Title
Ordinance No. 25-47 amending Section 503 (Compromise Or Settlement of Matters/Claims) and Section 506 (Litigation) of Part 5 (Claims Managements) of Article 5 (Finance Management Procedures) of Chapter 1 (Administrative, Personnel And Finance) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to claims and litigation settlements
Presenter:
Wynetta Massey, City Attorney
Erik Lamphere, Employment/Litigation Division Chief
Body
Summary:
These ordinance amendments increase the City Attorney's and Claims Review Board's settlement authority limits for general claims and litigation and for Police use of force claims and litigation.
Background:
The City Attorney is responsible for conducting "all cases in court in this State wherein the City shall be party plaintiff or defendant, or a party in interest." City Charter ? 13-80. In the process of defending litigation against the City, facts, law, and circumstances are such that it is often in the City's best interests to settle. The monetary limits to the City Attorney's and Claims Review Board's authority to settle claims (City Code ? 1.5.503) and litigation (City Code ? 1.5.506) was established in 1990 and has not changed in 35 years. Based on the rate of inflation and other considerations, the City Attorney recommends an increase in settlement authority limits for general claims (City Code ? 1.5.503) and litigation (City Code ? 1.5.506) and for police use of force claims and litigation.
Should the settlement authority limits found in City Code ?? 1.5.503 and 506 be amended, City Code ?? 1.2.104 and 1.2.406, and 407 will also need housekeeping amendments to keep all City Code provisions related to settlement authority consistent.
Previous Council Action:
City Council approved Ordinance No. 90-58, which established the City Attorney's and Claims Review Board's settlement authority limits for claims and litigation.
The proposed increase in settlement amount authority...
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