SOUTHAVEN, MS -
(WMC-TV) – Southaven Mayor Greg Davis spent two days in Jackson, Mississippi earlier this week listening to testimony in his civil case brought by the Mississippi State Auditor's office.
In an exclusive interview seen only on 5, the judge in the case wants both sides to settle.
"We're going to enter into discussions with the state auditors department," Davis' attorney, Steve Farese said.
Farese said those talks are in earnest now that Davis' civil trial has been put off until May.
Farese said Davis wanted to settle.
"We negotiated all the way up the court house steps but were unable to reach an agreement," Farese said.
Now there is even more motivation to reach a settlement.
"The judge, from all indications I have, he has encouraged settlement," Farese said. "When a judge encourages settlement, both sides have to look at that hard."
Chancellor Dwayne Thomas listened to two days of testimony. At times the testimony from Southaven aldermen Greg Guy and Ronnie Hale and Davis' ex-wife Suzann was tedious.
The state auditor's office started investigating Mayor Davis' spending when three Southaven aldermen contacted the state auditor. The auditor determined Davis should pay back 170 thousand dollars. He has paid 96 thousand of that, and Greg Davis wants that money back.
"Certainly he wants the money back," Farese added. "We think we overpaid."
Farese said Davis wants certain things settled in the civil case. The state has to agree, but now both sides know more about each other's case after two days of testimony.
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