Jefferson City settles lawsuit over commemorative bricks at Adrian’s Island

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) -

A woman that sued Jefferson City over the removal of two bricks she bought at the Bicentennial Bridge settled her lawsuit.

Court records show that Edith Vogel and the city settled the claims on Thursday in federal court. The city agreed to replace the bricks at Deborah Cooper Park at Adrian's Island and pay for Vogel's attorneys fees. The city's parks department will get to choose where exactly the bricks go, but will go somewhere "no more or no less prominent than other paver/brick" at the park. It was not immediately clear how much the city would pay in attorneys fees.

The city removed Vogel's two bricks in January because of the inscription that bore close resemblance to what appeared on a former Confederate monument removed in the city last year. The brick said "Union Camp Lillie notes: deciding against attack the confederate army under Gen. Sterling Price turned from Jefferson City Oct. 7, 1864.” Mayor Carrie Tergin said the city decided to remove it because of its resemblance to the monument the council voted to remove in 2021. The city offered to refund Vogel for the bricks, which the city allowed people to inscribe to raise funds for the Bicentennial Bridge and park.

Vogel sued the city in March claiming the city violated her First Amendment rights. Her attorney, Cole Bradbury, said he was pleased with the settlement.

“Edith tried resolving this with the mayor several times before filing suit,” Bradbury said. “We’re pleased with this outcome, but it’s unfortunate we had to go to court to get here.”

Vogel said she would donate $2,000 to the Parks Foundation as the cost of her refund.