Facts

Plaintiff Paul Novros owned commercial property on Cahuenga Blvd. in Los Angeles. He brought an inverse condemnation action against defendant City of Los Angeles. His insurance carriers, Fireman's Fund Insurance Carrier and The American Insurance Company, intervened in the action.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff contended that the City of Los Angeles' construction of a pedestrian crosswalk in front of his building resulted in the loss of six parking spaces that had previously been used for his property. He claimed that this caused his property to lose $250,000 in value and become more difficult to sell. He also claimed that his property was flooded with black water following a backed up City of Los Angeles sewer line.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendant contended that the construction of the crosswalk was a valid exercise of its police power.

Result

Plaintiff and his insurance carriers, the Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. and The American Insurance Co., settled with the city for $338,500. The city settled with the plaintiff's insurers for $100,000, representing approximately 50 percent of what it paid to the plaintiff. The city also settled with the plaintiff for $238,500 representing his losses from a claimed sewage back up. The city successfully demurred to the claim that the plaintiff lost six parking spaces by the public improvement.

Other Information

FILING DATE: Sept. 17, 2013.