In a recent legal development, Cory Fleming, a former lawyer associated with disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh, has been ordered to pay nearly $4 million to Nautilus Insurance Co., a unit of W. R. Berkley Corp.. This verdict follows his involvement in a scheme with Murdaugh to misappropriate a $3.8 million insurance settlement. The funds were originally intended for the family of Murdaugh’s deceased housekeeper.
The decision was delivered by a jury after a three-day trial. They found Fleming guilty of civil conspiracy and violating the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act. The verdict resulted in a $1.25 million award being tripled under the state’s unfair trade practices statute, bringing the total damages to $3.75 million.
This case highlights the ongoing legal repercussions faced by individuals connected to Alex Murdaugh’s wide-reaching criminal activities. The multiplier effect of the damages is a testament to the state’s stringent stance on unfair trade practices, aiming to deter such conduct in the future.