Brief

This file tracks litigation initiated by Emily Juarez Gonzalez against the City of Los Angeles. The City Attorney submitted a report on June 4, 2026, which was referred to the Budget and Finance Committee on June 18, 2026. The underlying case is pending in Los Angeles Superior Court (Case No. 23SMCV05121). No details on the claim's substance are available in the file activity.

Full summary

Council File 26-0894 involves a personal injury lawsuit stemming from a November 9, 2022 incident in which then-17-year-old Emily Juarez Gonzalez tripped and fell in a crosswalk on Robertson Boulevard at its intersection with Kincardine Avenue. She sustained a fractured right ankle requiring surgery, as well as injuries to her right shoulder, wrist, and hand. Her documented past medical expenses total $110,068.88, and she continues to experience pain and limited mobility in her right wrist and ankle. Her latest settlement demand was $500,000. The City Attorney's office, under City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, is recommending that the City settle the case for $200,000, to be paid in Fiscal Year 2026-27 from the Liability Claims Fund. The parties reached this figure through mediation on July 7, 2025 with mediator Wendy Kramer. The City Attorney assessed liability as likely adverse to the City, noting that the crosswalk was full of deep cracks and holes, that the City had actual notice of the condition, and that a prior small asphalt repair at the location in July 2020 had not resolved the problem. City records also show three service requests related to nearby potholes in the three years before the fall. While the plaintiff may bear some comparative fault for having walked past the location before, the City Attorney concluded that settling for $200,000 is a better outcome than likely trial exposure. The specific settlement request asks the Council to authorize the Controller to transfer $200,000 within the Liability Claims Fund to the Public Works, Street Services Liability Payouts account, and then authorize the City Attorney to issue payment to Downtown LA Law Group, LLP and Emily Juarez Gonzalez. A corrective action report prepared by the Bureau of Street Services identifies the root cause as heavy vehicular traffic degrading the crosswalk and recommends street repair as the corrective action. The City Attorney's report was submitted on June 4, 2026, and referred to the Budget and Finance Committee on June 18, 2026. Council approval of the settlement remains pending. The file is open and expires June 17, 2028.

Activity (2)

• 2026-06-18 City Attorney document(s) referred to Budget and Finance Committee.
• 2026-06-17 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated June 4, 2026.

Documents (1)

• 2026-06-04 Report from City Attorney · report