Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Litigation Mediation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lawton council appoints four members to attend mediation in Jackson v. City of Lawton
Summary
After an executive session held under Oklahoma law to discuss pending litigation, the Lawton City Council voted to send four councilmembers to mediation in the federal case Kent Jackson v. City of Lawton; vote 6-0.
The Lawton City Council voted to appoint four councilmembers to attend mediation in the federal lawsuit Kent Jackson, as personal representative of the estate of Israel Williams, v. City of Lawton et al., following an executive session to discuss pending litigation. The motion carried 6-0.
The appointment was made after the council convened in executive session “pursuant to Section 307(b)(4), Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes,” to discuss the pending action in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, case number 2:23-cv-00284-G. During the meeting, Tim Wilson read the statutory authority for the closed discussion and the case caption to the council.
Councilmember Warren moved to appoint Councilmembers Warren, Gill, Weager and Hankins to attend mediation “as representatives of the city council.” The motion was seconded and approved 6-0.
The action documented only the council’s designation of representatives for mediation; no settlement terms, scheduling details, or other outcomes were announced in open session. The council returned from executive session later in the meeting and recorded the motion and vote in the public minutes.
Going into executive session and naming representatives does not itself resolve the litigation; further updates will depend on the mediation process and any public disclosures the city or the court later make.
