EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City has reached a settlement with Daniel Villegas, who was falsely imprisoned for a 1993 double murder and spent 20 years behind bars.
The City of El Paso said it has reached a settlement of $8 million to resolve a federal civil lawsuit against the City.
Federal court: Villegas can sue City over false imprisonment
The lawsuit, filed in 2015, alleges violations of constitutional rights stemming from the investigation, arrest and prosecution of Villegas related to the 1993 murders of Armando “Mando” Lazzo and Robert “Bobby” England.
Before proceeding to trial, both parties agreed to participate in mediation, a common step in civil lawsuits that allows them to work with a neutral mediator to explore whether the case could be resolved. The City successfully reached a mutually agreed-upon resolution through mediation in the amount of $8 million, it said.
Daniel Villegas Trial: A Complete Timeline
“It’s a victory for Mr. Villegas,” said Russell Ainsworth, a member of Villegas’ defense team and partner with Loevy and Loevy, a Chicago-based firm. “He’s been fighting for over 30 years for justice. And this is a recognition of the wrongs that were done to him so many years ago.”…