Woman settles years-long lawsuit with special Columbia taxing district

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -

A woman and a special taxing district in Columbia put an end to their years-long legal battle with a $25,000 settlement this week.

Each side agreed Tuesday to drop the lawsuit that Jennifer Henderson brought against the Business Loop 70 Community Improvement District in 2016. The district will pay Henderson $25,000, which she will split with attorney Richard Reuben. Both sides agreed not to bring up any legal claims against each other moving forward.

Henderson accused the CID in 2016 of not properly holding an election to establish a higher property and sales tax rate along part of Business Loop 70 in Columbia. The district discovered in 2015 that Henderson and several others actually lived within the boundaries of the district and would be eligible to vote on creating the district, rather than just the business owners it originally thought would decide on establishing the CID. Residents voted 4-3 to create the CID, but Henderson sued claiming the way the election was held violated state law.

Neither side would comment Thursday, citing the terms of the settlement.

The case went through several lengthy legal battles since 2016. Henderson took the case to the Missouri Supreme Court after Judge Jodie Asel refused to hear the case. Higher courts eventually ordered the circuit court to let the case proceed. Both sides were preparing for a July 22 hearing to discuss summary judgment with Judge Jeff Harris.