County reaches settlement with Brewer in brutality case

Whitley County’s request for a new trial and Dalton Christopher Brewer’s opposition to it have become moot points as a settlement has been reached

Following a settlement conference Monday between Brewer, Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. and their attorneys, lasting more than five hours, Brewer agreed to dismiss his lawsuit for an assault he suffered at the hands of Tony Ramey in 2007 in exchange for an undisclosed monetary settlement.

"I think this is a positive thing for Whitley County," White said, though he declined to release the amount of the settlement.
As of Tuesday morning, no documents had been filed in U.S. District Court detailing the amount. One document indicated that within 45 days, the parties would file an order in which Brewer agrees to dismiss the suit. However, it will be done, "with prejudice," meaning Brewer may refile the suit at a later date.

Jane Winkler Dyche, the attorney for Whitley County, had filed a motion for a new trial in the case. As reasons, she cited the arrest of Sheriff Lawrence Hodge on unrelated charges on the final day of testimony, at least five jurors admitting to having read or heard media reports of the arrest and the failure of Brewer’s attorneys to give adequate notice of their intention to have one of Brewer’s doctors testify during the trial.

White said as a result of the settlement, the motion will not move forward.

According to testimony at the trial in November, Tony Ramey had gone to Brewer’s home on Gilliam St. in Corbin in June 2007 with his son, Perry, to retrieve a gun Perry had sold to Brewer. Perry Ramey had stolen the gun from Tony Ramey.

When Brewer and Perry Ramey began fighting, Tony Ramey tried to break up the fight, striking Brewer in the head multiple times with the butt of a handgun. According to witnesses, Tony Ramey told Brewer he was a Whitley County Sheriff’s deputy and that Brewer was under arrest.

As a result of the assault, Brewer claimed that he suffered injuries that force him to walk with a cane and prevent him from working.

A jury found for Brewer in the case and awarded him $6.2 million. However, the two sides agreed to hold a settlement conference on Nov. 19. While no settlement was reached, the parties noted enough progress was made to schedule a second settlement conference.