CC SR 20260421 C - Claim Against the City - Yale Kozinski
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 04/21/2026
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider a claim against the City by Yale Kozinski.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Reject the claim and direct Staff to notify the claimant, Yale Kozinski.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Nathan Zweizig, Administrative Assistant
REVIEWED BY: Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Yale Kozinski 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, Athens
Program Insurance Services, LLC (Athens) for adjusting.
Athens staff review 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 Athens throughout the claims
process.
1
Claimant:
On March 27, 2026, the City received a claim for damages from Yale Kozinski. The claim
was referred to Athens for review and investigation. The claimant states that the City is
responsible for damage to their vehicle windshield from a fallen pinecone from a City
owned tree.
Deposition:
Athens staff have reviewed the claim and advised the City to reject it due to the
determination that the City has adequately maintained the pine tree within the 5-year
trimming cycle and inspection reports noted the pine tree is in good condition.
2
A-1
A-2
A-3