A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Alex Murdaugh, seeking to recover $600,000 in legal expenses from a county clerk. U.S. District Judge Richard Mark Gergel ruled that Rebecca "Becky" Hill, the clerk of court, does not owe Murdaugh for his defense costs because her alleged misconduct was not the proximate cause of him needing to fund his defense.
Murdaugh had sued Hill under a federal civil rights law, alleging that her interactions with jurors during his double murder trial violated his Sixth and 14th Amendment rights. He claimed to have liquidated his 401K and spent $600,000 on his defense.
However, Judge Gergel stated in his order that Murdaugh would have been required to pay for his defense regardless of Hill's actions, as she did not initiate the murder charges or prosecution. The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Murdaugh to potentially refile if he can present a legally sufficient claim.
The South Carolina Supreme Court previously overturned Murdaugh's convictions for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on May 13. The court cited Hill's conduct with jurors, which it described as "shocking jury interference," as grounds for ordering a new trial.