Former Kansas Highway Patrol superintendent Mark Bruce was coerced into resigning against his will, an advisory jury concluded late Friday morning.
U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Crabtree, who has final say in the lawsuit involved, issued no ruling but directed attorneys representing Bruce and the defendants — Gov. Laura Kelly and KHP superintendent Erik Smith — within 21 days to submit to him written documents sharing arguments regarding unresolved questions.
Those include how much Bruce should be compensated and when his reinstatement to his former rank of major should take, or have taken, effect.
Though the vote was 6-1, which wasn’t the unanimous verdict Crabtree had asked jurors to reach, attorneys for both sides had agreed Thursday they would be willing to accept a 6-1 verdict.
Brianna Johnson, Kelly’s communications director, said in a statement, “We thank the jury for its advisory decision and will wait for the court’s order.”