News & Insights

Lightfoot Secures Significant Settlement for City of Jackson in Siemens Lawsuit

City sought compensation for water meter system

May 14, 2020

Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC secured a significant settlement for the City of Jackson, Mississippi, in its lawsuit against the international company Siemens, with net proceeds of $59,829,531.63 going to the city. Jackson also retained $25 million in improvements made to its wastewater treatment system under the contract. The Jackson City Council approved the settlement agreement at a meeting on March 17, 2020, and the Circuit Court of Hinds County entered an order on April 3, 2020, approving the settlement.

In the lawsuit filed last June, Jackson sought damages for a water meter and billing system designed by Siemens and installed under a contract with Siemens. Under the settlement agreement, Siemens will repay the full cost of the contract to the city.

“I am grateful to Lightfoot for getting our city a resolution,” said Jackson’s mayor, Chokwe Antar Lumumba. “This is a good result for our citizens and what we needed to happen.” 

“We are happy to have secured relief for Jackson and its taxpayers in the form of this settlement,” said Lightfoot partner John M. Johnson, who led the firm’s team for the case. “It means work to put this right can move ahead without delay.” 

In addition to Johnson, the Lightfoot team included partners Brian C. Boyle and Brandon K. Essig, as well as associates Zachary P. Martin and Charles M. Stam. Winston J. Thompson, III, of Jackson, Mississippi, served as co-counsel for the litigation.