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In a poignant conclusion to a tragic event, a final settlement was reached on Tuesday regarding a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Aric Hutchinson, whose bride lost her life in a devastating DUI accident on Folly Beach in 2023.
Jamie Komoroski’s car insurance company has agreed to pay $160,000 to Hutchinson. This settlement comes after Komoroski, under the influence, collided with a golf cart carrying Hutchinson and his new wife, Samantha Miller, on April 28, 2023, as they were returning from their wedding celebration. The crash not only claimed Samantha’s life but also left Hutchinson with serious injuries.
From the total settlement, Hutchinson will receive a net amount of $104,586.67. The remainder will cover attorney fees and associated legal expenses. This settlement marks the conclusion of Hutchinson’s wrongful death lawsuit against Komoroski, as well as several Folly Beach bars and businesses connected to Komoroski’s alleged bar-hopping prior to the incident.
Charleston County court records indicate that Hutchinson’s attorney finalized the settlement on his behalf on Tuesday, effectively releasing Komoroski from any further civil claims. The settlement was confirmed following a court hearing on Monday, December 8.
The approval was filed after the settlement approval hearing on Monday, Dec. 8.
A judge previously approved settlements from The Drop-In, the Crab Shack, and Snapper Jacks alongside settlements with Progressive Auto Insurance and Enterprise Rent-A-Car during a motion hearing on June 18, 2024, according to attorneys representing Hutchinson.
The previous settlements totaled more than $863,300, which were awarded to Hutchinson.
Komoroski was sentenced in connection with the crash on Dec. 2, 2024, to 25 years for the charge of felony DUI resulting in death, which is the maximum sentence for the charge.