Would paying a large settlement to Nathan Lee and other family in the wrongful death suit against the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office cause layoffs in the department, financial shortages to the budget or even bankrupt the county?

Potential members of the jury in last week’s high-profile civil trial had concerns about the financial consequences to the county if a favorable decision was made to pay the estate a minimum of $750,000 in damages for negligence in the death of his 21-year-old wife, Denise Amber Lee.