Cristina Maria Restrepo v. City of Los Angeles, et. al.,
Council File 26-1298
Under review — the City Attorney is seeking a closed-session meeting with the Council to discuss settling a lawsuit from a 2024 vehicle incident in the San Fernando Valley. The matter is currently with the Budget and Finance Committee.
Brief
The City Attorney has referred a legal matter involving a claim by Cristina Maria Restrepo against the City of Los Angeles to the Budget and Finance Committee for consideration. The underlying Superior Court case (24NNCV05652) and associated claim (C24-09798) were initiated prior to this Council File submission on September 9, 2026. The committee has scheduled the item for discussion on September 15, 2026. The file will expire on September 11, 2028, unless acted upon sooner.
Full summary
This Council file tracks a lawsuit filed against the City of Los Angeles by Cristina Maria Restrepo stemming from a vehicle incident on March 12, 2024, at Moorpark Street near Radford Avenue in the San Fernando Valley. The Superior Court case (24NNCV05652) was filed in 2024, and the matter is now before the Council as the City Attorney seeks authorization to discuss a potential settlement. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, through Chief of Civil Litigation Kathleen Kenealy, submitted a report on August 27, 2026, requesting that the Council hold a closed session under California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1), which allows legislative bodies to confer privately with legal counsel regarding pending litigation. The report recommends scheduling that closed session so the Council can receive legal advice and consider a Claims Board action on the matter. The Board of Public Works Commission and its risk management staff are copied on the report, and Tree Surgeon supervisors Art Sweatman and Luis Torres are also named, suggesting City tree or street maintenance operations may be connected to the underlying incident. The file was introduced on September 9, 2026, and referred to the Budget and Finance Committee the following day. As of September 10, 2026, the matter remains pending in committee, awaiting a closed-session hearing. Deputy City Attorney Arash Arjang is the primary contact handling the case. The file expires September 9, 2028, if no final action is taken.
Activity (3)
- 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.
- 2026-09-10 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated August 27, 2026.
Documents (1)
- 2026-08-27 Report from City Attorney · report