Claim Against State Must be Filed in Accord with Statute
Barry Zalma
Dec 6, 2023
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In Angela Erika Cantu v. California Department Of Transportation et al., F084601, California Court of Appeals (November 30, 2023) Angela Cantu sued the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and James Hinson for alleged injuries sustained in a motor vehicle incident. Because she failed to file a proper and timely claim the trial court granted summary judgment to Caltrans and Hinson and Cantu appealed.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Angela Cantu and James Hinson, a Caltrans employee, were involved in a motor vehicle collision on State Route 168 in Fresno. Two months later, on August 17, 2018, Caltrans received, via facsimile, a letter from counsel retained by Angela Cantu.
Richard Maynard, an analyst with the California Department of General Services, responded to Cantu's "letter of representation dated 8-17-2018," and shortly thereafter informed Cantu's attorneys that he would be "handling this file for the State of California." Maynard advised counsel that "The State of California has a six-month statute of limitation. If your claim is not resolved within six months from the date of loss, California law requires you to file a formal claim with the Government Claims Program (GCP) (Government Code 900, et seq.).
Cantu's counsel took no further action until January 8, 2020, over 18 months after the underlying traffic collision. In the meantime, the six month claim period lapsed on December 19, 2018. Eventually, on January 8, 2020, Cantu's counsel filed a Government Claim form, along with the $25 filing fee and an application to file a late claim. Thereafter Cantu filed a complaint in the Fresno County Superior Court.
Caltrans and James Hinson filed a motion for summary judgment on grounds that Cantu had failed to file an appropriate claim under the Government Claims Act, a mandatory prerequisite to filing a lawsuit. Judgment was subsequently entered in favor of Caltrans and James Hinson. Cantu appealed.
DISCUSSION
Trial Court Properly Granted Summary Judgment Based on Cantu's Failure to Comply with the Government Claims Act
The trial court found Cantu had not complied with the claim presentation requirement of the Government Claims Act in this matter. Since plaintiff's counsel's letter does not touch on many of the required elements of a claim as specified in Government Code section 910, there was no substantial compliance.
Cantu's Claims are Barred Under the Government Claims Act
The California Government Claims Act (Gov. Code, § 900 et seq.) requires a plaintiff seeking money damages against public entities and public employees acting within the scope of their employment, to file an initial claim with the relevant public entity.
While Cantu's August 17, 2018 letter references a motor vehicle accident, it did not describe the circumstances of the accident nor any alleged injuries. More importantly, the letter does not specify the type of resolution contemplated by Cantu or whether a lawsuit was anticipated. Accordingly, the August 17, 2018 letter did not substantially comply with the Government Claims Act.
Here, the August 17, 2018 letter sent to Catrans on behalf of Cantu, was signed by a paralegal at a law firm. There is nothing in the subject letter that makes it readily discernible that appellant was making a compensable claim against the relevant government entity or that the failure to satisfy it would result in litigation nor an explanation why there was no response to the Cal Trans letter advising of the limitations. Therefore, Cantu's letter of August 17, 2018, was not a "claim as presented" and did not trigger the notice-or-waiver provisions of Government Code sections 910.8 and 911.
The Court of Appeals was unable to find an error in the trial court's analysis and affirmed it decision.
ZALMA OPINION
Statutes of limitation prevent stale claims. The paralegal's initial letter was sufficiently prompt and the law firm was advised by the state of the need to comply with the statute. Rather, counsel did nothing for more than two years. The decision of the trial court was easy and obvious. Ms. Cantu is not without a remedy for her injuries, she can sue her lawyer to recover the damages she could have recovered if his sloth and inadequate response had not occurred.
(c) 2023 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Amended Complaint Provides Escape from Anti-Assignment Condition
Post number 5345
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/proper-inconsistent-pleading-defeats-policy-condition-barry-mrugc, shttps://www.linkedin.com/pulse/proper-inconsistent-pleading-defeats-policy-condition-barry-mrugc and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
State Farm’s Responsive Pleading Defeated Motion on Anti Assignment Condition
In Tyra Caire Treadway v. State Farm Fire And Casualty Company, Civil Action No. 23-6834, United States District Court, E.D. Louisiana (April 28, 2026) Plaintiff Tyra Caire Treadway owned property at 7000-02 Jeannette Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, which was insured under a State Farm homeowners’ policy.
Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana on August 29, 2021, causing damage to the property. Nearly two years later, on August 9, 2023, Treadway sold the property to M1SRJT Jeanette, LLC and assigned her State Farm insurance claim, including the right to pursue additional damages and penalties for ...
Amended Complaint Provides Escape from Anti-Assignment Condition
Post number 5345
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/proper-inconsistent-pleading-defeats-policy-condition-barry-mrugc, shttps://www.linkedin.com/pulse/proper-inconsistent-pleading-defeats-policy-condition-barry-mrugc and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
State Farm’s Responsive Pleading Defeated Motion on Anti Assignment Condition
In Tyra Caire Treadway v. State Farm Fire And Casualty Company, Civil Action No. 23-6834, United States District Court, E.D. Louisiana (April 28, 2026) Plaintiff Tyra Caire Treadway owned property at 7000-02 Jeannette Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, which was insured under a State Farm homeowners’ policy.
Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana on August 29, 2021, causing damage to the property. Nearly two years later, on August 9, 2023, Treadway sold the property to M1SRJT Jeanette, LLC and assigned her State Farm insurance claim, including the right to pursue additional damages and penalties for ...
BACKGROUND
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Plaintiff:
Andrew J. Mitchell, an incarcerated individual proceeding pro se sued Pandit Law Firm, LLC, on behalf of a corporation that was controlled by Mitchell who had operated Mitchell Adjusting International LLC (MAI), a Texas limited liability company.
According to the US Attorney:
A Texas man (Mitchell) acting as an insurance adjuster who cheated an Albany church out of millions of dollars paid out by its insurance company to repair its facilities heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael in 2018 was sentenced to serve more than 19 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $4 million in restitution to victims in several states.
Andrew Mitchell, formerly Andrew Aga, 46, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $2,895,903.01 in restitution to the Brotherhood ...
It is Fraud to Make the Same Claim Twice
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Chutzpah: After Being Paid for a New Roof Insured Makes Second Claim For Same Damages
Post number 5347
No One is Entitled to be Paid for the Same Loss Twice
In Mohammed Ali Khalili v. State Farm Lloyds, No. 14-25-00611-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas (April 30, 2026) Khalili maintained a State Farm Lloyds homeowners insurance policy for decades. In 2008 he filed a roof-damage claim; State Farm paid him to replace the entire roof (shingles and gutters). Khalili never replaced the roof and repeated his claim.
BACKGROUND
In 2021 he filed a second roof claim. State Farm’s inspectors found the roof “very old” with extensive non-storm-related damage. The claim was denied because (1) the damage did not exceed the deductible and (2) State Farm had already paid for a full roof replacement.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
State Farm filed motion for summary...
It is Fraud to Make the Same Claim Twice
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fraud-make-same-claim-twice-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-c4g8c and at https://zalma.com/blog.
Chutzpah: After Being Paid for a New Roof Insured Makes Second Claim For Same Damages
Post number 5347
No One is Entitled to be Paid for the Same Loss Twice
In Mohammed Ali Khalili v. State Farm Lloyds, No. 14-25-00611-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas (April 30, 2026) Khalili maintained a State Farm Lloyds homeowners insurance policy for decades. In 2008 he filed a roof-damage claim; State Farm paid him to replace the entire roof (shingles and gutters). Khalili never replaced the roof and repeated his claim.
BACKGROUND
In 2021 he filed a second roof claim. State Farm’s inspectors found the roof “very old” with extensive non-storm-related damage. The claim was denied because (1) the damage did not exceed the deductible and (2) State Farm had already paid for a full roof replacement.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
State Farm filed motion for summary...
What Must be Done after Notice of a Claim is Received by the Insurer
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A first party property policy does not insure property: it insures a person, partnership, corporation or other entity against the risk of loss of the property. Before an insured can make a claim for indemnity under a policy of first party property insurance the insured must prove that there was damage to property the risk of loss of which was insured by the policy. The obligation imposed on the insured ...
