12-1-25: Details Of Another Secret Payout
Tune in here to this Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!
Breaking Brett Jensen opens the show by discussing a story he broke on social media: The City of Charlotte has settled a seven-year lawsuit brought by Lance Patterson, the husband of newly appointed Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson. Jensen notes that the $99,999 payout is significant because City Manager Marcus Jones does not need City Council approval for settlements under $100,000. Another notable detail is that the payout will be divided between two parties: Patterson will receive $40,000, and his legal team at James McIlroy & Diehl will receive the remaining amount of $59,000.
Later, Jensen speaks with North Carolina Rep. David Willis, who represents Union County. Willis discusses “Iryna’s Law,” which took effect in North Carolina today. He was a key advocate for the measure, which honors slain Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska. Zarutska’s death on Charlotte’s light rail made national and international headlines back in August.
Among the several components of the law, Willis says the main provisions address cashless bail and pretrial release for violent offenders. He adds that the law also revises the definition of violent offenses in an effort to reduce the burden on inexperienced magistrates. Willis concludes the interview by noting that the law aims to better address the mental health needs of violent offenders.
Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen.
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