CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 08/04/2026
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider a claim against the City by Lucerito Rueias.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Reject the claim and direct Staff to notify the claimant, Lucerito Rueias.
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: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager CJ
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Lucerito Rueias 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 reviews 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. 1-1
DISCUSSION:
Claimant:
On July 16, 2026, the City received a $1,300 claim for damages from Lucerito Rueias.
The claim was referred to Athens for review and investigation.
The claimant alleges that the City is responsible for damage to their vehicle after a fourinch pinecone fell onto it, shattering the windshield, on June 15, 2026 off Woodbrook Road.
Deposition:
Athens has completed its review of the claim and recommends that the City reject it.
Based on its investigation, Athens determined that the tree is maintained in accordance with the City's recommended trimming cycle and that the falling of pinecones is a natural characteristic of pine trees.
Accordingly, Athens concluded that the City is not liable for the damages alleged and recommends that the City reject the claim.
CONCLUSION:
Athens recommends that the City reject the claim for damages. 1-2
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