Opinion
Case No.: 3:08-CV-00285-LDG-RAM
08-04-2011
ALICIA UHOUSE, an individual; CRYSTAL G. ZAVAKLA, an individual; JAMES A. SLUSSER, an individual; DAVID M. And MARY A. HAIL; individually and/or as husband and wife; and ERNIE E. DUARTE, an individual, on behalf of themselves and those similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION; DIRK KEMPTHORNE, in his official capacity as Secretary of the Interior; BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TRUCKEE- CARSON IRRIGATION DISTRICT, as individuals; TRUCKEE-CARSON IRRIGATION DISTRICT, a political subdivision of the State of Nevada; DAVID OVERVOLD, in his capacity as the Project Manager of the TRUCKEE-CARSON IRRIGATION DISTRICT; and DOES 1 1000, Defendants.
Brent T. Kolvet, Esq. State Bar No.: 1597 Thomdal, Armstrong, Delk, Balkenbush & Eisinger Reno, NV 89509
Brent T. Kolvet, Esq.
State Bar No.: 1597
Thomdal, Armstrong, Delk, Balkenbush & Eisinger
Reno, NV 89509
ORDER APPROVING GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT
This matter came on for hearing before the above-referenced Court on the joint motion filed by the City of Femley and Lyon County for good faith settlement. Appearing on behalf of the Plaintiff class were Robert Maddox of the law firm of Maddox & Associates, Calvin R.X. Dunlap, of the firm of Dunlap & Laxalt, Eugene Leverty, Leverty & Associates, Robert Hager of the firm Hager & Hearne, and Lee Hotchkins, Esq. Appearing on behalf of the City of Fernley, Brent Kolvet of Thorndal, Armstrong, Detk, Balkenbush and Eisinger and appearing on behalf of Lyon County, Charles Burcham of Thoomdal, Armstrong, Delk, Balkenbush and Eisinger. The Court having reviewed the joint motion for good faith settlement and noting that there is no opposition to the motion on file and the Court being fully advised in the premises, the Court makes the following findings and order:
1. That the settlement amounts to be paid by the City of Fernley ($5 million dollars) and Lyon County ($1.3 million dollars) are reasonable in light of the potential defenses to liability and the Findings relates to other factors set forth below.
2. That the allocation of the settlement proceeds among Plaintiffs has been agreed to by the Plaintiffs and is therefore reasonable.
3. That the insurance policy limits of each of the settling Defendants is $10 million dollars, however, the insurance limits are self-consuming and should this matter have proceeded to trial, the available insurance would have been greatly reduced to the detriment of the Plaintiff class.
4. That these settling Defendants are political subdivisions of the State of Nevada and as such their financial condition have been greatly impacted by the general economic down turn so that the ability of these Defendants to pay any judgments outside of the available insurance would be severely limited, if non-existent. Settlement, therefore, within policy limits of the available insurance is in the best interests of the settling class and of these Defendants.
5. That the settlement was the result of arm's length, good faith negotiations conducted through the efforts of a court appointed mediator. Therefore, there is no evidence of collusion, fraud, or tortuous conduct intended to injure the interests of any non-settling Defendants.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that based on the findings related to the factors the Court must consider that the settlement entered into between the Settling Class, the City of Fernley and the County of Lyon is in good faith and the Joint Motion for Good Faith Settlement is hereby granted.
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UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Pursuant to FRCP 5(b), I certify that I am an employee of Thomdal, Armstrong, Delk, Balkenbush & Eisinger, and that on this date I caused the foregoing ORDER APPROVING GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT to be served on all parties to this action via the U.S. District Court's e-filing (CM/ECF) system and/or by placing an original or true copy thereof in a sealed, postage prepaid, envelope in the United States mail at Reno, Nevada, fully addressed as follows:
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ¦Counsel ¦Phone/Fax/Email ¦Partie(s) ¦ +-----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------¦ ¦Robert R. Hager. Esq. ¦Phone: (775) 329-5800 ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Treva J. Hearne, Esq. ¦Fax: (775) 329-5819 ¦Kroshus ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Hager & Hearne ¦E-Mail: ¦Plaintiffs and ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦245 E. Liberty Street, Suite ¦Darrlawoffices@sbcglobal.net ¦Adamson ¦ ¦110 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦TrevaHeam@aol.com ¦Plaintiffs ¦ ¦Reno, NV 89501 ¦ ¦ ¦ +-----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦Phone: (775)786-5791 ¦ ¦ ¦Lee T. Hotchkin, Esq. ¦ ¦Kroshus ¦ ¦ ¦Fax: (775) 786-8524 ¦ ¦ ¦1025 Ridgeview Dr., Ste. 200 ¦ ¦Plaintiffs and ¦ ¦ ¦E-Mail: lthotch@sbcglobal.com ¦ ¦ ¦Reno, NV 89519 ¦ ¦Adamson ¦ ¦ ¦hotchkinlaw@sbcglobal.net ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Plaintiffs ¦ +-----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------¦ ¦Randall K. Edwards, Esq. ¦ ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦The Reams Building ¦Phone: (801) 328-0300 ¦Kroshus ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦136 South Main Street, Suite ¦Fax: (801) 328-4822 ¦Plaintiffs and ¦ ¦700 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦randallkedwards@yahoo.com ¦Adamson ¦ ¦Salt Lake City, UT 84101 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Plaintiffs ¦ +-----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------¦ ¦ ¦Phone: (775) 323-7790 ¦ ¦ ¦Calvin R.X. Dunlap, Esq. ¦ ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦Fax: (775) 323-5454 ¦ ¦ ¦Monique Laxalt, Esq. ¦ ¦Reynolds ¦ ¦ ¦E-Mail: ¦ ¦ ¦537 Ralston Street Reno, NV ¦worldlyx@worldnet.att.net ¦Plaintiffs ¦ ¦89503 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦danniellyk@sbcglobal.com ¦ ¦ +-----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------¦ ¦Robert C. Maddox, Esq. ¦Phone: (775) 322-3666 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Robert C. Maddox & Associates¦Fax: (775) 322-6338 ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦10587 Double R Blvd. Suite ¦E-Mail: ¦Reynolds ¦ ¦100 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦rmaddox@maddoxandassociates.co¦Plaintiffs ¦ ¦Reno, NV 89521 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦m ¦ ¦ +-----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------¦ ¦Vernon E. Leverty, Esq. ¦Phone: (775) 322-6636 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Patrick R. Leverty, Esq. ¦Fax: (775) 322-3953 ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦William R. Ginn, Esq. ¦E-Mail: gene@levertylaw.com ¦Reynolds ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦832 Willow Street ¦pat@levertylaw.com ¦Plaintiffs ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Reno, NV 89502 ¦bill@levertylaw.com ¦ ¦ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ¦Counsel ¦Phone/Fax/Email ¦Partie(s) ¦ +---------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------¦ ¦Charles L. Burcham, Esq. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Thorndal, Armstrong, Delk, ¦Phone: (775) 786-2882 ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Balkenbush & Eisinger ¦Fax: (775)786-8004 ¦Defendant ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦6590 S. McCarran Blvd, ¦E-Mail: ¦Lyon County ¦ ¦Suite B ¦cburcham@thorndal.com ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Reno, NV 89509 ¦ ¦ ¦ +---------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------¦ ¦M. Craig Murdy, Esq. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦The Doyle Firm, P.C. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Phone: (702) 240-9205 ¦Defendants ¦ ¦8500 Capella Rico Avenue ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Fax: (702) 873-2280 ¦Truckee Carson ¦ ¦Las Vegas, NV 89117-9055 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦E-Mail: ¦Irrigation ¦ ¦William H. Doyle, Esq. ¦alg@doylelawgroup.com ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦District and ¦ ¦1313 E. Osbom Suite 220 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Ernie Shanks ¦ ¦Phoenix, AZ 85014 ¦ ¦ ¦ +---------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------¦ ¦Anthony T. Case, Esq ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Phone: (702) 579-3900 ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦Hayley B. Chambers, Esq. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Fax: (702) 739-3001 ¦Defendant ¦ ¦Farmer Case & Fedor ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦E-Mail: ¦Keystone Realty, ¦ ¦2510 Wigwam Parkway, Suite ¦cfedor@farmercase.com ¦ ¦ ¦206 ¦ ¦Inc. ¦ ¦ ¦paralega@farmercasenev.com ¦ ¦ ¦Henderson, NV 89074 ¦ ¦ ¦ +---------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------¦ ¦Newell B. Knight, Esq. ¦ ¦Attorneys for Cat ¦ ¦ ¦Phone: (775) 786-5776 ¦ ¦ ¦Stephens, Knight & Edwards ¦ ¦Eilrich, Dinah ¦ ¦ ¦Fax: (775) 786-5044 ¦ ¦ ¦401 Ryland Street, Suite ¦ ¦Eilrich and ¦ ¦330 ¦E-Mail: ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦nbknight@sbcglobal.corn ¦C.A.L. Investment ¦ ¦Reno, NV 89502 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Properties ¦ +---------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------¦ ¦Gregory A. Brower, Esq. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦United States Attorney ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Phone: (775) 784-5438 ¦ ¦ ¦Greg Addington, Esq. ¦ ¦Attorneys for , ¦ ¦ ¦Fax: (775) 784-5181 ¦ ¦ ¦Assistant United States ¦ ¦Defendant United ¦ ¦Attorney ¦E-Mail: ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦greeaddin.eton@usdoj.gov ¦States of America ¦ ¦100 W. Liberty Street, ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Suite 600 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Reno,NV 89501 ¦ ¦ ¦ +---------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------¦ ¦Michael J. Van Zandt, Esq. ¦Phone: (415) 777-3200 ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Hanson Bridgett, LLP ¦Fax: (415) 995-3566 ¦Truckee-Carson ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦425 Market Street, 26th ¦E-Mail: ¦Irrigation ¦ ¦Floor ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦mvanzandt@hansonbrideett.com¦District ¦ ¦San Francisco, CA 94105 ¦ ¦ ¦ +---------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------¦ ¦ ¦Phone: (775) 326-8200 ¦ ¦ ¦Thomas Mirczak, Esq. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Fax: (775) 326-8206 ¦ ¦ ¦Clayson & Marias ¦ ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦E-Mail: ¦ ¦ ¦One East First Street, ¦ ¦King ¦ ¦Suite 1400 ¦thomas.mirczak@zurichna.com ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Construction, Inc. ¦ ¦Reno, NV 89501 ¦glenna.gish@zurichna.com ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦betty.dickison@zurichna.com ¦ ¦ +---------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------¦ ¦Michael E. Stoberski, Esq. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Zachary J. Thompson, Esq. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Phone: (702) 384-4012 ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦Olson, Cannon, ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Fax: (702) 383-0701 ¦Re/Max Realty ¦ ¦Gormley & Desruisseaux ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦E-Mail: mstoberski@rocgd.com¦and Judy Ashton ¦ ¦9950 West Cheyanne Avenue ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Las Vegas, NV 89129 ¦ ¦ ¦ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ¦Counsel ¦Phone/Fax/Email ¦Partie(s) ¦ +---------------------------+------------------------------+------------------¦ ¦Gary M. Pakele, Esq. ¦Phone: (775)348-6699 ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦432 Court Street ¦Fax: (775) 786-5573 ¦Altmann-Ott ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Reno, NV 89501 ¦E-Mail: gmpakele@hotmai1.com ¦Homes ¦ +---------------------------+------------------------------+------------------¦ ¦John A. Aberasturi, Esq. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Phone: (775)786-3930 ¦ ¦ ¦Erickson, Thorpe & ¦ ¦Attorneys for LL ¦ ¦Swainston ¦Fax: (775)786-4160 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Realty, Inc. ¦ ¦99 West Arroyo Street ¦E-Mail: ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦jaberasturi@etsreno.com ¦ ¦ ¦Reno, NV 89509 ¦ ¦ ¦ +---------------------------+------------------------------+------------------¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Attorneys for ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Lyman F. McConnell, Esq. ¦Phone: (775) 423-6923 ¦Defendant ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦1247 Rice Road ¦Fax: ¦Truckee Carson ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦Fallon, NV 89406 ¦E-Mail: lyman@tcid.org ¦Irrigation ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦District ¦ +---------------------------+------------------------------+------------------¦ ¦Jean A. Weil, Esq. ¦ ¦TRC Engineers, ¦ ¦ ¦Phone: 702-314-1905 ¦ ¦ ¦Jeremy Kilber, Esq. ¦ ¦fka Vpoint, ¦ ¦ ¦Fax: 702 - 314-1909 ¦ ¦ ¦Weil & Drage, APC. ¦ ¦Martin Ugalde, ¦ ¦ ¦E-Mail: jweil@weildrage.com ¦ ¦ ¦2500 Anthem Village Drive ¦ ¦Robert Bidart and ¦ ¦ ¦jkilber@weildraee.com ¦ ¦ ¦Henderson, NV 89052 ¦ ¦Michael Bidart ¦ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
An Employee of Thorndal, Armstrong,
Delk, Balkenbush & Eisinger