Lawsuits Settled in Fatal Boat Crash Involving Son of Prominent South Carolina Attorney
Prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh has settled lawsuits related to a deadly boat crash in 2019, according to two lawyers familiar with the negotiations. The crash occurred when a boat owned by Murdaugh struck a bridge piling in Archer’s Creek near Hilton Head, resulting in the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach. Authorities believe that Murdaugh’s teenage son, Paul, was driving the boat at the time of the accident.
In a separate case earlier this year, Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murdering his wife and son as part of an attempt to escape accountability for financial crimes. He is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. At the time of the murders, his son Paul was facing trial in connection with the boat crash.
Alex Murdaugh, as the owner of the boat, had been involved in litigation related to the crash. However, all lawsuits associated with the incident have now been settled. The lawyers involved confirmed that no further trials are expected. The settlements also include claims made by the four other teenagers who were on the boat at the time of the crash.
According to a police report, all the passengers on the boat were underage and heavily intoxicated. Alcohol was found on the boat, and surveillance video showed Paul Murdaugh purchasing alcohol that evening using his older brother’s ID. In addition to the settlements involving the Murdaugh family, the store that sold the alcohol, Parker’s, was also targeted by plaintiffs. However, the store’s insurance firms settled rather than face potential punitive losses.
The exact amounts of the settlements have not been confirmed, but it has been reported that the cash settlement could amount to $15 million, with the majority going to Mallory Beach’s family.
The resolution of these cases marks a step toward closure for all parties involved. Mark Tinsley, a lawyer for the Beach family, believes that the settlement will serve as a warning to retailers, like Parker’s, about the consequences of selling alcohol to minors. He hopes that this will hold them accountable for their actions.
Overall, the boat crash lawsuits involving Alex Murdaugh and his son Paul have been settled. This conclusion brings some measure of closure to the tragic incident, while also highlighting the responsibility that retailers bear in preventing underage drinking. The settlements stand as a reminder that legal accountability must be upheld for wrongful conduct when it comes to the sale of alcohol to minors.