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Board reports sealed settlements: workers’ comp approvals and $33M airport‑fire global settlement
Summary
After closed session the Orange County Board of Supervisors disclosed three proposed settlements: two workers’ compensation cases (approximately $650,000 and $550,000) and a proposed global $33,000,000 settlement covering claims arising from the Sept. 2024 airport fire affecting 592 claimants; approvals are subject to finalization.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 reported three proposed settlements after a closed‑session meeting with county counsel.
County counsel (S37) said the board, in a 4–0 vote with Supervisor Sarmiento absent, approved a proposed $650,000 settlement in Burns v. County of Orange, a workers’ compensation claim involving a pumping station operator who suffered industrial injuries. The board also approved a proposed $550,000 workers’ compensation settlement in Ballantyne v. County of Orange involving a former Orange County Sheriff’s Department commander with heart disease and related conditions.
Most significantly, counsel reported approval of a proposed global $33,000,000 settlement resolving claims by 193 households (592 claimants) represented by the Singleton Schreiber law firm for damages and losses related to the Sept. 2024 airport fire. The board’s approval was reported as subject to final approvals by other parties; copies of finalized settlements will be made available through CEO risk management upon request.
County counsel said the proposed settlements will be provided publicly when final documents are available and noted items SCS1 and SCS2 were continued to the Feb. 10 board meeting. The board took no other reportable closed‑session action.
