Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
John Liu "Failed" To Report $736 Million In Payouts
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 22, 2013
Modified Sep 22, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 22, 2013
Modified Sep 22, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
"NYC Comptroller John Liu failed to report $736M in lawsuits, settlements."
That headline! How could someone miss $736 million dollars?! Good to know we can close this sordid chapter on another one of this town's corrupt politicians. Boy, are we lucky that he won't be mayor so he won't be, uh, controlling New York City's finances any more than he already is. There couldn't possibly be more context to these allegations, they're much too horrible!
The Post gravely reports:
City Comptroller and failed mayoral candidate John Liu left the astronomical sum out of his annual report on the payouts in June… The total sky-high legal bill is not mentioned in the bulky, 89-page report. And in a letter that precedes it, Liu deceptively warned taxpayers that the cost of claims against the city “still hovers at a half a billion annually.”
That figure referred only to the $485.9 million the city coughed up for personal-injury and property-damage settlements and awards.
It is mentioned later in the executive summary that the city forked over an additional $250.7 million paying settlements and awards on law and contract disputes.
Translation: Comptroller Liu didn't print the sum of $485.9 million and $250.7 million, the two figures he mentions on page 3 of his 89-page report [PDF] that he released in June, that the Post is reporting on in September.
Liu’s predecessor, Bill Thompson, and former Comptroller Alan Hevesi reported the total expense of tort and non-tort settlements and awards to taxpayers.
Say what you will about Alan Hevesi's penchant for graft, at least he had the dignity to perform basic addition.
Valerie Budzik, the Deputy Comptroller for Legal Affairs, gave us this statement on the Post's piece:
Today’s New York Post article on the payment of claims by New York City misleadingly claims that the Comptroller’s Office “left the astronomical sum” of $736 million out of our annual Claims Report. The article later mentions that this number came from that same report.
Our Claims Report is complete and accurate and available for the public to examine at the Comptroller’s website. We provided the Post with 10 years’ worth of data, including the data in your article used to compare the average payout 10 years ago and the current average payout.
We have no control over the number of claims against the City, but we have made every effort to settle claims prior to litigation where appropriate. History has shown that awards are almost always larger for cases that wind up in court.
Our office answered every question asked by the Post. The only deception came in the writing of the Post article.
Tagged
corruption
john liu
journamalism
ny post
sordid chapters in new york's history
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .