CC SR 20220906 E - Claim Against the City Gilbert Vega Lopez Jr
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 09/06/2022
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action regarding a claim against the City by Gilbert Vega
Lopez, Jr.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Reject the claim and direct Staff to notify the claimant, Gilbert Vega Lopez, Jr.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Enyssa Momoli, Administrative Assistant
REVIEWED BY: Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Gilbert Vega Lopez Jr. claim (page A-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes (City) is a member of the California Joint Powers
Insurance Authority (Authority), which provides risk management services and handles
any liability claims received by the City. Under the current practice, claims presented to
the City Clerk are forwarded by the Authority to a third-party claims administrator, Carl
Warren and Company (Carl Warren) for adjusting.
Carl Warren’s staff reviews each claim on its merits and contacts the City with any
requested action pertaining to the disposition of the claim. The City Clerk and the City
Attorney review each claim when received and work closely with Carl Warren throughout
the claims process.
1
Claimant:
On February 25, 2022, the City received a claim for damages from Gilbert Vega Lopez,
Jr. The claim was referred to Carl Warren for review and investigation. The claimant states
that on September 24, 2021, a City vehicle collided into Mr. Lopez’s vehicle. The claim
alleges the City is at fault due to an employee causing personal injury and property
damage.
Deposition:
Carl Warren has reviewed the claim and found that although liability is not disputed, there
is a dispute on the damages being claimed. Therefore, the City will need to go through
the litigation process to determine what damages are related to this loss and what
damages are not related to this loss.
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