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Update: Council Bluffs to pay $6 million to settle lawsuit

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October 15th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The city of Council Bluffs will pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit with two Omaha, Neb., men who sued after the courts concluded they were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for 25 years. Terry Harrington and Curtis McGhee will be paid $2.3 million immediately and the remainder in six annual payments of more than $528,500. A final payment of just over $728,500 will be made in July 2020.

The agreement splits the money evenly between the two men in exchange for dismissal of the lawsuit. The agreement specifies no admission of fault or liability by any party or implies wrongdoing.

Details, initially sealed on Friday, were ordered unsealed Tuesday after The Associated Press filed a freedom of information request under Iowa’s open records law.