Brief

The City Attorney brought a settlement agreement for Council approval in a civil lawsuit filed by Christopher Matthew Herbert against the City of Los Angeles and others (Superior Court Case No. 22STCV35180). The Budget and Finance Committee reviewed the settlement on April 13, 2026, and Council adopted the motion on April 22, 2026, by a vote of 12-0-3. The Mayor received the file on April 24 and had until May 4, 2026, to act; Council action became final on May 4, 2026.

Full summary

Christopher Matthew Herbert sued the City of Los Angeles in Los Angeles Superior Court over a traffic accident that occurred on January 18, 2022, near MacArthur Park at 2230 West 6th Street. The City Attorney negotiated a settlement and brought it to the Council for approval and funding authorization. The settlement authorizes a total payout of $385,000 to Herbert and his legal counsel, Aghakhani Law, APLC, to be paid in Fiscal Year 2026-27. To fund the payment, the Controller is directed to transfer $385,000 from the general Miscellaneous Liability Payouts account within the Liability Claims Fund into the Recreation and Parks Liability Payouts account, reflecting the City department involved in the underlying incident. The City Attorney is then authorized to draw the full $385,000 from that Recreation and Parks account and deliver it to the Aghakhani Law APLC Client Trust Account. The Budget and Finance Committee reviewed the settlement in closed session on April 13, 2026, and approved it unanimously (4-0, with one member absent). The full Council adopted the motion on April 22, 2026, by a vote of 12-0-3, on a motion by Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, seconded by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. The file was transmitted to the Mayor on April 24, 2026, and became final on May 4, 2026. The case is now closed.

Activity (8)

• 2026-05-04 Council action final.
• 2026-04-24 City Clerk transmitted file to Mayor. Last day for Mayor to act is May 4, 2026.
• 2026-04-22 Council adopted Motion (Yaroslavsky - Blumenfield) in Open Session, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
• 2026-04-17 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on April 22, 2026.
• 2026-04-13 Budget and Finance Committee approved the item in Open Session.
• 2026-04-10 Budget and Finance Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on April 13, 2026.
• 2026-04-08 City Attorney document(s) referred to Budget and Finance Committee.
• 2026-04-08 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated March 25, 2026.

Documents (4)

• 2026-05-04 Mayor Concurrence/Council Action · other
• 2026-04-22 Motion (Yaroslavsky - Blumenfield) · motion
• 2026-04-13 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2026-03-25 Report from City Attorney · report