Following a week of testimony, a jury on Friday (February 7, 2025) awarded more than $15 million in damages and loss of wages to a former Alachua County Sheriff's Office employee who was found to have suffered racial discrimination under the administration of former Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr.
The unanimous six-person jury agreed that Kevin Davis, who is white, was passed over by Watson, who is Black, for promotions and transfers in favor of less-qualified Black officers. The verdict mandates that the sheriff's office pay Davis $15 million in damages and an additional $115,724 for loss of wages and benefits. The sheriff's office will pay damages from a risk management fund.
"Today, the justice system worked. Justice is slow, but it works," Davis' attorney, Bobi Frank, told The Sun after the verdict was read.
Attorney Wayne Evans, who represented the sheriff's office, said the actions of Watson, who was not present when the verdict was announced, were not racial discrimination.
In his closing argument, Evans said multiple times that Watson never discriminated against his employees based on race. He said Watson did not promote Davis due to Davis having a consistent "antagonistic attitude" toward leadership.
