Denver Council approves $2.0325 million in liability settlements; councilmember raises budget concerns

Denver City Council on Monday, Sept. 22 approved two resolutions authorizing payments from the city—9s liability-claims appropriation: $12,500 to resolve a claim by Mariah Biggs and $2,020,000 to settle claims in a case related to the estate of Laura Lopez de la Rosa, the council clerk read.

Council member Parady read a statement on behalf of the absent Council member Lewis that framed the approvals in budget terms, saying the approvals would increase the city—9s 2025 total for taxpayer-funded settlements. "With the approval of 25-14-O-4 and 25-14-O-5 tonight, the city will approve settlements in cases involving the Denver Fire Department and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure in the amounts of $12,500 and $2,020,000 respectively," Parady read. The statement said the 2025 total for city settlements had reached $6,349,000.

The two resolutions (25-14-O-4 and 25-14-O-5) were called out for comment before final consideration and were included in a consent/block vote later in the meeting. The block that included the two liability payments passed on a roll call of 12 ayes.

Council material presented with the resolutions identified the first payment as "in full payment and satisfaction of claims related to the civil action, caption Mariah Biggs and the City and County of Denver" and the second as "in full payment and satisfaction of the claims related to civil action captioned the estate of Laura Lopez by and through her daughter, Sabrina Ray Reyes and the estate of Vincent Weinberg and the City and County of Denver." The clerk—9s reading listed the $2,020,000 figure for the second settlement.

Council member Parady—9s read statement emphasized the source of the funds: a liability claims pool that is replenished from the city—9s general budget when necessary. The statement warned that those expenditures come during a budget shortfall and urged…