Cole County judge sides with Ryan Ferguson, awards additional $1.3 million

By Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) -- A Cole County judge ruled last week that a Columbia native, whose murder conviction was overturned, is owed an extra $1.3 million in his lawsuit against two insurance companies.

Ferguson was convicted of the 2001 killing of Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor Kent Heitholt in the newspaper parking lot. His conviction was later tossed out, and Ferguson sued prosecutors and police for the 10 years he spent in jail. The insurance companies under Travelers Insurance were responsible for paying Ferguson related to those claims.

Judge Cotton Walker awarded Ferguson nearly $44 million in June. Last week, he determined that an additional $1.3 million should be added to the overall number, for a total judgment of $45.1 million.

The figure would have been reduced by about $8 million had Walker sided with the insurance companies.

Walker allowed Travelers to post a $50 million bond to suspend the judgement for 30 days so the company can appeal. Ferguson attorney Kathleen Zellner told ABC 17 News in a text message on Monday that she welcomed the company's challenge to the case.

"We welcome the appeal because it will create favorable case law for individuals who have been denied coverage because of the bad faith of their insurance companies," Zellner said.