Orange County board reports closed‑session settlements, retains outside counsel for airport‑fire litigation

The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday disclosed several closed‑session actions, including retention of outside counsel for litigation related to the recent airport fire and tentative approvals of multiple settlements.

County counsel told the board, under Government Code section 54956.9, that on a 4–0 vote (Supervisor Doe absent) the county would retain the law firm Myers Nave to assist with airport‑fire litigation, naming Deborah Fox and Jennifer Riggs as lead attorneys and listing approved hourly rates for principals, counsel, associates, litigation support and paralegals. Counsel also reported a tentative mediator proposal in Vedanta Society of Southern California v. OC Parks District and delegated limited settlement authority to county counsel to conclude those negotiations (4–0, Supervisor Doe absent).

The board approved a proposed $497,500 settlement in Peter Cunningham v. County of Orange (4–0, Supervisor Doe absent); counsel said that settlement remains subject to final approvals before the agreement is made public. In a separate matter, the board — by a 3–1 vote with Chairman Wagner dissenting and Supervisor Doe absent — delegated limited settlement authority to the CEO’s risk management office in the case of Kelly Beavers v. County of Orange. Finally, the board authorized retaining Kiesel, Young & Logan to assist in threatened litigation arising from the BKK Landfill and disclosed approved hourly rates for the named lead attorneys.

The public readout gave vote tallies and identified the legal and financial parameters for the retained counsel and proposed settlements, but counsel said one settlement remains subject to additional approvals. No other reportable closed‑session actions were announced.