Following the disclosure of settlement details by the City of Jackson, Bettersten Wade, the sister of George Robinson, has chosen to decline the proposed agreement, citing a violation of confidentiality.
Robinson passed away in January 2019, just days after an altercation with three Jackson police officers who were in pursuit of a murder suspect.
The Jackson City Council recently greenlit a payment of $17,786 to resolve the lawsuit initiated by Robinson’s relatives in October 2019.
However, it was clarified in city documents that this settlement did not constitute an acknowledgment of liability by the city or the implicated officers. Notably, Robinson, an African American, was subjected to the encounter by officers of the same racial background.
The decision to reject the settlement stemmed from the public revelation of the settlement amount, which contravened a previously agreed-upon confidentiality clause.
Dennis Sweet III, representing Wade, released a statement indicating that this breach, coupled with the city’s perceived stance of triumph, has prompted Wade to continue her legal pursuit against Jackson.
In addition to the city settlement, Robinson’s family had separately reached a substantial agreement with an ambulance company linked to the incident. Despite voting in favor of the settlement, Councilman Kenneth Stokes voiced dissatisfaction, deeming the amount inadequate and raising concerns about its implications for valuing human life, particularly within the Black community.
The lawsuit filed against the officers alleged severe and unwarranted treatment, asserting that Robinson posed no threat and had not committed any crime during the encounter. Robinson, who had recently suffered a stroke and was under medication, experienced a seizure following the incident and subsequently succumbed to brain hemorrhage.
Legal proceedings surrounding Robinson’s death have encountered complexities, with charges against the officers undergoing various revisions. While charges against two officers were dropped, former detective Anthony Fox was convicted of culpable negligence manslaughter. However, this conviction was overturned by the Mississippi Court of Appeals earlier this year due to insufficient evidence.
Wade’s decision to reject the settlement underscores ongoing tensions surrounding police conduct and accountability in Jackson, particularly in cases involving the deaths of Black individuals.
Her family’s ordeal, compounded by the loss of her son, Dexter Wade, in a separate law enforcement incident, reflects broader concerns about transparency and justice within the community.
