Wrongful Death Suit Dropped in Scott Peterson Trial

June 4, 2009

The parents of Laci Peterson, whose husband, Scott Peterson is currently serving a sentence on death row for her murder, decided last week that they would quietly drop a wrongful death lawsuit against the convicted killer. The litigation for this separate offense (not a criminal defense case) would have started next month. However, even a multi-million dollar judgment would have been largely symbolic, because Peterson only earns about $120 per month in commissary.

In the initial hearing, no further evidence, which would have established Peterson as the killer was revealed. In a deposition taken in jail, Peterson continued to insist that he did not kill his wife, and also his unborn child. His appeal is set to take place in the California Supreme Court in the coming months.

Attorneys for Laci Peterson’s parents said that the couple did fill out the paperwork to dismiss the case, but did not indicate whether or not a settlement had been reached outside of the courtroom. It is unknown why her parents decided to drop the wrongful death lawsuit, but some speculate that that the additional required time and expense of another trial could have been an issue.