To: Board of Supervisors
From: Thomas L. Geiger, County Counsel
Report Title: Public report of litigation settlement agreements that became final during the period December 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
RECEIVE public report of litigation settlement agreements that became final during the period December 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Settlement amounts are listed below.
BACKGROUND:
Four agreements to settle pending litigation, as defined in Government Code section 54956.9, became final during the period December 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
Contra Costa County v. Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC d/b/a Comcast California, LLC, et al.; United States District Court, Northern District of California, Case No. 3:25-cv-10507-AGT: On November 4, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved a settlement of this telecommunications matter by a vote of 5-0 in closed session. The County filed this action to recover underpaid franchise fees and Public Educational and Governmental fees. The settlement requires Comcast to pay the County $825,000. The settlement agreement was fully executed on December 11, 2025. The monies will be used to fund Contra Costa Television.
Richard Van Koll v. Contra Costa County, et al.; Contra Costa County Superior Court, Case No. 22-02423: On November 18, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved a settlement in this employment case. The Board approved the settlement for $72,500 in closed session by a vote of 5-0. The settlement agreement was fully executed on December 30, 2025. The funding source is the Risk Management Liability Internal Service Fund.
I.H.M. v. Contra Costa County, et al.; United States District Court, Northern District of California, Case No. 322-cv-6026-VC: On December 9, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved a settlement in this civil rights case. The Board approved the settlement for $200,000 in closed session by a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Burgis absent. The settlement agreement was fully executed on December 30, 2025. The funding source is the Risk Management Liability Internal Service Fund.
Edison Gatlin, et al. v. Contra Costa County, et al.; United States District Court, Northern District of California, Case No. C21-00370-SI. On October 7, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved a settlement in this civil rights/wrongful death case. The Board approved the settlement for $3,550,000 in closed session by a vote of 5-0. The settlement agreement was fully executed on December 9, 2025. The funding source is the Risk Management Liability Internal Service Fund up to $1 million and the County’s excess insurance, Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management, for the remainder of the settlement.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The report would not be accepted.
cc: Monika L. Cooper, Assistant County Counsel; Karen Caoile, Director, Risk Management