Brief

The City Council approved a motion by Councilmembers Yaroslavsky and Blumenfield on April 9, 2025 (15-0) to authorize settlement discussions in Bruce Watts, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, a Superior Court employment case. The motion followed closed-session discussion in the Budget and Finance Committee. In September 2026, new City Attorney documents were submitted and the matter was again scheduled for committee review, indicating ongoing activity or revised settlement terms.

Full summary

This file involves a lawsuit stemming from a July 14, 2022 medical emergency in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, in which plaintiffs Bruce Watts and others allege professional negligence by members of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The case is pending in Los Angeles Superior Court and encompasses three separate claims against the City. The City Attorney initiated this council file in March 2025 to seek closed-session authority to discuss settlement options. The Budget and Finance Committee reviewed the matter in closed session on April 1, 2025, and recommended action unanimously. On April 9, 2025, the full Council adopted a motion by Councilmembers Yaroslavsky and Blumenfield, voting 15-0, directing the City to reject the proposed settlement in this case. That action was transmitted to the Mayor and became final on April 21, 2025. More than a year later, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto submitted a new report dated August 27, 2026, again requesting a closed session before the Budget and Finance Committee to receive legal advice on a potential Claims Board action in the same litigation. The report, signed by Civil Litigation Branch Chief Kathleen Kenealy, notes the matter is still pending and involves the same July 2022 LAFD incident. The committee scheduled the item for September 15, 2026, suggesting that settlement negotiations have resumed or that the litigation has reached a new stage requiring fresh Council guidance. The file remains open and pending in the Budget and Finance Committee. Because deliberations occur in closed session, no public details about proposed settlement terms or amounts appear in the legislative record. The LAFD, the Fire Commission, and the City's Public Safety Risk Manager are among the parties copied on the City Attorney's latest report.

Activity (11)

• 2026-09-11 Budget and Finance Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 15, 2026.
• 2026-09-10 City Attorney document(s) referred to Budget and Finance Committee.
• 2026-09-09 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated August 27, 2026.
• 2025-04-21 Council action final.
• 2025-04-11 City Clerk transmitted file to Mayor. Last day for Mayor to act is April 21, 2025.
• 2025-04-09 Council adopted Motion (Yaroslavsky - Blumenfield) in Open Session, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
• 2025-04-04 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on April 9, 2025.
• 2025-04-01 Budget and Finance Committee considered the matter in closed session.
• 2025-03-28 Budget and Finance Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on April 1, 2025.
• 2025-03-24 City Attorney document(s) referred to Budget and Finance Committee.
• 2025-03-21 Document(s) submitted by City Attorney, as follows:City Attorney report, dated March 6, 2025, relative to a request for closed session to discuss settlement in the case of Bruce Watts, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al.

Documents (6)

• 2026-08-27 Report from City Attorney · report
• 2025-04-22 Mayor Concurrence/Council Action · other
• 2025-04-09 Motion (Yaroslavsky - Blumenfield) · motion
• 2025-04-09 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2025-04-01 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2025-03-06 Report from City Attorney · report

Council votes (1)

• 2025-04-09 Vote — 15-0-0 · Regular