Boca Raton Settles Two Lawsuits, Claims Against City

Boca Raton city hall, Boca Raton, FL, Sept. 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The Boca Raton City Council recently approved two unrelated settlements totaling more than $200,000 resolving claims against the city.

In the first, the council authorized a $120,000 payment to settle the lawsuit Rita Riva v. City of Boca Raton. The suit arose from a May 25, 2023, automobile collision on North Military Trail. According to the complaint, a city employee was driving a city-owned vehicle and failed to yield, striking the vehicle driven by Rita Riva and causing her to be injured and prompting the lawsuit. Riva had previously submitted a pre-suit notice under Florida law seeking at least $200,000. Outside counsel for the city was authorized to finalize the settlement and obtain releases.

In the second matter, the council approved an $81,652.92 settlement with Alan Perry for property damage at a residential home on SW 21st Street. On March 15, 2026, a city utility technician responding to a water service line leak in the property’s backyard experienced a failure of a galvanized adapter, connecting the service line to a 1977 water main. The resulting water release flooded the residence’s interior and exterior areas, including the pool, synthetic turf, pavers and landscaping. City crews isolated the main and completed repairs later that evening.

Perry’s original claim of $99,453.26 was reduced by roughly 18 percent after the city’s Risk Management Division reviewed invoices, obtained an independent estimate for interior reconstruction, applied deductions and negotiated removal of non-compensable items. The approved amount covers verified emergency mitigation, reconstruction, pool work, turf and paver restoration, and related repairs, according to a memorandum.

City Manager Mark Sohaney recommended both settlements pursuant to city code requirements for claims exceeding $50,000; funds will come from the city’s self-insured liability account.