North Dakota Judge Awards $9.6M in Wrongful Death Suit

A North Dakota judge has awarded $9.6 million to the family of a Fargo dentist who was killed in a murder-for-hire scheme.

The brother of Philip Gattuso (guh-TOO’-soh) filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Gene Kirkpatrick, who’s serving life in prison for arranging the October 2009 death of Gattuso, his son-in-law.

Roy Gattuso and his brother’s orphaned daughter are named as plaintiffs.

Judge Lisa Fair McEvers on Monday issued a ruling that calls for Kirkpatrick to pay more than $4.4 million for economic damages, $5 million for non-economic damages, and $250,000 for other damages.

Roy Gattuso says the loss of his brother will be “felt by his family and friends forever.”

The hit man, Michael Nakvinda, is serving life in prison for beating Philip Gattuso to death with a hammer.