THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA In The Supreme Court

James W. Trexler, Petitioner,

v.

The Associated Press, Barrington Broadcasting South Carolina Corp., Raycom TV Broadcasting, Inc., The Spartanburg Herald Journal, Inc., and The Pacific & Southern Co., Respondents.

Appellate Case No. 2015-001368

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEALS

Appeal from Richland County Joseph M. Strickland, Special Circuit Court Judge

Memorandum Opinion No. 2016-MO-030 Heard September 7, 2016 – Filed October 19, 2016

DISMISSED AS IMPROVIDENTLY GRANTED

William H. Johnson, of Law Offices of William H. Johnson, LLC, of Manning; W. Westbrook Wills, III, of Folly Beach; and Matthew D. Hamrick, of Charleston, all for Petitioner.

Jerry Jay Bender, of Baker, Ravenel & Bender, LLP, of Columbia, for Respondents.

PER CURIAM: We granted a writ of certiorari to review the court of appeals' decision in Trexler v. The Associated Press, Op. No. 2015-UP-201 (S.C. Ct. App. filed Apr. 15, 2015). After careful consideration of the Appendix and briefs, the writ of certiorari is

DISMISSED AS IMPROVIDENTLY GRANTED.

PLEICONES, C.J., BEATTY, KITTREDGE, JJ., and Acting Justice J. Mark Hayes, II, concur.