Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Litigation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board authorizes counsel to settle Ashley Vitale lawsuit after closed session
Summary
By unanimous roll-call vote the Board entered closed session under MCL 15.268(e) to discuss trial and settlement strategy in Ashley Vitale v Crawford County Sheriff Ryan A. Swope (Case No. 2:24-cv-12862-JJCG-EAS) and later authorized counsel to settle the case within parameters discussed in closed session.
The Board moved into closed session after a motion by Commissioner Lewis, seconded by Commissioner Kraycs, citing MCL 15.268(e) to discuss trial and/or settlement strategy in Ashley Vitale v Crawford County Sheriff Ryan A. Swope, Case No. 2:24-cv-12862-JJCG-EAS, because discussing it in open session would have a detrimental financial effect on the county's litigating position. The roll-call vote to enter closed session was unanimous.
After returning from closed session, the Board approved the executive-session minutes and, on a motion by Commissioner Lewis and a second by Commissioner Kraycs, authorized counsel to settle the Vitale case "within the certain parameters discussed during the closed session"; the roll-call vote on the settlement authorization was recorded as unanimously in favor. The meeting minutes record the motions, the statutory basis (MCL 15.268(e)), and the case citation; the minutes do not disclose the settlement terms (they were discussed in closed session).
