Todd Perchert received a 950,000 dollar settlement after a 2024 crash with then APD Chief Harold Medina
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
The city of Albuquerque paid $950,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Todd Perchert and his wife after a 2024 crash involving then-Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina, who ran a red light and collided with Perchert’s Mustang while driving an unmarked police unit.
Perchert suffered severe injuries in the crash, including eight broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a broken collarbone, and a fractured shoulder blade. His attorney, James Tawney, said the settlement included $122,000 to cover hospital bills.
“So as a result of this settlement, do you feel as though Todd has been made whole?,” asked KOAT reporter John Rupolo.
No, he’ll never be made whole. This is a partial reimbursement for what was taken from him,” Tawney said.
The settlement does not include future payments for medical bills, and Tawney said Perchert will likely need ongoing medical care for his injuries.
“And, you know, wish we had a crystal ball to say, but the state only allows us to recover so much for that future medical care,” Tawney said.
Tawney explained that New Mexico’s Tort Claims Act limited what Perchert could recover. The law caps compensation in lawsuits involving injury or death against government entities at $750,000.
KOAT legal expert John Day provided additional context on the cap.
“The county governments at state and local municipalities push back and say, you know, we have to be able to perform our functions. And if these caps are too large, then it’s going to be devastating to us,” Day said.
Perchert received $200,000 over the $750,000 cap because his wife filed a loss of consortium claim, which the city agreed to pay.
“Which means that, you know, what’s the value of the relationship between him and his wife that was taken away from them because of this incident,” Tawney said.
