In a recent legal development, Buster Murdaugh, the surviving son of Alex Murdaugh, secured a significant win in his defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros, the parent company of CNN. Former South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon informed Fox News Digital that a federal judge has allowed the case to move forward.
Filed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, the lawsuit stems from allegations that the documentary produced by Warner Bros. and Blackfin implied Buster’s involvement in the death of his former classmate Stephen Smith. Smith’s body was discovered on a rural road in Hampton County in 2015, and an autopsy revealed he was struck and killed by a vehicle in a hit-and-run accident.
According to Condon, Buster’s lawsuit focuses on claims of defamation by implication, asserting that the documentary aired rumors linking him to Smith’s death by juxtaposing these speculations with law enforcement records. Buster contends that the bad press has severely harmed his reputation.
The case is particularly significant as it touches on the sensitive issues surrounding the Murdaugh family, one of South Carolina’s most notable legal dynasties. Warner Bros and Blackfin had sought to dismiss the case, citing First Amendment protections, but the judge’s ruling allows Buster’s claims to proceed.
The lawsuit highlights the larger conversation about media responsibility and the impact of public narratives on individuals’ lives.
Source: www.foxnews.com
