THE ESTATE YOUNTVILLE
6481 Washington Street | Yountville, California 94599
April 21, 2026
VIA EMAIL
Hilary Gaede, Town Clerk
Town of Yountville
6550 Yount Street
Yountville, California 94599
Re: Support for Government Claims Act Notice of Claim Filed by French Laundry Partners, L.P. (March 30, 2026) — Washington Street Sidewalk and Drainage Project; Similar Damage to The Estate Yountville Dear Ms. Gaede:
I am writing on behalf of The Estate Yountville, located at 6481 Washington Street, directly adjacent to the French Laundry Garden Property. The Estate Yountville is the Town of Yountville’s largest private employer, providing jobs and economic vitality to this community that we care deeply about. We have invested substantially in this Town and remain committed to its long-term success.
I have reviewed the Government Claims Act Notice of Claim submitted to the Town on March 30, 2026 by French Laundry Partners, L.P., through counsel at Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty PC (the “French Laundry Claim”). I write to advise the Town that The Estate Yountville fully supports and agrees with that claim. The conditions described in the French Laundry Claim — the defective sidewalk installation along Washington Street, the improper drainage slope directing water back toward private properties rather than the street, the ADA violations, the damage to street trees, and the ongoing ponding and erosion — are not isolated to the French Laundry property. The Estate Yountville has been similarly and directly affected by the same failures in the same project.
Along our Washington Street frontage, we have experienced the same drainage problems caused by the elevated sidewalk installation: water that should flow to the curb and gutter is instead directed back onto our property. We have seen standing water, erosion, and the kind of soil and landscape damage that results when stormwater is obstructed rather than managed. Our guests, employees, and visitors are exposed to the same unsafe sidewalk and ramp conditions identified by the ADA Certified Access Specialist in the French Laundry Claim — conditions that represent a genuine risk of injury and legal liability. Our street trees have similarly suffered from the inadequate protection measures during construction.
We urge the Town to take this matter seriously and to address it promptly. The right course of action is clear: remove and properly replace the defective sidewalk to the correct grade, with drainage sloping toward the street as it should; bring the access ramp into full ADA compliance; repair the stormwater drainage system; and remediate the damage done to trees and adjacent properties along the entire affected corridor.
These are not disputed engineering questions — the Town’s own contractor failed to do what the contract required, and the resulting harm is documented, ongoing, and continuing to grow.
As the Town’s largest private employer, The Estate Yountville has a direct stake in the health, safety, and quality of our shared public infrastructure. Our guests come from around the world, and the condition of the sidewalks, streetscape, and drainage along Washington Street reflects on the Town as a whole. We are not seeking conflict with the Town — we want this fixed. But the Town must act, and act quickly, before these conditions cause further damage or, worse, injure a member of the public.
The Estate Yountville expressly reserves all rights and remedies in connection with the damages described herein and in the French Laundry Claim. We intend to pursue those rights if the Town does not take prompt corrective action. We are available to coordinate a site inspection and ask that the Town contact our counsel, Patrick P. Gunn of Goodwin Procter LLP, to arrange access.
Sincerely,
Gary Jabara
Owner and Operator, The Estate Yountville
Boardwalk Investments Group
cc: Gary B. Bell, Esq., Town Attorney ([email protected]) Joshua S. Devore, Esq., Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty PC (counsel for French Laundry Partners, L.P.)