A Mexican citizen that has previously filed a civil suit against confessed fraudster and disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh and convicted former banker Russell Laffitte, et al, is now seeking to amend that pending suit to include Civil RICO racketeering allegations.
On Oct. 7, 2022, Manuel Santiz-Cristiani, a citizen of Chiapas, Mexico, who had been working in the United States, filed a civil suit in Hampton County Court of Common Pleas against Murdaugh, Laffitte and other parties as part of the disgraced duo’s decade-long, multiple victim, multiple-county financial crime spree.
The suit alleged that Murdaugh and other attorneys at the Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED) law firm (now Parker Law Group) represented Santiz-Cristiani in a 2011 products liability case that resulted in a settlement which was never paid to the foreign citizen, but was stolen by Murdaugh along with more than $8 million from other clients.
On Tuesday, Aug. 8, Santiz-Cristiani’s Orangeburg, S.C., attorneys, Glenn Walters Sr. and Korey Williams, filed a motion to amend that original lawsuit to assert an additional claim for Civil RICO (Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations).
The motion states the U.S. Supreme Court holds that a civil RICO claim must have “four essential elements: (1) conduct; (2) of an enterprise; (3) through a pattern; (4) of racketeering activity” and the Murdaugh/Laffitte case fits those criteria.
The motion references recent developments in criminal courts, such as Murdaugh’s March 2023 conviction for killing his wife and child in connection with his financial crimes, and Laffitte’s fraud convictions in federal court.
The court filing further claims that Murdaugh and Laffitte “were operating a powerful, fraudulent criminal scheme that stole millions of dollars from injured clients, starting as early as 2011 or 2013.”
RICO criminal and civil cases can be brought in both federal and state courts (laws vary from state to state), but if the presiding judge approves the motion it is an advantage for the plaintiff, as Civil RICO cases carry a lesser burden of proof and are more likely to be successful, especially if they involved confirmed criminal activity, according to several legal websites.
Other parties named in this lawsuit include former Murdaugh legal partners Ronnie L. Crosby, William F. Barnes III, Palmetto State Bank and PMPED, all of which the plaintiff say are responsible for his not having received settlement funds.
However, Crosby and Barnes have denied any connection to Murdaugh’s alleged wrongdoing, and have filed motions seeking to be dismissed from case, as well as sanctions against the opposing counsel for making a frivolous claim.
This is part of a dozen ongoing civil suits against Murdaugh, who is currently serving consecutive life sentences for the murders of his family, while waiting to stand trial on more than 100 financial and drug crimes.
Laffitte was sentenced last week in federal courts for his role in the bank and wire fraud conspiracy to seven years in federal prison plus restitution, while also waiting trial on similar state charges.
FITSNews of Columbia, S.C., was first to report on this story
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.
