City Attorney Explains Claims Process: When Council Can Meet Privately and How Settlements Are Handled

City Attorney Reid explained how the city handles claims and how that process intersects with the charter’s executive-session rules. Reid said the city receives many claims annually—“probably 50 claims” in a year—with most involving relatively small amounts (he estimated many claims at $5,000 or less and about four such claims a month). He told the committee that Littleton’s charter restricts executive-session discussion about claims until the claim is actually filed in court, which he said impedes early, full-council discussion that might prevent litigation. “I have to wait according to our charter until it's actually filed, till it's actually in court,” Reid said, adding that he often handles low-dollar matters administratively and reserves council attention for larger or more complex cases. On settlement authority, Reid said there is a city property-and-liability fund used to settle claims and to cover certain insurance-related costs; he noted staff recalled a previous internal figure in conversation of roughly $300,000 as a threshold for council notice, but said he generally would not settle at that level without notifying council. Reid described past high-profile police litigation—cases filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for alleged excessive force—that can have multiyear timelines and damages claims in the millions; such cases warrant formal council involvement and, when filed in court, permit executive-session discussion under the charter. Committee members asked whether written notice of a claim is received before suit; Reid confirmed notice is required and said staff will add a parking-lot item about allowing earlier council discussions on claims. No policy or charter change was enacted at the meeting; staff were asked to compare state law and draft possible charter language to permit more pre-litigation council discussion where appropriate.