Both Sides React to Potential Bailey Settlement

Pending approval from the Canton City Council on May 2, former Canton Police Department sergeant Stacy Bailey against the city for alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

If the council gives the final nod to authorize the settlement, .

Stacy Bailey's Attorney Lance LoRusso said in a statement that his client was, "disappointed that she was not properly compensated for the many hours of overtime she worked, but she is glad that the defendants chose to resolve this lawsuit at this time."

The statement also says that Bailey is saddened that the  City of Canton never insured itself against lawsuits of this sort and that funds for the settlement must come out of the city's treasury.

"We hope the city takes advantage of this opportunity to ensure that the employees who serve the City of Canton are properly paid overtime in compliance with federal law," the statement concludes.

On the other side of the negotiating table, Canton City Attorney Robert Dyer said that the city was similarly pleased that a settlement has been reached in principle.

"While the City was prepared to defend the claim in court, the cost of doing so would have been too great, and the City’s attorneys felt that this settlement was a reasonable result given the risks and costs of going to a jury trial," Dyer said in a statement.

Chief Robert Merchant of the Canton Police Department, who wrote Bailey's letter of termination from the force last year, said that the department, "has no comment to make regarding Ms. Bailey."