JACKSON Tenn (March 26, 2015) – A lawsuit filed in 2 courts alleges negligence on the part of the city contributed to a woman being raped by a Jackson police officer.
Attorney Michael Weinman filed two lawsuits Tuesday, one in Madison County Circuit Court and one in U.S. District Court in Jackson. The lawsuit filed in Circuit Court seeks damages of up to $1.5 million for injuries resulting from negligence by the city.
The federal lawsuit alleges violations of the woman’s Fifth and 14th Amendment rights to due process and equal protection.
CLICK TO READÂ Hunt vs City Lawsuit
Attorney John Burleson, represents the city, in a written statement said that city officials received notice of the suits this week. According to Burleson the woman who filed the suits “wrongly claims that the city knew Gray was a rapist. Burleson said There are no facts that support these claims and we will defend the city against these false allegations.”
According to the lawsuit, the victim alleges JPD officer Everett Gray raped her in her home on April 4, 2014.  Burleson said, upon learning of the allegations the department immediately began both criminal and internal-affairs investigations.
During the investigation Gray resigned from the police department.
“It’s still under litigation, that’s about I know. The officer was off duty, charges were brought and an internal investigation started. He resigned, and now it’s in the hands of the legal system, and charges will be brought and (the case) will be determined by a court of law.” said Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist
Gray, worked as a patrol officer with the Jackson Police Department for almost 14 months. He resigned on May 24, 2014.
The internal-affairs investigation ended once Gray Resigned. The criminal investigation led to Gray’s indictment. District Attorney General Jerry Woodall is prosecuting the criminal matter.
A Madison County grand jury indicted Everett Lamont Gray on June 2 on a charge of rape .He is next scheduled to be in court on that charge on April 27 at 8:30 a.m.
