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County Counsel reports board approved three settlements totaling $995,000 and delegated authority in a fourth case
Summary
County Counsel said the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved three closed‑session settlements — $750,000, $100,000 and $145,000 — and delegated settlement authority in a fourth pending lawsuit; the items remain subject to final approval and copies will be available from Risk Management.
County Counsel reported that the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved three proposed settlements totaling $995,000 and delegated limited settlement authority on a fourth case during a closed-session report, the official said.
Under the authority cited for closed‑session discussion — Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) and (d)(2) — the board approved a proposed $750,000 settlement in the matter of Renee Fragoso v. County of Orange. County Counsel said Fragoso, a truck driver, suffered multiple broken bones in a foot that required surgical intervention after a metal ramp was dropped on the foot by a forklift operator who was an extra‑help employee.
The board also approved a proposed $100,000 settlement for claimants Roberto Puga and Liberata Puga arising from a motor‑vehicle collision involving an on‑duty Orange County district attorney investigator on State Route 22 in Garden Grove, County Counsel said.
In a third matter, the board approved a proposed $145,000 settlement in Beatrice Mendoza v. County of Orange. County Counsel characterized Mendoza as a former county employee who had alleged discrimination and retaliation connected to an at‑will discharge.
County Counsel reported that, in a separate item, the board delegated limited settlement authority to County Counsel’s office and outside counsel Shepherd Mullen to settle Rebecca Garcia v. County of Orange. For all settlements, County Counsel stated the approved terms remain subject to final approval by other required parties, and that copies of finalized agreements will be made available through the county’s Risk Management office to anyone who requests them.
County Counsel said Supervisor Foley was absent for the meeting but informed the office that she approved the settlements and the direction given to counsel. The report records Chairman Chaffee as abstaining on the Mendoza matter; the other tallies were reported as approvals with one member absent.
Votes at a glance • SCS 2 — Renee Fragoso v. County of Orange: proposed settlement $750,000; reported vote recorded as 4 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, 1 absent (Supervisor Foley absent); outcome: approved (subject to final approvals). • SCS 3 — Roberto Puga and Liberata Puga: proposed settlement $100,000; reported vote 4 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, 1 absent; outcome: approved (subject to final approvals). • SCS 4 — Beatrice Mendoza v. County of Orange: proposed settlement $145,000; reported vote 3 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (Chairman Chaffee), 1 absent (Supervisor Foley); outcome: approved (subject to final approvals). • SCS 5 — Rebecca Garcia v. County of Orange: board delegated limited settlement authority to County Counsel’s office and Shepherd Mullen; reported vote 4 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, 1 absent; outcome: delegation approved.
County Counsel also noted that SCS 1 had been deleted from the agenda before the closed session and that no other reportable actions were taken. The meeting was adjourned and the next regular meeting was announced for 05/06/2025 at 9:30 a.m.
