CC SR 20260707 F - Randy Kurokawa Claim Rejection
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 07/07/2026
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider a claim against the City by Randy Kurokawa.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Reject the claim and direct Staff to notify the claimant, Randy Kurokawa.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Vanessa Godinez, Human Resources & Risk Manager VG
REVIEWED BY: Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Randy Kurokawa claim (page A-1)
BACKGROUND:
The 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 are forwarded by the
Authority to a third-party claims administrator, Athens Administrators (“Athens”) for
review.
Athens staff review each claim on its merits and contacts the City with any requested
action pertaining to the disposition of the claim. City Staff and the City Attorney review
each claim when received and work closely with Athens throughout the claims process.
1
DISCUSSION:
Claimant:
On April 13, 2026, the City received a claim for damages from Randy Kurokawa. The
claim was referred to Athens for review and investigation. The claimant states that the
City is responsible for his dog suffering from an electric shock due to the installed goat
fencing.
Deposition:
Athens Administrators has completed its review of the claim and recommends that the
City reject the claim, having determined that the contractor, Fire Grazers, is the
responsible party.
Based on these findings and the resolution of the claim by Fire Grazers, Athens
recommends that the City maintain its rejection of the claim, as the City was not liable for
the damages alleged.
CONCLUSION:
Athens Administrators recommends denying the claim for damages.
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Where did DAMAGE or INJURY occur? Describe fully, and locate on diagram on Page 2. Where appropriate, give
street names and address and measurements from landmarks:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe in detail how the DAMAGE or INJURY occurred.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Why do you claim the city is responsible?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe in detail each INJURY or DAMAGE.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This Claim Must Be Signed on Page 2
FILE WITH:
CITY CLERK’S OFFICE
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
CLAIM FOR DAMAGES
TO PERSON OR PROPERTY
RESERVE FOR FILING STAMP
CLAIM NO. ________________
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Claims for death, injury to person or to personal property must be filed not
later than six months after the occurrence. (Gov. Code Sec. 911.2.)
2. Claims for damages to real property must be filed not later than 1 year after
the occurrence. (Gov. Code Sec. 911.2.)
3. Read entire claim form before filing.
4. See Page 2 for diagram upon which to locate place of accident.
5. THIS CLAIM FORM MUST BE SIGNED ON PAGE 2 AT BOTTOM.
6. Attach separate sheets, if necessary, to give full details. SIGN EACH SHEET.
TO: CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES Date of Birth of Claimant
Name of Claimant Occupation of Claimant
Home Address of Claimant City and State Home Telephone Number
Business Address of Claimant City and State Business Telephone Number
Give address and telephone number to which you desire notices or
communications to be sent regarding this claim:
When did DAMAGE or INJURY occur?
Date _________________ Time _________________
If claim is for Equitable Indemnity, give date
claimant served with the complaint:
Date
Names of any city employees involved in INJURY or DAMAGE
Randy Kurokaw
March 27, 2026 6:25 PM
McBride Trail, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. The incident occurred along the trail where an electrified fence had
been installed by the City or its contractor as part of vegetation/fire mitigation efforts.
While walking my dog on McBride Trail, my dog came into contact with an electrified fence that had been
installed along the public trail. There were no visible warning signs indicating the fence was electrified. Upon
contact, my dog received an electric shock, panicked, and fled approximately 500 yards before I was able to
locate and retrieve him.
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes, or its authorized contractor, installed an electrified fence along a public trail
without adequate warning signs or safety measures. The absence of warnings on a public pathway commonly use
by residents and their pets constitutes a dangerous condition of public property under Government Code § 835.
The City knew or should have known that an unmarked electrified fence posed a foreseeable risk of harm to trail
users and their animals.
My dog suffered an electric shock resulting in physical distress and psychological trauma (fear/anxiety).
Damages include: (1) veterinary evaluation and care; (2) behavioral/training support due to trauma caused
by the incident; (3) time and effort to locate and retrieve my dog after he fled approximately 500 yards; (4)
related out-of-pocket costs. Additional damages may be ongoing and are not yet fully determined.
A-1
For all accident claims place on following diagram names
of streets, including North, East, South, and West; indicate
place of accident by “X” and by showing house numbers
or distances to street corners. If City Vehicle was
involved, designate by letter “A” location of City Vehicle
when you first saw it, and by “B” location of yourself or
your vehicle when you first saw City vehicle; location of
City vehicle at time of accident by “A-1” and location of
yourself or your vehicle at the time of the accident by
“B-1” and the point of impact by “X.” NOTE: If diagrams
below do not fit the situation, attach hereto a proper
diagram signed by the claimant.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Claimant or person filing on
his behalf giving relationship to Claimant:
Typed Name: Date:
NOTE: CLAIMS MUST BE FILED WITH CITY CLERK (Gov. Code Sec. 915a). Presentation of a false claim is a felony (Pen. Code Sec. 72.)
THIS DOCUMENT IS A PUBLIC RECORD AND MAY BE PROVIDED TO A REQUESTOR UPON DEMAND.
The amount claimed, as of the date of presentation of this claim, is computed as follows:
Damages incurred to date (exact):
Damage to property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_________
Expenses for medical and hospital care . . . $_________
Loss of earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_________
Special damages for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_________
General damages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_________
Total damages incurred to date . . . . . . . . $_________
Estimated prospective damages as far as known:
Future expenses for medical and hospital care . $_________
Future loss of earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_________
Other prospective special damages . . . . . . . . . . $_________
Prospective general damages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_________
Total estimate prospective damages . . . . . . . $_________
Total amount claimed as of date of presentation of this claim: $
Was damage and/or injury investigated by police? __________ If so, what city? _______________________________________
Were paramedics or ambulance called?__________ If so, name city or ambulance ____________________________________
If injured, state date, time, name and address of doctor of your first visit ____________________________________________
WITNESSES to DAMAGE or INJURY: List all persons and addresses of persons known to have information:
Name______________________________Address______________________________________Phone____________________
Name______________________________Address______________________________________Phone____________________
Name______________________________Address______________________________________Phone____________________
DOCTORS and HOSPITALS:
Hospital ___________________________Address________________________________Date Hospitalized________________
Doctor ___________________________Address________________________________Date of Treatment ________________
Doctor ___________________________Address________________________________Date of Treatment ________________
READ CAREFULLY
Tex
1,000
1,5002,500
TBD
Randy Kurokaw 04/13/2026
TBD
TBD
TBD
A-2