GENERAL

Ordinance Fact Sheet

140322
Ordinance Number

Brief Title:
Approval Deadline:
Approving settlement of Willie O. Taylor v.
City of Kansas City, Missouri

Reason:
To approve settlement of the claim of Willie O. Taylor
v. Kansas City, Missouri

Details

Positions / Recommendations

Reason for Legislation

Sponsor(s)

To seek Council approval and authorization of

$85,000.00 in settlement of the lawsuit styled Willie
O. Taylor v. City of Kansas City, Missouri, Case No.
11-0546-CV-W-GAF.

Programs, Departments, or Groups Affected

William Geary, City Attorney

Law Department
Applicants/Proponents

Applicant

City Department

Other

Discussion (including relationship to other Council actions)

Mr. Taylor was employed in the Citys Fire

Department as a Fire Apparatus Operator until his
retirement in 2007. During the 8+ years he was
stationed at the fire station located at Kansas City
International Airport, Mr. Taylor alleges he was
subjected to a racially hostile environment on several
occasions, including racial epithets and physical
threats by a firefighter, now deceased. Mr. Taylor
also identified various instances of different treatment
by captains and a battalion chief.
The Law Department recommends settlement of this
case for $85,000.00 because the Federal Court issued
a decision allowing the events back to 1999 to be
considered part of the alleged racially hostile
environment, and a jury could be offended by the
racial epithets and physical threats by the deceased
firefighter and find the City responsible for Mr.
Taylors environment. The City would then be liable
for emotional damages and attorneys fees, already
estimated well above the settlement amount.

Opponents

Groups or Individuals
Basis of Opposition

Staff Recommendation

For
Against
Reasons Against:

Board or Commission
Recommendation

For Against
No Action Taken
For, with revisions or
conditions

Council Committee Action

Do Pass
Do Pass (as amended)
Committee Substitute
No Recommendation
Hold
Do Not Pass

Details

Policy / Program Impact

Policy or Program
Change

No

Yes

Operational Impact
Assessment

Finances
Cost and Revenue
Projections

Cost of Legislation

$85,000.00
Increase/Decrease in Revenue
Expected Annually

Fund Sources

Applicable Dates:

Fact Sheet Prepared By:

Saskia C.M. Jacobse, Assistant City Attorney

Reviewed By:
Bill Geary, City Attorney

Reference Numbers

14-1010-131543-B