Settlement Reached in Suit Involving Death of Killum

The state of Oregon has agreed to pay $400,000 to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Thelma Lillard, mother of Oregon State basketball player Ernest Killum.

Killum suffered an acute stroke after playing in a game at USC. He died Jan. 20, 1992.

Killum had suffered a stroke 13 months earlier while participating in a summer playground game at his home in Los Angeles. He was cleared to play with the Beavers three weeks before the game against USC.

John McCulloch, chief trial counsel for the Oregon Department of Justice, said the state agreed to the settlement in light of the projected cost of defending the state in a six-week trial in Los Angeles.

“No negligence was admitted, and no one believes there was any,” McCulloch said.