Defense Verdict for Derrick Wright, Sturgill Turner Government Law Team
On October 11, 2023, Sturgill Turner attorney Derrick Wright won a unanimous defense verdict in favor of the City of Richmond Police Department, in a lawsuit brought by former police sergeant Jeffrey Simmons alleging racial discrimination.
The plaintiff claimed he was forced to resign in May 2015 after being subject to alleged racial harassment from a subordinate officer. The defense team maintained and proved that the incident was not motivated by race, and that the department acted appropriately in addressing the dispute between them. The jury unanimously rejected all the plaintiff’s claims.
“We are very pleased that the jury validated the Department’s actions after having heard and considered all of the evidence at trial,” said Derrick Wright, lead counsel and member of Sturgill Turner’s government and municipal law group. The experienced trial team also included paralegal David Hobson.
The case was tried over three days before a jury in the Civil Branch of Madison Circuit Court, Division 1, before Judge David M. Ward.
