Commission Approves Settlement of $10,300,000 - United States District Court for the District of Kansas case number 2022-CV-01134

(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – At its meeting today, the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners approved a settlement of $10,300,000 related to a civil lawsuit regarding several claims stemming from the 2021 death of Cedric “CJ” Lofton. The settlement is a global settlement that resolves all claims and lawsuits in this matter against Sedgwick County and employees of the Sedgwick County Department of Corrections, including attorney’s fees, along with a waiver of any appeals and/or post-trial motions that any of the parties could make.

After the tragic death of Cedric “CJ” Lofton, Sedgwick County formed the Community Taskforce to Review Youth Corrections Systems Standards. The goal of the Taskforce was to develop recommendations for improvements and changes to the system standards and performance of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), law enforcement and youth corrections programs. Since its establishment in 2022, 52 of the 58 recommendations were implemented by the Sedgwick County Department of Corrections, Emergency Communications, Wichita Police Department and the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Three recommendations remain in progress and three have not been implemented due to budgetary constraints, judicial discretion or state legislative decisions. The Taskforce discontinued its work as a group in April 2024.

We respect the judicial process and bringing this matter to a resolution. Sedgwick County continues to follow its values of integrity and service to the people of this community.