Neither the family's attorney nor a spokeswoman for the zoo would disclose the amount of the settlement. The money will be paid by the San Francisco Zoological Society's insurance carrier, said Michael Cardoza, who represents the parents of Carlos Sousa Jr.

One of the conditions of the settlement is that the Zoological Society erect and maintain a bench in memory of Carlos Sousa Jr. at the zoo as requested by his parents, Cardoza said.

"It means a lot to them," Cardoza said. "The zoo was very, very kind about that and stepped up right away."

The settlement ends a lawsuit brought by Marilza and Carlos Sousa in San Francisco Superior Court alleging zoo officials failed to build and maintain a safe enclosure for the tiger and ignored warnings that the enclosure's walls were dangerously low.

The lawsuit named both the city and the Zoological Society, the nonprofit that runs the city-owned zoo. The settlement will dismiss the lawsuit against both parties. The city had maintained that its lease and management agreement with the Zoological Society makes the zoo responsible for defending lawsuits related to the zoo and its management

The Sousas had sought unspecified damages for the loss of their son, his burial and funeral expenses, punitive damages, and an injunction requiring the zoo to meet standards set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for the confinement of dangerous animals.

A zoo spokeswoman referred all questions to the zoo's attorney, who did not return a call seeking comment late Friday.

Carlos Sousa Jr. was visiting the zoo with his friend Amritpal "Paul" Dhaliwal and Dhaliwal's older brother, Kulbir, when a 243-pound Siberian tiger named Tatiana leaped from her grotto around 5 p.m. and attacked Paul Dhaliwal, according to police reports.

Some accounts say Sousa was trying to protect his friends when the tiger turned on him.

The tiger followed the Dhaliwals to another part of the zoo and attacked Kulbir before being fatally shot by police. The four officers who shot the tiger were awarded the Police Department's gold medal for valor earlier this month.

A lawsuit filed by the Dhaliwal brothers in federal court alleges that they were permanently scarred in the attack and falsely accused by city officials and a zoo public relations contractor of taunting the animal. The two sides are in settlement talks.

E-mail John Coté at jcote@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle