The law firm that represented Parker's Kitchen in the Mallory Beach wrongful death lawsuit is now being sued by the investigative firm that the Murdaugh family hired to investigate. The Beach family filed their wrongful death lawsuit in 2019, the year their daughter died in a boating accident. Paul Murdaugh was accused of being the driver when the boat crashed. Investigators determined he had been drinking that night. Investigators said he used his brother's driver's license to purchase alcohol at Parker's Kitchen in Beaufort. The Beach family's attorney said the clerk who sold the alcohol did not use due diligence when checking the identification. That's why the Beach family named Parker's Kitchen as one of the defendants in their wrongful death lawsuit. Baker Hostetler, the law firm representing Parker's Kitchen, is being sued for breach of contract. Inquiry Agency LLC's lawsuit alleges that Baker Hostetler was hired “to obtain information for use in a public relations campaign to sway public opinion in favor of Greg Parker and Parker's Kitchen.” The lawsuit alleges that “all or substantially all of the investigative materials” were shared with third parties, including reporters. Inquiry Agency said that at some point during its investigation of the Murdaughs, Beach family attorney Mark Tinsley “became aware of what Greg Parker and Baker Hostetler were doing.” According to the lawsuit, law firm Gooding & Gooding served a subpoena for all of Inquiry Agency's investigative files as a result of Tinsley's discovery. Inquiry Agency said that while it wanted to share the materials as requested, BakerHostetler instructed them not to. As a result, Inquiry Agency said it incurred thousands of dollars in legal fees. Inquiry Agency LLC sued BakerHostetler, arguing that it was contractually not entitled to legal fees. They said they should have been indemnified for all losses and expenses incurred in connection with claims based on findings provided to BakerHostetler. Inquiry Agency LLC said it is entitled to a judgment for damages, attorneys' fees and more. WJCL 22 News has reached out to BakerHostetler, attorneys for Inquiry Agency LLC and attorney Mark Tinsley. No one has responded yet.
The law firm that represented Parker's Kitchen in the Mallory Beach wrongful death lawsuit is now being sued by the investigative agency it hired to investigate the Murdaugh family.
The Beach family filed the wrongful death lawsuit in 2019, the same year their daughter died in a boating accident.
Paul Murdaugh is accused of being the driver of the boat at the time of the crash. Investigators say he was intoxicated that night. Investigators say he used his brother's driver's license to buy alcohol at Parker's Kitchen in Beaufort.
The Beach family's lawyers argued that the clerk who sold them the alcohol failed to check identification, which is why the Beach family named Parker's Kitchen as one of the defendants in their wrongful death lawsuit.
Baker Hostetler, the law firm representing Parker's Kitchen, is being sued for breach of contract.
The Inquiry Agency LLC lawsuit alleges that Baker Hostetler was hired “to obtain information for use in a public relations campaign to sway public opinion in favor of Greg Parker and Parker's Kitchen.”
The lawsuit alleges that “all or substantially all of the investigative materials” were shared with third parties, including reporters.
The bureau said that at one point during its investigation into the Murdaughs, Beach family attorney Mark Tinsley “was aware of what Greg Parker and Baker Hostetler were doing.”
According to the complaint, the law firm Gooding & Gooding served subpoenas for all of the agency's investigative files as a result of Tinsley's discovery.
The Inquiry Agency said it would have liked to share the materials as requested but that Baker Hostetler had instructed it not to do so. As a result, the Inquiry Agency said it incurred thousands of dollars in legal fees.
Inquiry Agency LLC has filed suit against BakerHostetler, alleging that it should not have been contractually obligated to incur legal costs, and that the company should have been indemnified against all losses and expenses incurred in connection with any claims based on the findings provided to BakerHostetler.
Inquiry Agency LLC argued that it is entitled to a judgment for damages, attorneys' fees, and other costs.
WJCL 22 News reached out to Baker Hostetler, attorney for Inquiry Agency LLC, as well as attorney Mark Tinsley. No one has responded yet.
