The Unified Government Commission on Thursday night approved a $12.5 million settlement with Lamonte and Rose McIntyre.
As part of the agreement terms, the McIntyres would dismiss the lawsuit against the Unified Government.
The UG Commission also voted to approve issuance of general obligation bonds that would provide funding for the settlement.
The state of Kansas in 2020 approved a $1.5 million award to Lamonte McIntyre for wrongful incarceration for 23 years. McIntyre said he did not commit a murder that he had been convicted of. His case was supported by the Innocence Project.
When he was awarded the funding by the state, a provision of that case was that if he won a case with a separate monetary award against the state or a government in a civil action, he would have to pay the state back for the amount it awarded him.
At the 7 p.m. UG Commission meeting, David Cooper, an outside counsel for the UG, said each party would be responsible for its own attorney costs.
He said the resolution authorizes the UG to issue general obligation bonds, but it does not require the UG to do so.
Commissioner Gayle Townsend, who voted with the rest of the commission to approve the resolutions, said it does not mean the UG is admitting to any wrongdoing in the case.
It’s an expensive choice in the matter and “will be a reminder to all of us as staff goes about day-to-day decisions,” she said.
A former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective was alleged to have railroaded McIntyre and allegedly coerced witnesses to give false testimony.
See earlier stories at https://wyandotteonline.com/mcintyre-granted-compensation-of-1-5-million-for-wrongful-conviction/
https://wyandotteonline.com/state-finance-council-approves-mcintyres-1-5-million-award/