Contra Costa County provides payment details for out-of-court settlement in Thorpe sexual harassment case
By Susan Shiu, PIO, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media
Former LMCHD executive director and Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe.
(Martinez, CA) – Sept. 19, 2022 – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, in its capacity as successor agency to the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District (“District”), has approved an out-of-court settlement relating to claims submitted by Jasmine Cisneros and Jocelyn Munoz against the District and its former executive director, Lamar Thorpe. (See related article)
The liability insurance carrier for the former District, RSUI Group Inc, handled this matter and provided counsel to defend the claims. Following a mediation session among the parties, a settlement was reached. The settlement was fully executed on August 23, 2022.
The total amount of the settlement of both claims was $350,000, inclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs. Of the settlement amount, $321,000 was paid by the former District’s liability insurance carrier. The remaining settlement amount of $29,000 was paid from the Los Medanos Community Healthcare fund, as an insurance deductible payment.
The Board of Supervisors approved the settlement solely in its capacity as the successor agency to the District. As the successor agency, the County was required to assume all liabilities of the District, including any claims filed against it. The settlement includes a release and waiver of all claims by Cisneros and Munoz against the District, the former executive director, and the County. The settlement also avoids potentially expensive federal court litigation relating to the claims.
