Humboldt County Jail Reports: Daily Booking Sheet – June 5, 2026

Mendo District Attorney David Eysters $2 plus Million Dollar Broiler Steak House Dinner ;

This $1.5 million settlement is yet another expensive reminder of how personal vendettas and questionable spending decisions have cost Mendocino County taxpayers dearly.
DA David Eyster went after Auditor Chamise Cubbison with felony charges over $68k in disputed overtime payments — charges that were ultimately dismissed. But this whole mess traces back to Cubbison doing her job: questioning Eyster’s repeated use of public (asset forfeiture) funds for lavish staff steak dinners at the Broiler Steak House, which violated county policies.

Instead of addressing the concerns about his own office’s spending, Eyster pursued a criminal case that led to Cubbison’s suspension, massive legal bills (outside prosecutors, county defense costs), and now this big settlement. Total cost to the county? Well over $2 million when you add it all up.

Cubbison was vindicated in court, won election as Treasurer-Tax Collector, and the county is now splitting the Auditor and Treasurer offices again. Taxpayers are the ones left footing the bill for this long-running feud. Time for real accountability and oversight on how our public officials spend our money.

The lowdown;

Mendocino County Agrees to Pay $1.5 Million to Settle Lawsuit with Former Auditor Chamise Cubbison
Mendocino County has reached a $1.5 million settlement with former Auditor Chamise Cubbison to resolve her civil lawsuit against the county, according to documents obtained this week through a Public Records Act request. The agreement, signed in mid-February 2026, was kept under wraps for weeks before public disclosure.
The settlement comes after a prolonged and contentious legal battle that began when District Attorney David Eyster pursued felony charges against Cubbison related to disputed overtime payments in the Auditor’s Office. Those criminal charges were dismissed in Superior Court on February 25, 2025, with Judge Ann Moorman ruling there was no criminal intent.

Background of the Dispute
The case stemmed from approximately $68,000 in overtime paid to former Payroll Manager Paula June Kennedy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eyster accused Cubbison of authorizing a “secret pay code,” but testimony at the preliminary hearing showed the payments were known to county officials and not concealed. Cubbison had been suspended without pay in October 2023 following the charges.

Cubbison’s civil lawsuit highlighted what many viewed as political retaliation. She had raised concerns about spending practices in the District Attorney’s Office, including the use of public asset forfeiture funds for staff steak dinners at the Broiler Steak House — expenditures that appeared to violate county policies. Eyster resisted oversight on these and other issues.

Cost to Taxpayers
The $1.5 million payout is in addition to other documented costs:
Roughly $200,000 for an outside prosecutor hired by the DA’s office.
Approximately $400,000 in county defense costs for the civil case.
Total taxpayer exposure from the entire affair: $2 million or more.
Of the settlement, $143,573 will go directly to Cubbison’s retirement account to cover missed contributions during her 17-month suspension. The remaining $1.356 million addresses personal damages and attorney fees. The agreement states it is a compromise of disputed claims and does not constitute an admission of liability by any party.

Cubbison’s attorney, Therese Cannata, said her client is “pleased and grateful” to put this difficult chapter behind her as she transitions to her new role.
Positive Outcome for County Governance

In a related development, voters and the Board of Supervisors have moved to restore the independence of the Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector offices, which had been combined despite public opposition. On June 3, 2026, Cubbison was elected Treasurer-Tax Collector and appointed as interim head. Her former assistant, Megan Hunter, was appointed interim Auditor/Controller. The offices will officially separate again on July 5.

This settlement allows Cubbison to move forward while highlighting ongoing questions about accountability, transparency, and the use of public funds in Mendocino County government. County officials, including Board Chair Bernie Norvell and DA Eyster, have not publicly commented on
the settlement.