Judge Yerger Tosses Jackson Fireman's Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
On Saturday Jimmie Gates and the Clarion-Ledger reported on Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Swan Yerger throwing out a racial discrimination suit against the City of Jackson by fireman Ricky Haggard.
According to the article:
Ricky Haggard had alleged he was discriminated against after he was removed from overseeing a federal grant's position in 2006 and replaced by a white male when Todd Chandler was interim fire chief.
In dismissing the case:
Yerger said Haggard had to show the city maintained a widespread, persistent practice of racial discrimination of city officials or employees.
"Acts of alleged discrimination that take place in a three-year period in one city department, all under the tenure of one supervisor hardly shows that there existed a persistent, widespread practice that fairly represents municipal policy," Yerger wrote.
Further, Yerger said even Haggard swears that Chandler was demoted as a result of discriminatory remarks Chandler made in the video. "This goes to show that Chandler's alleged conduct was hardly the expected, accepted practice of city employees," Yerger wrote.
Haggard apparently rejected a settlement offer from the City:
[City Attorney Pieter Teeuwissen] said the city offered a settlement, but an agreement was never reached.
My guess is that it was not a big offer. The City has been trying a lot of cases in the last few years, which suggests that it has not been making large settlement offers.
There will be an appeal:
Haggard's attorneys, Louis Watson Jr. and Nick Norris, said Yerger's dismissal will be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Who knows what will happen on appeal. But since Hinds County judges seem to have a tendency to rule against the City, you would think that the dismissal has a good chance to be affirmed on appeal.
Dog bites man.
I'm trying to find out information regarding the case of the white fireman v. City of Jackson, or their fire department. If you could at least help provide the attorney's name, and the outcome it would greatly help me. Thank you for any help you can provide.
Clifton