Write-In Effort Urged in Courthouse Repairs

The San Fernando City Council is encouraging residents and merchants to participate in a write-in campaign to get the state to speed up resolution of the dispute between insurers and Los Angeles County over earthquake repairs at the San Fernando Courthouse.

The courthouse, which has been closed due to damage caused by the 1994 Northridge quake, was a major source of business for San Fernando merchants.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and adjusters for the group of six insurance companies that issued earthquake policies on the facility have quarreled over the amount of damage the building sustained in the quake and who should pay.

County officials say the building, which houses the north Valley branches of the Superior and Municipal courts, needs at least $18 million in reconstruction work. The county asked the insurance companies to pledge $12 million and arbitrate the rest, but the insurance companies agreed to pay only half that amount before entering arbitration, said John Krattli, assistant county counsel.

The county sued the insurers in March, and last Thursday, Krattli said a hearing was scheduled for May 29 in Orange County Superior Court. Judges in Los Angeles recused themselves because of potential conflict of interest, Krattli said.

San Fernando city officials hope the letter-writing campaign will call the problem to the attention of state Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush.

“The idea is to put pressure on the insurance commissioner to intervene, and get the matter into binding arbitration instead of going through the court system,” said Councilman Doude Wysbeek. “If it goes to court, it could be dragged along, and that doesn’t do our business community any good.”