Ryan Ferguson and local officials have reportedly reached a tentative settlement on liability as part of a federal civil suit filed in 2014.
According to court documents, federal judge Nanette Laughrey was notified of the settlement during a telephone conference on May 19.
Ferguson filed the suit after his conviction of the 2001 murder of Columbia Tribune sports editor Kent Heitholt was thrown out.
Terms of the settlement, which does not cover damages, have not been disclosed.
A separate bench trial concerning damages is set for June 26. Both parties agreed the damages trial will take no more than four hours.