Orange County Board approves multiple closed‑session settlements including $17.5 million Prado Dam easement

The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Monday unanimously approved a series of closed‑session settlements and related actions, County Counsel reported.

County Counsel told the board that, pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9, the board approved a proposed $175,000 workers' compensation settlement in the case William Grover v. County of Orange; the applicant was described as a retired deputy sheriff who reported cumulative trauma to his spine, knee and hearing. "The settlement approved today is subject to the final approval of others," County Counsel said, and copies will be available from the Office of County Counsel and the Office of the CEO risk management for those who inquire.

The report said the board ratified an extension of a settlement agreement in Orange County Catholic Worker v. County of Orange and the related case David Ramirez v. County of Orange, continuing the U.S. district court's jurisdiction over shelter‑condition disputes until July 25, 2027, and authorizing monitoring fees to plaintiffs' counsel not to exceed $100,000 per year. County Counsel said copies of the extended settlement agreement and court‑approved consent decree are available from the Office of County Counsel.

The largest item announced was a proposed $17,500,000 settlement to acquire a flow easement over property in San Bernardino County needed to complete the Prado Dam and Santa Ana River main stem flood control project. County Counsel said the board authorized County Counsel and outside counsel "to file and execute all necessary documents for settlement of the case," and directed the audit controller to encumber and transfer $16,232,000 from the 404 reserve account to the property owner. County Counsel added that the settlement remains subject to final approvals and, when finalized, copies will be available from the Office of County Counsel.

The board also approved a proposed $300,000 workers' compensation settlement in Raymond Word v. County of Orange; County Counsel said the applicant is a retired Orange County Sheriff's Department sergeant who alleged cumulative trauma and other conditions. In a Public Records Act matter, the board approved a proposed $718,708 settlement of attorney fees in Chicano Unidos et al. v. Todd Spitzer (in his official capacity), after a court ruled for petitioners on some claims involving certain district attorney personnel.

County Counsel reported that with respect to SCS 6 the board took no reportable action. For SCS 7, the board approved prelitigation settlements including $980,000 for the Allingham household, $200,000 for the Ludwig household, a global settlement totaling $4,510,000 covering multiple named claimants, and a $203,552 settlement for Clement Tarlos; limited settlement authority was delegated to risk management and outside counsel for certain other claimants. "But beyond that, mister chairman, the board took no other reportable action today," County Counsel said.

The meeting adjourned after the report. Copies of finalized settlement agreements and related court documents were reported to be available from the Office of County Counsel.