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RiversideCA.govANNUAL OVERVIEW & EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION FOR FISCAL YEAR 24/25 CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE City Council MeetingJanuary 6, 2026
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CAO ANNUAL REPORT FY 2024/25Our latest annual report includes an overview and highlights of the City Attorney’s Office This report and previous annual reports can be found online at: RiversideCA.gov/Attorney 1 2
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MISSION STATEMENTThe Riverside City Attorney’s Office is dedicated to providing professional, ethical, high-quality legal services to the City Council, Boards and Commissions, and City staff for the benefit of all. Working as a team with individual strengths and collaborative efforts, we strive to achieve our united goal of serving our community and making the City of Riverside a better place to live, work and play.
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VISION STATEMENTOur vision is to be the preeminent City Attorney’s Office in the region with a talented team committed to public service and an engaged office environment. 3 4
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DEPARTMENT OVERVIEWThe City Attorney’s Office is comprised of 3 divisions:•Litigation DivisionDefends the City in Civil Litigation, Workers Compensation, and our Liability Claims Team Processes Pre-Litigation Tort Claims Received by the City •Public Safety Division Advises RPD, RFD, Code and HR and focuses on Community Livability Programs•Municipal Services DivisionAdvisesall City Departments except those handled by our Public Safety Division RiversideCA.gov6
ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTThe CAO has 45.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions 5 6
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MUNICIPAL SERVICES DIVISIONFY 2024/25 KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Municipal Services
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LITIGATION DIVISIONFY 2024/25 KEY HIGHLIGHTS
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PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISIONFY 2024/25 KEY HIGHLIGHTS
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•Nilsson v. City of Riverside: high exposure police liability case asserting claims of false arrest dismissed for $0!•Riddley/Powell v. City of Riverside: high exposure case related to an incident at the City’s CNG station resulting in serious injuries (and later claimed death) dismissed for $0!•Undefeated in Cannabis Appeals: after the City adopted a regulatory framework for cannabis permits, several cannabis applicants who were denied permits filed appeals and legal actions to challenge the City’s local ordinances. To date, the CAO has successfully won all legal challenges. •City v. Romulo Benitez: judgment lien case re: 2945 14thStreet. The property was operating as a vehicle repair shop leaking hazardous fluids into the neighborhood. CAO helped ensure the violations were abated, recovered $142,657.24 in fines, and facilitated the transfer of ownership. •8 Eminent Domain Casesfiled to Acquire Property for the 3rdStreet Grade Separation Project. HIGHLIGHTED CAO SUCCESSES IN 2024/20259 10 12/23/2025
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Risk ManagementSpecialist (2)Phaedra NortonCity AttorneyOPERATIONAL CHANGES THIS YEARIn FY 24/25, the CAO implemented two much needed operational changes:•The CAO secured a new Case Management Software called Neos to replace the outdated system we were using, with virtually no disruption to our clients; and•The CAO purchased new furniture for the office to replace decades old workstations left by the office building’s former tenants. This upgrade provides all staff with ergonomic workstations that are more efficient and collaborative.
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CAO EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR
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CAO EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR
The CAO is proud to recognize Jacob Guerard as one of our 2025 Employees of the Year!With over 8 years of legal experience, Jacob brings a wealth of knowledge from his background at the District Attorney’s Office. Since joining the CAO, he has exemplified high standards of public service and dedication to community safety. This past year, Jacob’s outstanding contributions include:•Prosecuting 91 Gun Violence Restraining Orders (resulting in the seizure of 126 firearms), a major step in protecting public safety.•Filing 6 nuisance abatement actions, helping to address problem properties and improve neighborhood livability.•Leading 4 Police trainings, enhancing interdepartmental coordination and legal preparedness.•Serving as an instrumental member of the Appellate Services Unit, where he provides critical appellate advice and support on complex legal matters.Jacob’s work reflects the mission and values of the City Attorney’s Office—protecting the public interest, upholding the law, and serving the community with integrity.Please join us in congratulating Jacob Guerard on this well-earned recognition!Jacob Guerard Deputy City Attorney RiversideCA.gov14
CAO EMPLOYEES OF THE YEARThe CAO is proud to also recognize Justin Vuong as one of our 2025 Employees of the Year!Justin embodies the spirit of teamwork and dedication that we strive for in the CAO. He has a positive attitude and consistently approaches every challenge with a can-do attitude. Justin has played a crucial role in various successes over the past year, including: •He provided administrative support for all of the Cannabis Permit appeals, which led to the CAO having an undefeated record in administrative hearings. •Justin is very good with technology and helped our office facilitate a smooth transition to our new Case Management Software, Neos. •Justin served as a model for one of our officer involved shooting re-enactments in order to help the City’s team of experts evaluate body positions and bullet entry/exit wounds to determine bullet trajectories. We are excited to see what the future holds for him as he continues to grow and make significant contributions to our team.Please join us in congratulating Justin on this well-deserved recognition!Justin VuongLegal Support Specialist 13 14