Oxford officials mum on lawsuit settlement

City officials in Oxford say a settlement agreement has been reached  between the city and an architectural firm Oxford sued for negligence. But other than that, officials are not releasing any details of the settlement.

The settlement stems from a 2011 lawsuit filed by the city against Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon alleging the firm was negligent in its design of plans for the city’s planned recreation complex. The matter was to have gone to a jury trial on June 23, but on June 24, Oxford’s City Council members agreed to allow Mayor Leon Smith and city attorney Bruce Rice to sign documents to “resolve the matter.”  City officials and Rice after the June 24 meeting declined to comment on the outcome of the court case.  City Attorney Bruce Rice said Wednesday that the city is aware of its obligation under the state’s Open Records Act, but that “there are certain exemptions under said act. Including, but not limited to ‘records the disclosure of which would otherwise be detrimental to the best interest of the public.’”  Rice said the city would not release the information.