Sheriff Clark objects to deductibles

The Board of Supervisors approved paying three insurance deductibles despite Sheriff Eric Clark refusing to endorse the payments.

The deductibles totaling $22,923 to Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust (MASIT) cover pending claims by Elizabeth Etheridge ($10,000), Raymond Murrell ($10,000), and Tyrone Sanders ($2,923).

“I’m not familiar with any kind of settlement or anything associated with this, so I’m not prepared to bring anything before the board,” Clark said during Monday’s regular meeting. “Movement on that will have to be something that is done without my approval. This is the second and third claims that haven’t seen the doors of the courtroom.”

Clark said he doesn’t support “the rumored $650,000 settlement” with the family of Murrell, who died in custody at the county jail in August 2022. He said that he would need to review the matter with MASIT and County Attorney Wade White before offering his endorsement.

White said he remains in regular communication with department heads and spoke with Clark three times in January alone regarding these matters.

Regarding the Etheridge case, Clark said that a court hearing determined an officer was “accused of a crime there was not probable cause for,” with a judge ruling there was no probable cause. He said he would need to consult with the county attorney on this matter as well.

According to County Administrator Jeff Mayo, Neshoba County’s law enforcement liability deductible is $10,000 per claim.

MASIT has spent $10,388 defending the Etheridge claim, $40,895 on the Murrell claim, and $2,923 on the Sanders claim.

Despite Clark’s objections, supervisors approved the payment of the deductibles during their regular meeting on Monday.

Etheridge claims she was injured during an arrest and has filed a federal lawsuit against Neshoba County. She also filed a criminal complaint against one of the officers involved in the incident.

Murrell’s family alleges that his death in the Neshoba County jail resulted from wrongful actions by the county and has filed suit in the United States District Court.

Sanders has filed multiple claims. Regarding Neshoba County, he alleges that he was assaulted by court personnel and falsely imprisoned. He was arrested outside the courtroom after being removed for disrupting a case in which he was a party. This lawsuit is no longer active.

As required under policy, these matters were turned over to the county’s insurance carrier, MASIT. Deductibles are a contractual obligation and must be paid.

Additionally, paying the deductible serves as a means of protecting Neshoba County’s interests. If the county fails to pay, coverage could be denied, rendering the policy premium a wasted expense.

“Payment of deductibles has no bearing on the factual defenses on any legal case,” White said.