CC SR 20251021 F - Claim Against the City Rie Tsujita
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 10/21/2025
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider a claim against the City by Rie Tsujita.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Reject the claim and direct Staff to notify the claimant, Rie Tsujita.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Nathan Zweizig, Acting Deputy City Clerk
REVIEWED BY: Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Rie Tsujita 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 September 30, 2025, the City received a claim for damages from Rie Tsujita. The
claim was referred to Carl Warren for review and investigation. The claimant states that
while driving on Western Avenue, the City’s street sign fell on to the claimant’s vehicle.
The claimant alleges that the City is responsible for damage to her vehicle due to City
being responsible for the maintenance of the street sign.
Deposition:
Carl Warren has reviewed the claim and advised the City to reject it due to the
determination that the City does not own or maintain the street sign. The claim was
tendered to Caltrans as the street sign was along Western Avenue which is maintained
by Caltrans. Carl Warren recommends denying the claim for damages.
2
A-1
A-2
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A-4
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