Tom Selleck Reaches Settlement in California Water Dispute
Actor Tom Selleck to Pay Over $21,000 to Settle California Water Dispute
Actor Tom Selleck has agreed to pay more than $21,000 to the Calleguas Water District in a settlement related to a lawsuit that alleged unauthorized water deliveries to his expansive Hidden Valley property.
The lawsuit emerged amid California’s ongoing four-year drought, which has prompted water districts to enforce significant cutbacks. “We believe those we represent expect us to protect and preserve our water supplies,” said Thomas Slosson, acting board president of the Calleguas Water District, following the board’s acceptance of the settlement offer.
According to the lawsuit, a water tender truck was spotted as early as 2013 filling up at a hydrant in Thousand Oaks and transporting the water to Selleck’s 61-acre ranch. Over the next two years, these deliveries reportedly occurred at least 12 times.
The district sought an end to these deliveries and reimbursement for $21,685.55 spent on a private investigator. Selleck has agreed to cover this amount in the settlement. The private company responsible for the water delivery was not named in the suit; however, it was noted that while the company paid for the water, it violated state and local regulations by taking water from one district and delivering it to another.
Susan Mulligan, general manager of the water district, emphasized the unfairness of the situation for local ratepayers, as those purchasing water outside the district do not contribute to property taxes and fees necessary for maintaining the infrastructure. “The water delivered and used in this case was not fully paid for, period,” she stated.
It remains unclear whether Selleck was aware of the source of the water. Eric Bergh, resources manager for the Calleguas Water District, highlighted that unauthorized water extraction from their service area is a longstanding issue, especially critical during California’s severe drought. “Taking water from the public hydrant is equivalent to a leak in the system,” he explained. “This is a leak we need to patch.”
