ST. LOUIS • The city of Overland's insurance company is paying $1.18 million to settle a federal civil lawsuit that alleged that an Overland police officer killed a man last year by pushing him down the stairs.

The lawsuit, which names the city, city and police officials and three police officers, says that a discussion at Kenneth Hamilton's back door escalated into an argument. It culminated with Officer Andrew T. Ringeisen either hitting or pushing Hamilton, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs.

Hamilton, 49, died of a massive head injury five days after the March 20 fall.

The confidential settlement was finalized and approved by U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel Feb. 28, but the city did not release a copy the settlement until Tuesday, after a Post-Dispatch reporter made a request under Missouri's open records law. Although governmental bodies can enter into confidential settlements, the confidentiality can not trump that law.

In the agreement, Ringeisen agrees to pay the money to Hamilton's siblings, who agree to dismiss Overland and city officials from the suit. The settlement denies any liability for Hamilton's death.

Police Chief Michael Laws, by email, wrote that the settlement would be paid by the city's liability insurance.