Settlement reached in deadly 2019 boat crash tied to Murdaugh family

HAMPTON, S.C. — A settlement has been reached in a deadly 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, the son of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh, ABC affiliate WCIV reports.

The crash resulted in the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach.

The Beach family’s attorney told WCIV that the owner of the Parker’s Kitchen convenience store agreed to the settlement over the weekend.

Paul Murdaugh reportedly used his older brother’s driver’s license and his mom’s credit card to illegally buy beer from a Parker’s store hours before the crash on Feb. 23, 2023.

The Beaches asserted that the Parker’s employee who sold the alcohol to Paul should have confirmed his age and identity, which could have prevented Mallory Beach’s death. They also argued that Parker’s was negligent and didn’t train its employees to verify the ages of its customers who bought alcohol.

The defendant argued they weren’t responsible for Mallory Beach’s decisions or anyone else’s who stayed on the boat knowing Paul Murdaugh was drunk. They said they had several chances to get off the boat.

Now, a $15 million settlement has been reached in the lawsuit filed against Parker’s over her death. Attorneys said the settlement effectively ends the case, and a trial scheduled for next month is now canceled.

The Beach family’s attorney told WCIV that attorneys for Alex Murdaugh, who is the other primary defendant in the lawsuit, were aware of the settlement talks with Parker’s. The Murdaughs aren’t expected to contest the settlement or any other rulings in the case.

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