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Commissioners Authorize Insurance to Settle Liddell Lawsuit up to $25,000 Per Case
Summary
DeKalb County commissioners approved the insurance company’s recommendation to allow settlements of roughly $25,000 per case in a federal suit involving a jail-related claim; commissioners debated cost vs. exposure before approving.
DeKalb County commissioners authorized the county’s liability insurer to settle claims related to the Liddell federal lawsuit for up to $25,000 per case and to pay associated attorney fees, the board said at its Aug. 4 meeting.
Nut graf: County attorneys and the insurer recommended settlement authority because a trial could expose the insurer and county to substantially larger awards and greater attorney fees. Commissioners said the decision balances controlling litigation risk with concerns about encouraging frivolous claims.
County counsel explained the insurer manages settlements under the liability policy and recommended settlement limits to contain the county’s exposure, which effectively equals the county’s deductible amount in many scenarios. Commissioners discussed that even if a case were won at trial, the county still could incur significant attorney fees, but that settling could increase future insurance costs.
Commissioner Jim said he disliked paying for claims that the county believes it did not cause, but accepted the financial logic. The board voted to authorize the insurer’s settlement authority and to allow up to $25,000 exposure per case.
What was decided: Motion approving insurer-authorized settlements up to $25,000 per claim carried; staff will follow insurer direction and report back if cases reach trial or settlement figures differ materially. The commissioners did not resolve individual case facts at the meeting, only approved the settlement authority.
