A reader and a lawyer have put out the following warning that if a resident applied for and received a Los Angeles County Household Relief Grant, it could pose a problem if you joined a lawsuit.
A reader wrote: “Many of us have applied to Los Angeles County for a ‘Household Relief Grant.’ It was recently brought to my attention, as a condition to receiving a Household Relief Grant, the County of Los Angeles is requiring recipients to sign an agreement which includes a ‘release’ and an ‘indemnity’ provision.
“Signing this kind of agreement most likely will preclude one from joining any of the several lawsuits against the LADWP,” the reader wrote.
A lawyer also warned: “One additional thing we want to bring to your attention. As many of you are aware, the County of Los Angeles has implemented a ‘Household Relief Grant’ program to provide financial assistance to households impacted by the Palisades Fire. However, as a condition to receiving a Household Relief Grant, the County of Los Angeles is requiring recipients to sign an agreement which includes a ‘release’ provision and an ‘indemnity’ provision. Without getting into the legal reasons these provisions are problematic, we wanted to make those of you had applied for a Household Relief Grant aware that these provisions exist and to alert you that signing a Household Relief Grant agreement could impair your legal rights.”
Circling the News does not give legal advice, but if you are part of a lawsuit, it seems there is a strong reason to consult your lawyer before signing and accepting money through this L.A. County program.