Plaintiffs Reject County’s Settlement Offer, Stakes Raised
According to a letter dated April 24, 2023, the plaintiff’s attorney in the “Patrick D. Perry, Justin Bryant, et al vs. Hardeman County Government, et al” case formally declined the Hardeman County Commission’s offer of 1.2 million dollars to settle their lawsuit. {read more about the County Commission’s settlement offer here}
In the letter, Attorney William Sessions stated, “Frankly, given all of the negotiations of February 6 and 7 [2023], I find your clients offer to be in bad faith and an indication that Hardeman County Government has no intention nor interest in trying to settle this matter prior to trial.”
Attorney Sessions also questioned whether the Hardeman County Government was aware, “. . . that we had formally removed our $2,999,000.00 settlement demand and on April 7, 2023, made a settlement demand in the amount of $3,350,000.00.”
He continued, “In any event the county commission’s settlement offer is too ridiculous to be taken seriously and our settlement demand of $3,350,000.00 is still on the table, pending our continued review of back owed amounts.”
Attorney Sessions concluded his letter by requesting that previous Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Sain stop contacting his clients and trying to get information from them.
When asked why the settlement amount was increased from what was agreed upon in mediation, Attorney Sessions stated, “The $2,999,000.00 amount included a “hometown discount” based solely on the professionalism and good will extended by Mayor Pulse. There was a desire to try and settle this and so a “hometown discount” was extended. Because of the incredibly disrespectful manner in which the county commission has acted and chosen to negotiate we have taken away the “hometown discount” and have taken away the option of Hardeman County Government to continue kicking the accrued time can down the road.”
If a settlement agreement is not reached, the case is scheduled to go to trial in October 2023.
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