City staff recommend $90,000 settlement to resolve 2019 lawsuit involving patient transfer

City legal staff summarized ongoing litigation stemming from 2018 when Stacy Jolley Chandler underwent a procedure at the Carter Imaging Center, experienced a severe reaction, was transported by city EMTs to the nearby hospital and later died. Andrea Peter, the plaintiff and Chandler’s mother, filed suit in February 2019 against the imaging center, several physicians and the city alleging negligence. Staff said the plaintiff later retained additional experts and asserted broader liability theories; defending against those claims would exceed defense costs.

City attorneys negotiated a $90,000 settlement covering the Sierra Vista defendants only. Staff said the city carried insurance for its defendants, there is no deductible, and the insurer will pay the settlement and defense costs; staff emphasized the settlement contains no admission of fault by the city. Council asked if the city had incurred litigation costs to date; staff said attorneys are paid by the insurer and would provide an expense summary offline ahead of the Thursday meeting. Staff recommended the council approve the settlement to avoid further litigation expense.