The Johnson City Commission on Nov. 20, 2025 voted unanimously to appropriate $2,640,000 to resolve a group of claimants who say they were harmed by assaults carried out by Sean Williams. The appropriation was presented by outside counsel John Lakey of the law firm Birch, Porter and Johnson, who said the proposed settlement would provide claimants a full and complete release that would bar future lawsuits against the city or its agents.

The commission considered public comment before the vote. Chris Edwards challenged commissioners to justify taxpayer‑funded settlements and warned of the fiscal impact on residents who lack heat or housing. Sylvan Brunei told the commission that the city recently disclosed a separate $28,000,000 settlement in the Sean Williams matter and asked three specific questions: how the city will rebuild the general fund, whether the city can estimate additional settlement exposure, and how payouts will affect future budgeting and capital projects.

Lakey told the commission his office had been engaged to evaluate claims since July, that one of the claimants is a minor, and that not every victim of Williams would have a compensable claim against the city. He reiterated that many details are confidential and protected by attorney‑client privilege and state confidentiality statutes governing victims. Lakey said the proposed payment would be split, with half due by Dec. 20, 2025 and the balance by Feb. 1, 2026 (he corrected an earlier slip of the tongue that read 2022).

Commissioners who spoke in favor said settling was motivated by a desire to avoid protracted litigation, protect victims from re‑litigation of intimate and statutorily protected information, and limit social and financial harms that extended court battles might bring. The record shows the roll call recorded Commissioner Getz, Commissioner Wise, Vice Mayor Brock and Mayor Cox voting “Yes.”

The commission's action authorizes appropriation of the funds; counsel and staff noted that the claimants represented in this proposal had not yet filed a lawsuit and that the settlement would require releases. Lakey also said he was not aware of additional claimants beyond those represented in the proposal.

What happens next: the appropriation was approved at the meeting and the city will follow the payment schedule described by counsel if the settlement proceeds. Members of the public asked for clearer, public fiscal planning about replenishing the general fund and for an estimate of remaining settlement exposure; the commission did not provide a detailed public plan during the meeting, citing privilege and confidentiality for parts of the legal investigation.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A by John Lakey to the Johnson City Commission, Nov. 20, 2025; public comments by Chris Edwards and Sylvan Brunei.