Franklin County commissioners give consensus to resolve two lawsuits, including $2.5 million jail-death settlement

Franklin County commissioners at their March 5 meeting gave consensus to accept the risk-pool-approved resolution to resolve two pending lawsuits, including a $2.5 million mediated settlement in a jail-death case and an accepted offer of judgment in a defamation claim.

County Prosecutor’s Office Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Bridal asked the board for consensus to approve resolution 24-2-00222-36, telling commissioners he was “looking for some consensus from the board to approve, resolution of 2 lawsuits that were approved by the risk pool.”

The larger case involves the estate of Fabiola Valenzuela (identified in meeting remarks as the estate of the decedent) against Franklin County and includes wrongful-death, medical-malpractice, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Monell-style policy/practice claims. Bridal said the matter mediated and produced a CR 2A binding mediation agreement for $2,500,000, with the county’s deductible at $25,000. He said the risk-pool attorney Anne Trevette of Keaton, Buckling & McCormick mediated on the county’s behalf and was involved in discovery and settlement negotiations.

The second case described by Bridal was a defamation claim involving plaintiffs identified as Anderson and Burkhart. Bridal said the county made a CR 68 offer of judgment to limit attorney fees; the offer was accepted and a judgment will be recorded against the county. Bridal said the per-plaintiff amounts were $5,000 plus attorneys’ fees and costs, with a combined attorney-fee-and-cost figure he cited as about $17,800.

Bridal emphasized the risk-pool’s role in litigation: "The risk pool is sort of in the driver's seat with litigation," and noted the county can pull a claim out of the risk pool but that doing so would expose the county to paying full costs and attorney fees.

Commissioners indicated their agreement by voice when the chair asked for consensus; no roll-call vote or motion was required for the requested consensus. Bridal said the risk pool would invoice the county for deductibles at a later date and that settlements typically include language of no admission of liability.

Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton later addressed the meeting during public comment to distinguish a signed settlement from a judge-signed judgment in a related harassment/defamation matter affecting auditor staff. Beaton said, “a settlement is signed by parties, and a judgment is signed by a judge,” and described the judgment as bringing a sense of closure to long-standing workplace complaints.

What happens next: Bridal said he would notify the risk pool that the county was in agreement and that the county should expect invoices for deductible amounts. No executive-session decision or further vote on these specific settlements was recorded at the open meeting; Bridal had earlier noted the prosecutor advised considering executive session for potential litigation matters but the board moved forward in open session with the consensus request.

Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows the board gave consensus approval (voice agreement) to proceed with the two settlements as presented; no formal roll-call vote or named tally was recorded in the public transcript provided.

Authorities cited: The prosecutor and staff referenced risk-pool procedures and case law categories (wrongful death, malpractice, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Monell claims) during the presentation; no statutory citation was introduced for these settlements at the hearing.

Ending: County staff will notify the risk pool to finalize settlements and will process the county’s deductible invoicing. Commissioners did not take further open-session action on these matters at the March 5 meeting.