A South Carolina judge has ordered podcaster and crime reporter Mandy Matney to pay $176,000 in penalties after finding her in civil contempt for refusing to comply with a subpoena in litigation tied to the Murdaugh family. The penalty includes $171,500 in attorneys' fees and a $5,000 fine.
In a 22-page order filed Monday, Circuit Judge R. Keith Kelly concluded Matney willfully disregarded a valid subpoena and prior court order requiring her to appear for a deposition. The judge rejected her claim that safety concerns justified her refusal.
The contempt finding stems from long-running civil litigation arising from the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach. Parker's convenience stores are among the defendants accused of selling alcohol to underage Paul Murdaugh before the fatal crash. Matney, a non-party witness, was subpoenaed in the case.
Background on the Case
Beach, 19, died in the February 2019 crash in Beaufort County. Paul Murdaugh was later charged with boating under the influence, but those charges were dismissed after he and his mother, Maggie Murdaugh, were fatally shot at the family's Colleton County hunting estate in June 2021.
The Beach family's civil lawsuit alleges that Parker's illegally sold alcohol to Paul Murdaugh before the crash. The litigation ultimately helped expose Alex Murdaugh's financial crimes.
Details of the Contempt Order
Judge Kelly's order states that Matney refused to appear at the Bluffton deposition site on March 27, despite acknowledging she understood the court had denied her efforts to quash the subpoena. Instead, she appeared via Zoom from another law office while Parker's attorneys waited at the designated location.
Matney's legal team had argued that she feared for her safety, but the judge ruled that her concerns did not justify defying the court's orders. The order notes that Matney had acknowledged the court's authority but chose not to comply.
Implications of the Ruling
The ruling underscores the court's commitment to enforcing subpoenas in high-profile litigation. It also highlights the ongoing legal battles tied to the Murdaugh family, which have drawn significant media attention.
The case remains active, with further proceedings expected as the Beach family's lawsuit continues.