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Orange County discloses multimillion-dollar settlements and delegated authority after closed session
Summary
County counsel reported multiple settlements approved or authority delegated in closed session, including six payouts totaling several million dollars and a workers' compensation settlement; copies of finalized agreements will be available through CEO risk management.
County counsel told the Orange County Board of Supervisors that, under Government Code provisions cited at the start of the June 24 meeting, the board took a series of settlement actions in closed session.
Counsel reported that for a trip-and-fall claim the board delegated limited settlement authority to the county's risk management and outside counsel. The board also unanimously approved several fire-related airport claim settlements: a $650,000 settlement for the Keane family; a $3,500,000 global settlement for the Navarette and Slater claimants; a $2,250,000 global settlement for the Petro household; an additional $375,000 global settlement; and a $1,700,000 global settlement for the Roberts household. Counsel said those airport settlements remain subject to final approvals by necessary parties and that finalized agreements will be made available by CEO risk management on request.
Separately, the board delegated limited settlement authority to resolve litigation concerning a pretrial detainee's December 2023 death by choking on an orange peel at the intake release center. The board also unanimously approved a $240,000 workers' compensation settlement in Jessica Omar Rodriguez v. County of Orange, a case involving a retired sheriff's department communications coordinator who sustained cumulative neck and shoulder trauma. Counsel said, "The settlement approved today remains subject to the final approval of others," and reiterated that copies will be provided when agreements are finalized.
Counsel closed the report by saying the board took no other reportable action in closed session. The board's announcement happened near the start of the meeting; counsel invited requests for copies of finalized settlement documents through the CEO's risk management office.
