San Bernardino reports multiple closed‑session settlements totaling roughly $1.04 million

The San Bernardino City Council reported multiple settlement approvals after an extended closed session Wednesday, recording settlements for a series of employment and tort cases that together total roughly $1.04 million.

City Attorney staff said outside counsel presented several matters for the council to approve. Contracts and settlements reported publicly included awards or payments of $125,000, $35,000 and $150,000 from one outside firm; a $97,500 settlement approved unanimously for a case presented by Amir Rasa; a $299,500 settlement approved on a 5–2 vote; and a $69,999 unanimous settlement presented by counsel from Graves & King.

The council heard the report when the meeting returned to open session. According to the city attorney’s summary, Ashley Granich of the law firm Goldman, Madeline & Stratsman presented three matters; the council approved the Aguayo settlement for $125,000, a separate matter for $35,000, and the John Phillips matter for $150,000. Amir Rasa, who was introduced as representing Angelina Ortega and a second matter, reported the Ortega settlement for $97,500 (approved unanimously) and a second matter that drew a 5–2 vote and a $299,500 approval; the council’s minutes show Councilmembers Ortiz and Sherratt recorded as voting no on that latter item. The council also approved a $69,999 settlement presented by Victor Ware of Graves & King by unanimous vote.

The city attorney characterized the items as reportable action from the closed session. No additional facts about the underlying allegations were presented in open session, and council discussion focused on the formal approvals rather than case details. The law firms and outside counsel who presented the items were listed during the report, and the city attorney said staff had also received updates from outside counsel on other matters.

The council did not take additional public action on the cases in open session beyond the city attorney’s report of approval and the recorded vote on the $299,500 item. City officials did not release settlement plaintiffs’ counsel files or discuss confidential legal strategy at the public report beyond the dollar amounts and vote tallies provided.

The city clerk’s record of the meeting will be the official source of the vote tallies and the closed‑session report filed by the city attorney. Anyone seeking the underlying pleadings or further records must follow public‑records processes or consult court filings where those matters are public.

Ending: The council’s report closed the account of the evening’s closed‑session settlements; staff indicated related agenda item C would be taken up after the open session agenda.