Phoenix approves settlement in helicopter rescue lawsuit

The Phoenix City Council reached a settlement payment Wednesday for a woman who spun out of control during a helicopter rescue from Piestewa Peak in 2019.

Katalin Metro, who was airlifted from Piestewa Peak by a helicopter on June 4, 2019, filed a $2 million claim against Phoenix. A civil lawsuit was later filed in 2020 in Maricopa County Superior Court.

At the City Council’s meeting Wednesday, council members unanimously agreed to a “payment of up to $450,000.00 in settlement of claim(s) in Metro v. City of Phoenix.”

Metro was injured while hiking in June 2019. After losing her footing, Metro suffered injuries on the left side of her body, including her arm and hip as well as a nose injury.

The claim filed by Metro stated that she suffered physical, emotional and psychological injuries because of the rescue. It also stated that her husband, George Metro, suffered a loss of consortium, which is used to describe damages suffered by spouses.

Lawyer K. Thomas Slack of Beale, Micheaels, Slack & Shughart P.C. signed the claim. He stated that Katalin Metro “did not want to be taken off the trail by helicopter” after an evaluation found her condition not to require any kind of emergency transport.

Slack also stated that the Fire Department decided to use a helicopter rescue over any ground transportation method.

The claim included various expenses for medical care, treatment, services rendered, and pain and suffering.

At the time of the incident, Phoenix Fire Department Capt. Kenny Overton said the spinning was caused by a combination of wind from the helicopter’s propellers, the ground below and the centrifugal force of the helicopter.

In addition, a line used during the rescue did not operate as it should have, he said.