This libel lawsuit involving Buster Murdaugh, Netflix, and other media companies is a notable development in the ongoing Murdaugh family saga. The case centers on the film Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, in which Buster is allegedly linked to the 2015 death of Stephen Smith.
The decision to have part of the lawsuit heard in Hampton County could influence how the case unfolds, particularly because it involves local figures like Michael M. DeWitt Jr., a reporter from the Hampton County Guardian.
Buster Murdaugh’s lawsuit claims that the media companies wrongfully connected him to Smith’s death, even though there’s no concrete evidence linking him to the case.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division SLED reclassified Smith’s death as a homicide in 2023, which may have further fueled speculation, despite no direct evidence tying Buster to the incident.
The court’s ruling to separate the defendants across different jurisdictions also complicates the legal proceedings, with some companies facing federal court proceedings in Charleston, while others, like DeWitt, will be handled locally.
It’ll be interesting to see how this lawsuit impacts the portrayal of the Murdaugh family in the media and the ongoing public interest in their legal battles.