Huerfano County has signed off on a multimillion-dollar payout to the estate of a 69-year-old man, plus a separate sum to the jail’s medical contractor, to settle a federal wrongful death lawsuit that says detention staff assaulted him and then failed to get him emergency care. Attorneys say Michael Burch suffered six broken ribs and “massive internal bleeding” after an altercation in his cell on March 28, 2023. He died days later, on April 4, 2023. County commissioners approved the deal in mid-June, with payouts to be handled through the county’s insurance.
According to CPR News, the estate was awarded $9,190,000, and the Health Care Partners Foundation, the nonprofit that staffs the jail’s medical unit, reached a separate $1 million agreement. Local outlets described the combined figure as just over $10 million. CPR reported that the $9.19 million portion alone is more than a third of Huerfano County’s 2026 budget and that the county’s insurer will front the payment, although officials expect insurance premiums to climb. County spokespeople have not laid out a detailed public timeline for when the money will actually go out the door.
The federal complaint filed by Burch’s estate, which incorporates surveillance and body-worn camera accounts, alleges that Detention Officer Stuart Pino tased Burch and then tackled him into a metal bench, breaking six ribs and puncturing internal organs that led to “massive internal bleeding.” The lawsuit says paramedics and jail medical staff repeatedly declined to send him to the hospital, that staff covered the cell window with black plastic, and that Burch pleaded for help as his condition went downhill. Those claims are spelled out in the estate's federal complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in March 2025.
The El Paso County coroner ruled Burch’s death a homicide. The Third Judicial District Attorney reviewed the case and declined to file criminal charges after finding evidence that some of the force could be viewed as self-defense, The Colorado Sun reported. Attorneys for the estate argued that the civil case carried a lower burden of proof and that the settlement delivered a measure of accountability that the criminal system did not. They have also said they intend to keep pushing for policy changes and revamped training at the detention center.
County Reaction And The Budget Hit
Local records show the settlement was tucked onto the Huerfano County commissioners’ consent agenda on June 16, and attorneys for the estate said a combination of insurer payments and county technical funds will be used to cover the judgment. The World Journal reported a breakdown of the insurer and county checks tied to the deal. The Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to media requests for comment, and CBS Colorado likewise noted that no detailed public statement had been released at the time of its reporting.
Legal Implications
The civil payout closes the estate’s federal claims but does not amount to a criminal conviction. Settlements of this size typically reflect risk calculations by counties and their insurers rather than a formal finding of criminal liability. According to CPR News, attorneys for Burch have publicly called on Sheriff Bruce Newman to resign and have pressed for stronger training and medical oversight inside the jail. The complaint itself remains on the public record, where it can be mined by outside reviewers, watchdogs, or policymakers looking at possible reforms.
Broader Colorado Context
The settlement comes as Colorado lawmakers push for faster disclosure and more robust reviews in deadly use-of-force incidents. The fiscal note and text for SB 26-190, introduced this spring, shorten timelines for releasing recordings and require multi-agency investigative protocols. The bill text and fiscal note outline steps that legislators say are aimed at boosting transparency for families and the wider public.
Colorado has seen a string of large payouts in recent years, including a $19 million settlement in the Christian Glass case that intensified statewide calls for reform, as reported by CBS Colorado. The Burch settlement now drops Huerfano County squarely into that debate.
Burch’s daughter, who has been publicly demanding answers since his death, has said no check can bring her father back, but hopes the resolution forces meaningful change inside the county jail. Local coverage has documented the family’s repeated pleas for transparency as Huerfano County moves to implement any reforms. KRDO reported early family statements and initial legal filings when the lawsuit was first lodged in 2025.
