A $40,000 settlement will be paid by Jackson County government to a former Jackson Community College student forced to receive involuntary mental assessment.

County commissioners approved the settlement after meeting in closed session Tuesday.

Commissioners

. Some argued the county should pay nothing because it contends the deputies did nothing wrong.

Suit was filed by Michael Oliver, 47, of Jackson, who sought damages for a Jan. 13, 2011, incident.

Oliver, who is black, was unhappy with the college's handling of complaints he made about racial harassment in the classroom. During a phone conversation with college employees, Oliver made statements they construed as threats.

College staff called police to report the alleged threats, and deputies took Oliver to Allegiance Health in handcuffs for mental evaluation.

Oliver denied he threatened anyone, and he sued JCC and the county in federal court. County officials still

for such cases.

Settlement agreements were reached in mediation early this month.

and the county agreed to pay $40,000.

County commissioners were advised by their attorney to accept the settlement, but some were initially opposed.

In closed session, all were evidently convinced that fighting the case in court could be more expensive than $40,000.

"It's probably the best decision for our taxpayers, based on the information we received," said Commissioner Jonathan Williams, who first opposed the settlement.