CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — PMPED, the law firm Alex Murdaugh left in September, is suing the former lawyer for allegedly stealing funds from the firm and clients.
The lawsuit claims Murdaugh developed a "systematic scheme in which he diverted funds owed to the firm and to clients to a fictitious entity." The filing seeks to learn where the allegedly stolen money went.
Jim Griffin, a lawyer for Murdaugh, said his client has pledged to cooperate. “This is a very sad development," Griffin said. "Alex holds every member of the Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick law firm in very high esteem."
PMPED is also requesting to know if Murdaugh has any agreements for payment regarding "books, interviews or other publicity."
Murdaugh, the prominent lawyer who became a public focal point after his wife and son were killed in a double homicide in June, allegedly attempted a $10 million insurance fraud scheme the day after he was fired from PMPED. Murdaugh told authorities he paid former client Eddie Smith to shoot him, so his son could collect the large life insurance claim.
Smith told the court and ABC News 4 that Murdaugh is setting him up. Both men are currently out on bond and facing conspiracy charges.
Legal trouble has dogged Murdaugh for months now. A civil lawsuit was filed at the beginning of September by the family of Murdaugh's former housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who died in his family home. Satterfield's sons at the time said they had not received a $4.3 million life insurance claim related to their mother's death. After petitioning for Murdaugh's arrest, a settlement was reached.
Murdaugh is also facing a lawsuit related to the 2019 boat crash that took the life of Mallory Beach.
Paul Murdaugh, Alex's son, was allegedly driving the boat while intoxicated at the time of the crash. Those charges were dropped over the summer following Paul's death.
In addition, State Law Enforcement Division announced evidence was found related to the death of Stephen Smith in 2015, while investigating Paul and Maggie Murdaugh's murders. Smith, a Hampton County teenager, was found dead on a rural road. Police concluded his death was related to a hit-and-run, but Smith's family has remained skeptical.
Notes from investigators at the time, obtained from a FOIA request, suggest some officers also doubted the claim that it was a hit-and-run. No suspects were found.
SLED has not revealed what evidence ignited the new look into Smith's death.