City reaches settlement, avoids trial in lawsuit involving former Jackson Police major

JACKSON, Tenn. — The Jackson City Council held their regular monthly meeting Tuesday morning.

It was a fairly short meeting. The main item discussed was an appropriation of money for a legal settlement between the City of Jackson and Phillip Kemper — a former major with the Jackson Police Department.

“John Burleson, I, City Attorney Lewis Cobb, Mayor Scott Conger, and the City’s insurer participated in the mediation of this case with his attorney and we agreed on what we believe is a fair settlement for the city,” said Geoffrey Lindley, defense counsel.

The total settlement is for $250,000. It is split evenly between the City of Jackson and their insurer.

“The city’s insurer will pay Kemper $125,000. And the City will pay Kemper $125,000,” Lindley said.

“And that settlement, both John Burleson, and I, Mr. Cobb, and the Mayor, and the City’s insurer all believe that this settlement is in the best interest of the City,” Lindley said.

Lindley explained that this case would have gone to a jury trial and would have pulled many resources away to be a part of the case. He also explained some more aspects of the settlement.

“Major Kemper agrees to drop this lawsuit and agrees to their dismissal with prejudice,” Lindley said. “That means they can never be refiled. Kemper agrees that his employment with the City has been irrevocably severed and he will never reapply to work for the city. Kemper releases the City from any further claims that he could ever bring against the City related to his employment.”

Kemper was employed with the City in 2004 and was placed on administrative leave, with pay, in 2021.

To finalize this settlement, the City Council will need to vote to approve this for a second time next month.

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