The Associated Press
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- The city has agreed to pay $3 million to the family of a woman who was shot to death by her police chief husband, and officials said the final package could total several million dollars more.
Lane and Patty Judson, the parents of Crystal Brame, said earlier this month that they would drop their initial wrongful death claim demand for $75 million and accept whatever the city’s insurance would cover -- under certain conditions.
The conditions include the city taking responsibility for their daughter’s death at the hands of Police Chief David Brame and establish an independent domestic violence counseling program for city employees.
David Brame shot his wife, then committed suicide on April 26 in a parking lot in front of their two young children. The couple had been going through a difficult divorce, and Crystal Brame had alleged that her husband abused her.
Without admitting responsibility for Brame’s behavior, the council voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize the city manager and its lawyers to tell the Judsons that, “upon agreement regarding the family’s nonmonetary demands,” the city was willing to pay the $3 million of its own money to settle the suit.
“The City Council wants to find common ground with the Judson family,” Mayor Bill Baarsma said in a statement Tuesday night. “Ultimately, I believe we’re after the same things -- answers, full disclosure and accountability.”
The city has liability insurance, but only to handle claims over $3 million. In the Brame case, the council agreed to pay the $3 million and authorized its lawyers to ask the city’s insurers to commit to pay the limit of any applicable insurance. Additional payouts from the insurers could boost the settlement total to $8 million or more, officials said.
A family representative had no immediate comment on the council’s action.
The city already had rejected the $75 million request.