Becky Hill, the former Colleton County Clerk of Court, has filed a motion in federal court to dismiss Alex Murdaugh's lawsuit against her, which seeks $600,000 in damages. Hill argues that Murdaugh has no legal basis for recovering the money he spent on his defense during his 2023 double-murder trial. In her motion, Hill claims immunity, stating that she was acting in her official capacity when the alleged conduct took place. Hill's attorneys assert that even if Murdaugh has a valid claim, he is still barred from pursuing the lawsuit due to various forms of immunity.
Murdaugh's lawsuit follows the South Carolina Supreme Court's decision to overturn his murder convictions, citing Hill's conduct as a violation of his right to a fair trial. Murdaugh claims he withdrew $600,000 from his retirement account for his defense and is seeking reimbursement. Hill's legal team contends that Murdaugh would have incurred those legal expenses regardless of her actions. They describe Murdaugh's claims as a "novel theory" not recognized by courts in the Fourth Circuit.
Hill's motion also challenges whether her conduct caused the damages Murdaugh is claiming, stating that the murder charges were brought by prosecutors and a grand jury, not by her. The motion argues that Murdaugh has already received the relief he was entitled to with the new trial granted by the South Carolina Supreme Court. Hill's defense team maintains that a retrial is the appropriate remedy for an unfair trial, not a financial payout.
The federal judge will decide whether Murdaugh's lawsuit can proceed or if Hill's motion to dismiss will be granted. Hill previously pleaded guilty to obstruction, perjury, and misconduct charges related to her role in the murder trial and received probation. Murdaugh remains incarcerated due to separate financial-crimes convictions.