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Claims

What is a Claim?
Pursuant to the California Government Code, in most cases a claim must be filed if you are seeking money damages from the City and/or one of its employees. With very limited exceptions, no lawsuit for money damages may be brought against the City or any of its employees unless a written claim has been properly filed with the City. WARNING: The submission of a false claim is a crime (Penal Code § 72).  The City of Los Angeles may seek to recover all costs of defense, including attorney’s fees and City resources used in defending the case, in the event a lawsuit is filed against the City which is determined not to be brought in good faith and based upon reasonable cause.

Claim Filing Timelines
Claims for death, injury to person or to personal property must be filed no longer than six (6) months after the date of occurrence (Government Code § 911.2). Any other claim, including, but not limited to, claims for damages to real property, must be filed no later than one (1) year after the occurrence (Government Code § 911.2(a)). 

How to File a Claim
Claims can be filed with the Office of the Los Angeles City Clerk or by mail with City's Claim for Damages Form. ​Upon successful online submission of your claim, you will receive a confirmation email. If you have trouble filing a claim online, call the Office of the Los Angeles City Clerk at 213-978-1133.

You cannot file a claim over the phone.

Please complete all the entries on the claim form as specifically as possible, including:

  • Your full name.
  • A current phone number, email and mailing address where correspondence will be sent.
  • The specific street address where the injury or damage occurred.
  • The date and time of loss.
  • The full name of the involved City employee.
  • The department or bureau the involved City employee works for.

Please disclose whether this loss has been claimed with another entity such as an insurance carrier. If so, please include the name of the company, handling claims representative and claim number on your claims form. 

Whom to File a Claim With
All claims seeking money damages from the City must be filed with:

Los Angeles City Clerk Claims Department
200 North Spring Street, Room 395, City Hall
Los Angeles, California 90012  

WARNING: No other city, county or federal entity or office can receive a claim seeking damages from the City of Los Angeles. This includes the City Attorney’s Office.

The Claim Process
Once your claim is filed with the City Clerk’s Office, you will be issued a claim number. The claim will then be transferred to the City Attorney’s Office for handling. A claims investigator or adjuster will be assigned to investigate your claim. If you have successfully obtained a claim number, it is unnecessary to submit a duplicate claim for the same incident.

​A City representative may contact you during the claims process to obtain additional information to ensure a thorough claims investigation. ​After the investigation, a decision will be made regarding your claim. You will be notified if your claim is denied, or the City is liable. Claims accepted for damages to a vehicle will be settled with the legal owner, representing attorney or insurance carrier (provided proof of right to recovery).

Documents Typically Needed to Process a Claim
The City will need documents supporting your claimed damages, which typically includes:

For Property Damage

  • Proof of ownership
  • Insurance Coverage Information
  • Police reports (obtain a traffic collision report; for all others, contact LAPD)
  • Repair estimates
  • Proof of paid invoices or cancelled checks
  • Photos of damage(s)

Proof of Auto Insurance

  • If you were a driver involved in an auto accident, you must provide proof of insurance at the time of the accident. If a driver did not have insurance at the time of the accident, Proposition 213 precludes the recovery of non-economic damages (e.g. pain and suffering, emotional distress).

For Personal Injury 

  • Medical records
  • Itemized billing
  • Proof of payment (e.g. cancelled checks)

A City representative may request additional documents, or seek clarification from you regarding the facts of your claim.

Submitting Documents in support of a Claim
If you have already filed a claim, you can submit supporting documents by email, fax, mail or in-person. Please include your full name, claim number and the name of your adjuster, if known, on all documents.

You can send documents via email to your assigned investigator or adjuster at their City email address. If you do not know the identity of your investigator or adjuster, you can email the documents to the City Attorney Claims Division. Please include your full name and claim number in the signature line.​

You can fax supporting documents to the City Attorney Claims Division at 213-978-7114. Please include your full name, claim number and the name of your adjuster, if known, on all documents.

You can mail supporting documents to:

City Attorney Claims Section
200 N. Main Street, Room 600, City Hall East
Los Angeles, California 90012  

Please include your full name, claim number if known, the name of your adjuster, on all documents.

WARNING: Do not submit new claims to the City Attorney’s Office. New claims can only be accepted by the City Clerk's Office. 

Computer Issues
If you are having trouble submitting a claim through the City of Los Angeles' Claim Portal, we recommend detaching any documents. These documents can be submitted to your investigator or adjuster via mail or email when they contact you. If you have persistent problems submitting a claim online, please submit a physical claim or supporting documentation in writing to the Office of the City Clerk.

Claim Status
You will be contacted once your filed claim is assigned to an adjuster or investigator. Please ensure that your phone number and email are current and can receive messages. Your claim’s investigator or adjuster will not be able to provide you with a determination until you submit supporting documentation. If your claim has not been assigned to an adjuster or investigator, you can email the the City Attorney Claims Division or call 213-978-7050.

Denied Claims
If your claim is denied, the City will notify you in writing in conformity with State law. Should you disagree with the denial of a claim, you have the right to file a court action. Subject to certain exceptions, you have six (6) months from the notice of denial’s service date to file a court action on your claim (See Government Code § 945.6). WARNING: Subject to certain exceptions, you have only six (6) months from the date the notice of denial was personally delivered or deposited in the mail to file a court action alleging state causes of action. The time within which to file federal causes of action is governed by federal statutes. 

You may seek the advice of an attorney of your choice in connection with this matter. If you choose to do so, you should do so immediately. The City will not provide an attorney for you.

Claims for Damage to City Property or Injuries to Employees
If you or your insured damaged City property or injured a City employee, you can resolve the City’s potential claim against you.

  • To resolve potential claims for damage to City property where the responsible party is 100% liable, please contact:

Office of Finance
Billing and Collections Division
200 N. Spring Street, Room 1225
Los Angeles, CA 90012-5701
Phone: 213-978-7900

Email Address: propertydamageclaims.finance@lacity.org 

  • ​​To resolve potential claims for damage to City property where the responsible party is partially responsible, please file a claim with the City Clerk.
  • ​To resolve potential claims for injury to a City employee, with or without property damages, please contact:

​Los Angeles City Attorney
Workers’ Compensation Division
Attn: Subrogation Desk
700 E. Temple St., Room 220
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone: 213-473-9474
Email Address: att.subrogation@lacity.org

  • ​To resolve potential claims for damage to the City’s commercially insured property (e.g. buildings), please contact:

​City Administrative Officer – Risk Management
200 North Main Street, Room 1240
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone: 213-978-7475
Email Address: cao.riskmgmt@lacity.org

​If you have any further questions regarding who to contact for damage to City property or injured employees, you can email your questions to attclaimsubmit@lacity.org or call 213-978-7050.

Contact the City Attorney's Claim Division
If you have questions which are not addressed above, or you are concerned about the status of your claim, contact the City Attorney’s Claims Division via email at attclaimsubmit@lacity.org or by phone at 213-978-7050. 

​WARNING: The City Attorney’s Office cannot provide you with legal advice, or advise you on how to complete a claim form. If you have any questions about how or when to file a claim and/or lawsuit, please consult with an attorney.

FAQ

  • Who is the City's insurance company?
    With some exceptions, the City is self-insured.
  • Do I need an attorney to file a claim?
    No. Any member of the public can file a claim on their own behalf. You can also consult with an attorney, or have an attorney file a claim on your behalf. If you have any questions about how or when to file a claim and/or lawsuit, you should consult with an attorney. The City will not provide you with an attorney.
  • Can City personnel fill out the form for me?
    No. City personnel cannot provide legal advice or assist you in filling out a claim. Only the claimant or his or her representative or attorney can fill out and file a claim.
     
  • What if the form does not have enough room for all my information?
    If you need additional room, fill out and attach a piece of paper to the Claim Form.
  • Do I need to submit documents? Pictures? Reports? Diagrams?
    Please include all information which describes and supports your claims. This may include pictures, diagrams, medical records, invoices and police reports. These documents do not have to be submitted when you file your claim. You can submit supporting documents through the online portal by updating your claim at the City of Los Angeles’ Claim Portal.  You can email supporting documents to: attclaimsubmit@lacity.org or fax them to: 213-978-7114. ​Please reference the claim number on the email subject line, fax cover-sheet, or transmittal cover sheet. You can also mail them to:

City Attorney Claims Section
200 N. Main Street, Room 600, City Hall East
Los Angeles, California 90012 

  • Will I be notified if information is missing from the form?
    You will be advised if your claim has insufficient information. The investigator or adjuster assigned to your claim will contact you to request any additional information.
     
  • Does every page on the form need to be signed?
    No. The Claim Form only needs to be signed once.
  • What if I received an error message submitting my claim online?
    If you have problems submitting a claim online, detach any documents and attempt to resubmit only the claim form. The documents can be submitted through the claims portal, via email, fax or mail. If you continue to have problems submitting a claim online, submit a claim in writing by mail or in person to the Office of the City Clerk. You can request a Claim Form from the City Clerk’s Office at 213-978-1133.
  • What if I am able to submit my claim, but unable to attach images, pictures, doctors, etc.?
    Documents can be submitted through the claims portal, via email, fax or mail. You can also submit documents to your investigator or adjuster in-person, via mail or email when they contact you.
  • Should I receive a claim number after I submit a claim?
    After your claim is submitted, you will receive a claim number. Please use that number to reference your claim in all communications with your assigned adjuster or investigator.
  • What happens after my claim is filed?
  • After a claim is filed, it will be:
    • Transferred to the City Attorney’s Office for handling.
    • A claims investigator or adjuster will investigate your claim.
    • Your claim will be denied or the City will accept liability.
    • If the City accepts liability, the assigned adjuster or investigator will offer compensation to settle the claim.
    • To settle the claim, the claimant must execute a Release Agreement.
    • The City issues settlement checks after receipt of the Release Agreement.
  • How can I check the status of a claim?
    To check the status of your claim, contact your assigned adjuster or investigator. If you do not know the identity of your assigned adjuster of investigator, you can contact the City Attorney’s Claims Section via email at attclaimsubmit@lacity.org or by phone at 213-978-7050.
  • When are claims paid?
    Claims are paid after the City confirms liability, the parties agree to a settlement amount, a release is executed, and a check is issued by the City Controller.
  • Why was my claim denied?
    If your claim has been denied, you will be informed in writing why your claim was denied. If you have additional questions, you can contact your assigned adjuster or investigator, or you can contact the City Attorney’s Claim Section via email at attclaimsubmit@lacity.org or by phone at 213-978-7050.
  • What needs to be done to have my claim reopened?
    If your claim was denied due to insufficient evidence, you can contact your assigned investigator or adjuster to provide additional information. This may not affect the City’s decision to deny your claim.
  • Contact the City Attorney's Office
    If you have questions which are not addressed above, or you are concerned about the status of your claim, contact the City Attorney’s Claims Division via email at attclaimsubmit@lacity.org or by phone at 213-978-7050.

    WARNING: The City Attorney’s Office cannot provide you with legal advice, or advise you on how to complete a claim form. If you have any questions about how or when to file a claim and/or lawsuit, please consult with an attorney.