(AP) — Leaders in Johnson City, Tennessee, have agreed Thursday to pay $28 million to settle a lawsuit that said police deliberately botched investigations into a suspect accused in civil cases of drugging and sexually assaulting dozens of women.
If approved by a federal judge, the settlement would resolve the lawsuit filed by women under “Jane Doe” pseudonyms against the city and individual police officers over sexual assault allegations against Sean Williams from 2018 to 2021.
The city and the officers have long denied corruption allegations. Before commissioners voted on the settlement, an attorney representing the city said continuing the case posed a financial risk.
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