Judge orders new trial in Louisville Urban League firing dispute after jury deadlock and mistrial

Case returns to court after February mistrial

A Jefferson County judge has granted a new trial in the civil lawsuit filed by former Louisville Urban League President and CEO Kish Cumi Price, restarting a wrongful-termination dispute that ended last month without a verdict.

The first trial concluded in mid-February 2026 after jurors reported they were unable to agree on liability, prompting the court to declare a mistrial. With no unanimous decision, the proceedings ended without damages awarded and without a legal determination on whether the termination violated the law.

What the lawsuit alleges

Price, who led the organization for several months from late 2022 into March 2023, contends she was removed in retaliation for raising internal concerns involving potential conflicts of interest and questions about financial practices. Her claims include that she sought greater clarity on finances and intended to bring issues to the board before she was terminated.

Price has sought multimillion-dollar damages, including compensation tied to lost wages and other claimed harms. Court proceedings and public reporting have placed her total demand at $5.5 million.

How the Urban League has responded

The Louisville Urban League has denied that Price was fired for whistleblowing. In court, the organization has argued that her termination was driven by leadership and communication problems rather than retaliation. During the February trial, the defense also emphasized that the evidence presented did not establish financial improprieties.

The dispute has unfolded alongside leadership changes at the nonprofit. After Price’s departure in March 2023, Lyndon E. Pryor served as interim leader and was later selected as the organization’s permanent president and CEO in December 2023.

Why a new trial matters

A retrial resets the case for a new jury and a new assessment of the central questions: whether Price’s firing was lawful and, if not, what damages—if any—should be awarded. A hung jury does not validate either side’s claims; it reflects only that the jurors did not reach the level of agreement required to decide the case.

The upcoming proceedings are expected to revisit testimony about the internal disputes preceding Price’s termination, including personnel decisions, board communications, and the timeline of events around financial questions raised within the organization.

The prior trial ended without a verdict, leaving the parties in the same legal posture as before trial on the core allegations and defenses.

Key timeline

• Late 2022–March 2023: Kish Cumi Price serves as Louisville Urban League president and CEO before being terminated by the board.

• Mid-February 2026: A weeklong civil trial ends in a mistrial after jurors deadlock.

• Late February 2026: Price asks the court to schedule a second trial.

• March 2026: The judge grants a new trial, setting the case back on the docket for renewed proceedings.

Scheduling details for the retrial are expected to be addressed through the court’s next case-management steps.