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Resident says settlement discussions stalled after attorneys changed terms; commission says lawyers raised a 'sticking point'
Summary
A longtime plaintiff told the commission he expected a settlement to be finalized during the meeting but said outside attorneys intervened and altered the deal; the city said the commission intends to honor prior agreements but must resolve a legal sticking point raised by counsel before approving any settlement.
A resident and regular attendee, James Finch, told the Lynn Haven City Commission he believed the commission had already agreed to a settlement stemming from long-running litigation but that the item was removed from the agenda shortly before the meeting. Finch said he has been pursuing resolution for six years and had been prepared to accept terms, but he alleged attorneys changed the contract and blocked the agreement.
"We had a deal and I always was—you make a deal and you shake somebody's hand," Finch told the commission, saying he did not want an attorney to continue the dispute. Finch said he had been willing to settle with the city but not with a particular individual and that a last-minute attorney issue prevented finalization.
The city attorney and city manager told Finch the commission met in a shade meeting earlier in the day to discuss pending litigation and that the commission tabled the potential resolution because there was not a mutual agreement between the parties. City officials said a single legal 'sticking point' identified by counsel prevented final action and that staff would continue due diligence and re-contact Finch’s attorney so the parties could try to reach a mutual solution.
No final settlement was approved at the meeting. City staff said they would continue negotiations with Finch and his counsel and would seek to clarify and resolve the legal concern raised by the city’s attorneys.
