Hamblen County Commission approves settlement in Edna Green lawsuit

The Hamblen County Commission voted Nov. 5 to approve a settlement resolving litigation filed under Case No. 18-CV-162 by Commissioner Edna Green against Christopher Capps, the commission’s attorney said at a special-called meeting.

Attorney Arthur Knight, who summarized the agreement to the commission, said the settlement calls for Hanover Insurance Company to issue payment to the named parties and for the lawsuit to be dismissed. "Upon delivery of the above payments to the above named parties, Ms. Green will dismiss the original lawsuit, case number 18 c v 1 6 2, with prejudice, meaning the case is closed. It cannot be brought again," Knight said during his summary.

Knight gave the payment details the commission reviewed: Hanover will issue a check to Hamblen County in the amount of $14,900 and will issue a $6,412.90 check to Edna Green to reimburse attorney fees and costs she has incurred. Knight also said Hanover will be responsible for court costs, which the court clerk would refund to Green. Knight emphasized the parties characterized the agreement as a settlement and compromise and that it was not an admission of liability by any party.

Chairman Bobby Hahn moved to accept the settlement; a second was recorded. Commissioners discussed recusal and voting eligibility because a commissioner was a party to the suit. During roll call, the clerk recorded 12 commissioners voting "yes" and Commissioner Edna Green recorded as abstaining. The chair then announced, "Motion passes 12 0." The transcript records the vote announcement immediately before the meeting concluded.

The settlement resolves claims previously pursued in court. The attorney’s summary in the meeting tied the case to a statute dating to 1949 and used the case caption Hamblen County, Tennessee on relation of Edna Green versus Christopher Capps; the transcript identified the case by number as 18-CV-162. The settlement document described in the meeting includes signature lines for the defendant and Hanover Insurance; the copies referenced in the summary show blanks for Green and Hamblen County to sign.

The commission scheduled committee meetings for Nov. 10 and adjourned the special meeting.