OJAI : City Rejects Injury Claim by Woman
The Ojai City Council on Tuesday rejected a $100,000 claim by a woman who broke her arm and nose after falling on a sidewalk that crosses the Ojai Valley Trail near Libbey Park.
According to the claim filed with the city, Verda Chappell was injured Dec. 24, 1990, when she tripped on a sidewalk that crosses the trail.
Although Chappell would not comment, her attorney, David Long, said part of the problem in settling the claim involved jurisdiction. The sidewalk is in Ojai’s jurisdiction, while the Ojai Valley Trail is county property.
Long said he has written several times to city and county officials asking them to determine which agency has jurisdiction over the site of the fall. He said, however, that neither has shown any interest in such a determination.
Consequently, Long said the $100,000 claim has been filed against both the city and county.
Ray Aromatorio of Carl Warren & Co., the city’s claims adjuster, declined comment, saying it is the company’s policy not to discuss possible litigation. The adjusters, however, did recommend rejection of Chappell’s claim.
Long said the county has also refused the claim. This means the next step would be to file suit against both the county and city. He has six months to file such an action.
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