Breaking News

The Daily Bulletin reports that Claremont's insurer, the Joint Powers Insurance Authority (JPIA), has reached a $17.5 million settlement in the Palmer Canyon homeowners' lawsuit over the 2003 Grand Prix fire. The fire destroyed 43 homes in the canyon and more in Padua Hills and Clareboya.

The plaintiffs argued that the city failed to properly clear brush in Claremont Wilderness Park, which surrounds the canyon. Claremont Mayor Peter Yao is quoted in the Bulletin as saying the payout is one of the largest in JPIA history and that while the city admitted no fault, "'... based on the fact that we're paying something, that implies we do have a certain amount of responsibility.'"

We'll try to have more on this in the coming days. If you have any information, please forward it to claremontbuzz@yahoo.com.