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Eric Bland

South Carolina trial attorney and founding partner of Bland Richter, LLP, who serves as co-counsel for Brian Musgrave in the defamation proceedings against Rep. Nancy Mace.

Photograph of Eric Bland
Credit: linkedin.com. Source

Eric S. Bland is a founding partner of Bland Richter, LLP, a boutique litigation firm with offices in Charleston and Lexington, South Carolina. A Philadelphia native, Bland graduated summa cum laude, ranked second in his class, from the University of Tampa and earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law, graduating Order of the Coif and Wig and Robe (top 10%). He is licensed to practice in South Carolina, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Since forming Bland Richter with partner Ronald L. Richter, Jr., in 1997, the two attorneys have reported securing over $235 million in verdicts and settlements for clients.

Bland is a nationally recognized legal commentator. He became a prominent media figure during the Alex Murdaugh murder trial, serving as a spokesperson for victims' families and appearing regularly on programs including Today, Good Morning America, and 20/20. He is co-host of the Cup of Justice podcast and the Good Skill podcast, and is a legal advisor for the True Sunlight podcast. In 2024 he published the Amazon best-selling memoir Anything But Bland: Moxie, Murdaugh, and Making Life Happen on Your Own Terms. He has been listed in Super Lawyers from 2015 through 2025 in Professional Liability and is board-certified as a diplomat in Legal Malpractice by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (top 2% nationally).

Connection to the Nancy Mace record

Eric Bland, alongside firm partner Ronnie Richter and attorney Scott Mongillo, represents Brian Musgrave, one of four men publicly named by Rep. Nancy Mace in her February 10, 2025, House floor speech. In that speech, Mace alleged that Musgrave, along with Patrick Bryant and two others, committed rape, sexual predation, and sex trafficking. The allegations are unproven and contested; no criminal charges resulted from them. Musgrave denied all allegations.

Prior to filing suit, Bland and Richter sent Mace's office a demand letter on Musgrave's behalf, requesting that she either produce evidence supporting her claims, publicly retract the allegations, and issue an apology, or face legal action. Mace declined both options; House General Counsel redirected inquiries to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

On March 14, 2025, Bland and Richter filed a federal defamation complaint against Mace in U.S. District Court (District of South Carolina), alleging she had libeled Musgrave through the floor speech, subsequent social-media posts, and a poster displayed outside her congressional office labeling him a "predator." The complaint included eight exhibits.

On August 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Richard Mark Gergel dismissed the case with prejudice, substituting the United States as defendant under the Westfall Act and ruling that Mace's statements were protected because they bore a connection to her legislative duties. Bland publicly criticized the ruling, and Musgrave separately filed a defamation action against news outlets that allegedly republished Mace's allegations as established fact. Bland and Richter represent Musgrave in that matter as well.

Bland also handled the Murdaugh victims' financial claims, obtaining a $4.3 million judgment against Alex Murdaugh personally and securing the largest legal malpractice jury verdict in South Carolina history ($5.5 million). Those matters are unrelated to the Mace proceedings.

Office contact

Bland Richter, LLP

  • Charleston: The Peoples Building, 18 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401, (843) 573-9900
  • Lexington: 105 West Main St., Suite D, Lexington, SC 29072, (803) 256-9664
  • Web: blandrichter.com

Sources

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