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A prominent Charleston attorney passes away. Attorney Reese Joye was found dead in his hotel room Sunday morning in Boston, where he'd been attending a law conference. His law partner says it appears he died in his sleep of natural causes.

For forty years, Reese Joye practiced the profession he loved.

"Reese was truly a fighter. Everybody that dealt with him, each client he had, he brought the same level of commitment to every case," Law Partner Ken Harrell said.

Joye, best known for his work in DUI defense, handled virtually every type of personal injury case. He and his son Mark, also a partner in the firm, argued a landmark case back in 1997. The two won a $262 million dollar verdict in a product liability case. It's the largest verdict ever awarded in South Carolina.  

"You knew when you were dealing with Reese it was going to be full boar ahead because he brought such a passion to what he did," Harrell said.

Joye was also passionate about the outdoors. He was an avid skier and just recently returned from a fishing trip out West. Friends say he was a guy that played as hard as he worked.

"He sort of brought that approach to everything he did which I think is why it's so surprising for me for Reese to have died as quietly as he did, in his sleep. It's just the last thing I would have thought of when I thought of Reese,” Harrell added.

Dead at 70-years-old, Joye leaves behind his wife Jackie, a daughter and two sons.

Joye was a founder of the conference he was attending this weekend at Harvard Law. Ironically, on Friday, conference leaders had honored him for his work. He was also recognized earlier this year, on his 70th birthday, by the South Carolina Senate.

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