NEWS
Scruggs suit against City of Bowie dismissed on summary judgment
By BARBARA GREEN
The federal civil lawsuit filled by former Bowie Police Chief David Scruggs against the City of Bowie scheduled for the August docket was dismissed with prejudice on July 29.
United States District Judge Reed O’Connor made the ruling for the Northern District of Texas Wichita Falls division of the United States District Court. With prejudice means it cannot be appealed or filed again.
The trial was scheduled to begin on Aug. 22. On May 2, attorneys for the city submitted the request for summary judgment, which was granted last Friday. A final judgment will be issued separately.
Summary judgment is a procedural device used during civil litigation to promptly dispose of a case without a trial.
Scruggs worked for the Bowie Police Department from 1995 to Jan. 23, 2014, when he was fired.
The federal lawsuit was filed by Scruggs on Nov. 7, 2014, as the former city employee asserted various claims against the city related to his termination, citing age discrimination, retaliation and violation of his constitutional right to privacy.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
The jury was seated on Monday and the opening day of testimony Tuesday only lasted four hours, before the panel went into deliberations about 2 p.m.
Two hours later the jury returned a guilty verdict on both charges. Wednesday morning the jury was set to begin discussion on Hall’s punishment at 8:30 a.m. with both sides offering evidence and testimony. Hall faces up to 10 years in prison.
The trial was moved to Denton County on a change of venue requested by Hall in March. After 16th District Judge Sherry Shipman read the verdict, it was reported Hall hung her head in disappointment and was later seen crying and emotional as she left the courtroom.
Members of the Bowie City Council will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. on May 13 in council chambers.
The meeting opens with a proclamation for Emergency Medical Services Week.
City Manager Bert Cunningham will report on recent rainfall problems, Smythe Street sidewalk project and the substation work.
There is only one item of new business an ordinance related to speed limits on specific streets. Public comments and approval of minutes wrap up the agenda.
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