The Fort Worth City Council agreed to pay $9.6 million to settle three connected whistleblower lawsuits, including one from the city’s former police chief, Joel Fitzgerald.
All three suits were filed by former city employees who claimed they were fired after reporting significant cybersecurity issues that left the city vulnerable to hacks.
The council approved the settlements in a vote during their Aug. 13 evening meeting.
Former assistant IT director Ronald Burke will receive $2 million, former IT employee William Birchett will receive $2.4 million, and former police chief Joel Fitzgerald will get $5.2 million from the city.
The settlements marked the end of a complex legal saga that began back in 2018.
“Involving the city’s compliance with Criminal Justice Information System regulations,” said Stephen Kennedy, the attorney for the three plaintiffs. “And they’re all connected in that way.”
Court documents obtained from a lawsuit filed by Ronald Burke against the city of Fort Worth lay out the details.
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