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Council approves two personal‑injury settlements; members press EMS on vitals and refusal‑form policy
Summary
The council approved two settlement resolutions totaling roughly $374,258 (one for $285,000 and another for $89,258). Council members questioned whether EMS policy on taking vitals and using transport‑refusal forms should change; Metro Fire confirmed refusal forms should be used and that vitals likely would have revealed problems in the settled case.
The Metropolitan Council approved two resolutions to settle personal injury claims: RS2026‑2117 (Quincy Phelps Jones) for $285,000 and RS2026‑2118 (Taylor Wick) for $89,258, both to be paid from the self‑insured liability fund.
On RS2026‑2117, Council member Johnston asked whether EMS always checks vitals and secures a transport‑refusal form when persons refuse transport. Mark Young of Metro Fire responded that when a complaint is present and there is not a transport, a refusal form should be used and that, in the Jones matter, vitals should have been taken. Johnston said, "I think what I'm I'm just asking... if we had taken vitals, would our EMS seen, hey, he's having a bigger problem than just the flu... and save his life?"
On RS2026‑2118, Council members questioned whether scooter or bike‑share operator liability contributed to the claim. Christopher Aldridge of Metro Legal said the scooter company was not a named party in this suit and that the court found the rider was not more than 51% at fault; Metro Legal recommended settlement limited to medical damages in this case and noted ongoing RFQ work to address operator compliance and enforceability of user agreements.
Both resolutions carried. Council discussion focused on whether policy or vendor agreements should be revised to reduce future exposures and on better coordination with procurement and legal staff to strengthen enforceable user agreements for micromobility vendors.
