A court jury has just served its verdict on the city of Jackson as well as a downtown hotel with a penalty of $23 million. The resolution comes after court hearings of a 2007 homicide case involving a Jackson police officer who shot an unarmed, mentally-ill man at point blank range in the head.

The verdict was served against the city of Jackson and its local Marriot hotel after a two-hour deliberation by jurors. The trial had lasted more than a week and was held at the Hinds County Circuit Court. The victim, 24-year-old Dale Archey, was shot on the 13th of April, 2007 by Marriot hotel duty officer Dewayne West.

Court jury placed 70 percent of the blame on Marriot hotel management while 30 percent was placed on city officials. Fortunately for Jackson city officials, the state's tort laws put a $500,000-limit on any damage claims filed against the city.