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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Judges Approves $1.75M Busch Settlement

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (CN) - A state judge approved the $1.75 million settlement of a lawsuit against beer mogul August Busch IV for the wrongful death of his girlfriend in 2010.

Adrienne Martin, 27, was found dead at Busch's mansion in St. Louis County on Dec. 19, 2010.

Authorities ruled Martin's death an accidental overdose of oxycodone. An autopsy revealed prolonged cocaine use.

Busch will pay $1.75 million to Martin's family, with $1.35 million going to Martin's minor son, Blake. The rest will be split by Martin's parents, Larry Eby and Christine Trampler. Judge William Syler approved the settlement.

"Mr. Busch cares deeply for Adrienne's son, Blake Martin, and is happy this long and at times bitter legal dispute is finally over," Busch's attorney Maurice Graham said in a statement to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "The only remaining issue was the division of the total settlement of $1.75 million."

The plaintiffs have been locked in extensive legal wrangling. Martin's ex-husband, Dr. Kevin Martin, originally sued Busch on Blake's behalf in St. Louis County Circuit Court in March 2001. The case was moved to Cape Girardeau, where Martin lived at the time. Eby and Trampler, who are divorced, successfully appealed to join the lawsuit, but were unsuccessful in their attempt to move the case back to St. Louis County.

Both sides have given up their appeal rights, according to the Post-Dispatch.

Busch, 48, is the former CEO of Anheuser-Busch. He left the position in 2008 when the beer giant was bought out by InBev, but is still involved with the company as a paid consultant.

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