Los Angeles Settles Sidewalk Injury Lawsuit for $365K
Table of Contents
Case Background
This lawsuit began after Michelle Champeau, a Los Angeles resident, filed a civil complaint on February 23, 2022, in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, claiming she was injured because of a dangerous condition on public property. The case was assigned to Judge Jill Feeney at the Spring Street Courthouse.
Ms. Champeau alleged that she suffered severe injuries when she tripped and fell over an uneven sidewalk on July 24, 2021, near 7th Street and New Hampshire Avenue in Los Angeles. According to her complaint, the sidewalk had been cracked and raised for some time, posing a serious hazard to pedestrians. She asserted that the City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, and State of California owned, managed, or maintained the property and had failed to inspect or repair the area in a timely manner.
The lawsuit sought to hold these public entities responsible under premises liability and general negligence, arguing that their inaction created a dangerous condition that caused her fall.
Cause
The cause of action was premises liability and negligence. Champeau alleged that the City and County of Los Angeles, as well as the State of California, had a legal duty to maintain sidewalks in reasonably safe condition for public use. She claimed that they had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous defect well before the incident but failed to repair or warn pedestrians about it.
The City, County, and State were accused of violating California Government Code Sections 830 and 835, which hold public entities responsible for injuries caused by unsafe public property when they know or should know of the danger and fail to take corrective action.
Injury
Ms. Champeau stated that the fall caused her serious physical injuries, including trauma to her back, shoulder, and knee, along with neurological and emotional distress. She experienced lingering pain and discomfort that disrupted her daily activities and work. She also incurred medical expenses, including hospital care, physical therapy, and rehabilitation, and anticipated future treatment related to her injuries.
Damages Sought
The Plaintiff demanded compensation exceeding $25,000, the jurisdictional minimum for an unlimited civil case. She sought damages for medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of earnings, and emotional distress, along with Court costs and attorney’s fees.
Her complaint also requested any equitable relief the Court deemed appropriate, including a declaration that the Defendants were responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in safe condition.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Michelle Champeau
· Counsel for Plaintiff: Cameron Y. Brock | David M. Esfeh | Andrew C. Bryman
Defendant: City of Los Angeles | Philip Song (Doe 1)
· Counsel for Defendant: Karie Ellen Schroder | Sun Catherine
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Plaintiff’s Argument
Attorney Cameron Brock argued that Ms. Champeau’s fall resulted from the City’s failure to repair a known sidewalk defect. He pointed to testimony showing that nearby residents had complained about the uneven pavement months before the accident. The Plaintiff’s experts contended that the condition exceeded normal wear and tear and presented a clear hazard.
Brock emphasized that the City had ample opportunity to fix the defect or place warning signs but failed to do so. He asserted that this failure directly caused Ms. Champeau’s fall and subsequent injuries.
Defense’s Argument
The defense, led by Karie Schroder, denied negligence, arguing that the city did not have actual or constructive notice of the uneven sidewalk before the accident. She also contended that Ms. Champeau failed to exercise reasonable care while walking and that her injuries were partly due to her own inattention.
The defense maintained that the City’s inspection and maintenance procedures were reasonable and consistent with legal standards, and that the accident was an unfortunate, but unavoidable occurrence caused by normal sidewalk wear.
Claims
Premises Liability
Ms. Champeau claimed that the sidewalk was public property in a dangerous condition, and that the City and County were legally responsible for maintaining it. She alleged that they knew about the defect, or should have, and failed to act in a reasonable time.
Negligence
She further claimed that the public entities had breached their duty of care by failing to inspect, supervise, and repair the sidewalk. Her counsel argued that the City had an obligation to keep the streets and walkways safe for pedestrians and that ignoring visible hazards amounted to negligence under California law.
Defense
The City’s answer raised over two dozen affirmative defenses, including no legal duty, no breach, no proximate cause, and comparative negligence. The defense also cited intervening causes, lack of notice, and failure to mitigate damages.
They claimed that Ms. Champeau’s own carelessness contributed to the accident and that any damages were speculative or excessive. Additionally, the City invoked Proposition 51, limiting its responsibility for non-economic damages to the percentage of fault assigned by the jury.
Settlement
As trial approached, both parties engaged in mandatory settlement discussions to avoid the uncertainty of a jury verdict. On January 10th, 2025, before the case went to trial, the parties reached a confidential settlement agreement.
Under the terms of the settlement, the City of Los Angeles and associated Defendants agreed to pay $365,000 to resolve all claims brought by Michelle Champeau. The agreement included compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and legal costs, without any admission of wrongdoing by the Defendants.
Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com