Examiners approve $450,000 settlement in inmate death

The Board of Examiners approved a $450,000 payment Tuesday to settle a lawsuit involving the death of a prison inmate.

Jamie Kline died at age 45 in November 2009. The coroner's report blamed a reaction to anti-psychotic medicine he was forced to take at Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City.

Deputy Attorney General Alicia Lerud told the board that similar cases around the country have resulted in jury awards of up to $3.5 million.

Since the case was in federal court, she said that the state also could face attorney's fees of more than $100,000 if the state lost in court.

She said the settlement is a final legal solution to the court case and closes out any further liability to the state.

The money will go to Evelyn Johnson, Kline's mother.