CC SR 20251202 E - Claim Against the City Patricia Gardner
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 12/02/2025
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider a claim against the City by Patricia Gardner.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Reject the claim and direct Staff to notify the claimant, Patricia Gardner.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Enyssa Sisson, Deputy City Clerk
REVIEWED BY: Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Patricia Gardner 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 January 8, 2025, the City received a claim for damages from Patricia Gardner. The
claim was referred to Carl Warren for review and investigation. The claimant states that
she suffered injury after tripping over a sprinkler at East View Park. The claimant alleges
that the City is responsible for her injury due to the injury occurring on property the City
leases and maintains from the County.
Deposition:
Carl Warren has reviewed the claim for damages and recommends the City reject it, as
the claimant’s presented demand is unsubstantiated and excessive based on the
information available at present.
2
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