Settlement Agreement Reached On Mill Villa Manor Retaining Wall

Sonora, CA – Tuolumne County has reached a $250,000 settlement agreement regarding a collapsed retaining wall at the Mill Villa Manor subdivision.

The County had been seeking $418,000 in reimbursements from the developer Gerrit Malcom and architect Russell Francis Walter, after the wall partially collapsed in spring of 2006. The developers refused to fix the wall, so it cost Tuolumne County $358,000 to rebuild it and $60,000 accrued in administrative costs.

County Counsel Gregory Oliver wrote in a memorandum to the Supervisors, "As in the case with any settlement, all sides compromised their positions in order to finally resolve the matter. The settlement of the case is not an admission by any party as to liability or lack of merit as to the County’s claims. It is my office’s position that it is a fair and equitable settlement and in the County’s best interest from both legal and economic standpoints."

The settlement was approved by a vote of the Supervisors.

Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.