Transparency of judgment and settlement payments
Summary
The city is paying out roughly $285K in a First Amendment retaliation case brought by a former police major. Property owners indirectly repay the Sinking Fund through a three-year levy.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 21, 2026.
Impact analysis
$284,850.45 total, repaid to the Sinking Fund via a three-year property tax levy.
The plaintiff and her attorneys receive the court-awarded payment.
Property taxpayers foot the bill through the three-year levy.
Mentions & discussions (5)
Council (Regular) - Oct 21, 2026
A resident asked the council to publish a running public total of judgment and settlement payments against the city after a $21,923 judgment payment appeared on the agenda. Councilor Decter Wright noted annual Sinking Fund reports exist on the city website but agreed navigation could be easier.
Council Public Works Committee - Oct 21, 2026
A $21,923 settlement from a police cruiser collision sparked a bigger conversation: councilors want to know how the city's collision review boards work, who sits on them, and what training follows at-fault crashes. A future committee deep-dive is likely.
Council (Regular) - Jul 15, 2026
The city is paying $223,561.50 in attorney fees from the Sinking Fund to settle the fee side of the Lewis v. City of Tulsa judgment — taxpayer money going to a lawsuit loss.
Council Public Works Committee - Jun 10, 2026
The city is paying out roughly $285K in a First Amendment retaliation case brought by a former police major. Property owners indirectly repay the Sinking Fund through a three-year levy.
Council Public Works Committee - May 20, 2026
The city is paying $120,000 total for two admitted-liability cases, including one where it broke up a sidewalk for a water leak and never fixed it, with no cones or barriers warning pedestrians. Councilors flagged the missing safety precautions as unacceptable.
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