/Clarksdale settles lawsuit alleging bias against white city workers but keeps details secret

Clarksdale settles lawsuit alleging bias against white city workers but keeps details secret

The city commissioners agreed to settle the case with plaintiffs in a special called meeting. However, the public was not given any further information about the settlement. This included the amount of money spent by the city to fight the case. Mayor Chuck Espy stated that Clarksdale could move forward. Mayor Chuck Espy stated that “Clarksdale can move forward.” An amended complaint added Don A. Dees as a judge pro tem. Plaintiffs claimed that fired workers were “more qualified than the African Americans who filled those positions” and that the “…blacks received more favorably. They also claimed that they were not given pre- and post-termination hearings. Douglass, Boschert and Gibbs asked for their reinstatement with full back pay and fringe benefit or to be given front pay, salary rises, awards, bonuses and income lost after their termination. The plaintiffs were unable to be reached for comment. Mississippi Today requested information about the settlement from Clarksdale via a public records request.