LAS VEGAS – A record multimillion-dollar settlement has been reached in a Nevada wrongful death lawsuit.
On Tuesday, attorney James Urrutia told The Associated Press that the state has agreed to pay $4.6 million to settle a lawsuit accusing prison guards of beating Christian Walker and leaving him for dead.
Walker died in 2023 at High Desert State Prison near Las Vegas. The medical examiner initially ruled the death natural and heart-related, but an autopsy later showed blunt head trauma and injuries to his neck and torso.
“There is absolutely no evidence that (Walker) had any heart disease, no issues at all with his heart,” Urrutia told the AP.
The lawsuit, filed by Walker’s mother, Annette Walker, alleged Nevada Department of Corrections Director James Dzurenda and two High Desert wardens conspired with the Clark County coroner’s office to cover up the death.
The $4.6 million settlement is believed to be one of the largest of its kind in Nevada. It comes as the department faces questions about recent inmate deaths at High Desert.
“The Legislature really needs to get involved at this point,” Urrutia said.
