The City of Portsmouth has settled with Senator Louse Lucas (D-Portsmouth) in her lawsuit against former Chief Angela Greene and Sergeant Kevin McGee, with the city agreeing to pay Lucas $300,000, according to a Greene press release. In June, Lucas sued Greene and McGee for $6.75 million after the police department filed felony charges against Lucas over her alleged involvement in the destruction of the Portsmouth confederate monument in June 2020.
A court dismissed the charges and Portsmouth fired Greene. Lucas’ lawsuit alleges that Greene and McGee committed malicious prosecution, defamation, false imprisonment, and gross negligence. In a statement Friday, Lucas said she’d donate the funds from the settlement to charity.
“I also understand that any settlement from a locality impacts their ability to fund critical programs in our community. That’s why I am pledging that I will be donating the entirety of what I receive in the settlement to the charitable efforts in our community I have been involved with for so many years,” Lucas said.
Greene isn’t happy with the decision to settle the lawsuit. In a Thursday press release tweeted by 13News Now reporter Ali Weatherton, Greene’s personal attorney said that city attorneys agreed to mediation without Greene’s consent, saying the city “botched” Greene’s defense.
Separately, Greene is suing the City of Portsmouth and Lucas after the city fired Greene. Greene’s press release said that Portsmouth’s settlement of the lawsuit with Lucas was an effort to influence Greene’s lawsuit against the city.
“While the City may argue that it has the ability to settle claims which do not impose personal liability on covered officials, the City’s handling of the matter is against the Risk Management policy as Greene is not free from personal liability as to Greene’s knowledge she is not a party to any agreement and is still suffering continued reputational damage, as she can no longer exonerate herself in Court,” the release stated.
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Louise Lucas” by Senate of Virginia. Photo “Angela Greene” by Richmond Police Department. Background Photo “Courtroom” by Karen Neoh. CC BY 2.0.
