“It’s Finally Over” – Ted White Settlement
July 22, 2011
Ted White Jr,
Tribune file photo by Fred Poese
By Mary Pechar
“I’m glad it’s over, it has been a long 13 & ½
years.” With that statement the ongoing battle between Ted White and the City
of Lee’s Summit came to an end.
In closed session Thursday, July 21stthe Lee’s Summit City Council approved payment of $15.5M to settle ongoing law
suite filed by White against the City, former Lee’s Summit Police detective
Richard McKinley, former Lee’s Summit Police Chief Kenneth Conlee and Tina
(White) McKinley, Ted’s former wife. Friday morning, Mayor Rhoades signed the
deal. Friday afternoon, Ted White, his attorneys, family and friends rejoiced.
The City of Lee’s Summit issued the following
statement this noon.
City of Lee's Summit Settles Ted
White Claims
July 22,
2011
With the oversight and direction of Federal Magistrate Judge
John Maughmer, the City of Lee’s Summit will pay a $15.5 million settlement to
Ted White. These terms were established by an agreement which resolve all of
Mr. White’s claims against the City and Ken Conlee, the City’s former police
chief.
“We have stated in the past that the City would not make any
payment unless and until there was clarity regarding its legal obligations,”
said Lee’s Summit Mayor Randy Rhoads. “These matters have now been resolved and
the City is fulfilling its legal obligation and is hopeful that this settlement
provides closure for Mr. White and his family.”
Conlee has agreed that the settlement can be paid through
his Management Agreement with the City. Conlee’s Management Agreement was
signed on November 19, 1996, and in effect prior to the current indemnification
ordinance, which was enacted into law on September 6, 2001. The new ordinance
would have made it unlawful to pay such a settlement.
The settlement will be paid out of the City’s current
financial reserves. The City is currently pursuing reimbursement to the City
for part of the settlement from the City’s insurance policies.
The long term impact of the settlement is not fully realized but should not have
an immediate impact on the City’s current operating budget or on the delivery
of City services. The City strives to fulfill its policy of maintaining a 20%
reserve balance for emergency purposes.
At 12:45 White’s Attorney, Brian McCallister
issued the following statement:
Today, Theodore W. White, Jr. ended his 13 year ordeal
by settling his civil rights lawsuit against a police officer, his wife, Lee’s
Summit and its former Chief of Police.
.
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Lee's Summit, former Lee’s Summit Police detective Richard McKinley, former Lee’s Summit Police Chief Kenneth Conlee and Tina (White) McKinley, should hang your head in shame. All except the city of Lee's Summit should be jailed.