Commissioners authorize $500,000 county payment in federal lawsuit settlement and direct county attorney to file PIA action

At 10:28 a.m. the Williamson County Commissioners Court returned from executive session and took two formal actions. First, the court voted 3-0 to approve settlement of civil action No. 1:24‑cv‑01183, Johnny Jo Tiarino v. Andrew Rodriguez, et al., in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (Austin Division). The court approved a total settlement amount of $1,150,000 and authorized Williamson County to pay an amount equal to the county’s remaining self‑insured retention of $500,000, with the remainder of the settlement to be paid by the county’s insurance carrier, Lexington Insurance Company. The court also authorized the presiding officer to execute settlement documents approved as to form by general counsel or outside counsel.

Motion text recorded by the court included specific authorization to: (1) approve settlement per the settlement, release and indemnification agreement; (2) authorize payment by Williamson County to its insurance carrier in an amount equaling the county’s remaining self‑insured retention of $500,000 with the remainder to be paid by the insurance carrier; and (3) authorize the presiding officer to execute settlement documents as approved by counsel. The motion carried on a 3-0 vote (motion by Commissioner Cook, second by Commissioner Long).

Second, on item 57 the court voted 3-0 to direct the Williamson County Attorney’s Office to file a legal action under the Texas Public Information Act based on what the motion described as conflicting or unclear rulings regarding two requests for information. Motion language directed the county attorney to commence the Public Information Act action; the motion carried on a 3-0 vote (motion by Commissioner Covey, second by Commissioner Long).