Ellington

$700K award in Jackson chase case upheld

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Supreme Court has upheld a $700,000 damage award related to an accident during a Jackson police chase in 2001 in which two women were injured and a third killed.

The state Court of Appeals last year threw out the verdict by a Hinds County judge in 2010. The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling Thursday, reinstated the damage award.

The city was sued by Lee Lewis, Oda Mae Green and the estate of Margaret Stephens.

Court documents show Lewis' car was struck by a car driven by LaMarcus Butler while being chased by Officer Gregory Jackson.

A judge found Jackson had been called off the chase by his supervisor, but continued to follow Butler after turning off his lights and siren, which was "reckless disregard" for public safety.