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Los Angeles County officials quietly approved a $2 million settlement with County CEO Fesia Davenport in August, as revealed by LAist. The settlement compensates Davenport for alleged damages, including harm to her reputation, embarrassment, and emotional distress. As part of the agreement, Davenport relinquished her right to sue the county over claims she had made in a series of letters, as well as any past issues with the county. Neither party admitted liability, and Davenport continues in her role as CEO.
The settlement agreement, labeled "confidential," was not publicly reported by the county. County supervisors approved the tentative terms in a closed session on July 29, with the deal finalized in mid-August. The agreement requires Davenport to keep the settlement's existence and details private, with limited exceptions. It also prevents her from making disparaging statements about the Board of Supervisors and other county officials, except in certain situations, such as required testimony or disclosing unlawful conduct.
The settlement relates to "Measure G," a voter-approved measure that changes the county's leadership structure, making the CEO position elected starting in 2028. The measure was put on the ballot by a majority of Davenport's bosses on the Board of Supervisors. Despite the settlement, Davenport has taken an unscheduled leave of absence for unspecified medical reasons, unrelated to the settlement, expected to last until early next year.
Public records attorney David Loy criticized the lack of public disclosure, stating, "This is a $2 million agreement with your existing CEO. This is something the public has the right to know about." The county's usual process involves public reporting and approval of settlements over $100,000, which did not occur in this case.