Council authorizes $2.85 million payment to settle police liability matter

The Los Angeles City Council authorized the city attorney to settle a police liability matter for $2,850,000 and directed the controller to transfer funds between liability accounts to effect the payment.

The City Attorney read the recommendations on the council floor, asking the council to: (1) authorize the City Attorney's Office to expend up to $2,850,000 to settle the entitled matter; (2) authorize the controller to transfer $2,850,000 within the liability claims fund between accounts; and (3) authorize the City Attorney to draw a demand and pay $2,850,000 to Hadsell, Stormer, Renick and Dye LLP client trust account. The city attorney also asked for authorization to make technical adjustments in consultation with the City Administrative Officer and the controller.

Council voted to approve the item after the city attorney described the actions; the clerk recorded the vote as 13 ayes on the motion. The council also noted a technical amendment to the item that the City Attorney and CAO had prepared prior to the vote.

The action transfers existing liability fund balances and directs payment to the plaintiff's counsel. The council's vote authorized the expenditure and the accounting transfers; no additional appropriation was announced on the floor.

The item was considered under the budget and finance committee procedures and taken in open session following the committee report. The council instructed the controller and city attorney to implement the payment consistent with the authorization and to report any technical adjustments required to complete the transaction.