Because Santis-Cristiani was a Mexican national and did not speak English, the PMPED attorneys needed an interpreter, according to the filing. Blanca Simpson, of Brunson, was engaged by Murdaugh to interpret, make travel arrangements for Santis-Cristiani, and serve as the liaison between PMPED and the Mexican plaintiff.
The motion, affidavits say PMPED, attorney's had “no knowledge of Murdaugh’s criminal misconduct at the time,” and demand to be dismissed from lawsuit
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Attached to the motion was an Oct. 21 affidavit from former PMPED attorney Lee D. Cope claiming that in late 2021 or early 2022, Simpson visited the law offices and asked him about the Santis-Cristiani case.
According to Cope’s affidavit, Simpson said that Santis-Cristiani did not want his money in a Mexican bank because “the government would take it.” Instead, he wanted his money in a U.S. account with Simpson in control of it. When Cope informed Simpson that he would need to speak to Santis-Cristiani before that could be approved, she said that it was very difficult to get in touch with the Mexican resident, according to the filing.