Fort Worth Administrators Recommend $400,000 Settlement To Patron Who Suffered Injuries In Botched Raid On Rainbow Lounge

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that city administrators are recommending that the City Council approve a $400,000 settlement to a man who suffered a head injury during a controversial bar inspection at the Rainbow Lounge almost two years ago. The amount, if approved by council Tuesday, would settle Chad Gibson’s claim for damages against the city for what he alleged was excessive force used against him during his arrest at the south Fort Worth gay bar in the early hours of June 28th, 2009. “Approval of this settlement should not be construed as an admission of liability by the City of Fort Worth, any liability in this matter being, in fact, expressly denied,” the agenda item states. “This settlement is entered into only to avoid time-consuming and costly litigation.” In 2010, city officials dropped misdemeanour charges against Gibson and three other patrons who had been arrested in connection with the inspection by Fort Worth police and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents. Though subsequent investigations by both Fort Worth police and TABC concluded that no excessive force was used, the commission fired two agents who participated in the inspection and their supervisor, citing policy violations. Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead gave three officers one- to three-day suspensions. Funds for the settlement are available in the city’s current operating budget as part of the Risk Management Fund. Gibson’s attorney, Don Tittle, was unavailable for comment.TABC spokesperson Carolyn Beck confirmed Friday that the state agency is also discussing possibly settling with Gibson, as well as another bar patron, George Armstrong, saying that “TABC has engaged in settlement discussions with attorney Don Tittle and, at this time, the parties have agreed not to comment on those discussions until any resolution is finalized.”