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Family of wrongfully convicted man gets $5.2M settlement

Local News
By Laura A. Bischoff
Nov 17, 2010
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From 2006: In-depth coverage of Clarence Elkins' case

COLUMBUS — Barberton city officials and the family of Clarence Elkins settled a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday for $5.2 million, ending a four-year legal battle, attorneys for Elkins confirmed Tuesday.

Clarence Elkins was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for the 1998 rape and murder of his mother-in-law, Judith Johnson, and rape and beating of his niece, Brooke Sutton. He served nearly eight years in prison before DNA evidence — collected by Elkins behind bars — pointed to Earl Mann as the true killer. Mann eventually pleaded guilty and Elkins was exonerated and won a $1.07 million settlement from the state.

The civil lawsuit alleged that Elkins’ rights were violated by Barberton officers who failed to disclose a memo that indicated Mann was involved.

Attorneys for the city of Barberton were unavailable.

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Laura Bischoff is our Columbus bureau reporter and covers politics and state government. She keeps a close eye on elected leaders, public employees and taxpayer money. Bischoff tries to write stories that inform voters, hold leaders accountable and strengthen democracy.