Fulton to pay $5.2 million to widow of slain judge
Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes was killed during Brian Nichols' escape


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/07/08

Fulton County will pay the wife of slain judge Rowland Barnes more than $5.2 million under settlements made public Thursday.

The county will pay Claudia Barnes $5 million to settle lawsuits she filed against the county and Sheriff Myron Freeman, said her attorney, Tommy Malone. Separately, the county will pay Barnes a one-time annuity of $246,000 to settle claims related to benefits she sought as a former Fulton County employee.

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The money comes from the insurance company and the county's pension fund, Malone said. No taxpayer dollars will be used for the settlements, he said.

Malone negotiated with the county and its insurance company, Clarendon America, for months. Once a judge deemed the case ready for trial about two weeks ago, the insurance company and the county settled, Malone said.

Claudia Barnes said she was pleased.

"I miss my husband every day, and this won't take that away," she said Thursday. "I've had so many irons in the fire. This just closes another chapter of things I have to do."

Calls and e-mails to the county attorney's office were not returned Thursday. Representatives for New York-based Clerendon America also did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Accused rapist Brian Nichols is charged with murdering Barnes in a rampage at the Fulton County Courthouse in March 2005. Sheriff's Sgt. Hoyt Teasley, court reporter Julie Anne Brandau and, later, federal agent David Wilhelm also were killed. Suits by their survivors still are pending.

Jury selection is under way in Nichols' trial, which was moved to Atlanta Municipal Court after the judge ruled that holding the trial at the Fulton County Courthouse may bias the jury.

With the possibility of a civil trial against Fulton County behind her, Claudia Barnes said, "Now I can focus all my attention on the criminal trial."

Her attorney called Rowland Barnes "a special man."

"No amount of money will bring him back," Malone said by phone from Savannah. "But I think justice was served for all parties involved."

Staff writer Rhonda Cook contributed to this report.

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