Former South Carolina attorney Cory Fleming awaits his sentencing in Beaufort, S.C. on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. Fleming, an old college friend to Alex Murdaugh, pleaded guilty last month to 23 state charges that he helped Murdaugh steal millions of dollars in legal settlements.
Nautilus Insurance Sues Fleming: Days after a court ordered Alex Murdaugh to pay almost $15 million to Nautilus Insurance Co., his co-conspirator, Cory Fleming, is now on trial for his involvement in the fraudulent scheme.
Murdaugh’s Fraud and Legal Consequences
Alex Murdaugh, a prominent South Carolina attorney, drew global attention after he was convicted in 2023 for murdering his wife and son. Along with the murders, Murdaugh admitted to 27 counts of financial crimes, including defrauding insurance companies. Nautilus Insurance Sues Fleming
Murdaugh and his friend Cory Fleming exploited an insurance settlement following the 2018 death of Murdaugh’s housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield. Murdaugh falsely claimed that his dogs caused her fall at the family’s hunting camp. He convinced Satterfield’s family to file a claim under his umbrella policy, and Nautilus Insurance paid $3.8 million.
Instead of forwarding the settlement money, Murdaugh and Fleming allegedly diverted much of it for personal use. After Murdaugh’s confession, a court ordered him to pay $14.8 million in damages to Nautilus. Fleming, who helped with the fraud, now faces trial in a civil lawsuit for his role in the scheme.
Fleming’s Trial and Legal Arguments
Nautilus Insurance accuses Fleming of civil conspiracy and negligence, claiming that the fraud deceived and harmed the insurer. Fleming’s defense argues that Nautilus had ample time to investigate the claim and failed to uncover evidence of fraud.
The Charleston Post and Courier reported that a Nautilus agent raised concerns about the Satterfield claim. Despite these warnings, the company proceeded with the settlement. After Murdaugh and Fleming’s criminal convictions, Nautilus gathered the evidence it needed and filed this civil suit.
Fleming’s trial began on Monday and will likely conclude within the week.
For more updates on this case, visit JacobiJournal.com. For further details, read the original article on Bloomberg.