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HAMPTON COUNTY, SC (WCSC) – Prominent Hampton County District Attorney Alex Murdaugh transferred money from his former law firm to a personal account for several years, according to a complaint filed Wednesday.
The Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick (PMPED) law firm has filed a lawsuit against Murdaugh and is seeking to recover the money he allegedly stole from the firm. According to the law firm, Murdaugh used a systematic scheme in which he transferred funds that were owed to the firm and their clients to a fictitious account.
PMPED officials say they are trying to find out where the funds have gone and if they are hidden. The company said it has reimbursed all clients who suffered a loss as a result of Murdaugh’s actions while working with them.
“In addition, the firm asks if Murdaugh has made any agreements involving future payments related to books, interviews or other advertising,” read a statement from the law firm.
“It’s a very sad development,” read a statement from Jim Griffin, one of Murdaugh’s attorneys. “Alex holds each member of the Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick law firm in the highest regard. He pledged his full cooperation to the company.
Murdaugh was a partner of PMPED until September 3, 2021, when the firm called for his immediate resignation. The law firm said it discovered Murdaugh was converting client and company money for personal use earlier this month.
Lawyers said the discovery of the scheme arose when the firm inquired about the fees owed to them in connection with a case Murdaugh worked on with another law firm. On September 2, 2021, lawyers reported that a check was found on Murdaugh’s desk at the other law firm.
The lawsuit says a note on the check indicated that it was partial payment of the fees claimed by the company. However, PMPED officials said the check was made payable to Murdaugh’s personal account and not PMPED.
The discovery prompted a review of previous settlement cases that Murdaugh resolved. According to the lawsuit, the examination showed numerous checks made payable to Murdaugh’s fictitious account.
Then, on September 3, Murdaugh was confronted with the information and he admitted to converting money owed to PMPED and its clients for his personal use, the lawsuit said.
PMPED said an accounting firm continued to review all of Murdaugh’s financial activities while he was employed by the firm.
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