Ex-Inmate in ‘Thin Blue Line’ Settles Suit

Former Death Row inmate Randall Dale Adams settled his lawsuit against the man who helped free him, “The Thin Blue Line” filmmaker Errol Morris, by getting the rights to his life story, attorneys said Thursday.

Adams, whose conviction of killing a Dallas police officer was questioned in Morris’ film, will receive full rights to any commercial movies or books about his life, according to the settlement. Charges against Adams ultimately were dismissed.

Adams, now living in Ohio, sued Morris in Houston District Court in June for rights to the story, which depicted his account of his arrest and conviction for the murder of Dallas Officer Robert Wood.

“I’m pleased that we were able to settle this, but I’m not pleased with the way it had to come about. It never should have gone to litigation,” said Adams’ attorney, Randy Schaffer.

Adams was freed from state prison in March after an appeals court overturned his conviction earlier this year.