In Jackson, Mississippi, a woman rejected a settlement offer from the city after officials disclosed the payout for her brother’s death, reported Wednesday. George Robinson, 62, passed away in January 2019, following an incident involving three Jackson police officers searching for a murder suspect. The City Council approved a $17,786 settlement for Robinson’s family, although it did not imply liability on behalf of the city or the officers involved. Robinson, a Black man, was the subject of the lawsuit, as were the three officers.
The unanimous approval of the settlement, including Robinson’s sister, Bettersten Wade, was met with opposition from Wade’s attorney, Dennis Sweet III. Sweet argued that the city breached a confidentiality agreement by revealing the settlement amount publicly.
Due to this disclosure and the city’s implication of victory, Wade intends to pursue further legal action against the city. Additionally, Robinson’s family settled separately with an ambulance company for an undisclosed sum.
Councilman Kenneth Stokes expressed dissatisfaction with the settlement amount, believing it undervalued human life, particularly that of Black individuals.
The lawsuit accused the officers of brutally assaulting Robinson without cause, leading to his hospitalization and eventual death. Despite the severity of the allegations, charges against two officers were dropped, and a conviction against another officer was overturned on appeal.
Bettersten Wade’s legal battle against the city stems from her son Dexter Wade’s tragic death in 2023, when he was struck by an off-duty Jackson Police Department officer, Fox who had his manslaughter conviction overturned by the Mississippi Court of Appeals.
Dexter Wade was initially buried without his mother’s knowledge, prompting an exhumation and independent autopsy. His family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, held a funeral for him in November and laid him to rest in another cemetery. These incidents underscore ongoing concerns about police conduct and accountability in Jackson, Mississippi.
