Judge weighs dismissal of lawsuit filed by restaurant owner against attorney in Horry County road rage case
CONWAY, SC (WMBF) – A judge heard arguments over whether to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a restaurant owner accused in a deadly 2023 road rage shooting against the attorney representing the victim’s family.
Weldon Boyd, owner of Bouys on the Boulevard, is accused of shooting and killing Scott Spivey. Boyd and Spivey’s family are involved in a wrongful death lawsuit.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Lawyer used Horry County road rage shooting to promote himself, lawsuit alleges
A hearing was held regarding a separate lawsuit Boyd filed against Mark Tinsley, the attorney representing Spivey’s family.
Boyd claims Tinsley created a false narrative about him and the shooting along Camp Swamp Road to boost his celebrity status.
The hearing focused on a motion by Tinsley’s attorney, John Thomas Lay, to dismiss the lawsuit.
Tinsley represents Spivey’s family in the wrongful death lawsuit against Boyd and Kenneth Williams.
Boyd’s lawsuit against Tinsley claims Tinsley released select body cam and dashcam videos to the media, which Boyd said created a massive media and social media storm.
Boyd claims Tinsley did not do this for his client but rather to further his own celebrity status, according to Boyd’s attorney, Desa Ballard.
“What was the defendant’s purpose in telling all of these lies?” Ballard said. “What was the defendant trying to do? Was he trying to help a client? The answer is obviously no, as said forth in the complaint. He wants to be a celebrity. He’s doing a good job, but he’s doing it at the cost of my client, and that cannot be allowed.”
Lay argued that none of Tinsley’s actions were improper regarding his public speaking of the case. Lay said if this lawsuit proceeds, it will set the wrong precedent for the future.
“They’re taking an issue that should be addressed in the wrongful death suit, and they’re taking it over and doing this separate lawsuit to go after Mark Tinsley during his representation,” Lay said. “Just think about if this is allowed to go forth. Think about the chaos that is about to occur. In every lawsuit in which there is any situation in which a lawyer or somebody contacts the media, there’s gonna be a lawsuit.”
The judge took the motion to dismiss under advisement. A decision is expected sometime next week.
Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WMBF. For more free content like this, download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.
Copyright 2026 WMBF. All rights reserved.
