Committee recommends $1.1 million personal-injury settlement and approves multiple claims

At a May 2025 meeting of the Buffalo Common Council Committee on Claims, members recommended approval of a $1,100,000 personal-injury settlement for James and Earl Kistner and approved multiple other claims and prior-year invoices.

The committee discussed several items classified under personal injury and general litigation, with Corporation Counsel asking the committee to move into executive session "to the extent that there are any questions regarding these matters." The committee voted to go into executive session and later returned to public session to consider motions.

Following the executive session, a motion to approve items A1 through A3 — including the $1,100,000 James and Earl Kistner settlement — was made and seconded. The committee also approved a property-damage claim of $1,500 and prior-year fiscal invoices, including $11,828 for Bridal Signs Plus Incorporated. Two miscellaneous items were considered; item D1, Jamal Genesee LLC, was opened for discussion and is covered in a separate article.

The record includes multiple procedural motions, including the motion to go into executive session and subsequent motions to approve the listed claims. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote tally in the public record for these approvals; the committee recorded motions as approved by voice motions and seconds during the meeting.

Less-critical items approved included an addendum payment of $500 to Demolition Incorporated and other small claims and invoices listed on the committee agenda.