CC SR 20221004 H - Claim Against the City Siddhartha Sahay
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 10/04/2022
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action regarding a claim against the City by Siddhartha
Sahay, et al.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Reject the claim and direct Staff to notify the claimant, Siddhartha Sahay, et al.
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, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Siddhartha Sahay 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.
Claimant:
1
On September 22, 2022, the City received a claim for damages from AlderLaw,
representing Siddhartha Sahay, et al. The claim was referred to Carl Warren for review
and investigation. The claimant states that on March 22, 2022, Sunil Nandan Sahay was
struck by a vehicle and pronounced deceased on the scene. The claim alleges the City
is at fault due to inadequate traffic signals, warnings, and improperly maintained
intersection.
Deposition:
Carl Warren has reviewed the claim and found there is no liability because the traffic
collision report places liability on the decedent for walking across the roadway outside of
a crosswalk and failing to yield to oncoming traffic. Therefore, Carl Warren recommends
denying the claim for damages.
2
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