County of Ventura v. City of Camarillo

This is an appeal by County of Ventura, (Ventura), cross-complainant and appellant, from a summary judgment dismissing its cross-complaint against the City of Camarillo (Camarillo), cross-defendant and respondent.

On November 7, 1974, after dark, plaintiff John Larsen was a passenger in a vehicle operated by Joel Capps, who was driving northbound on Springville Road located in Ventura. Capps had turned right onto Springville Road after exiting the Ventura Freeway. At this point Springville Road ran approximately one mile, and dead-ended in a flood control channel known as Beardsley Creek. The first half mile of Springville Road was within the city limits of Camarillo, and the last half mile was in an unincorporated area of Ventura. At the “T” intersection, where Capp turned onto Springville Road from the freeway, Camarillo had erected a sign that stated “Not A Through Street.” Capp drove his car into Beardsley Creek at the end of Springville Road, injuring Larsen. Larsen sued Ventura, Camarillo, and the City of Oxnard (not involved in this appeal) for negligence. Ventura sued Camarillo by means of a cross-complaint alleging that Camarillo’s negligence was the proximate…