There are currently two legal (or semi-legal) movements to secure money from the recent shootings in Muscle Shoals. It's our opinion that any money available from whatever source should go solely to the families of William Mealback and Nick Risner.
The more outrageous claim comes from someone stating she is Sgt. Risner's lawful heir. News flash, honey, you aren't. While most of us are, we hope, appalled by this woman and her claim, the blog has received numerous communications asking us to take up this cause. We've advised this woman (she even has a website) to secure a lawyer if she can find one to take her case. We would doubt that she will find an attorney in the Shoals to represent her, but Alabama is full of ambulance chasers, so unfortunately there may be a lawsuit...which she has .001% chance of winning in Lauderdale County.
Then we have a Sheffield police officer suing Brian Martin for $375,000.00. The issue isn't whether or not this officer deserves the compensation, but is the money there? We suggest it isn't.
While Mr. Martin may have offshore accounts totaling in the millions, this is highly doubtful. What he does have in his name is real estate valued at 84K and perhaps a vehicle or two. Could he have more in another name? Certainly, but he could also have mortgages/loans on the properties we listed. In other words, winning this judgment doesn't mean securing the amount asked for, but could it take any available money away from the Mealback and Risner families?
As far as we know, criminal cases are always heard before civil actions. This means that the judge in the Martin case can rule that any money in the shooter's name will go to Mr. Mealback's daughter and Sgt. Risner's wife to cover any expenses related to the crime.
Tom McCutcheon is representing Max Dotson who filed suit against Martin. It would be very interesting to know his rationale...