BREAKING: Rusk Faces $1 Million Lawsuit From Former City Official

RUSK, Texas (TXAN 24) — The City of Rusk is facing a lawsuit filed by former Director of Code Enforcement Derek Jackson, who is seeking monetary damages of more than $250,000 and up to $1 million, along with potential reinstatement and other court-ordered relief, according to a petition filed in Cherokee County district court.

The lawsuit, filed September 28, 2026, in the Second Judicial District Court, alleges violations of the Texas Whistleblower Act. The petition identifies the City of Rusk as the defendant and outlines Jackson’s employment with the municipality.

According to the filing, Jackson was hired around April 21, 2025, as the city’s Director of Code Enforcement. His responsibilities included enforcing municipal ordinances involving public nuisances, junkyards and unsafe structures.

Jackson also alleges that the city assigned him additional duties associated with the building official’s position without additional compensation. Those responsibilities included reviewing structural permits and presenting fee schedules, according to the portion of the petition provided to TXAN 24 News.

The petition invokes provisions of the Texas Government Code governing protections for public employees who report certain legal violations. However, the available pages do not provide the full factual allegations underlying Jackson’s whistleblower claim or identify the specific reports or disclosures at issue.

The lawsuit seeks both monetary and nonmonetary relief. The damages requested represent the amount Jackson says he is entitled to recover; they are not a judgment or a finding of liability.

The filing adds another legal development involving Rusk city government as questions about municipal leadership, oversight and administrative responsibilities continue to draw attention.

The petition alone does not establish wrongdoing by the city. The allegations remain unproven, and the city’s response was not included in the court document excerpt provided for this report.

TXAN 24 News will continue reviewing the court records for additional details about the claims, the city’s response and the next steps in the case.