Dothan Commission Settles Keith Gray Lawsuit

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jun 16 2015 5:25 PM

DOTHAN:   The Dothan City Commission added to the published agenda the settlement of the case of former Dothan Police Captain Keith Gray.

In an earlier article today we listed the expenses on the ReaMonica Carney lawsuit. This item was on the published agenda of the Dothan Commission. What was not on the published agenda was the settlement of the Gray suit.

The Dothan Commission voted to pay to law firm the sum of $ 135,000.00 for Gray and his attorney fees. The details of the settlement were not available just the approved sum of money.

By settling the suit the City of Dothan has a fixed sum to pay, which is the $ 135,000.00. In not settling, just the fees to defend the case could reach the 1 million mark. So when someone files a suit against pockets like the City of Dothan, a factor has to be considered - not what is totally fair but what it cost effective.

So the commission did the right thing in settling the case rather than running the risk of trial.

And Gray asked to be named Dothan Police Chief in his lawsuit. The settlement cancels that risk.

The sum of $ 135,000 will be paid to the attorney in Birmingham representing the City of Dothan. Once the agreement is in writing the money will be paid. My guess is, all parties will state the settlement terms are confidential. So those paying the money might never know actually what the settlement terms are.

NOT DEFENDING THE MEMBERS OF THE DOTHAN COMMISSION, but just sayin'  sometimes the economic has to be looked at. This settlement in no way reflects the Dothan Commission crashing to Gray's blows. It means, it just made economic sense to settle and end it.

Gray was terminated by retired Dothan Police Chief Greg Benton.

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