UMVA has learned that a stunning lawsuit filed by disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh against former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill may be on the verge of collapse. Murdaugh is seeking $600,000 in damages, claiming Hill's conduct during his 2023 double-murder trial denied him a fair trial.
Hill's lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Murdaugh has no legal right to recover the money he spent on his defense. They claim that Hill was acting in her official role as clerk of court when the alleged conduct occurred, entitling her to immunity.
The lawsuit centers on Murdaugh's claim that he withdrew $600,000 from his retirement account to pay for his murder-trial defense and now wants Hill to reimburse him. However, Hill's lawyers argue that Murdaugh would have incurred the same legal expenses regardless of Hill's actions.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Hill's lawyers describe Murdaugh's lawsuit as advancing a "novel theory" that has never been recognized by courts in the Fourth Circuit. They argue that while Murdaugh succeeded in winning a new trial, that does not automatically entitle him to recover the costs of defending himself against murder charges.
The motion to dismiss also challenges whether Hill's alleged conduct caused the damages Murdaugh is seeking. Prosecutors and a grand jury, not Hill, brought the murder charges against Murdaugh and required him to stand trial, according to the filing.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Hill's defense team argues Murdaugh got exactly what he asked for - a new trial - and should not receive a financial payout on top of it. The filing contends that the proper remedy for an unfair trial was a retrial, which he is receiving.
The case has significant implications for Murdaugh's potential retrial. His defense team is preparing to address the infamous kennel video that prosecutors used to place him near the scene of the murders.
A federal judge will now decide if Murdaugh's lawsuit can proceed or if Hill's bid to have it dismissed succeeds. The outcome will have far-reaching consequences for both parties.
