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In a significant legal development, a federal judge has finalized a settlement agreement in a lawsuit involving Johnson City, stemming from the case of convicted child sex offender Sean Williams. The lawsuit, representing victims and reporters of sexual assault, has been approved by Judge Travis McDonough of the U.S. District Court for Eastern Tennessee.
Judge McDonough signed off on the order to dismiss the case of Jane Doe et al. v. Johnson City, which includes a final settlement involving a minor victim of Williams. Williams was convicted in late 2024 for the sexual abuse of three children. This settlement brings the total payout by Johnson City in related cases to an astounding $33.3 million.
The lawsuit was initially filed in June 2024 on behalf of the survivors of Sean Williams. As the legal proceedings unfolded, the scope extended to form a class action suit. This broader suit encompassed women and girls who had reported sexual assaults to the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) from 2018 to 2022, unrelated to Williams but tied to concerns about the department’s handling of such cases.
The class action emerged following a third-party audit commissioned by Johnson City after allegations against the JCPD came to light in June 2022. This audit exposed numerous shortcomings in the department’s management of sexual assault cases over a five-year span, prompting further legal scrutiny.
In early 2025, Johnson City reached an out-of-court settlement with the initial plaintiffs. While the city did not admit to any wrongdoing, they agreed to a payout of $28 million, with $23.8 million allocated to the original plaintiffs. As part of the settlement, the plaintiffs acknowledged there was a “substantial risk” of failing to substantiate their claims.
Johnson City has consistently denied those claims, which included allegations that JCPD officers were corrupt or took bribes in exchange for overlooking Williams’s alleged crimes. Williams is suspected of raping or sexually assaulting more than 60 women in his downtown Johnson City apartment after drugging them, and of filming or photographing the assaults.
The remaining $4.2 million for the class action required McDonough’s approval. He tentatively approved it at a Jan. 6 hearing but requested minor modifications. At that hearing, lawyers for the plaintiffs said they’d begun discussing a second minor settlement with Johnson City and that the city was generally in agreement over it.
In addition to dismissing the case with prejudice — meaning plaintiffs can’t refile — McDonough approved $1.4 million in attorney fees for the class action (to come out of the $4.2 million). He also approved the second minor settlement.
The city remains a defendant in two separate federal civil suits related to Williams. It has denied all allegations in the civil actions.
Johnson City provided the following statement Wednesday after a request from News Channel 11:
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee has granted final approval of the class action settlement in S.H. v. City of Johnson City, Tennessee (Case No. 2:23-cv-71).
The settlement, which the Court found to be fair, reasonable, and adequate in all respects, provides monetary relief for the settlement class. In addition, the settlement includes meaningful non-monetary provisions that will require the Johnson City Police Department to implement improved policies and procedures for handling reports of sexual assault. These are positive steps forward in the City’s ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of all residents.
Also approved was a separate settlement on behalf of Minor Victim 2. The Court reviewed the petition and supporting declarations and determined that the settlement was in the best interest of the minor. The Johnson City Commission considered and approved the settlement funds for additional claimants including Minor Victim 2 at its Nov. 20, 2025 meeting.Â
The City of Johnson City appreciates the Court’s diligent and careful consideration of this settlement and is grateful to reach a resolution and to move forward with the improvements that have been made to our Police Department’s policies and procedures. Our community’s trust is important and we remain committed to ensuring that all victims of crimes are treated with dignity and respect.