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City council rejects $200,000 counteroffer in Salsbury suit; discusses magistrate-led settlement conference
Summary
City Attorney reported the plaintiff’s $250,000 demand and a $200,000 counter from the plaintiff; council voted to reject the $200,000 counteroffer and discussed attending a magistrate-supervised settlement conference with the municipal league.
City Attorney Stevenson briefed the West Memphis City Council on litigation with a plaintiff identified as Salsbury and recommended council reject a $200,000 counteroffer.
Stevenson said the plaintiff’s original demand was $250,000, the city previously made a counteroffer of $50,000 (based on municipal-league advice), and the plaintiff then countered with $200,000. After discussion the council moved to reject the $200,000 counteroffer and the motion passed.
Stevenson and councilors then discussed whether to take part in a magistrate-supervised settlement conference (to be held in Jonesboro or Little Rock) that could bring both sides to the table under judicial oversight. Counsel explained such conferences are intended to reduce docket burdens and sometimes bring parties closer to settlement; they would require the council to send a quorum (counsel said six members would be enough). Several council members said they were willing to attend if dates could be provided and at least six members could make the trip; others favored letting the Arkansas Municipal League (which counsel said bears 90% of potential liability) continue negotiating.
What happens next: Council asked the municipal league to provide potential settlement-conference dates; no final council authorization to settle was recorded at the meeting.
