MORNING NEWSBREAK | Charleston County Circuit Court Judge Roger Young approved settlements from three Folly Beach bars and other businesses in a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a 2023 golf cart crash that killed a woman on her wedding night.
Young approved settlements from The Drop-In, the Crab Shack, and Snapper Jacks along with settlements with Progressive Auto Insurance and Enterprise Rent-A-Car in exchange for the release of liability or any claims of wrongful death or personal injury.
According to media reports, the Crab Shack, the Drop-In Bar & Deli and Progressive automobile insurance agreed to a settlement in September, but the settlement agreements hadn’t appeared before a judge to approve it. Snapper Jacks reportedly agreed to settle its claims in February. Two lawsuits are still pending against Jamie Komoroski, the driver charged criminally in the crash, and Taco Boy.
Samantha Miller, the bride killed in the crash, married Aric Hutchinson on April 28, 2023. Later that evening, she died after a golf cart in which she was riding was struck by a vehicle driven by then-25-year-old Komoroski.
Hutchinson alleged several bars negligently over-served alcohol to Komoroski that day. He filed civil lawsuits weeks after the incident.
To date, the settlement for Hutchinson, Miller’s estate and two other golf cart passengers was $1.3 million but after attorney and legal fees, the total is about $863,000.
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CP OPINION, Rex: A free and fair election? “In fact, Robert Kennedy Jr. more clearly meets the publicized debate criteria than either former President Donald Trump or President Joe Biden – since neither of the two candidates have been nominated by their respective parties.”
CP FOOD: Sushi omakase pop-up returns to Charleston Place this month. Chef Shin Horiguchi returns to the Thoroughbred Club at Charleston Place June 20 through June 30 for the third iteration of his omakase sushi pop-up.
JUNETEENTH: Holiday celebrated in Lowcountry. Today is Juneteenth, a long sacred day to many Black communities that is celebrated as a relatively new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday stems from the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, found out they had been freed. It occurred after the end of the Civil War and two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
High risk of rip currents expected today. The National Weather Service said there is a high rip current risk for Charleston and Colleton Counties from Wednesday morning through the evening.
College of Charleston receives support to purchase properties for student housing. Charleston County leaders are moving forward with a request from the College of Charleston to purchase two sites, one at 99 St. Philip Street and another at 106 Coming Street to create more on-campus housing options for students.
Gullah Geechee home saved by community effort. A well-loved figure on Edisto Island has a new roof thanks to organizations who have wanted to make a difference in the Gullah Geechee community.
Charleston filmmaker releases debut feature-length project. Charleston filmmaker Mark Iverson provides a modern interpretation of the classic good versus evil tale in his feature-length film debut, “For Prophet.”




