New York City has paid at least five people millions of dollars in quick settlement over their wrongful conviction of crimes ranging from murder to prison neglect, even before they filed lawsuits seeking damages.

The city has given US$6.5 million to a man who had to spend 23 years in prison before he was exonerated; US$2.25 million to the family of a U.S. marine who lost his life in a hot jail cell; and US$17 million to three half brothers who were wrongfully convicted of murder.

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All the payments were part of New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer's initiative to swiftly dispense with civil rights cases that could languish in the courts for years and cost the city millions in legal fees.

The comptroller's office said it was inclined to keep paying out quick settlements, possibly including the family of Eric Garner, who lost his life after an encounter with police last summer.

Stringer said he rejected the fact that the costs of judgments and settlements against the city have to grow every year. He added that the more savings from settlements and claims, the more money would go to education, affordable housing and social services.

Stringer said the city spent more than US$730 million in judgments and settlements in the fiscal year ending last June, a US$208 million rise from the year before.

While legal experts welcome the effort to settle cases quickly, they said such settlements keep details of cases from ever coming out publicly, including no admission of guilt by the city and no change in policy.

A Fordham University law professor, James Cohen, said the fact that there is no law created or changed was a big problem.

Under New York City's charter, the comptroller --- who receives some 30,000 claims a year --- can work around regulations and hand out settlements. Last year, around 2,000 cases were settled without being heard in court.

Wielding that power was rare until February last year, when the city comptroller settled a case for US$6.4 million lodged by David Ranta, who was exonerated in the killing of a rabbi 25 years ago.

Quick settlements also spare complainants and the city from other costs that go along with a long lawsuit, including possible years of battered reputations bad blood and headlines.

TagsNew York City, Lawsuit, Settlement, wrongful conviction, Scott Stringer, civil rights case