Knoxville, Tenn. — Chancellor John Weaver presided over a settlement hearing this morning that brings the ongoing lawsuit concerning the Uniformed Officers Pension Plan (UOPP) to an official close. Mediated last week by Chancellor Darryl Fansler, the settlement of $97,500* between Knox County and the attorneys who represented the class, current deputies and Renee Ricker, widow of Dennis Ricker, was accepted by Chancellor Weaver at the hearing.
“This lawsuit put an unnecessary strain on our county government, our Sheriff’s office and our taxpayers,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “I’m glad to see it finally resolved and that the deputies, as well as their families, will get what was promised to them. Also, I greatly appreciate the support of Knox County Commission Chair Nystrom, Vice Chair Carringer and Commissioners Gill, Smith, Anders, Jay and Biggs.”
In October, Mayor Jacobs convened a special session of the Knox County Commission to discuss and vote on a resolution that instructed the Knox County Law Director to dismiss the lawsuit against the UOPP with prejudice. The resolution was passed in the special session then presented to and subsequently approved by Chancellor Weaver in early November. This settlement announcement is the culmination of over a year of litigation surrounding the UOPP and the Knox County Retirement & Pension Board.
*This does not include the cost of Law Director Bud Armstrong’s staff and related cost, which I believe also would need to include the outside counsel that Armstrong appointed to represent him and the county.
