municipal liability News

Insurers Pay $600K in Small Town West Virginia Racism Case

Insurance companies will pay $600,000 to a former officer who sued the Sophia Police Department over claims he was harassed and fired because he is black, Mayor Danny Barr said. That payout is more than the small West Virginia town’s …

Family of Vermont Trooper Killed in 2003 Gets $4.5M From State’s Insurer

The family of a Vermont State Police trooper killed while trying to stop a fleeing suspect a decade ago has received a $4.5 million settlement from the state and its insurance carrier. Washington County Superior Court Judge Robert Bent last …

Niota, Tenn., Temporarily Closes City Services as Insurance Expires

Much of the city of Niota, in Tennessee, is shut down, including its police and fire departments, after the city’s liability insurance expired at midnight on April 18. The Daily Post-Athenian reports the Tennessee Municipal League declined to renew the …

Pennsylvania Borough Insurer Pays $98K in Cop-on-Cop Lawsuit

A Pittsburgh suburb’s insurer has paid $98,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by an Allegheny County police officer against local cops he claims roughed him up then filed false charges against him. Fifty-one-year-old Raymond Hrabos, the county cop, lives in …

West Virginia Municipal Insurer Balks at Defending Sheriff

The insurance pool for West Virginia county governments asked a judge Thursday to declare that it has no obligation to defend a Jefferson County sheriff who resigned in disgrace and pleaded guilty in the beating of a bank robbery suspect. …

Court Dismisses Most Damage Claims by Duke University Lacrosse Players

The bulk of a federal lawsuit filed by former Duke University lacrosse players falsely accused of raping a stripper has been dismissed. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed all claims for damages filed under federal law …

Settlement Reached in Atlanta Police HIV Employment Case

A man with HIV who said he was denied a position with the police force has reached a settlement with the city of Atlanta, his lawyers said. The city would pay $250,000 under terms of the agreement, Lambda Legal said. …

Jury Sides with Man in Claims Against Mississippi Police Officers

A federal jury has awarded a Madison resident more than $93,000 in a lawsuit against three city police officers for excessive force and for violating his constitutional rights. The Clarion-Ledger reported that  the verdict favoring Steve C. Thornton was handed …

South Carolina Police Officer Sues Over Facebook-Related Firing

A former police officer claims in a lawsuit that Greenville, South Carolina officials violated her free speech rights by firing her over comments on a social networking site. The Delta Democrat Times reported that former Sgt. Susan Graziosi was fired …

Tennessee Family Sues County Schools, Claims Bullying

The family of a former Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools student has filed a lawsuit, claiming school officials failed to shield their daughter from bullying. According to The Leaf-Chronicle, the civil lawsuit was filed in Clarksville by Carlos and Julie Ramos. The …