Tulsa city councilors have a big decision to make Wednesday—agree on a settlement that could be at least $1 million dollars, or go to trial.
Sheila Buck received national attention after she was arrested outside of then-President Trump's rally at the BOK Center in 2020.
Buck said she had a ticket to attend the rally and entered the secure area.
“I wanted to hear what the president had to say, I was curious,” Buck told NewsChannel 8 in June 2020.
She filed a federal lawsuit was filed against the City of Tulsa and several other entities in 2021.
Now, it's up to councilors to decide whether the city settles.
"It's a real balancing act," said Councilor Jayme Fowler, who will be one of the decision-makers during the executive session Wednesday afternoon.
If councilors decide to settle, the city said it would be paid for with money from its sinking fund, which comes from an ad valorem tax levy.
According to the city council agenda, the settlement could be $1 million or more.
"You have to be very careful as far as being a steward of taxpayer dollars," Fowler said of the decision-making process. "And this is a substantial amount of money that that's, that's being proposed for settlement. And if we, if we don't agree to the settlement, then this will go to trial. "
Attorney Robert Gifford, who is not connected to the lawsuit, said he believes there's enough evidence in Buck's case that could shock the conscience of a juror.
NewsChannel 8 asked Gifford why the city would want to settle.
"I think in this matter, with Mrs. Sheila Buck, who was the plaintiff in this matter, her, her constitutional rights were, were blatantly violated," he explained. "And I think there's some aspects to this case that if there is a constitutional violation, attorneys fees automatically kicked in. This was going to be a very expensive case."
If the city avoids going to trial, Gifford said it could save taxpayers lots of money.
"Yes, if it had gone to trial, there's no limit on how high the judgment could have been," he said.
NewsChannel 8 reached out to Daniel Smolen, but has not heard back.
Earlier this year, Smolen won a historic verdict in a lawsuit involving a Tulsa County inmate death lawsuit.
A jury awarded his client $82 million.