FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio — The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted on Tuesday to approve a $7 million settlement in the death of Casey Goodson Jr.
Sean Walton, an attorney representing Goodson's family, said that the settlement "marks a significant step in the pursuit of justice for Casey and his loved ones."
Goodson, 23, was shot by former Franklin County sheriff's deputy Jason Meade in December 2020.
A Franklin County Common Pleas judge declared a mistrial in February after a jury could not reach a verdict. Meade was charged with two counts of murder and one count of reckless homicide. Special prosecutors recently filed a motion to dismiss one of the two murder charges.
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed one year after Goodson's death.
On Dec. 4, 2020, Meade was working on the Franklin County Sheriff's Office SWAT team when they were serving an arrest warrant not related to Goodson.
During February's trial, Meade testified that Goodson waved a gun at him as the two drove past each other so he pursued Goodson because he feared for his life and the lives of others. He said he eventually shot Goodson in the doorway of his grandmother’s home because the young man turned toward him with a gun.
Goodson’s family and prosecutors have said he was holding a sandwich bag in one hand and his keys in the other when he was fatally shot. They do not dispute that Goodson may have been carrying a gun and note he had a license to carry a firearm.
Goodson’s weapon was found on his grandmother’s kitchen floor with the safety mechanism engaged. There is no body camera video of the shooting.
The wrongful death lawsuit claims Meade targeted, pursued and fatally shot Goodson from behind while he was walking into his own home. Simultaneously, it alleges Franklin County is responsible for employing, training and supervising Meade leading up to the shooting.
The lawsuit claims excessive force and wrongful death were both factors in the shooting, and states Franklin County's patterns and practices led to Goodson's murder.
"Since that fateful day, Casey's family has endured immense pain and hardship, navigating a long and challenging journey toward justice. Over three years have passed since Casey was senselessly murdered by former Sheriff's Deputy Michael Jason Meade. Throughout this period, the family has remained steadfast in their fight for accountability and reform," Walton said.
The breakdown of the proposed $7 million settlement is below:
- $4,285,000 to The Law Office of Walton + Brown
- $1,315,000 to Pacific Life and Annuity Services
- $1,300,000 New York Life Insurance Company
- $100,000 to United of Omaha Life Insurance Company
As part of the settlement, the plaintiffs would dismiss all civil claims. The county, sheriff's office and Meade would not be admitting to any liability.
"Our focus now turns to the criminal justice system and the retrial of Michael Jason Meade. We are determined to see justice served and will continue to advocate tirelessly for the conviction and accountability that Casey deserves," Walton said.
Attorney Mark Weaver said in the county's decision, it had to consider what a jury might award Goodson's family if the case goes to trial and Goodson's family wins.
"I think the real news here is how big the settlement is and how unlikely it would have been for a Franklin County jury to award that much money had it gone to trial," Weaver said.
He said with statutes of limitations, the county may have needed to move forward now with a settlement, even though a criminal trial is scheduled in three months.
"There is no doubt that the jurors in the upcoming retrial of Jason Meade will pay attention to this news. I think this is as much of a political decision as a legal decision. These are elected officials, they want to get re-elected and they want voters to like them," Weaver said.
Meade's second trial is scheduled for Oct. 31.