Magnuson-Hoyt v. County of Contra Costa

[228 CalApp3d Page 141] Verna Magnuson-Hoyt appeals following summary judgment of her inverse condemnation suit against the County of Contra Costa.1 Appellant claimed that landslide damage to her property in 1986 was caused by the manner in which an adjoining public street was constructed in 1968. The complaint alleged the county ""substantially participated in the design and construction"" of the street, which originally was accepted by the county for public use. Thirteen days after the acceptance, title to the street was transferred to the newly incorporated City of Lafayette. The county had no responsibility for maintenance of the street after June 1977. In August 1987, more than 10 years later, appellant filed her suit.