LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Murdered Wife
Durham, NC: (Jan-31-08) A wrongful death lawsuit was brought against Durham novelist Michael Peterson by his stepdaughter, Caitlin Atwater, alleging that Peterson was responsible for the death of his wife, Kathleen Atwater Peterson. Records show that Peterson, 64, was convicted in October 2003 of first-degree murder in the 2001 death of his wife, after emergency workers found her dead at the bottom of a staircase in the couple's Durham home. The suit was filed in October 2002 with the intent that Peterson would never be able to profit from the crime.
A settlement has been reached, in which a judge accepted a $25 million deal, a year after Peterson and his step-daughter reached the agreement. The consent judgment, signed by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson, is for $25 million in compensatory damages. Hudson also awarded nearly $1,500 in court costs and another $10,500,000 in interest, bringing the total judgment to $35,501,486.80. Legal sources claimed that on Feb. 1, 2007, they reached the settlement in which Atwater agreed to stay her lawsuit until Peterson's criminal appeals were exhausted. The settlement also states that Peterson admits no guilt or liability in the death of his wife. [WRAL NEWS: MURDERED WIFE]
Published on Feb-2-08
A settlement has been reached, in which a judge accepted a $25 million deal, a year after Peterson and his step-daughter reached the agreement. The consent judgment, signed by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson, is for $25 million in compensatory damages. Hudson also awarded nearly $1,500 in court costs and another $10,500,000 in interest, bringing the total judgment to $35,501,486.80. Legal sources claimed that on Feb. 1, 2007, they reached the settlement in which Atwater agreed to stay her lawsuit until Peterson's criminal appeals were exhausted. The settlement also states that Peterson admits no guilt or liability in the death of his wife. [
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