City settles lawsuit with couple over home entry

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
The city of Hartselle is settling a lawsuit with two residents who claim the police unlawfully broke into their house.
The city has agreed to pay John and Ozell Davis $3,000 in connection with the Nov. 8, 2006 incident.
The Davises filed a lawsuit in November 2006 alleging the Hartselle Police improperly entered their house.
In the suit, the Davis said the police were responding to a call on Nanceford Road and asked someone if they were at the correct house. A man allegedly identified the Davis’ house as the right location. The lawsuit claimed the officers, who entered with their weapons drawn, were at the wrong house.
In the lawsuit, the Davises claimed they suffered emotional stress and medical problems in connection with the incident.
The city and three officers were named in the original suit. The claim against the city was later dismissed.
The couple initially filed a $1 million insurance claim against the city. The lawsuit didn’t stipulate a damage amount but state law limits the amount they could have received to $500,000.
The money will be paid from the Police Department’s budget.