Lawsuit settled in death of former K-State player

Topeka (AP) — Kansas legislators and Gov. Sam Brownback have approved a $225,000 settlement of a lawsuit filed on behalf of a former Kansas State University football player who hanged himself at Larned State Hospital.

The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/1xSrl90) reports the estate of Michael Lykins sued in Shawnee County District Court alleging staff at the state hospital didn’t do enough to prevent the 43-year-old’s death in 2011.

The suit was brought by Lykins’ college-age children in August 2013 against the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, which has jurisdiction over the hospital.

Department spokeswoman Angela de Rocha says the death of Lykins was a tragedy and that all claims against the state have been settled.