Jackson City Council approves $250,000 settlement in lawsuit by former police major

The Jackson City Council on Oct. 14 approved a budget amendment to pay $125,000 from city funds and accept $125,000 from the city's insurer to settle consolidated lawsuits brought by former Jackson Police Major Philip Kemper.

City Attorney's outside counsel Jeffrey Lindley told the council the settlement resolves two related suits and requires Kemper to drop his claims and agree that his employment with the city is "irrevocably severed." "Major Kemper drops his lawsuits and agrees to their dismissal with prejudice," Lindley said, adding that the settlement eliminates ongoing litigation risk.

The settlement resolves a suit that began in 2022 after Kemper was placed on paid administrative leave and a second suit filed after his termination in February 2025. Lindley said a federal judge consolidated remaining claims and set a jury trial for Aug. 17, 2026, unless the parties resolved the case through the court-ordered mediation process. "Mediation is a process where both parties . . . come together with a neutral mediator and try to resolve the case," Lindley said.

Under the agreement discussed at the meeting, the city's insurer, Public Entity Partners, will pay $125,000; the city will pay $125,000. Lindley told the council that $17,500 of the city payment is categorized as back pay and will be paid via payroll. Lindley said himself, his law partner John Burleson, City Attorney Lewis Cobb, Mayor Scott Conger and the city's insurer all "believe this settlement is in the best interest of the city." "We agreed on what we believe is a fair settlement for the city," Lindley said.

Council members asked how the city payment would be funded. A city staff member identified as Nathan told the council the budget amendment includes a draw on fund balance if necessary; if the year's revenues cover the cost, fund balance would not be used. Nathan said the city has a terminal leave account but that using it would not change the ultimate fund-balance effect if totals exceed estimates.

The council approved the budget amendment by recorded vote: seven in favor, one opposed and one abstention. The settlement terms presented at the meeting call for dismissal with prejudice and a release of further claims related to Kemper's employment.

The city did not provide the written settlement agreement at the meeting. The judge had ordered mediation and set the consolidated case for trial in federal court in 2026; the council's action at the Oct. 14 meeting authorizes the payment and implements the settlement as described in open session.

Looking ahead, the council's budget action implements the settlement; the city indicated the insurer and the city will each make the stated payments and that the $17,500 categorized as back pay will be issued by payroll.