In March 2014, Bataillon returned a verdict against Kofoed. Broke, unemployed and living in North Carolina, Kofoed said he had no way of paying the judgment.

So the plaintiffs’ attorneys sought to tap the county’s liability policy that was in place during the investigation.

The settlement with Douglas County released the county from liability, but not its insurers — at least “to the extent those insurers may be deemed responsible for payment of a judgment against Kofoed.”

The Travelers policy has a coverage limit of $5 million. Bataillon didn’t award interest on the judgment, saving the defendant thousands of dollars.

“Within 14 days of the date of this order, the plaintiffs shall submit to the court calculations of each plaintiff’s proportionate share of the garnishee’s $5,000,000 liability,” Bataillon wrote. The court would then issue an order directing the payment.

Attorney Bob Mullin represents Livers.

“We are very happy with the rulings of the court and look forward to the day we can actually collect on the judgment,” Mullin said.

The judge also awarded nearly $233,000 in attorney fees. St. Paul Travelers has indicated it will appeal the ruling.