Extra 2 weeks sought to finalize $28M Johnson City lawsuit settlement
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit against Johnson City related to sexual assault victims and complainants have asked a federal judge for two extra weeks to finalize a proposed $28 million settlement's details.
PREVIOUS: Attorney breaks down $28M Jane Doe settlement related to JCPD
Friday, attorney Julie Erickson, a representative for plaintiffs in the 'Jane Does' civil lawsuit, requested until May 19 to file their motion for preliminary approval of the class action settlement.
Funds from the settlement will be split into two pots, one for the class action group and one for the original plaintiffs. One, which does not require Judge Travis McDonough's final approval, goes to alleged victims of now-convicted child sex offender and former downtown resident Sean Williams. Those women are plaintiffs in the original suit, which was filed in June 2023.
The other group, part of what had been a proposed class action, consists of more than 300 people who reported sexual assaults to the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) between 2018 and 2022.
Less than two months after the original suit was filed, Johnson City released a report they had commissioned from the Daigle Law Group, which looked at JCPD's handling of all sexual assault complaints between 2018 and 2022.
Eric Daigle and his firm found, among other things, that JCPD had a number of 'certain investigative practices' that 'could negatively affect the quality and efficiency of their response to sexual assault cases.'
Daigle noted a common theme running through many of these weaknesses: 'JCPD's response to sexual assault was challenged based on gender-based stereotypes and bias.'
Following the release of that report, the Jane Doe attorneys sought to add a class action to the lawsuit and open it to complainants from the Daigle Report period.
The other amount — the totals for each pot of money haven't been disclosed — will be available for distribution among the roughly 325 women and girls who lodged any sexual assault complaints with the JCPD during the Daigle Report period.
Erickson's motion says the parties began mediation in December 2024 and negotiated for two months before 'executing a term sheet' Feb. 13. The Johnson City Commission unanimously approved the proposal that night, 'understanding that ultimate approval authority is vested with the Court.'
Judge Travis McDonough initially set a March 24 deadline for the plaintiffs to file a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement, then granted an extension to May 5.
While the sides 'have been working diligently' for eight weeks to wrap up a final proposal, several rounds of drafts have required close review and client sign-off, Erickson wrote in Friday's motion.
'All material terms have been agreed on,' she added, but some details require additional time, 'including coordinating with the settlement administrator regarding various logistical procedures.'
The plaintiffs, Erickson wrote, are trying to gain approval '(and secure payment to settlement class members) as expeditiously as possible.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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