City of Suisun, California v. Department of Homeland Security et al

Filing 10

STIPULATION and ORDER APPROVING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT signed by Chief Judge Morrison C. England, Jr on 12/15/13. CASE CLOSED.(Kaminski, H)

1 BENJAMIN B. WAGNER
United States Attorney
2 CHI SOO KIM
Assistant United States Attorney
3 501 I Street, Suite 10-100
Sacramento, CA 95814
4 Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
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6 Attorneys for Defendant
United States of America
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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CITY OF SUISUN, CALIFORNIA,
Plaintiff,

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v.

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CASE NO. CASE NO. 2: 13-CV-02399 MCE-KJN
STIPULATION AND ORDER APPROVING
COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND
DISMISSING ACTION WITH PREJUDICE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendant.

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It is hereby stipulated by and between Plaintiff City of Suisun and Defendant United States of

18 America, by and through their respective attorneys, as follows:
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1.

The parties do hereby agree to settle and compromise each and every claim of any kind,

20 whether known or unknown, arising directly or indirectly from the acts or omissions that gave rise to the
21 above-captioned action under the terms and conditions set forth in this Settlement Agreement.
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2.

The United States of America agrees to pay the sum of $1,571.73, which sum shall be in

23 full settlement and satisfaction of any and all claims, demands, rights, and causes of action of
24 whatsoever kind and nature, arising from, and by reason of any and all known and unknown, foreseen
25 and unforeseen bodily and personal injuries, damage to property and the consequences thereof, resulting,
26 and to result, from the subject matter of this settlement, including any claims for wrongful death, for
27 which Plaintiff or its guardians, heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, and each of them, now have
28 or may hereafter acquire against the United States of America, its agents, servants, and employees.
STIPULATION AND ORDER APPROVING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSING ACTION
WITH PREJUDICE – City of Suisun v. U.S., No. 13-CV-02399 MCE-KJN

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3.

Plaintiff and its guardians, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns hereby agree to

2 accept the sums set forth in this Stipulation of Compromise Settlement in full settlement, satisfaction,
3 and release of any and all claims, demands, rights, and causes of action of whatsoever kind and nature,
4 including claims for wrongful death, arising from, and by reason of any and all known and unknown,
5 foreseen and unforeseen bodily and personal injuries, damage to property and the consequences thereof
6 which they may have or hereafter acquire against the United States of America, its agents, servants and
7 employees on account of the same subject matter that gave rise to the above-captioned action, including
8 any future claim or lawsuit of any kind or type whatsoever, whether known or unknown, and whether
9 for compensatory or exemplary damages. Plaintiff and its guardians, heirs, executors, administrators or
10 assigns further agree to reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the United States of America, its
11 agents, servants, and employees from and against any and all such causes of action, claims, liens, rights,
12 or subrogated or contribution interests incident to or resulting from further litigation or the prosecution
13 of claims by Plaintiff or its guardians, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns against any third party
14 or against the United States, including claims for wrongful death.
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4.

Plaintiff expressly waives any rights or benefits available pursuant to Section 1542 of the

16 Civil Code of the State of California, which provides as follows:
“A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or
suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if
known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the
debtor.”

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The parties understand and agree that this Stipulation of Compromise Settlement shall act as a release of
future claims that may arise from the subject matter of the above-captioned action, whether such claims
are currently known, unknown, foreseen or unforeseen. The parties understand and acknowledge the
significance and consequences of the specific waiver of section 1542 and hereby assume full
responsibility for any injury, loss, damage or liability that may be incurred hereafter by reason of or
related to the subject matter that gave rise to this action.
5.

This stipulation for compromise settlement is not, is in no way intended to be, and should

not be construed as, an admission of liability or fault on the part of the United States, its agents,
servants, or employees, and it is specifically denied that they are liable to Plaintiff. This settlement is
STIPULATION AND ORDER APPROVING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSING ACTION
WITH PREJUDICE – City of Suisun v. U.S., No. 13-CV-02399 MCE-KJN

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1 entered into by all parties for the purpose of compromising disputed claims under the Federal Tort
2 Claims Act and avoiding the expenses and risks of further litigation.
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6.

It is also agreed, by and among the parties, that the respective parties will each bear their

4 own costs, fees, and expenses and that any attorney's fees owed by Plaintiff will be paid out of the
5 settlement amount and not in addition thereto.
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7.

It is also understood by and among the parties that pursuant to Title 28, United States

7 Code, Section 2678, attorney’s fees for services rendered in connection with this action shall not exceed
8 25 per centum of the amount of the compromise settlement.
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8.

The persons signing this Settlement Agreement warrant and represent that they possess

10 full authority to bind the persons on whose behalf they are signing to the terms of the settlement. In the
11 event any plaintiff is a minor or a legally incompetent adult, Plaintiff must obtain Court approval of the
12 settlement at its expense. Plaintiff agrees to obtain such approval in a timely manner: time being of the
13 essence. Plaintiff further agrees that the United States may void this settlement at its option in the event
14 such approval is not obtained in a timely manner. In the event Plaintiff fails to obtain such Court
15 approval, the entire Stipulation For Compromise Settlement And Release and the compromise
16 settlement are null and void.
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9.

Payment of the settlement amount will be made by check drawn on the Treasury of the

18 United States for one thousand five hundred seventy-one dollars and 73 cents ($1,571.73) and made
19 payable to the City of Suisun, Plaintiff. The check will be mailed to Plaintiff's attorney at the following
20 address: Wheatley Bingham & Baker LLP, 462 Stevens Avenue, Suite 109, Solana Beach, CA 92075.
21 Plaintiff's attorney agrees to distribute the settlement proceeds to Plaintiff, and to obtain a dismissal of
22 the above-captioned action with prejudice, with each party bearing its own fees, costs, and expenses.
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10.

The parties agree that this Stipulation for Compromise Settlement and Release, including

24 all the terms and conditions of this compromise settlement and any additional agreements relating
25 thereto, may be made public in their entirety, and Plaintiff expressly consents to such release and
26 disclosure pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b).
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11.

It is contemplated that this Stipulation may be executed in several counterparts, with a

28 separate signature page for each party. All such counterparts and signature pages, together, shall be
STIPULATION AND ORDER APPROVING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSING ACTION
WITH PREJUDICE – City of Suisun v. U.S., No. 13-CV-02399 MCE-KJN

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1 deemed to be one document.
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12.

Upon approval by the Court as provided below, Plaintiff’s action against the United

3 States is hereby DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE in its entirety and the Clerk of the Court is requested
4 to enter this dismissal and release in the official docket and to close the case.
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13.

Notwithstanding the entry of a dismissal herein, the parties agree that that the Honorable

6 Morrison C. England, Jr. shall retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this compromise settlement.
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Respectfully submitted,

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Dated: December 11, 2013

/s/ Mark H. Baker
MARK H. BAKER
Attorneys for Plaintiff City of Suisun

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WHEATLEY BINGHAM & BAKER LLP

Dated: December 10, 2013

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BENJAMIN B. WAGNER
United States Attorney
/s/ Chi Soo Kim
CHI SOO KIM
Assistant United States Attorney

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ORDER

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

20 Dated: December 15, 2013
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STIPULATION AND ORDER APPROVING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSING ACTION
WITH PREJUDICE – City of Suisun v. U.S., No. 13-CV-02399 MCE-KJN

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