New York City paid out $495 million in settlements and judgments in fiscal 2013 and a further $550.3 million in 2014, said city Comptroller Scott Stringer.
"The cost of claims against the city has skyrocketed, and it's the taxpayers who are left holding the bag," Stringer said of his Aug. 27
According to Stringer, the agencies with the highest tort settlement and judgment costs during the period were the Department of Education, with $34.4 million in FY 2013, and $27.3 million in FY 2014; the Sanitation Department, $30.4 million and $37.9 million, respectively; the Department of Transportation, $72.2 million and $70.3 million; and Health and Hospitals Corp., $132.3 million and $123.1 million.
The Police Department had the highest settlement and judgment costs in fiscal 2014 with $216.9 million, up sharply from $138.1 million.
Stringer's office receives about 28,000 claims annually related to a wide range of items, including police actions, falling tree limbs, playground injuries and potholes. He said his ClaimStat tool analyzes data and identifies trends in claims activity that ultimately lead to settlements and judgments against the city.
City agencies can use this data to change practices and proactively solve problems before they happen.
