The City of Austin confirmed it settled 80 civil lawsuits involving Austin Police Department (APD) officers over the past five years, with city records showing that the payments totaled several million dollars.
The settlements resolved claims filed in connection with police encounters and APD operations within city limits.
Records indicate that some of the largest settlements arose from lawsuits tied to the May 2020 protests following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Many of these cases involved allegations of injuries and civil rights violations stemming from APD’s crowd-control tactics, including the use of so-called “less-lethal” munitions. While protest-related cases accounted for a significant portion of the total payouts, they did not represent all 80 lawsuits.
City documents show that settlement amounts, case numbers, and parties were formally approved by the Austin City Council or designated officials. Attorneys representing plaintiffs and the city negotiated the agreements, which largely resolved claims without trials. Payments were routed through municipal finance channels and funded using general fund dollars or, in some instances, insurance or risk management funds.
The records indicate that the timeline of settlements spans multiple fiscal years and city budget cycles, with the number and cost of settlements rising after the 2020 protests. Several plaintiffs in protest-related cases alleged serious physical injuries caused by APD tactics. In many cases, the city denied liability while agreeing to pay to avoid extended litigation.
Settlement agreements typically included standard legal provisions, such as releases of claims and dismissals with prejudice. The Austin Police Department was identified as the involved agency in all 80 cases, with the City of Austin serving as the paying party. City officials said the records were compiled in response to public records requests and internal tracking requirements, reflecting ongoing monitoring of police-related litigation and associated costs.