Brief

The City Attorney submitted a report on the ongoing litigation Lajune Shannel Newborn v. City of Santa Clarita, et al, which involves a state court case and an appellate proceeding. The matter was referred to the Budget and Finance Committee on June 25, 2026, for consideration. The file remains open and pending committee action.

Full summary

This file involves a lawsuit stemming from a December 19, 2018, traffic accident on State Route 14 in Santa Clarita in which an LAPD motorcycle officer was involved. The plaintiff, Lajune Shannel Newborn, filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court, and the case has since reached the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District. A claim against the City was filed in 2019 under claim number C19-07135. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, through Chief of Civil Litigation Kathleen Kenealy, submitted a report on June 4, 2026, requesting that the Council hold a closed session under California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) to confer with legal counsel and receive advice regarding a potential Claims Board action. That provision authorizes closed meetings specifically to discuss pending litigation. The report does not disclose the settlement amount under consideration, as those discussions are intended for closed session. The City Attorney's report was referred to the Budget and Finance Committee on June 25, 2026, where it currently awaits review. The file is open and expires June 24, 2028. The involvement of LAPD's Risk Management and Legal Affairs Division and the Board of Police Commissioners, both copied on the report, reflects the matter's connection to LAPD officer conduct.

Activity (2)

• 2026-06-25 City Attorney document(s) referred to Budget and Finance Committee.
• 2026-06-24 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated June 4, 2026.

Documents (1)

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