Fairbanks Four Final Plaintiff Settles for $11.5 Million

Fairbanks Four Final Plaintiff Settles for $11.5 Million

Introduction

The last remaining plaintiff from the group known as the Fairbanks Four has settled his wrongful conviction lawsuit with the City of Fairbanks.

The settlement, announced more than seven years after the original suit was filed, brings the total payouts related to the case to over $16 million.

Structured Payment Plan Finalized

According to the Fairbanks City Attorney, the city will pay the $11.5 million in structured installment payments. While the settlement terms are still being finalized, the agreement marks a significant development in a case that has been ongoing since 2017. The settlement was reached through mediation, although the city has not disclosed the mediator’s identity. The city attorney described the negotiations as “intense” and credited the experienced mediator for helping both parties arrive at the final amount.

Avoiding a Trial

With the settlement now in place, the lawsuit will not proceed to a jury trial, which had been scheduled for December. The plaintiff’s claims against the City of Fairbanks and four of its police officers will be dismissed as part of the agreement.

Background: The Fairbanks Four Case

The Fairbanks Four—four Indigenous men—were convicted of the 1997 murder of a teenager. They maintained their innocence throughout and were released from prison in late 2015 after another man came forward and confessed to the crime. His confession was backed by multiple witnesses, one of whom alleged that police had coerced him into giving false testimony against the four men.

The group filed a civil rights lawsuit in late 2017, claiming Fairbanks police had fabricated evidence leading to their wrongful convictions. The former officers named in the lawsuit denied wrongdoing.

Earlier Settlements for Other Members

In 2023, the other three members of the Fairbanks Four settled with the city’s insurer. Each received approximately $1.6 million and agreed to dismiss their claims. Like the latest agreement, those settlements did not require the City of Fairbanks to admit liability or issue an apology.