Fort Worth taxpayers could be on the hook for a $9.6 million settlement if the City Council approves a settlement with a former police chief and two former IT workers.
Former Chief Joel Fitzgerald along and former IT workers William Birchett and Roland Burke were all fired in 2019, but sued the city alleging their firings were retaliation for blowing the whistle on alleged city corruption.
Fitzgerald would get $5.2 million, Birchett would get $2.4 million and Burke would get $2 million, according to documents released as part of the Fort Worth City Council’s Aug. 13 meeting agenda.
The three plaintiffs would agree to drop all claims against the city, and the city would not have to admit guilt as part of the settlement, according to the documents.
A spokesperson for the city of Fort Worth sent an emailed statement that summarized the city’s document without offering any further elaboration.
The City Council will vote on the settlement Aug. 13.
A Dallas jury awarded Burke more than $1 million in April over his wrongful termination case, however, the city still had the opportunity to appeal.
Birchett’s case was slated to go to trial in July followed by Fitzgerald in October.
Fort Worth has allocated $2 million to fighting Fitzgerald’s case.
Fitzgerald was hired as Fort Worth’s police chief in 2015, however an “increasing lack of good judgment,” his mismanagement of the police department’s budget and his relationships with other city department heads led to his firing in May...
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