A total of $18 million will be paid out in multiple boat crash lawsuits but Parker's and Alex Murdaugh will pay nothing. What all sides are saying.
www.greenvilleonline.com
7/17/23
After a circuit court judge
denied motions to change venue and sever defendants Alex Murdaugh and Gregory M. Parker/Parker's Corporation, a mediation meeting was held at 10 a.m. Sunday at the law offices of mediating attorneys Clawson and Staubes, LLC, in Charleston.
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Attorneys for Parker's say they are 'disappointed' in disclosures
Gregory M. Parker and his Parker's Corporation were named as co-defendants in these lawsuits, and were accused of illegally selling alcohol to Paul Murdaugh and the underaged boaters.
After the mediation, which took most of the day,
PK Shere, attorney for the Parker's defendants, issued a statement around 10 p.m. Sunday through a spokesperson.
“It is disappointing that the contents of settlement discussions have been disclosed today counter to the mediation agreement that was signed by all who participated.
"Recently, the court ruled that Parker’s would be tethered to Alex Murdaugh at the upcoming trial. The fact remains that Tajeeha Cohen made a legal and valid sale, as was determined by SLED. This case was never about that legal and valid sale nor was it about the repeated bad decisions that these young adults made that night. For Mark Tinsley, it was all about using the Murdaughs’ bad actions and the unfair law of joint and several liability in South Carolina to make Parker’s pay for a verdict intended to punish the Murdaughs. Given the outsized publicity this case has received, being tethered to a convicted murderer all but ensured Parker’s would not receive a fair trial.
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A spokesperson for Parker's added that they were disappointed due to the fact that details of the settlements were disclosed early Sunday afternoon, despite the fact that as of 9 p.m. not all parties had signed off on the agreement.
According to the statement, Parker's insurance carriers paid the settlements. Gregory M. Parker personally has not paid anything to resolve these cases, nor has he admitted fault in the matter.
Tinsley said the Beach family purposefully wanted the details of the settlement to be made public. The Allendale attorney
issued a statement Sunday night, then issued a follow-up statement on Monday:
“The settlements with the gas station demonstrate, to use Parker’s word, an 'exoneration' of the young people in the boat that Parker so readily blames. Underage drinking is a serious and costly problem. Blaming the kids won’t solve the problem. The people who enable underage drinking must be stopped. It’s shameful that nearly 2 people per week die in this state alone as a result of underage drinking. The Beach family believes this settlement will serve as a warning to all the Parker’s of the world, who might make an illegal sale of alcohol to a minor, that they will be held to account for their wrongful conduct if they do. These settlements won’t bring Mallory back, but we hope they do save someone else’s son or daughter. "
"The sun is much brighter in Hampton County for several people this morning."
Joseph M. McCulloch Jr., attorney for Connor Cook
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Attorney for Connor Cook confirms $1 million settlement, responds
Attorney Joseph M. McCulloch Jr., who represents surviving boater Connor Cook, confirmed that his client's share of the $18 million was $1 million.
"Seeing this case settled was a tremendous relief for Connor and his family, and a tremendous relief for Miley Altman and her family," said McCulloch. "Connor and Miley, who were dating at the time of the boat crash, are now the proud parents of a two-month-old child. They are so pleased to have this burden relieved, and now having this nest egg is a wonderful benefit to both of them. The sun is much brighter in Hampton County for several people this morning."