Investigator II - Claims

Los Angeles City Attorney's Office; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office seeks a Claims Investigator to support the Claims Investigations Section. The role involves gathering evidence, conducting witness interviews, and preparing clear statements for civil liability matters.

You will evaluate damages, liaise with claimants, and assist attorneys in litigation. The position requires knowledge of civil investigation procedures, strong organizational skills, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• Experience in civil claims investigation and evaluation.
• Experience investigating and evaluating bodily injury claims, including medical records.
• Knowledge of civil investigation procedures and evidence rules.

Responsibilities

• Gather evidence for general liability claims and lawsuits.
• Conduct complex witness interviews and prepare statements.
• Communicate with claimants and constituents professionally.
• Obtain and evaluate reports and photos; write detailed findings.
• Evaluate liability, negotiate settlements, and assess damages.
• Make court appearances and update the claims database.

Skills

Civil claims investigation

Bodily injury claims

Civil procedure knowledge

Interviewing witnesses

Independent judgment

Organizational skills

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Word

Job description

About Us

The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney is one of the nation's largest municipal law offices. With over 1,000 legal professionals, including 500 attorneys, the Office provides the City of Los Angeles (“City”) with the highest caliber of legal services, ranging from prosecuting criminal misdemeanors and playing a leading role in criminal justice reform to advising on homelessness initiatives, defending civil lawsuits and claims, and bringing civil enforcement actions in the name of the People of the State of California.

Guided by an overarching commitment to integrity, service and accountability, we find great meaning in the work we do and the services we provide.

We seek collaborative team players who understand that fulfilling our mission is key to making a positive impact.

Description

Claims Investigations Section investigates and processes all personal injury and property damage claims filed against the City of Los Angeles. In addition, the Section is responsible for investigation and support of matters that are assigned to attorneys involved in litigation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this position include the following:

• Gathering evidence and information forgeneral liabilityclaims and lawsuits filed against the City of Los Angeles;
• Conducting complexinterviews of witnesses and claimants, and preparing clear witness statements;
• Communicating with claimants and constituents in an effective and professional manner;
• Obtaining and evaluatingcourt documents,department and police reports,trafficaccident reports,andphotos;
• Writing detailed investigation reports and findings;
• Evaluating the validity of claims to determine liability, and negotiating settlements;
• Evaluating bodily injury and medical records to quantify monetary damages;
• Evaluating damage to real and personal property to quantify monetary damages;
• Making small claims court appearances;
• Filing and maintaining orderly claim files, and updatingthe claims database in CityLaw;
• Handling a high volume of assignments from the Chief Investigator, attorneys and risk management staff;
• Conducting both moving and stationary surveillance using video equipment, taking photographs, measurements and drawing scale diagrams;
• Adjusting auto liability damage and bodily injury claims;
• Conducting follow-up investigations for attorneys involved in litigated matters;
• Obtaining public records, medical records or evidence for use by Liability Section attorneys;
• Testifying in depositions;
• Following Department Operating Procedures and meeting strict deadlines; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Applicants must have:

• Experience in civil claims investigation and evaluation;
• Experience investigating and evaluating bodily injury claims, including reviewing medical records and evaluating damages;
• Knowledge of civil investigation procedures and evidence rules and requirements is also required.
• A valid Class “C” California Driver’s License;
• Must be proficient in the operation of a personal computer, including proficiency in Microsoft Word;
• The selected applicant should be self-motivated, a quick learner, exercise independent judgment, and work with minimum supervision;
• Excellent organizational skills, and the ability to work well with other employees of this office and personnel from other agencies;
• Reliable attendance and punctuality is mandatory;
• Applicants must be able to lift boxes (up to 25 lbs) with or without reasonable accommodation;
• The hours for this position are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, however, flexibility is required as surveillance and subrosa may include weekends and odd hours.

Desired Qualifications

• A minimum of two years of experience in civil claims investigation and evaluation is preferred;
• Experience evaluating personal injury and property damage matters;
• Experience testifying in court.

Supplemental Information

Retirement Benefits

Employees participate in the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS), which includes mandatory employee pension contributions through payroll deduction. The City also contributes toward the employee’s retirement benefit. Contribution rates are established by the applicable retirement system an may vary based on employee classification, membership status, and other factors. For more information, please visit: https://www.lacers.org/

Current Location

City Hall East, 200 N. Main Street, Los Angeles. Position is subject to assignment at any location of the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney.

This position requires regular onsite work. Employer-provided parking is limited and may not be available for this classification. Employees may be responsible for securing and paying for parking at nearby facilities. Applicants are encouraged to review available commute and transportation resources through the City’s COMMUTEwell program. For more information, please visit: https://lacommutewell.com/

Probation

For external applicants – Appointment to this exempt position (non-Civil Service) will be subject to a one-year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the one-year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

Conflict-of-Interest

This position is designated as Category 10 on the Conflict-of-Interest Code.

AS A COVERED ENTITY UNDER TITLE Il OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY AND, UPON REQUEST, WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO ITS PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. TO REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, PLEASE CALL THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION AT [phone].