STATEMENT BY MAYOR JUSTIN ELICKER ON THE JOINT AGREEMENT BY ALL PARTIES TO PURSUE SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS IN THE CIVIL CASE RICHARD COX V. CITY OF NEW HAVEN, ET AL

NEW HAVEN, CT – Mayor Justin Elicker released the following statement regarding the civil case Richard Cox v. City of New Haven, et al, following the recent joint agreement by all parties to pursue early settlement discussions and for those discussions to be facilitated by a Magistrate Judge:

“I am pleased that Randy’s attorneys and the City have agreed to pursue early settlement discussions towards a fair and just resolution of this case. I am also glad that we have jointly agreed to a clearly defined case management plan that outlines both immediate next steps and an overall timeline on all related aspects of this case.

This agreement reflects the City’s ongoing desire to reach an early, reasonable settlement with Randy, and to engage in good faith settlement discussions as soon as both parties have sufficient information for them to begin. It also provides for long-term contingency planning, that each side has agreed upon, should this case go to trial.

I am encouraged by this progress and am confident we all will continue to work in a collaborative manner to ensure that justice is ultimately served.”

This agreement was formalized on Friday, December 2nd in a joint legal filing submitted by all parties, known as the Rule 26(f) report, which outlines an agreed upon case management plan that, in addition to an agreement to enter early settlement discussions, also includes an agreed upon discovery schedule and an agreed upon trial schedule set to begin by December 15, 2024, should a trial become necessary.

Notably, the City of New Haven also joined with the plaintiffs in objecting to the request of the individual defendants that the discovery process for the civil case be stayed until the related criminal case against the individual defendants is resolved, reflecting the City’s desire for the civil case to move forward concurrently and in a timely manner.

The full Rule 26(f) Report can be found here and it is also attached.