FILE:  DJH

PAYMENT OF JUDGMENTS AND SETTLEMENTS ON LEGAL CLAIMS

The Orleans Parish School Board recognizes that the cost of judgments and settlements on legal claims against the School Board has generally exceeded the School Board’s ability to pay on a current basis and at the same time provide appropriate educational services to children attending its schools.  Accordingly, the School Board shall authorize the Superintendent to implement administrative procedures for the orderly satisfaction of settlements and judgments, which shall accomplish the following:

• Maximize the use of the School Board’s limited resources, by providing favored treatment to claimants who reduce the amounts of their settlements and judgments against the School Board;
  
  

• Permit the School Board to balance its legal obligation to pay judgments and settlements against the School Board’s mission to furnish educational services to students and the School Board’s commitment to reduce the risks of harm to students attending its schools, all in an open process with appropriate opportunity for public comment; and
  
  

• Provide for the fair and equitable treatment of those persons who have obtained final judgments and settlements against the School Board, to the fullest degree possible, given the School Board’s budgetary constraints.

The Superintendent shall:

1. Recommend payment schedules for satisfaction of judgments and settlements;
   
   

2. Report to the School Board at least annually on the effectiveness of imposed procedures.

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:6, 17:51

Orleans Parish School Board