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The South Carolina law firm the place Alex Murdaugh was just lately a accomplice as soon as once more is in search of to distance itself from the disgraced lawyer sitting in an undisclosed drug rehabilitation facility, publishing a brand new assertion making certain purchasers they won’t lose cash because of his alleged misconduct.
The web site for Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick (PMPED), a private harm legislation agency based mostly in Hampton, South Carolina, now opens with a “Message to Our Neighborhood,” emphasizing how its attorneys and staff reside and work in Hampton, Jasper, Colleton and Beaufort counties.
“Most of us grew up within the space, attended native colleges, worship at space church buildings and proceed involvement with native civic organizations and charities,” the assertion begins. “We’re happy with our communities and are distressed by the tragic scenario involving our former accomplice, Alex Murdaugh. The adverse consideration that this has delivered to the neighborhood and to our agency is regrettable.”
PMPED requested for Alex Murdaugh’s resignation earlier this month, alleging he misappropriated not less than $1 million in funds. Since then, he allegedly plotted his personal loss of life, offering a gun to his former authorized shopper and alleged drug seller, Curtis “Eddie” Smith, to shoot him within the head in order that his surviving son, 26-year-old Buster Murdaugh, may gather a $10 million life insurance coverage coverage. However Smith allegedly solely grazed him.
Murdaugh has since been charged with insurance coverage fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance coverage fraud, together with submitting a false police report in connection to the Sept. 4 taking pictures. Hampton County Justice of the Peace Decide Tonja Alexander set his bond at $20,000, and he was launched on his personal recognizance. He was allowed to return to an out-of-state rehabilitation facility with out GPS monitoring.
In its assertion, PMPED additional claims to be “a sturdy agency with expert, skilled attorneys who characterize our purchasers with a fierce dedication to acquiring justice.” The assertion additionally burdened that no shopper will expertise any monetary losses because of Alex Murdaugh’s alleged misconduct.
“We have been shocked and dismayed to study that Alex violated our rules and code of ethics. He lied and he stole from us. No member of PMPED was conscious of Alex’s scheme,” the assertion continues. “Once we realized he betrayed our belief, we requested his resignation instantly. We’ve but to talk to anybody who was conscious of his dependancy to opioids.”
Throughout his bond listening to, Murdaugh’s lawyer, Dick Harpootlian, advised the decide that his shopper has struggled with an opioid dependancy over the previous twenty years and that the dependancy has solely worsened for the reason that murders of his spouse, Maggie Murdaugh, and their 22-year-old son, Paul Murdaugh, in June. Alex Murdaugh dialed 911 to report coming residence to seek out the 2 shot useless on the household’s searching property in Colleton County.
Nobody has been named as suspects or arrested within the double murder.
The agency was based by Alex Murdaugh’s great-grandfather, Randolph Murdaugh Sr., in 1910. Its web site nonetheless lists his brother, Randolph Murdaugh IV, as a accomplice. Their father, Randolph Murdaugh III, who additionally labored on the observe, died in June, supposedly from a longtime sickness.
“Whereas Alex’s scenario is tragic, be assured the agency is robust and targeted on representing its many consumers. We offer authorized companies domestically and statewide. We maintain ourselves to the very best moral requirements in dealing with our purchasers’ circumstances,” the legislation agency wrote. “Regardless of the widespread current publicity, we proceed to work to characterize our purchasers with the identical diligence and professionalism as previous to the invention of Alex’s misdeeds. The funds taken by Alex is not going to have an effect on present or future PMPED operations. No shopper of PMPED will undergo a monetary loss because of Alex’s misconduct.”
The legislation agency additionally addressed media stories in regards to the lawsuit and settlement ensuing from the loss of life of the Murdaugh household’s longtime nanny and housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield. The South Carolina State Regulation Enforcement Division (SLED) just lately opened an investigation into 57-year-old Satterfied’s 2018 loss of life and the dealing with of her property. Attorneys representing her sons declare that Murdaugh and others organized a $505,000 settlement, in addition to a second $4.3 million settlement with a distinct insurer following Satterfield’s loss of life – however her sons and solely heirs have by no means seen any of the cash.
“If these stories are correct, we’re shocked at what occurred. It’s necessary for everybody to know that PMPED didn’t characterize Alex in that case. His insurance coverage firm employed counsel to characterize him,” the legislation agency wrote. “Like lots of you, we now have a number of questions on Alex and what has just lately come to gentle. We don’t know the solutions, however we’ll proceed aiding legislation enforcement and different authorities in efforts to seek out the reality. PMPED is dedicated to our purchasers and neighborhood. You may rely on us to function our agency in an honorable and clear vogue.”
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SLED Chief Mark Keel on Thursday referred to as on federal companions on the FBI and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the District of South Carolina for continued help in its investigation into Alex Murdaugh and his household. On the time of his loss of life, Paul Murdaugh was going through boating beneath the affect expenses in connection to a 2019 lethal crash in Beaufort County that killed 19-year-old Mallory Seaside and injured a number of different passengers. One of many passengers, Connor Prepare dinner, is alleging that Alex Murdaugh tried to forestall him from speaking to police.
SLED has additionally since reopened an investigation into the 2015 loss of life of Stephen Smith “based mostly upon data gathered throughout the course of the double homicide investigation of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh,” however the company has not disclosed how they’re linked.
