| Updated: Feb. 19, 2021, 12:43 a.m.
State leaders gave their initial approval Tuesday for a $13.5 million legal settlement â one of the largest in Utah history â to be paid to the parents of slain track athlete Lauren McCluskey.
It got unanimous support from committee and will next go to the full House floor, where itâs also expected to sail through without issue.
âIf we felt there were no basis for liability ⦠we wouldnât be before you today,â acknowledged Brian Nelson, the stateâs risk management director.
But, he added, there were shortcomings in how police responded to McCluskeyâs case, and âwe feel this is the appropriate way to resolve this matter and the appropriate amount.â Nelson confirmed it was among the largest settlements on record for the state.