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Appeal Filed by Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Following $15 Million Racial Discrimination Verdict
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office has initiated an appeal against a substantial $15 million verdict awarded to a former employee in a case centered on racial discrimination.
On February 7, a jury in Alachua County delivered a unanimous verdict, determining that Kevin Davis, who previously served as a sergeant, experienced racial discrimination under the tenure of former Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr.
The evidence presented revealed that Davis, identified as white, was overlooked for promotions and transfers in favor of Black officers deemed less qualified by the jury.
Following the ruling, Davis’ attorney, Bobi Frank, expressed optimism, stating, “Today, the justice system worked. Justice is slow, but it works,” highlighting the importance of the jury’s decision.
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In response, attorney Wayne Evans, representing the sheriff’s office, contested the jury’s findings, asserting that the decisions made by Watson, who was absent during the verdict announcement, were not racially motivated.
“This shows that this case is all about assumptions and people want to say and believe what they want to hear,” Evans remarked, suggesting the verdict stemmed from misperceptions rather than factual evidence.
The appeal filed on February 24 encompasses key components of the case, including transcripts of Davis’ testimony, the closing arguments from both sides, and the official verdict form issued by the jury.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: ACSO files appeal following $15 million racial discrimination verdict
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