City of San Diego v. Superior Court CA4/1

Opinion

McDONALD, J.

Under the Government Claims Act (Act) (Gov. Code, § 810 et seq.), 1 a lawsuit for damages cannot be filed against a public entity unless the claimant first files a claim with the entity within a statutory period (usually six months after accrual of a cause of action) and the claim has been totally or partially denied or deemed denied within a specified time. (§§ 945.4, 911.2, subd. (a).) If a claim is not timely filed with the entity, the claimant may file an application with the entity for leave to present a late claim. (§ 915, subd. (a).) The entity generally must grant…