Lawsuit over man's death at jail settled for $1.6 million

MOUNT CLEMENS (AP) — The family of a man who died after a 300-pound officer knelt on his back at the Macomb County jail has settled a lawsuit for $1.6 million.

Details of the agreement were filed recently in federal court.

Bronislaw Kulpa, 63, suffered a heart attack and died while handcuffed in jail in 2011. He was in a detox unit and had resisted efforts to be taken to a medical unit for evaluation.

Video shows Officer John Cantea kneeling on Kulpa’s back while other officers watched. An appeals court said a jury “could reasonably find” that Cantea used excessive force.

About $1 million will go to Kulpa’s family. The balance will go to Geoffrey Fieger’s law firm and another attorney.