COLUMBUS, Neb. -- In 2011, over 400 current and former Nebraska State Patrol troopers filed a lawsuit against the state claiming the state lawmakers violated their labor contracts.

According to the lawsuit, troopers had to make higher contributions to their pension plans, despite the amount agreed upon when they were initially hired.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers says it was important to settle this case so the state and its troopers could move on with a united front.

"We want to be unified with law enforcement," Hilgers said. "It was hard to do that when you have an active piece of litigation. It involved hundreds of troopers and a lot of state resources to litigate that particular case."

Hilgers said that finding a solution was needed to make the troopers' concerns feel heard.

"I think more than anything just to get a resolution to the lawsuit so they could go on with their lives, they could get a payment, and to have the case ceased," said Hilgers.

The $18.75 million lawsuit will cover payroll dating back to 1995.

Several of those people involved in the lawsuit have since died, Hilgers said last week.