The attorneys for the mother of a Clearfield County man who was murdered in 2024 and the manufacturer of the gun that killed him have agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit out of court.

The mother, Jodi Lynn Parks, who is serving as the administrator of the estate of Kody Lee Parks, 33, who was shot to death on Feb. 24, 2024, earlier this year sued Kel-Tec Industries of Rock Springs, Wyo., the company that manufactured the P-17 semiautomatic pistol used in the shooting.

Jodi Parks, through Philadelphia attorney Robert G. Devine Jr., has also brought suit against Rural King, the owner of the firearms store where the gun was purchased.

The Parks lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Johnstown, and in May, both companies requested dismissal of the respective lawsuits, contending the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act barred lawsuits as a protection for manufacturers and sellers of firearms against legal actions due to the misuse of a firearm by a third party.

Kodey Parks was killed by a gun purchased on Feb. 23, 2024, by his estranged wife, Danielle Parks, at a Rural King store in Clearfield.

The lawsuit states that Danielle, while in the store, handed the gun to her boyfriend, Bryan Michaelis, a man who was barred from possessing a firearm due to his criminal record.

It was the next day that Michaelis used the gun to kill Kodey Parks during a child exchange between Kodey Parks and his ex-wife.

Michaelis and Danielle Parks were convicted of the murder in the first degree and are serving life sentences.

Meanwhile, the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Jodi Parks is proceeding in the federal court.

District Judge Stephanie L. Haines is presiding over the case and is awaiting responses to the motions to dismiss by her lawyer.

However, Devine, representing the mother, and attorney Darren M. Newberry of Pittsburgh, representing Kel-Tec, have filed a request asking the judge to deny Kel-Tec’s request to dismiss as moot, noting an out-of-court settlement has been agreed to.

The court filing stated the parties agreed in principle on a settlement.

“The parties are currently amicably working on the terms and language of the settlement agreement,” it related.

Devine, when contacted Friday, said he would have no comment on the settlement, which is under preparation.

He indicated also that he is, at this point, writing a response to the Rural King motion to dismiss the case.