The estate of a late Chelsea man who alleged that former Toledo Police Officer Kyle Howe used excessive force against him during a March 12, 2023 traffic stop has reached a $30,000 settlement with the city to dismiss the claims, according to the details of an agreement shared with the News Chronicle.

The payments, which will be issued to the estate of Steven Horrigan — Laurie Kriegel is listed as the executor — and Kaplan and Frese LLP, the law firm representing him, constitute “full, final and complete settlement of all claims that were or could have been brought against the Released Parties arising from or related to the traffic stop and the lawsuit.” They will be paid by the city’s insurer.

Horrigan, who was 72 at the time of the traffic stop, died on Dec. 12, 2024 at the age of 74. So far, his estate is the only plaintiff to receive any compensation from the city related to lawsuits against Howe as one filed by Lang Leonard was dismissed before proceeding to trial, and a federal jury ruled in favor of Howe and the city and against Shyla Wolf after an April trial at the Northern District of Iowa federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids.

“This release is executed as a compromise settlement of a doubtful and disputed claim. The settlement of this claim is being made solely as a business decision by the insurance carrier on behalf of defendants with consideration for the costs of litigation. The defendants deny that they have done anything improper or illegal concerning the incident described in this release and the subject of this litigation, and this release does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing or liability on the part of the defendants,” the agreement reads.

Douglas Phillips, the insurance attorney for the city, declined to comment, citing the other pending lawsuits against the city and Howe, and Toledo City Attorney Michael Marquess offered a brief statement.

“We are glad to resolve the matter, put it behind everybody, and move forward,” he said.

At press time, the attorney for the Horrigan estate, Chad Frese, had not responded to a request for comment. Lawsuits filed by Brodie Clark, Cynthia McSweeney and Issaias Romero are still pending.