Orange County board reports three closed‑session settlements, including $3.5 million flood‑control easement

County counsel told the Orange County Board of Supervisors that the board unanimously approved three settlements in closed session, including a $3.5 million agreement tied to the Prado Dam flood‑control project.

County counsel reported the board approved a proposed $150,000 settlement in Robert McDougall v. County of Orange. Counsel said McDougall alleged civil‑rights violations and that Correctional Health Services failed to provide adequate medical care after an altercation in the Orange County Jail. "The board unanimously approved a proposed $150,000 settlement to the matter of Robert McDougall versus the County of Orange," counsel said.

The board also approved a settlement in Orange County Flood Control District v. McCune Realty Investment Company to acquire a 95,436‑square‑foot flowage easement on property in the County of Riverside needed for the Prado Dam/Santa Ana River mainstem flood‑control project. County counsel said the stated total settlement is $3,500,000, consisting of $3,400,000 in just compensation plus roughly $100,000 for interest and costs. Counsel said the board authorized county counsel and outside counsel to execute and file the necessary settlement documents and directed the auditor‑controller to encumber and transfer $1,451,000 from the 404 reserve account for direct payment to property owners.

Counsel noted that copies of the finalized settlement agreements will be available from Risk Management and county counsel, and that some settlements will require additional approvals by other parties when the written agreements are completed.

Finally, counsel reported that plaintiffs in Johnson Wynne v. County of Orange have accepted the county’s $800,000 offer to settle claims alleging excessive force, wrongful death and civil‑rights violations arising from an officer‑involved shooting and a stolen car. "Plaintiffs have accepted the county's $800,000 offer to settle the case," counsel said.

Chair Jones closed the report and confirmed the board’s next meeting time. The board adjourned after concluding the day’s business.

Next steps: counsel and outside counsel were authorized to finalize and execute the settlement documents; the auditor‑controller was authorized to encumber and transfer the specified funds. Several settlements, the county said, still require other approvals once the agreements are finalized.