The following is a press release from an organization unaffiliated with Voice of OC. The views expressed here are not those of Voice of OC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2016
Contact: Jean Pasco
(714) 834-7218
jean.pasco@ocgov.com
Supervisors Settle Lawsuit Involving County Building
The Orange County Board of Supervisors has settled a lawsuit alleging unsafe conditions at a Social Services Agency building in Orange.
Details of the settlement are pending court approval and not available for release.
The County opted to settle the lawsuit, filed in 2010, because of uncertainties with the outcome of a jury trial and the impact of a state law that allows any party found to be just 1% at fault to pay an entire economic damage award.
The County initially leased and began occupying the building at 840 N. Eckhoff Street in 1993. In 2009, the building was purchased after an independent site assessment found no environmental concerns and confirmed that the building was safe for business operations.
Extensive testing of the soil and air in and around the Eckhoff facility was conducted over the past five years. The tests concluded that the building is safe and could be occupied by employees for regular use without restrictions.
The County is committed to ensuring that all of its facilities remain safe for employees and the public. Employees have been informed of the settlement decision and encouraged to share any concerns with management. The County will conduct air-quality assessments as needed of the Eckhoff building going forward and share the results with employees.
The lawsuit is Gavin Kirk, et al v. County of Orange, et al., Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2010-00423097 and related cases 30-2013-00629446.
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