A Mason County man whose penis was destroyed by a bacteria while he was in prison, has won a $300,000 settlement from the Washington Department of Corrections. Charlie Manning, 61, told the Seattle Times on Monday that he settled because he wants the ordeal to be over.

In his lawsuit, the 61-year old man had argued that the Corrections Department and the medical staff at Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen were negligent in treating an infection he contracted while he was behind bars. His illness was initially diagnosed as a reaction to cold medicine, according to the lawsuit. Two days later, the man was diagnosed with an infection. The patient was driven to Grays Harbor Community Hospital, where he was diagnosed with Fournier’s gangrene, a condition that can be fatal if untreated. Manning had necrotizing fasciitis and the bacteria destroyed his penis and one testicle.

“While the end result was unfortunate and Mr. Manning’s original diagnosis turned out to be inaccurate, this was the result of a misdiagnosis, not the result of poor medical care,” the Department of Corrections said in a statement. “Not all medical judgments -- whether performed in a prison or at a doctor's office -- are infallible.” Officials said the suit was settled because going to court would have been more expensive.

Manning’s attorney, Daniel DeLue said his client continues to suffer and his lifespan was shortened by his experiences in prison. He said Manning weighted his life expectancy against the likelihood of getting any money at all. He agreed to the settlement because he wants to leave all the sufferance behind him.