Kirstin Lobato $29.5 Million Settlement, Las Vegas Police Resolve Wrongful Conviction Lawsuit

Kirstin “Blaise” Lobato has reached a $29.5 million settlement with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), ending her federal civil-rights lawsuit over a wrongful murder conviction that kept her in prison for about 16 years.

The settlement follows a December 2024 federal jury verdict of $34 million, which found that two former LVMPD detectives, Thomas Thowsen and James LaRochelle, fabricated evidence in the 2001 investigation of Duran Bailey’s killing. LVMPD appealed, and the settlement was reached during the appeal. It appeared on the September 9, 2026 agenda of the Metropolitan Police Committee on Fiscal Affairs.

This is not a settlement other people can claim. It resolves one person’s lawsuit. There is no claim form, deadline, class or administrator.

Kirstin Lobato $29.5 Million Settlement: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Settlement amount	$29,500,000
Plaintiff	Kirstin “Blaise” Lobato
Defendants	Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; former detectives Thomas Thowsen and James LaRochelle
Case	Kirstin Blaise Lobato v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, et al.
Case number	2:19-cv-01273-RFB-EJY
Court	U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada
Jury verdict	$34,000,000 compensatory damages (December 2024)
Punitive damages	$10,000 against each of the two detectives
Settlement status	Reached during LVMPD’s appeal; on the September 9, 2026 Fiscal Affairs agenda
Public claim form or deadline	None

Who Is Eligible for the Kirstin Lobato $29.5 Million Settlement?

Only Kirstin Lobato. The settlement resolves her individual federal lawsuit, not a class action. No other wrongfully convicted person, Nevada resident or member of the public can file a claim for any part of it. For how real settlement claims work, see How To Claim A Lawsuit Settlement?

What Happened to Kirstin Lobato?

Duran Bailey was found killed in Las Vegas in July 2001. Police traced a rumor to Lobato, who grew up in Panaca, Nevada, and who had earlier said she fought off a man who attacked her. According to the Innocence Project’s account, she made remarks to police that the detective took as a confession, though the event she described did not match the facts of the killing. No witnesses or physical evidence linked her to the crime, and she has always said she never met Bailey.

She was convicted in 2002. The Nevada Supreme Court overturned that conviction in 2004. She was tried again in 2006, convicted of manslaughter, mutilation and weapons charges, and sentenced to 13 to 45 years. After the Nevada Supreme Court ordered an evidence hearing in late 2016, the Innocence Project and local attorneys took up her case, and she was released in 2018.

What Did the Federal Jury Find Against Thomas Thowsen and James LaRochelle?

Lobato filed her federal civil-rights lawsuit on July 23, 2019. After a trial in December 2024, the jury found for her on all three claims against detectives Thowsen and LaRochelle, according to the court’s March 31, 2026 order:

1. Fabrication of evidence in violation of due process under the Fourteenth Amendment and 42 U.S.C. § 1983
2. Fabrication-of-evidence claims under the Nevada Constitution
3. Intentional infliction of emotional distress

The jury awarded $34 million in compensatory damages and $10,000 in punitive damages against each detective. These are jury findings in a civil case, not criminal convictions of the detectives.

What Happened After the $34 Million Kirstin Lobato Verdict?

The defendants filed post-trial motions for judgment as a matter of law and for a new trial. On March 31, 2026, Judge Richard Boulware II denied both. The defendants then appealed to the Ninth Circuit, and the settlement was reached while that appeal was pending.

Related article: Micron to Pay Netlist $600 Million Over Five Years in Patent License and Settlement

Why Is the Kirstin Lobato Settlement $29.5 Million Instead of $34 Million?

The settlement is $4.5 million less than the compensatory verdict. Lobato’s attorney, David Owens, said the agreement ends litigation that “could have continued for years further despite the jury’s verdict,” and lets her move on. Payment now and no appeal risk is the trade-off. The $29.5 million should not be described as a new $34 million award.

Has Kirstin Lobato Received the $29.5 Million?

Reporting attributes to her attorney a statement that she has received the full amount. KTNV’s October 6, 2026 report confirmed that the settlement was reached and listed on the September 9 agenda. Confirm the payment detail against the Fiscal Affairs record or the federal docket before relying on it.

Does the Lobato Settlement Create a Wrongful-Conviction Claim Program in Nevada?

No. The settlement does not create a compensation fund or claims process, and it does not mean other cases will produce similar payments. Anyone who believes police fabricated evidence or caused a wrongful prosecution should speak with a licensed civil-rights attorney, because deadlines and remedies depend on the facts and the state. For a different wrongful-conviction settlement with different defendants and facts, see Chicago Backs $9.5M Settlement For Carl Reed Wrongful Conviction.

Kirstin Lobato Wrongful Conviction Case Key Dates

Date	Event
July 2001	Duran Bailey killed in Las Vegas
2002	Lobato first convicted
2004	Nevada Supreme Court overturns the conviction
2006	Retried and convicted; sentenced to 13 to 45 years
2018	Released from prison
July 23, 2019	Federal civil-rights lawsuit filed
December 2024	Federal civil trial; jury awards $34 million compensatory damages
March 31, 2026	Judge denies the defendants’ post-trial motions
May 2026	Appeal to the Ninth Circuit opened, per the Justia docket
September 9, 2026	$29.5 million settlement appears on the Metropolitan Police Committee on Fiscal Affairs agenda
October 6, 2026	KTNV reports the settlement

Frequently Asked Questions About the Kirstin Lobato $29.5 Million Settlement

How much is the Kirstin Lobato settlement?

$29.5 million, resolving her federal lawsuit against the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and two former detectives.

Who receives the Kirstin Lobato settlement?

Kirstin Lobato.

Can other people file a claim in the Lobato settlement?

No. There is no claim form, class or public claims process.

What was the original Kirstin Lobato jury award?

$34 million in compensatory damages, plus $10,000 in punitive damages against each of detectives Thowsen and LaRochelle.

Why was the settlement lower than the jury verdict?

It was reached while the verdict was on appeal, which her attorney said ended litigation that could have gone on for years.

What is the Kirstin Lobato federal case number?

2:19-cv-01273-RFB-EJY, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

What did the jury find in the Kirstin Lobato case?

That Thowsen and LaRochelle fabricated evidence in violation of her federal and Nevada constitutional rights and caused her intentional emotional distress.

Is the Kirstin Lobato lawsuit still pending?

The settlement was reached during the appeal and ends the litigation, according to her attorney.

Bottom Line on the Kirstin Lobato $29.5 Million Settlement

Kirstin Lobato’s $29.5 million settlement with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department resolves her individual federal civil-rights lawsuit after a $34 million jury verdict against former detectives Thomas Thowsen and James LaRochelle. It was reached during the appeal, and it creates no claim process for anyone else.

Sources

• KTNV, “Las Vegas police approve $29.5M settlement with wrongfully convicted Nevada woman,” October 6, 2026, citing the Metropolitan Police Committee on Fiscal Affairs September 9, 2026 agenda
• U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, Lobato v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, et al., No. 2:19-cv-01273-RFB-EJY, March 31, 2026 order
• Innocence Project account of the original case, as cited by KTNV

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. A civil verdict is not a criminal finding, and settlements are not admissions unless stated.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against KTNV’s October 6, 2026 report, the federal court order in Case No. 2:19-cv-01273-RFB-EJY and the Metropolitan Police Committee on Fiscal Affairs September 9, 2026 agenda as cited, as of October 7, 2026. Last Updated: October 7, 2026.