LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The family of a southern Kentucky man has reached a $1.2 million settlement with a sheriff's office and deputy over a high-speed pursuit that ended in a fatal wreck in the middle of a field in 2008.
The settlement comes in a federal lawsuit after the death of 26-year-old Thomas Germany of Scottsville. Germany died after being chased by Allen County Sheriff's deputies in March 2008.
U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley is weighing whether to approve the settlement. Details of the settlement were filed in federal court as confidential, but, Denise Walker, the administrator of Germany's estate, and her attorneys referenced the amount in letters filed in court disputing the structure of the deal as well as attorneys' fees.
Aaron Smith, the Bowling Green attorney for Allen County Sheriff Sam Carter and Deputy Danny Davis, said he could not comment.
"There are some matters in resolution of the case still pending," Smith said.
Walker's attorneys, Ross Turner of Madisonville and Douglas Myers of Hopkinsville, did not return messages seeking comment.
The lawsuit grew out of a police chase that started around midnight on March 22, 2008 as Germany sped along Highway 31 on a motorcycle when a Scottsville police officer began chasing him.
Davis joined the pursuit without being called in to assist. Germany lost control of the motorcycle on Highway 585 in rural Allen County. Germany and the motorcycle went into a field and down a hill. Police have said Germany lost control of his motorcycle in front of Davis' vehicle in the field. Police have said Davis tried to stop but was unable to do so because of the terrain and struck Germany.
Germany ended up pinned underneath the front axle of his cruiser. A coroner later concluded that Germany died of "compression asphyxia" — suffocating because he was unable to breathe with a car on his chest.
Davis, Carter and the Allen County Sheriff's Office denied any wrongdoing in the pursuit.
It is unknown if Davis, Carter or the department admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
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