Gilbert paid $271,590 to settle 38 claims during the fiscal year that ended June 30 for incidents ranging from car crashes to an officer-involved shooting to a school psychology experiment that went too far.

Total claims payouts increased for the third consecutive year and have jumped 16 percent since fiscal 2008, a Republic analysis of town records shows.

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Collision settlements were the most common, with the largest sum going to Chandler resident Andre Brice, who was hit by a police car as the officer responded to an emergency at 3:53 a.m. on Oct. 4, 2006.

According to a notice of claim filed in April 2007, Brice was heading north on Val Vista Drive, near Elliot Road, when Gilbert police Officer Juan Ocegueda slammed into his car. Brice had asked for $60,000 in his original claim but settled for $40,725.72, according to records.

Gilbert is self-insured for claims up to $50,000, and each department covers its own claims, town spokeswoman Beth Lucas said. Settlements of more than $50,000 are covered by outside insurance, Lucas said.

Perhaps the most unusual claim settled last year was for an incident that occurred at Gilbert High School in 2008.

The claim was filed by Gilbert resident Kathryn Kolmer on behalf of her daughter, Kelly Shea, then a student at Gilbert High.

On Jan. 22, 2008, Kelly was in her fourth-period class when a police officer walked in with a female student, and the officer requested to speak with Kelly, according to the claim.

"Bring your things, you won't be coming back," the officer told Kelly, according to the claim.

Gilbert police Officer Kevin Kowalski then led Kelly outside, where a male student was waiting. Kowalski asked if Kelly had ever been arrested, and she said she had not.

The two students and the officer surrounded Kelly before confronting her about a stolen iPod, the claim said. The male student told Kowalski he saw Kelly steal it.

Kelly denied the accusations but was subjected to a search of her belongings without her consent, according to the claim.

When the search failed to turn up an iPod, Kowalski continued interrogating Kelly and threatened to charge her with a felony, the claim said.

"The prospect of her present and future both being ruined proved overwhelming at this point and Kelly was reduced to tears in front of her fellow classmates," the claim said.

Finally, Kowalski halted the interrogation, and Kelly was told the whole ordeal was part of a psychology experiment.

Kelly was asked how it felt to be accused falsely and, after responding, was allowed to return to class, according to the claim. Upon hearing the story, other students laughed and continued to make jokes about the incident.

When Kolmer called the school for an explanation, she was told that a teacher had authorized the experiment. The goal was to determine if girls would react differently than boys when falsely accused.

Eight pairs of students had been sent out with a security guard to conduct the experiment. Gilbert high schools have police officers on campus to provide security.

Kolmer's notice of claim accused the town of several civil-rights violations including false arrest, invasion of privacy, defamation and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

The claim sought a $1 million settlement, but the family received $37,500 from the town.

The town paid $50,000 to Therin Castillo, who in August 2009 was shot in the groin by off-duty Gilbert police Officer Andrew "Chad" Biggs outside a Walmart at 2501 S. Market St.

Biggs, the son of state Sen. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, was attempting to question an acquaintance of Castillo's about shoplifting from the store, according to police reports. Castillo's claim in January 2010 sought $300,000.

Biggs and witnesses told investigators Castillo continued to advance and threaten the officer until Biggs pulled his handgun and shot Castillo once in the groin. Biggs was demoted to a dispatcher and is fighting that disciplinary action.

At least two Gilbert Town Council members have also filed claims recently.

Councilman John Sentz received a small settlement last December when he received $350 after a town vehicle hit a brick column at his home, according to a town report.

Councilman Eddie Cook filed a claim last September, seeking $50,000 after a Gilbert police officer rear-ended his 2001 Suburban.

That claim was not settled by the town, and Cook followed up with a Justice Court suit on March 11.

The lawsuit seeks "less than $9,999" as compensation for medical expenses for physical therapy he received for minor soreness after the crash.

Other claims settled in fiscal 2011 include:

�$7,000 for a woman who said she tripped on an uneven sidewalk.

$1,825 for a resident who said her property was flooded because of "improper runoff from 164th Street."

$3,664 for a man whose vehicle was damaged when a storm knocked down a rusted light pole.