Former Quitman Police Department Captain Terry Bevill has been awarded a $21.35 million verdict in his wrongful termination lawsuit against four elected officials. Bevill filed the suit against David Dobbs, Quitman’s mayor in 2017; Tom Castloo, the former Wood County Sheriff; Jim Wheeler, the former district attorney; and Jeff Fletcher, a retired District Court Judge for Wood County.
The case stemmed from Bevill’s 2017 termination and subsequent arrest after he signed an affidavit alleging that a close relationship among the sheriff, district attorney, and district judge compromised a friend’s right to a fair trial in Wood County. Bevill claimed that his firing was a result of pressure from these officials.
A federal jury awarded Bevill $18 million in compensatory damages and an additional $3.35 million in punitive damages. His legal team, including attorneys Laura Benitez Geisler, Sean McCaffity, Jody Leigh Rodenberg, and Rebecca Neumann, successfully argued that Bevill was fired in retaliation for expressing his concerns.
“The evidence clearly showed that a longtime and respected police officer was fired in retaliation for stating an opinion,” said Geisler. "We’re pleased the jury has compensated Mr. Bevill for the emotional and reputational damage he has suffered."
The case, Bevill v. City of Quitman, Texas et al, was heard in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.
