A lawyer representing the family of a Nevada prison inmate killed by shotgun blasts last year says settlement talks have begun with state officials in a federal wrongful death lawsuit seeking damages for the man's family.
Attorney Cal Potter said Wednesday the two sides are still in the early stages, and nothing has been decided.
Thursday marks one year since attorneys say inmate Carlos Manuel Perez Jr. was killed by several shotgun blasts fired by a guard at High Desert State Prison.
Prison officials say Perez was fighting with another inmate, Andrew Arevalo, who was wounded.
Arevalo is still in prison, and has filed a separate excessive force lawsuit.
Potter alleges guards created a "gladiator-like scenario" to let the two handcuffed inmates fight before the corrections officer trainee opened fire.