Victims seek civil judgement as Murdaugh, Laffitte await what's next – InsuranceNewsNet

InsuranceNewsNet — Your Industry. One Source.™

Sign in
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home Now reading Newswires
Topics
    • Life Insurance News
    • Annuity News
    • Health/Employee Benefits
    • Property and Casualty
    • Advisor News
    • Washington Wire
    • Regulation News
    • Sponsored Articles
    • Monthly Focus
  • INN Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • Magazine
  • Webinars
  • Free Newsletters
Sign in or register to be an INNsider.
  • Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • Magazine
  • Webinars
  • Free Newsletters
  • Insider Pro
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Staff
  • Contact
  • Newsletters

Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Life Insurance News
Newswires RSS Get our newsletter
Order Prints
December 4, 2022 Newswires No comments
Share
Share
Tweet
Email

Victims seek civil judgement as Murdaugh, Laffitte await what's next

Bluffton Today (SC)

Just one day after Richard "Alex" Murdaugh co-conspirator Russell Lucius Laffitte's guilty verdict in federal criminal court, attorneys for two of Laffitte's victims filed a motion asking the state civil courts to hasten judgement on their behalf.

Laffitte, the former Palmetto State Bank CEO, was found guilty Nov. 22 on six federal criminal charges that he conspired with Murdaugh, the disbarred and disgraced former Hampton attorney, to steal or misuse funds while acting as a conservator for several of Murdaugh's personal injury or wrongful death cases.

Two of the alleged victims of Laffitte and Murdaugh, Hannah Plyler and Alania Spohn, filed a civil suit Aug. 24, seeking damages in the Hampton County Court of Common Pleas against Laffitte and his former bank, which was founded by and remains controlled by his family.

Related stories

  • Maid's son tells judge Alex Murdaugh took $4M for her death
  • Chris Wilson tells court former friend Murdaugh confessed he was ‘stealing money’

On Nov. 23, Bland Richter LLP, attorneys for Plyler and Spohn, filed a motion for partial summary judgement against Laffitte and the bank, asking the courts to hasten judgement on their behalf in light of the guilty verdicts, along with testimony and evidence brought forth during Laffitte's trail.

"On behalf of the Plylers, our other clients and the other victims of Russell Laffitte and Palmetto State Bank, we applaud the wisdom of the jury to see through the confusion that the defense tried to create, as well as the courage of the jury to remind those in power to watch the hell out," attorney Eric Bland said in a news release emailed last week.

Latest motion in the alleged Murdaugh-Laffitte conspiracy cases

The motion cites evidence and testimony brought forth during Laffitte's bond hearing and his trail, as well as in two YouTube video interviews Laffitte participated in prior to and during his trial, that Bland Richter says support their claim of liability against Laffitte and his former bank.

The motion contends that during the court proceedings and videos, Laffitte admitted that he breached his duties to the victim plaintiffs, admitted that he had "civil liability for his conduct," and admitted that Laffitte knew he had made mistakes.

The motion also seeks a partial summary judgement against Palmetto State Bank, claiming that it "is liable for having aided and abetted Laffitte's breach of fiduciary duty" and the bank failed to take any action to intervene or supervise Laffitte's handling of the victims' accounts.

"It is a very explosive motion and one in which the admissions and statements made by Russ Laffitte and his counsel Bart Daniel may boomerang against them," Bland said in Nov. 28 news release. "If granted, the trial will go forward on damages only."

Given the evidence presented in criminal court, the motion seeks a quick ruling on the matter of liability in this civil matter, leaving only the matter of actual and punitive financial damages to be resolved.

Attorneys for Laffitte and Palmetto State Bank did not return emails seeking comment Monday.

Who are Hannah Plyler and Alania Spohn?

On July 16, 2005, Plyler and Spohn, who were children at the time, were involved in a car crash along Hampton County's stretch of Interstate 95 that left their mother and brother dead. That same year, their family retained the services of Murdaugh, who was working as a partner in his family's PMPED law firm, in a wrongful death suit.

Murdaugh filed and won a total of four lawsuits on their behalf, suing Ford Motor Company and Bridgestone Corporation, among others, then appointed Laffitte as the legal conservator of the settlements funds for the juvenile clients.

During the years that followed, until the girls turned 18, Murdaugh and Laffitte allegedly misused the victim's money, often in the form of low-interest loans to themselves, then allegedly stole money from other Murdaugh clients to replace the funds.

What's next for Russell Laffitte and Alex Murdaugh?

Laffitte was found guilty of bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and three counts of misapplication of bank funds after a trial that began Nov. 8.

His legal defense team has two weeks to file any appeals.

No date has been set for his sentencing, and the disgraced Hampton banker will remain out of jail on bond with no objections from federal prosecutors, as he has complied with bond restricts so far with no violations. A sentencing hearing could be weeks or even months down the road.

Laffitte is also facing similar bank and wire fraud charges from the South Carolina State Grand Jury as part of the same criminal conspiracy. No trial date has been set for those charges.

Murdaugh is facing more than 90 criminal charges from the State Grand Jury, as well as local indictments.

He is also accused of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son Paul at their Colleton County home on June 7, 2021.

While no trial date has been set for his financial crimes, Murdaugh is scheduled to stand trial on the double murder and weapons charges on Jan. 23, 2023, in Colleton County.

Murdaugh is also facing lawsuits, 11 in state court and one federal, and remains jailed in Richland County on a $7 million bond he has been unable to meet.

Older

Somerset County man sentenced to prison for $1.6 million COVID relief fraud

Newer

Murdaugh, Laffitte cases add to reputation of bankers in Lowcountry

Advisor News

  • Fed slows rate hikes even as Powell says there's more work to do
  • Mortgage rates in U.S. fall again, hit 6.09%
  • 1 in 3 Americans struggling financially but goal-setting is a game-changer
  • Advisors bet on US stocks to outperform in 2023 amid tech rebound
  • Investors want more ESG information from companies
More Advisor News

Annuity News

  • Study: Does pessimism really suppress annuity sales?
  • Sweet streams of income: ChatGPT, the bard of annuities
  • F&G Annuities & Life announces equity investment in life IMO SYNCIS
  • Investors scrambling to lock in rates propel annuity sales to record highs
  • North American and Annexus launch new fixed index annuity
Sponsor
More Annuity News

Health/Employee Benefits News

  • State: all insurers failed to comply with Oregon Reproductive Health Equity Act
  • Will plan fix California health care?
  • Insurance giant Elevance to move into 15th state
  • Medicare card scam targets seniors for personal info
  • Yes, states are re-checking Medicaid and CHIP eligibility starting in April
More Health/Employee Benefits News

Life Insurance News

  • Maid's son tells judge Alex Murdaugh took $4M for her death
  • Chris Wilson tells court former friend Murdaugh confessed he was ‘stealing money’
  • State's motive testimony could prolong Alex Murdaugh murder trial
  • Equitable expands portfolio in VUL market
  • New date set for billionaire suspect accused of bribing state cabinet member
More Life Insurance News

- Presented By -

Top Read Stories

  • Chicago news roundup: PPP fraud uncovered in Chicago, informant reveals $100K bounty on FBG Duck and more
  • Gov. Carney: Enrollment on Delaware's Health Insurance Marketplace for 2023 Reaches All-Time High
  • 25 people charged in fake nursing diploma operation
  • Connecticut addressing broker shortage amid The Great Unwinding
  • Missouri Department of Insurance: Over $24 Million Returned To Missouri Insurance Consumers In 2022
More Top Read Stories >

FEATURED OFFERS

Meet Encova Life
We know agents matter. You can count on our life team to be high tech, high touch and responsive.

How to Write For InsuranceNewsNet

Find out how you can submit content for publishing on our website.
View Guidelines

Topics

  • Life Insurance News
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Property and Casualty
  • Advisor News
  • Washington Wire
  • Regulation News
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Monthly Focus

Top Sections

  • Life Insurance News
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits News
  • Property and Casualty News
  • AdvisorNews
  • Washington Wire
  • Insurance Webinars

Our Company

  • About
  • Editorial Staff
  • Magazine
  • Write for INN
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.

select Newsletter Options
Facebook Linkedin Twitter
© 2023 InsuranceNewsNet.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • AdvisorNews

Sign in with your Insider Pro Account

Not registered? Become an Insider Pro.