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Orange County Board reports approval of multiple settlements totaling millions
Summary
The board disclosed several settlements approved in closed session, including a $150,000 trip‑and‑fall claim, a $95,000 employment claim, multiple global airport‑fire settlements totaling several million dollars, and other child‑welfare‑related settlements; one settlement (BH v. SSA) was approved on a 3‑1‑1 vote.
At the start of the meeting county counsel reported the board had met in closed session under Government Code §54956.9 and disclosed several settlement actions.
Counsel reported unanimous approval of a $150,000 settlement in Kristen Nitz v. County of Orange, relating to a trip and fall on a sidewalk displacement in unincorporated Santa Ana; and a $95,000 settlement in Vanessa Clark v. County of Orange, an employment case involving alleged discrimination and retaliation in the district attorney’s office.
The board also approved a series of global settlements arising from a 2024 airport fire: counsel recited grouped settlement totals (including a global $4,400,000 settlement of certain named claimants; a global $2,350,000 settlement of a second group; and a global $4,150,000 settlement of a third group of claimants listed by name).
Counsel reported delegation of limited settlement authority to risk management outside counsel in LC v. Orange County Sheriff’s Department, an incident involving a methamphetamine overdose death in the women’s jail. The board also approved a $3,701,000 settlement in DG v. SSA concerning alleged abuse by a foster parent and claimed failures by county social workers to investigate or report it.
On SCS 7 the board approved a $1,300,000 settlement in BH v. SSA on a vote of 3‑1‑1: Chairman Chaffee, Vice Chair Foley and Supervisor Sarmiento voting aye; Supervisor Wagner voting no; Supervisor Wynne abstaining, according to counsel’s report.
Counsel said the settlements remain subject to final execution and possible approval by other parties and that copies of finalized settlement agreements will be available through the CEO’s risk‑management office on inquiry.
Outcome: The board took no other reportable action in closed session; members were allowed to make individual comments in open session and several supervisors later commented on related agenda items.
