Latest news with #SouthCarolinaUnfairTradePracticesAct
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Carolina shrimpers sue 25 restaurants for ‘shrimp fraud,' saying deception is threatening their industry
On June 13, the South Carolina Shrimpers Association filed a federal lawsuit in the District of South Carolina against 25 Charleston-area restaurants. The shrimpers accused the eateries of violating the Lanham Act and the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act by marketing imported, frozen shrimp as 'wild‑caught' and 'local,' according to ABC News 4. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Shrimp fraud misleads customers The amended complaint alleged that this 'shrimp fraud' misleads consumers and damages the reputation and goodwill of legitimate Lowcountry shrimpers. 'We believe that when we invite our family, our friends, and our cherished guests to our beautiful Lowcountry, they deserve nothing less than the real, authentic thing — and in this case, that means our delectable and incomparable, wild-caught South Carolina shrimp,' said South Carolina Shrimpers Association vice president Bryan Jones. According to an investigation by SeaD Consulting, the genetic analysis of shrimp from 44 local eateries revealed that 90% of restaurants deceived customers. The suit found 25 establishments to be 'outright fraudulent' for deceiving diners by selling imported shrimp which they claimed were locally caught. Similar SeaD studies along the Gulf Coast revealed 'shrimp fraud rates' as high as 96% in Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg, Florida. Only two out of 44 tested restaurants served truly local shrimp. The Shrimpers Association claims these deceptions threaten the integrity of South Carolina's seafood branding and undermine consumer trust. After all, many customers are expecting authentic and local food as advertised. Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. Economic and tourism impact The authenticity of seafood is not a niche concern in South Carolina. In 2022, visitors spent $27.9 billion across the state, generated $2.6 billion in tax revenue and supported over 257,000 jobs. The Lowcountry's coastal dining scene is a significant attraction among tourists. According to Columbia SC Tourism, food and beverages accounted for 29% of each tourist's budget, which amounts to $487 million. If customers are misled by establishments, rebuilding consumer trust may require stricter labelling laws. Louisiana has implemented an updated seafood labeling law due to misleading food labels in restaurants. Responses and next steps Several restaurants have publicly denied wrongdoing and misleading customers. Mount Pleasant Seafood says it has 'receipts to back up' its local purchases and switches to frozen local South Carolina shrimp when fresh is unavailable. Crave Hospitality Group stressed its commitment to sourcing and transparency. Page's Okra Grill protested being 'floored' by inclusion and noted it 'does not claim on any of our menus that our shrimp is all local or East Coast.' 'Our aim has always been to protect South Carolina's shrimping industry and to uphold the principle that consumers deserve honesty in advertising. We hope to hear from any defendant who is prepared to work with us to ensure transparency and fairness moving forward,' said associate representative attorney Gedney Howe IV to WRDW. As the case heads to court, both sides will present evidence on sourcing records, menu marketing and consumer perception. Beyond financial damages, the litigation underscores a broader call to preserving the Lowcountry's culinary legacy, a billion-dollar tourism engine that demands 'local' shrimp must come from South Carolina waters. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of 'massive unemployment' in the US due to the 'biggest change' in history — and says this 1 group of 'smart' Americans will get hit extra hard. Are you one of them? How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Pastor husband of Mica Miller is accused in lawsuit of raping teen and using his church as a ‘sexual playground'
A South Carolina pastor has been accused in a lawsuit of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1998 before allegedly sexually assaulting her again more than two decades later. Myrtle Beach pastor John-Paul Miller, whose wife, Mica Miller, died by suicide, is being sued by the anonymous woman. Miller's father, Solid Rock Ministries, All Nations Cathedral Church and The Cathedral Baptist Church of the Grand Strand are also named in the 43-page complaint, which was filed Tuesday in Horry County Circuit Court. Mica Miller's death in April last year captivated the nation, with many questioning the official ruling of suicide in the case, and pointing fingers at her husband. No allegations against Miller have been sustained. The woman filing the complaint – identified only as Jane Doe – is suing for negligence, civil conspiracy, assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress and violation of the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act. Cathedral, Solid Rock, and their employees had the opportunity to prevent harm against vulnerable children, but 'ignored clear warning signs of minors being sexually exploited or abused by church staff, members, or volunteers,' the suit states. The lawsuit argues that despite knowledge of John-Paul Miller's behavior, his father and church officials took steps to cover up and even suppress the reporting of his actions, and allowed him to remain in a position of authority. The suit claims that Jane Doe at the age of 15 in 1998 attended the All Nations Church, formerly known as Cathedral Baptist Church of the Grand Strand Inc., with her grandparents when it was run by Miller's father, Reginald Wayne Miller. There she encountered Miller, then 19, who was employed as a youth leader. During a conversation, the suit claims, Miller forced Doe into his father's office and later to his truck, where he allegedly raped her. Doe 'did not fully comprehend the nature of what had happened to her' and repressed the trauma of the incident until decades later when she encountered Miller again in 2023. He the, despite being in a public setting, allegedly put his hands down her pants and touched her genitals without consent, according to the suit. 'This church was JPM's sexual playground,' the lawsuit states, adding that when Doe learned about the death of Miller's wife she felt 'immense guilt,' and believed if she had spoken up about her experiences, she may have prevented further harm to others. Neither Miller nor his attorney responded immediately to a request to comment from the Myrtle Beach Sun News, one of a number of news outlets in the state that reported on the lawsuit. On April 27, 2024, Miller's wife, Mica Miller, made a call to 911 and asked a dispatcher if they could track her location. When the dispatcher asked why, Mica said she was about to kill herself and that she wanted her family to be able to locate her body. Earlier in the day, she was captured on security footage purchasing a gun at a pawn shop. She was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Lumber River State Park in North Carolina. Those questioning her death have pointed to her husband as the primary suspect and have accused him of abusing his wife. Their allegations have not been substantiated. Late last year the FBI searched John-Paul Miller's home in the Myrtle Beach area, but he was not arrested nor named as a suspect in his wife's death. Miller has strenuously denied any involvement with his wife's death.
