SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) - A wrongful death case that plaintiffs likened to the slaying of George Floyd ended Thursday with its dismissal as both sides appeared to resolve a settlement dispute.

The estate of Sherrano Stingley had sued Sacramento County, its sheriff's office, former sheriff and four deputies over his December 2022 death. The parties reached a settlement earlier this year after the estate in March 2025 successfully staved off a motion to dismiss. However, that settlement, approved two months ago, led to a disagreement over how much money had changed hands.

Both sides laid out their arguments in a court filing last week to Chief U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley, a Barack Obama appointee.

The estate said county officials had failed to make its settlement payment of $187,500 by the deadline.

"On April 1, 2026, plaintiffs' counsel sent an email to defendants' counsel stating: 'Today is the date by which Judge Nunley's order requires dispositional documents be filed,'" the estate wrote. "'Will the county produce the settlement checks today? If not, do defendants intend to seek an extension from the court's order?'"

According to the estate, on April 28, it sent another email to county officials asking for "the long-overdue settlement check." It was told the check would arrive by last Friday, though it didn't.

County officials said the estate knew an error occurred in the first check, which led to the delay.

Those officials noted that the first check improperly included fees owed to the estate's attorney, Mark Merin. The county fixed the issue, issuing a corrected check to an annuity broker. That error delayed the process.

"Again, as counsel for plaintiff well knows, because the focus was on the annuity check that had a critical deadline to maintain the locked-in rate, the corrected payment for the balance of the settlement was not immediately done," county officials wrote.

In exchange for the settlement, the estate agreed to dismiss the suit.

The complaint stemmed from Stingley trying to enter a vehicle that wasn't his.

His estate argued law enforcement should have known he suffered from a mental disability when they responded to a call early Dec. 6, 2022. Stingley had tried to enter a vehicle he thought was his daughter's and then enter a home near his daughter's house. A struggle happened after deputies arrived, with the officers restraining Stingley on the ground and putting pressure to his back and neck.

At some point, Stingley fell unconscious and stopped breathing. He died 10 days later.

County officials had tried last year to dismiss the suit and strike language about Floyd from it.

"Defendants fail to persuade the court that allegations about officer-involved deaths and the death of George Floyd are immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous, as plaintiffs present colorable argument as to how those allegations show defendants were on notice that their prone restraint policies were inadequate," Nunley wrote.

In his decision, the judge denied three of four arguments in favor of dismissal. However, he did grant dismissal on claims of excessive force and denial of medical care based on the California Constitution.

Eleven other claims, including wrongful death, excessive force, negligence and assault/battery, remained.

Attorneys on both sides couldn't be reached for comment.

Source: Courthouse News Service