The City of Tallahassee and the parents of Rachel Hoffman - Irv Hoffman and Margie Weiss - tonight agreed to a settlement in the amount of $2.6 million regarding Rachel's death while serving as a confidential informant for the Tallahassee Police Department in May 2008. The settlement was voted on in a special meeting of the Tallahassee City Commission, following a 5:30 p.m. Executive Session at City Hall.

Rachel Hoffman was murdered by Andrea Green and Deneilo Bradshaw, who are both serving life sentences for her death.

"In reaching this settlement, the City wishes to express our deepest sorrow for the loss of Rachel Hoffman," said City Attorney Jim English. "We once again want to offer our most sincere condolences to her parents, Margie Weiss and Irv Hoffman. Each of us knows that no amount of money can soften the grief and pain that comes from losing a child and our sympathies will forever be with them."

"We must always be accountable for our conduct and we acknowledge that in this case, mistakes were made, and the life of a young woman was tragically lost," English added.

The terms of the settlement include a payment of $2.6 million to the parents of Rachel Hoffman. $200,000 will immediately be paid by the City and the City agrees to actively support the family in seeking legislative approval of a claims bill for the remaining $2.4 million by the 2012 Legislature.

"We stand by and have the highest regard for the men and women of the Tallahassee Police Department who put their lives on the line for us every day," said City Manager Anita Favors Thompson.

"Within TPD, procedural changes have been implemented to help ensure something like this never happens again. We have steadfastly vowed to live up to our obligations both to Rachel's family as well as the taxpayers of this community. Today's settlement marks an equitable agreement by all parties in this matter with an eye towards moving forward."

View the Settlement (PDF)