$15 Million Racial Discrimination Verdict Shocks Alachua County in Case Against Sheriff’s Office

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a notable legal decision, a predominantly white jury awarded over $15 million to Kevin Davis, a sergeant with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, after he accused his employer of racial discrimination. This conclusion followed a weeklong trial filled with contentious debates over promotional practices within the sheriff’s office. During the proceedings, Davis was awarded $115,724 in compensation for lost wages, which economic expert David Macpherson testified he would have earned if promoted. Interestingly, the jury decided against awarding Davis $54,545 in lost pension benefits that Macpherson also estimated Davis had forfeited … Read more

Motorcyclist Engulfed in Flames Sues Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Citing Excessive Force for Minor Offenses

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Following a high-speed pursuit in February 2022 that resulted in a motorcyclist being severely burned, a lawsuit has been filed against the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The lawsuit highlights allegations of an institutional culture that encouraged harsh and forceful law enforcement tactics even for minor violations. The incident, which received widespread attention, involved Jean Barreto, a motorcyclist who was engulfed in flames after a deputy used a taser on him while he was soaked in gasoline at a gas station. The shocking moment occurred amid deputies’ response to a report of … Read more

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Settles Lawsuit Over Detainee’s Suicide Amid Criticism of Jail’s Mental Health Policies

Jacksonville, Fla. – A legal agreement has been finalized between Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, a corrections officer, and the grieving family of Esther Joy Truax, a woman who committed suicide while detained at the Duval County Pre-trial Detention Facility. The case, settled in December, emerged after multiple suicide attempts by Truax, highlighting ongoing concerns about inmate mental health management in correctional facilities. The lawsuit accused the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) of neglect and indifference towards Truax’s mental health, despite her documented history of suicide attempts and psychiatric struggles. Truax, who was 35 at the time … Read more

Missouri Appeals Court Upholds $177 Million Verdict in Favor of Sheriff’s Deputy Assaulted at Hyatt Regency

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — In a significant reaffirmation of a jury’s verdict, the Missouri Court of Appeals has upheld a $177 million award to Shannon Dugan, a New Jersey sheriff’s deputy who endured a sexual assault by a security guard at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis. The substantial judgment consists of $28 million in compensatory damages linked to Dugan’s suffering and $149 million aimed as a punitive measure against Hyatt for their gross negligence and mishandling in the aftermath of the incident. During the legal proceedings, it became evident that Hyatt had faltered significantly in … Read more