W. Christopher Swett

On behalf of asbestos victims, Chris litigates against manufacturers, property owners and contractors who sold or installed defective asbestos-containing products and exposed workers and families to asbestos. 

Chris also litigates on behalf of workers who developed severe lung diseases, or “Popcorn Workers’ Lung,” after inhaling flavoring chemicals such as diacetyl and acetyl propionyl, among other occupational diseases and hazards. He has additional experience representing victims in cases involving significant injuries caused by hazardous consumer products, fires, premises injuries and other incidents of negligence and misconduct. 
 
Prior to joining Motley Rice, Chris served as a law clerk to the Honorable R. Bryan Harwell of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. In this capacity, he conducted complex research, prepared proposed orders involving numerous areas of the law, and assisted with various phases of both civil and criminal trials. 
 
A recipient of the Citadel Scholar full academic scholarship and the Citadel Honors Program Gold Seal, Chris was honored with the University of South Carolina School of Law's Cali Award for environmental law. Additionally, he served as Senior Associate Editor for the Southeastern Environmental Law Journal and is the author of published pieces concerning environmental law such as Politics, Money, and Radioactive Waste: The Savannah River Site Conundrum, 16.2 Se. Envtl. L.J. 391 (2008).

Growing up in rural South Carolina with blue-collar parents, Chris quickly learned the value of hard work and giving back to the community. He has volunteered as a Special Prosecutor for the South Carolina Attorney General's Office; proudly served as class chairman for The Citadel Foundation, helping to raise money for need-based scholarship funding; and is a former member of the Charleston County Library Board of Trustees. Chris is recognized as an AV^®-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell^®.