The parents of Paul Merhige have filed a countersuit blaming the people that are suing them for Jupiter, Florida wrongful death damages. Merhige is the man who fatally shot family members at a gathering on Thanksgiving Day 2009.
While the hosts of the event, Muriel and Jim Sitton and Antoine Joseph, believe Carole and Michael Merhige should be held accountable for allowing Paul, who they knew was troubled, owned a gun, and wasn’t taking his medications, to attend the festivities, the Merhiges are blaming the Sittons and Muriel’s dad Dr. Antoine Joseph for letting Paul into the house.
Killed in the deadly rampage were the Sittons’ daughter Makayla, 6, Joseph’s wife and Muriel’s mom Raymonde, 76, and the Merhige’s twin daughters and Paul’s sisters, 33. Also suing the Merhiges for Palm Beach County wrongful death is Patrick Night, who was married to Lisa, one of Paul’s sisters that died. She happened to be pregnant at the time. Night was also seriously injured in the shooting.
The Sittons and Joseph contend that Michael Merhige, who used to be a CIA agent, could have done more to stop Paul during the actual rampage. Meantime, Paul Merhige has pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder charges. By accepting the plea agreement, he won’t get the death penalty. He will, however, spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
Florida Wrongful Death
Losing someone you love under any circumstances is tough. It can be even more traumatic when that death is a result of someone else’s negligence. You want to speak with a Palm Beach wrongful death law firm that can help you determine whether you have grounds for pursuing a claim against a negligent party.
Parents of Thanksgiving Day murderer fires back at their accusers with own lawsuit, Sun-Sentinel, November 30, 2011
Report: Paul Merhige Will Accept Plea Deal, CBS Local, October 26, 2011
Suit to be filed in fatal Fla Thanksgiving rampage, WSVN, January 15, 2011
More Blog Posts:
$1.8M Miami-Dade Wrongful Death Settlement Reached in Coral Gables High School Student’s Fatal Stabbing, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, November 18, 2011
Lantana Woman Settles $50M Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Anthrax Letter Bomb that Killed Her Husband, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, October 31, 2011
Broward County Plastic Surgery Malpractice Lawsuit Filed in Liposuction Patient’s Alleged Florida Wrongful Death from Anesthesia Complications, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, October 21, 2011