Phoenix City Council has signed off on a $200,000 settlement to wrap up a 2023 lawsuit stemming from a crash involving a city police vehicle. The complaint accused an officer of making a negligent left turn at the intersection of 51st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road, slamming into a motorist who, according to the filing, suffered injuries that could be permanent. With the council’s vote, the civil claim against the city is resolved without going to trial.
As reported by KJZZ, the council approved the $200,000 payout during its formal session. Court records cited in that reporting state that the officer’s left turn put the patrol vehicle directly in the path of the motorist at 51st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road, and that the collision caused significant injury and damages.
How the council handled the decision
The City Council was in formal session the week the settlement was approved, according to the City of Phoenix meeting calendar. Council meeting packets typically bundle recommendations from city attorneys or risk management staff on lawsuits and claims, and those settlement items are placed on the public agenda for a straight up or down vote.
Where this fits in recent payouts
The $200,000 payment lands in a growing list of civil claims Phoenix has faced over officer-involved crashes. Reporters have tracked other high-dollar settlements in recent months, including a multimillion-dollar proposal that drew intense public scrutiny. KJZZ covered a separate case last year in which the council weighed a roughly $5.2 million settlement after a child was struck by a patrol vehicle.
Legal note
Under Arizona’s open meeting framework, public bodies can discuss litigation strategy and pending cases in executive session, but final votes and key settlement terms have to be disclosed in public. The state’s Open Meeting Law is designed to let officials consult privately with their lawyers while still keeping the ultimate decision making on the record. The Reporters Committee lays out how those executive session and disclosure rules work for Arizona public bodies.
