CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 09/15/2026
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider a claim against the City by Samuel Romero Lopez.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Reject the claim and direct Staff to notify the attorney representing claimant, Samuel Romero Lopez.
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. Samuel Romero Lopez 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 DISCUSSION:
Claimant:
On July 20, 2026, the City received a claim for bodily injuries from the Law Offices of Raymond Ghermezian & Associates on behalf of Samuel Romero Lopez. The claim was referred to Athens for review and investigation.
The attorney for the claimant alleges that the City is responsible for bodily injuries from a slip and fall in a public restroom located at 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West (Point Vicente Interpretive Center) that occurred on July 5, 2026.
Deposition:
At this time, Athens recommends that the City reject the claim.
CONCLUSION:
Athens recommends that the City reject the claim for damages/injuries. 2 A-1
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