TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jan 8, 2026

The city of Johnson City will pay more than $30.6 million to sexual assault survivors to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the police department of failing to properly investigate rape cases. Of that total, $4.2 million will go to nearly 400 women and minors who reported sexual assault cases between 2018 and 2022 and have claimed the police ignored those reports in exchange for bribes. The lawsuit, along with others, are tied to alleged serial rapist Sean Williams, who is accused of drugging and assaulting more than 50 women and children in his Johnson City condo. The city has acknowledged some failures but says investigations found no credible evidence of police corruption or criminal misconduct. Last year, Williams was sentenced to 95 years for producing child pornography and escaping from jail. He faces additional charges of drug trafficking and child pornography in North Carolina. Federal Judge Travis R. McDonough, who approved the settlement this week, called the settlement an “incredible resolution.” The Tennessean has more on the case.