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Residents press city on denied claims; city attorney points to county jurisdiction for some losses
Summary
Claimants described property damage or loss and sought reimbursement; the city attorney said the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act limits city liability for actions under another political subdivision and suggested legal options and county filing may be appropriate.
Several residents used the public-hearing portion of the Nov. 24 meeting to press the city about denied claims and missing property. Heather Sullivan described damage to a rental property's garage door during an arrest and asked the council to reconsider a denial by the county attorney. Joe Palki said property taken during incarceration was later partly returned but that rings and other marked items remained missing. Tyrese Howard described trouble obtaining responses to prior reports.
Abby Littrell of the City Attorney's Office told the council the claims before the city were filed under the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act and that the city is generally immune from liability for conduct exercised with due care by law enforcement officers. Littrell said the documents presented to the city’s office showed the property receipts originated with Lancaster County corrections and that the county is a separate political subdivision, which limits the city’s ability to compensate for those losses. She advised claimants that they may file a lawsuit after a denial or consult the appropriate county office about where to file a claim against Lancaster County.
Ryan Dale, assistant chief with the Lincoln Police Department, said he reviewed body-worn and in-car camera footage and the neighborhood witness letter for Ms. Sullivan’s case; he described a sequence in which an individual allegedly failed to comply with commands, officers engaged and then took the person into custody, and he said roughly five minutes and 13 seconds elapsed from first contact to custody.
Council members asked clarifying questions about inventory procedures, where property was processed and whether claimants had been given inventory receipts. Council staff and members reiterated that claimants should use the City Attorney’s Office or the county clerk/attorney to determine the correct filing path for claims tied to county corrections.
The council accepted the reported list of new and pending claims as presented for the Oct. 16–Oct. 31 period; no city-funded remedy was ordered during the meeting. Claimants were advised they may pursue legal remedies outside the council process.
