Mallory Beach charity will get large payout from $15 million wrongful death settlement

Michael M. DeWitt, Jr., Greenville News
·4 min read

A South Carolina circuit court judge has approved a multi-million wrongful death settlement in the Richard “Alex” Murdaugh crime saga, and a portion of that hefty insurance payout will go to help animals in need in Mallory Beach’s hometown of Hampton County.

Mallory Beach died Feb. 24, 2019, in a highly publicized Beaufort County boat crash that helped expose the Murdaugh crime saga and led to two hotly contested lawsuits against multiple parties, including Murdaugh and Gregory M. Parker and his Parker’s Corporation convenience store chain.

While Parker personally refused to buckle, his insurance carriers did, and on July 27, Judge Daniel Hall signed an order approving roughly $18 million in total insurance settlement payouts to boat crash survivors, including $15 million to the family and estate of Beach.

As part of that order, $130,000 of the legal fees owned to Beach family attorney Mark Tinsley and other attorneys involved will go to Mal’s Palz, a nonprofit founded in Beach’s memory to raise money for improvements to, or the construction of, a new animal shelter in Hampton County.

"We were so moved by how the Beach family has dealt with everything they have been through, we wanted to make sure Mal's Palz is able to succeed," said Tinsley. "We hope others will follow us and help, too."

In addition to this donation, a 2021 GLS450 Mercedes owned by the Murdaugh family will be sold, with the proceeds also donated to Mal’s Palz.

Where is the $15 million Beach settlement money coming from?

According to court documents, Gregory M. Parker, Inc. d/b/a Parker's Corporation had three layers of insurance, which each contributed to the payout:

  • Utica National Insurance Group with a policy limit of $1,000,000;

  • Evanston Insurance Company with a policy limit of $10,000,000;

  • Startstone Specialty Insurance Company with a policy limit of $10,000,000.

One of the parties involved in the lawsuit was the Estate of Margaret Kennedy Branstetter Murdaugh. Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, who was murdered in June 2021, was named in the 2019 wrongful death suit over allegations that she and Alex Murdaugh knowingly allowed and condoned the drinking and reckless behavior of their late son, Paul, who was charged in the fatal boat crash but was also murdered before he could stand trial.

This photo ran with the obituary announcing the deaths of Maggie Murdaugh and her youngest son, Paul.
This photo ran with the obituary announcing the deaths of Maggie Murdaugh and her youngest son, Paul.

As part of this settlement, the estate of Maggie Murdaugh made an offer of $517,892.03 plus Maggie’s 2021 GLS450 Mercedes to “compromise and settle any potential disputed claims.”

The total settlement amount to the Beach family and estate was $15,517,892.03 plus the sales proceeds from the Mercedes received from the estate.

In addition, much smaller settlement payouts were approved to the other boat crash survivors, who had filed separate personal injury lawsuits.

How will the Beach wrongful death settlement be distributed?

Renee Beach, the mother of Mallory Beach and the Personal Representative of her estate, was represented by Mark B. Tinsley of Gooding & Gooding, P.A., Roberts "Tabor" Vaux, Jr. of Vaux Marscher Berglind, P.A., and John S. Nichols of Bluestein Thompson Sullivan, LLC.

Per agreements, these attorneys will receive one third of the gross recovery, plus any additional costs.

The legal fee portion totals $5,172,630.68, to be broken down as follows:

  • Mal’s Palz charity - $130,000

  • Gooding & Gooding, P.A. - $3,591,973.01

  • Vaux Marscher Berglind, P.A. - $1,200,657.67

  • Bluestein Thompson Sullivan, LLC - $250,000.00 9.

  • The legal expenses for all law firms total $147,926.85.

  • The Beach family and estate will receive the balance after legal fees and legal costs.

Beach family attorney Mark Tinsley, standing, argues his case as the Parker's defense table, at right, look on.
Beach family attorney Mark Tinsley, standing, argues his case as the Parker's defense table, at right, look on.

Is that the end of the Mallory Beach civil suits?

It was clearly noted on the judge’s order of approval that these settlements do not end the wrongful death case. Murdaugh himself has not settled the case, as court-appointed receivers continue to hold and control his assets while he is facing roughly a dozen lawsuits and ongoing criminal charges.

A related 2019 personal injury lawsuit filed by Beach against Parkers, alleging harassment and civil conspiracy after the filing of the original wrongful death suit, remains ongoing. In fact, a July 20 court filing reports that attempted mediation and alternate dispute resolution in that case has failed, and the two parties are “at an impasse.”

The case has not been scheduled for trial yet, however.

Follow Michael DeWitt's reporting as The Hampton County Guardian/Greenville News and the USA Today Network continue to follow cases related to the Murdaugh crime saga. Follow DeWitt on Facebook and on Twitter at @mmdewittjr for the latest updates.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Lawyer Tinsley to donate portion of Beach death settlement to Mal’s Palz