CC - Item 4F - Reject Claim Against City - Rita O. Espinola stat
feport
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
FROM: NANCY VALDERRAMA, CITY CLERK
DATE: JANUARY 20, 1999
RE: AUTHORIZATION TO REJECT CLAIM AGAINST THE CITY-RITA O.
ESPINOLA
The attached claim was received in this office on December 8, 1998. A copy was sent to the
City's claims adjuster, Carl Warren& Company on the same day. All information received after
that date has been forwarded them.
Carl Warren& Company sent a notice on December 16, 1998, recommending that this claim be
rejected by the City.
{ RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the rejection of this claim and authorize a letter
of rejection be sent to the claimant.
nv COUNCIL AGENDA
up agenda JAN 2 61999
ITEM No. c e F
J
December 11, 1998
RECbVt!D
CITY OF ROSEMEAD
DEC 1 19913
TO: City of Rosemead
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
ATTENTION: Nancy Valderrama, City Clerk
RE: Claim Espinola v. City of Rosemead
Claimant Rita 0. Espinola
D/Event 20-Jul-98
Reed Y/Office : 08-Dec-98
Our File S-100464-SWQ
We have reviewed the above captioned claim and request that you take the action indicated
below:
• CLAIM REJECTION: Send a standard rejection letter to the claimant.
Please provide us with a copy of the notice sent, as requested above. If you have any
questions please contact the undersigned.
Very truly yours,
CARL WARREN & COMPANY
'
i
Dwight J. Kunz
cc: CJPIA w/enc.
Attn.: Executive Director
CARL WARREN & CO.
CLAIMS MANACEMENT•CLAIMS ADJUSTERS
750 The City Drive•Ste 400•Orange,CA 92868
Mail. P.O. Box 25180• Santa Ana. Ca 92799-5180
MAYOR: (Pa ••! 1 \�/lIrinaV
MAYORlRO TEM: T (J J `/`v//
MA
JO VA OUEZ :
JOE vns011E2
COUNCILMEMBERS: 4118838 E.VALLEY BOULEVARD P0.BOX 399
MARGARET CLARK ROSEMEAD,CALIFORNIA 91770
JAY. IMPERIAL TELEPHONE(626)288-6671
GARY A TAYLOR FAX(626)307-9218
December 8, 1998
Dwight J. Kunz
Senior Account Manager
750 The City Drive, Suite 400
Orange, CA 92668
RE: RITA 0. ESPINOLA
Dear Mr. Kunz:
The attached claim was received today. The City does not have any prior information on this
claim. However, it was determined that the El Monte/Rosemead Adult School teaches this senior
exercise class at the Rosemead Community Recreation Center. Attached is an Incident Report
from that facility and an Application for Use of Facilities to use the City's community center.
More information will be FAXED to you as it is received.
Please advise as to the steps you wish to take in this matter.
Sincerely,
NANCY VALDERRAMA
City Clerk
Attachment
cc: City Attorney
clallms:adjlv:I
1 LAW OFFICES OF JUAN CARLOS DOMINGUEZ
Juan Carlos Dominguez, Esq. , SBN 13752
2 505-A South Myrtle Avenue p
Monrovia, California 91016 RECEI is Lip
3 (626) 303-3306 CITY OF ROSEMEAD
4 Fax (626) 303-0093 DEC - : 1988
5 Attorneys for Claimant Rita O. Espinola
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
6
7 CITY OF ROSEMEAD
8 Rita O. Espinola, ) Claim for Damages Against
Claimant, ) Government Entity
9 ) [ G.C. 910 et. seq. ]
v.
10 The City of Rosemead, Does 1 )
it Through 10, Inclusive,
Respondents.
12
13
14
I. Pursuant to section 910 of the Government Code, claimant Rita
15
O. Espinola, presents the following claim for damages against the City of
16
Rosemead and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive.
17
18 II. Claimant's post office address is 12077 Conference Street, El
19 Monte, California 90270.
20
All notices or communications of any type must be directed to
21 claimant's attorneys of record at 505-A South Myrtle Ave., Monrovia,
22 California 91016.
23
24 III. On or about July 20, 1998, at aproximately 10:20 a.m.,
25 petitioner was participating in a City sponsored Senior Citizen's exercise
26 class. The class was conducted at the facilities located at 3936 Steele
27 Street, Rosemead, California. The class in question was instructed by an
28
1 exercise instructor, who directed theartici ants, including p petitioner, to
2 engage in an exercise requiring the use of a metal chair. The exercise
3 called for the petitioner to place one foot on top of the seat portion of the
4 metal chair, and then reach forward towards the back-rest portion of the
5 chair. Due to the fact that the legs of the chair were metal, combined with
6 the fact that the floor of the location consist of veryhighly g y polished linoleum,
the chair slipped out from under petitioner, causing her to fall forward. As a
8 result of the fall, petitioner struck the floor with both knees, her chest and
9 face. She experienced severe pain to her chest and knees, as well as a
10 swollen lip and nose. It was later determined that she suffered a torn medial
11 meniscus of the left knee which required surgery to repair.
12
13 IV. The respondent failed to prevent, or in the alternative correct, a
14 dangerous condition or practice on public property when it knew, or should
15 have known, in the exercise of proper care, that said dangerous condition or
16 practice existed and that the it posed a danger to the senior members of the
17 class. Respondent further failed to warn respondent of the dangerous
18 condition or practice.
19 V. As the result of the respondents negligence, claimant suffered a
20 torn medial meniscus which required surgery, and which has caused her,
21 and will continue to cause her, substantial pain, discomfort and
22 inconvenience, as well as past and future medical costs. She further
23 suffered painful injuries to her chest, as well as her lip and nose, which
24 caused her additional pain and discomfort.
25
26 VI. The total amount of special damages are not known at this
27 juncture due to the ongoing nature of the treatment. However, at this time
28
1 the claimant makes a demand in the amount of$125,000.00 to settle all
2 claims against respondent.
3 VII. Jurisdiction of this claim res • in the Superior Court.
4 Dated: December 4, 1998 • ;�:.�anal -3r
5 rinrilnito
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•
41/oC L ,e0 EC/?c/Y.v !Jc tI_ (Q,
,ease-/-lc: f) Qi71L MONTE/ROSEMEAD ADULT SCHOOL
big
l01t ass - 82 za INCIDENT REPORT "/Q `G
n J spinola. ( �__
NAME OF -o, F
INJURED /l I I G (��� _ MALE_ FEMALE v BIRTHDATE �- 5 - a
ADDRESS 10I�l J I� 677 ff'fYYt*-y',(/`P/yteP PHONE 3s ` - 52- 70 GRADE
L
CERTIFICATED CLASSIFIEDSTUDENT I.D./# VISITOR
DATE AND TIME INCIDENT OCCURED Vjj A I3 K LOCATION 12 C /<-C
DATE AND TIME REPORTED TO HEALTH SERVICES OFFICE WITNE /r.
SS. IF ANY ` )7 l l a LI I
I ` 4 6�
NATURE AND ;KENT OF INJURY SI ICS Y1 1 L� /1� p &IA ��7�W (fi (�j lel h.0 ;€
HOW DID INJURY OCCUR? t. , u . / _ y „a` __ .0 r1
- I /
FIRST AID GiVEN2 ANY. AND EY WHOM
ACTION TAKEN: PERSONS CONTACTED IN EMERGENCY NAME 'AC/ / ,d416-01/ e.e4 ,)c-t
PHONE RELATIONSHIP TYPE CF TRANS. O
DISPOSITION: INJURED SENT HOME WORi:CLASS
DP'S OFFICE
NAME CITY
-'OSP'TAL
NAME Cr17
k L, 7-
SiG. PERSON KEPORTING DATE PRINCIPAL DATE
iccnrAL OR FOLLOW UP!INSURANCE INFORMATION R
C`ITV F ROSEM AD
nFr _ n1008
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
yd191G9
WHITE-PRINCIPAL CANARY- OTHER
CITY OF ROSEMEAD
8838 E. Valley Blvd. , Rosemead, CA 91770
n • n/ APPLICATION FOR USE OF FACILITIES 1//
FACILITY /G , Q .K.. ..aJJ AREA/ROOM DESIRED a POOL
DAY(S) OF WEEK M.-thru -Fr/!d DATE(S) OF USE (1- - / /h/ (/ 7-3D 1OURS:8SO TO /7 3
PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM: YES . NO KITCHEN HOURS: TO
TYPE OF ACTIVITY EAtraiSe..., NO ATTENDING /O
NAME OF ORGANIZATIONELfign ,J Y Rsymo /10U& Sof O/ TITLE /PO(a It //?4f0/"
NAME OF APPLICANT(PRINT) Es-076,7 .7ohnC0n1 APPLICANT IS 18 YRS OR OLDER Yes
No
ADDRESS OF APPLICANT PHONE: Home 5)(947-:75(7-0287K?
Street City Zip Code Work
DRIVERS LICENSE NO. DATE EXPIRES / /
DIAGRAM PAGE COMPLETED: YES
CHECK IF EVENT WILL BE OPEN TO: If funds are to be raised, for what purpose?
_Public/no charge.
Public/by admission of $_
Public/by donation of $_ Percentage of users living in Rosemead
_Members 6/or guest at $ 257. 507 1002
I hereby certify that I have read and will abide by all rules and regulations of the
City. As a duly authorized representative of the sponsoring organization, & on behalf
of sponsoring organization, I agree to save, keep and bear harmless the City & all .its
officers & agents from all damages, cost of expense in law or equity (including costs of
suit & expense for legal services) that may at any time arise or be set-up because of
damages to property or death or injury to persons received or suffered by any reason of
the operation of this organization hereunder, or which may be occasioned by any
negligent act or omission to act which amounts to negligence on the part of,sponsoring
organization or any of its agents or employees which results in a dangerous or defective
condition of property, or any damages occasioned by an negligent act or ommission to act
which amounts to negligence on the part of the City, its agents or employees in favor of
either the sponsoring organization, its agents or employees or invitees-of said
sponsoring organization.
APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED A MINIMUM OF 10 WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE AND CHARGES
PAID WITHIN 7 WORKING DAYS OF USE OR APPLICATION WILL BE CANCELLED.
Applicants e C / _ �/q4 n Q�/
Signature • -- - \' tc11.G.t^.^ Date 7 / Zi / C Zf
CJ
OFFICE USE
FACILITY SUPERVISOR . 7 /"- OFFICE INF,' .TI•
Is facility available? Yes V o Date Received 1), -/jt /
Date Received---yyy���---/ / 2) c /C�
Date Aporoved/v/ 7/yg t
Date An . Due: [ / -L_C
AMOUNT DUE $ / A/PROVED DISAPPROVED
DEPOSIT AMT. S 1/
INVOICE NO.
F & C Yes [ No 4 /.�,'
4)iltiector of Parks and Recreation
Rev 2/14/89 OFFICE COPY
01-G-M-A -1-
FACILITY r¢ St2Ortla
FACILITY Puri FACILITY Ian
non Nen
rxcILAY Pendebt'e Resiamt'r RL FAcltltt FPSAgent'1 Pei ident's Rr
AM-MEW cmaM1SIIM 115/Hr $ 25/1Ir 3_
OMIVNIIY MUR IRS 3 P. a) 115/Kr 1 25/W I
IAPOPM CARR IP+e 1 6 2) S10/Nr 3 20/11s S EIl®1 1 5/11r $ 10/14 S
1114501Nty6 ruin LlGHTrS I5/W S 25/14 S
C PMJITY COMB ......1 vxr 10/ar
4atimmi TY corms Nm-3,4 110/14 IS/ar sun19151011 S 7/Et $ 2/Ni S
ZANPAN Pas•1,2 a S 5/ar 10/Hr
ROSDMAL PAs CTI NC Pa SI0/ar 15/ar DEPOSIT $5.0 3100 f_
GMVEY PARK cLLRNWSt SIO/Hr 15/Hr
CARRY PARK MEETING PCI 1 Star 10/14 ®® 12INCAL....510 N/A S
sd0 WC Ito....320 5 20 S
X 4 (bin. 2 hrs.)
I e1 Dabs r al Nn. Totalm
Hour. mMIAP) S 8/Nr 1 II& S
(per 100 users)
subs Pia S subtotal l
ROSEMEAD PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FACILITY FS I
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Groups 2 thru 4 (described below) are required to post a refundable deposit. Remaining groups are required to pay a
refundable deposit and fee.
Resident fee category pertains to groups/organizations that have their offices or are chartered as Rosemead Groups
or Organizations. It pertains to individuals use when 50% or more come from the City of Rosemead.
GROUP AND PRIORITY USE
1. Department, Government or Community Service Agencies
2. Youth Recreation Activities 5. Service Club Meetings
3. Veteran Organizations 6. Adult Recreation Activities
4. Senior Citizen Activities 7. All Others
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR CSE OF FACILITIES
1. The Director of Parks and Recreation, upon reasonable notice, y cancel any regularly scheduled reservations to
accommodate the proper priority use r in the event of unforseen circumstances.
2. The City reserves the right of full access to all activities at any time during their occurrence to see that all
rules, regulations, and City/State Laws are not violated.
3. Groups using kitchen shall furnish own dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, towels, soap, etc., unless other-
wise requested and approved.
4. All activities must cease by 11:00 p.m. Amplified sound or music that can be heard by the general public must
cease by 10:00 p.m.
5. tfien an event is cancelled after permit fees have been paid, the applicant may select another open date. If a
satisfactory date cannot be arranged and a written request for cancellation is received within three days prior
to scheduled event, a 50% refund of the permit fees may be obtained from the Department Office.
6. The applicant and his organization shall be responsible for any damage to equipment, property andray overtime,
and shall forfeit all or part of their deposit, if damage occurs.
7. The group must appear within thirty minutes of time specified or permit will be cancelled and all fees forfeited.
8. Reservations will not be accepted more than 90 days in advance. Maximum duration in a Facility is six (6)
months.
9. Activities for minors must be supervised by responsible adults on the ratio of at least one adult for every 25
minors.
10. Sponsor must secure services of at least 2 private security guards for supervision of teen age events, (pro-
vision
b n may be waived upon written request and written approval from the Department).
11. 1O )N1aCATDIG BEVERAGES HILL BE PERMITTED 011 TME PRHSISPS OR Ill PARS. Violation will result in forfeiture of
all fees and will subject violators to possible criminal prosecution.
12. No advertisements, circulation of petitions, solicitations, nor charges will be allowed without written approval
from the Department of Parks and Recreation.
13. No storage of private properties is permitted on City grounds or facilities, except for concessions
authorized by the City Council.
14. City facilities cannot be used for commercial purposes without City Council authorization.
15. Wedding receptions are not allowed in City Facilities.
16. Groups with 200 or more in attendance will require two staff. (10/28/91).
PUBLIC FACILITY USED FOR FUND RAISING
A. Rosemead organization/individual(s) - regular charges only.
B. Non-resident organization/individual(s) - regular charges and 60% of Gross. Applicant oust also
obtain authorization from the Rosemead.City Council.
ROPER: A if i ��/�TIemeaV
MAYOR:W RR'JESCM I rJ `�
MAYOR PRO TEM. Ita SW
LIEZ
JOE VASOLIEZ
Mn LIEZ s: 8838 E.VALLEY BOULEVARD P.O.BOX 399
COMARGARET CLARK ROSEMEAD,CALIFORNIA 91770
JAYT IMPERIAL TELEPHONE(626)288-6671
GARY A.TAYLOR FAX(626)307-9218
January 4, 1999
Dwight J. Kunz
Senior Account Manager
750 The City Drive, Suite 400
Orange, CA 92668
RE: RITA ESPINOLA
YOUR FILE NO. S 100464 SWQ
Dear Mr. Kunz:
The following amended information was received from the attorney handling the Espinola claim.
Please advise as to the steps you wish to take in this matter.
Sincerely,
NANCY VALDERRAMA
City Clerk
Attachment
cc: City Attorney
cla,IRss adilva
7aan datLoi. ?/ ,ominguEZ
Attorney and Counselor At Law J
Old Town Monrovia Tel:(626)303-3306
505-A South Myrtle Avenue Fax: (626)303-0093
Monrovia,California 91016 RECEIVED
December 22, 1998 CITY OF ROSEMEAD
City of Rosemead JAN 4 1999
8838 E. Valley Blvd.,
Rosemead,California 91770 ADMINISTRATION
Attn: Ms. Nancy Balderama
Re: Claim of Rita O. Espinola originally filed 12-8-98
Dear Gentleperson:
Enclosed please a first amended claim on behalf of Mrs. Espinola. As stated
above the original claim was filed with your office on December 8, 1998. The
amendment to the claim may be found on the second page lines 18 and 19.
If you have any questions, or if you require that the amendment be filed in another
fashion, please advise me. I have enclosed an extra copy of the amended claim for you to
conform and retum.to me in the self-addressed and stamped envelope, which I have
provided for your convenience.
'Very Truly Yours,
Law Offices of Juan Carlos Dominguez
int S:12
an C. - s r M.?
�a m�.
Eels.
1 LAW OFFICES OF JUAN CARLOS DOMINGUEZ
Juan Carlos Dominguez, Esq. , SBN 13752
2 505-A South Myrtle Avenue RECEIVED
3 Monrovia, California 91016 CITY OF ROSEMEAD
(626) 303-3306
4 Fax (626) 303-0093 JAN 4 1999
5 Attorneys for Claimant Rita O. Espinola ADMINISTRATION
6
7 CITY OF ROSEMEAD
8 Rita O. Espinola, ) Claim for Damages Against
Claimant, ) Government Entity
9 ) [ G.C. 910 et. seq. ]
v. )
10 The City of Rosemead, Does 1 ) FIRST AMMENDED
11 Through 10, Inclusive,
Respondents.
12
13
14
I. Pursuant to section 910 of the Government Code, claimant Rita
15
O. Espinola, presents the following claim for damages against the City of
16
Rosemead and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive.
17
18 II. Claimant's post office address is 12077 Conference Street, El
19 Monte, California 90270.
20 All notices or communications of any type must be directed to
21 claimant's attorneys of record at 505-A South Myrtle Ave., Monrovia,
22 California 91016.
23
24 III. On or about July 20, 1998, at aproximately 10:20 a.m.,
25 petitioner was participating in a City sponsored Senior Citizen's exercise
26 class. The class was conducted at the facilities located at 3936 Steele
27 Street, Rosemead, California. The class in question was instructed by an
28
1
exercise instructor, who directed the participants, including petitioner, to
2
engage in an exercise requiring the use of a metal chair. The exercise
3
called for the petitioner to place one foot on top of the seat portion of the
4 metal chair, and then reach forward towards the back-rest portion of the
5 chair. Due to the fad that the legs of the chair were metal, combined with
6 the fact that the floor of the location consist of veryhighly g hl
y polished linoleum,
7 the chair slipped out from under petitioner, causing her to fall forward. As a
8 result of the fall, petitioner struck the floor with both knees, her chest and
9 face. She experienced severe pain to her chest and knees, as well as a
10 swollen lip and nose. It was later determined that she suffered a torn medial
11 meniscus of the left knee which required surgery to repair.
12
13 IV. The respondent failed to prevent, or in the alternative correct, a
14 dangerous condition or practice on public property when it knew, or should
15 have known, in the exercise of proper care, that said dangerous condition or
16 practice existed and that the it posed a danger to the senior members of the
17 class. Respondent further failed to warn respondent of the dangerous
18 condition or practice. Respondent additionally failed to properly hire, train
19 and or supervise the exercise instructor(s).
20 V_ As the result of the respondent's negligence, claimant suffered a
21 torn medial meniscus which required surgery, and which has caused her,
22 and will continue to cause her, substantial pain, discomfort and
23 inconvenience, as well as past and future medical costs. She further
24 suffered painful injuries to her chest, as well as her lip and nose, which
25 caused her additional pain and discomfort.
26
27
28
1 VI. The total amount of special damages are not known at this
2 juncture due to the ongoing nature of the treatment. However, at this time
3 the claimant makes a demand in the amount of$125,000.00 to settle all
4 claims against respondent.
5 VII. Jurisdiction of this claim rest in the Superior Court.
6 LL _
Dated: December/1998 . 1 . . 1110
7 u n Carlos Dominguez+`
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