Opinion
No. C 05-01680 MMC.
October 19, 2005
KEVIN V. RYAN (SBN 118321), United States Attorney, JOANN M. SWANSON (SBN 88143), JONATHAN U. LEE (SBN 148792), Chief, Civil Division Assistant United States Attorney, San Francisco, California, Attorneys for Defendant, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
STIPULATION AND ORDER APPROVING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between Plaintiff USAA Casualty Insurance Company ("Plaintiff"), and Defendant United States of America, as follows:
1. The parties hereby agree to settle and compromise the above-entitled action under the terms and conditions set forth herein.
2. Defendant United States of America agrees to pay to Plaintiff USAA Casualty Insurance Company the sum of Six Thousand Three Hundred Three Dollars and seventy-two cents exactly ($6,303.72), which shall be in full settlement and satisfaction of any and all claims, demands, rights, and causes of action of whatsoever kind and nature, arising from and by reason of any and all known and unknown, foreseen and unforeseen, bodily and personal injuries and the consequences thereof, resulting, and to result, from the same subject matter that gave rise to the above-captioned lawsuit, including any claims for wrongful death, for which Plaintiff USAA Casualty Insurance Company or its heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, and each of them, now have or may hereafter acquire against the United States of America, its agencies, agents, servants, and employees.
3. Plaintiff and its heirs, executors, administrators or assigns hereby agree to accept the sum stated in paragraph 2 in full settlement and satisfaction of any and all claims, demands, rights, and causes of action of whatsoever kind and nature, arising from, and by reason of any and all known and unknown, foreseen and unforeseen bodily and personal injuries, economic losses, and the consequences thereof which they may have or hereafter acquire against the United States of America, its agencies, agents, servants and employees on account of the same subject matter that gave rise to the above-captioned lawsuit, including any future claim for wrongful death.
4. This stipulation for compromise settlement shall not constitute an admission of liability or fault on the part of the United States, its agencies, agents, servants, or employees, and is entered into by the parties for the purpose of compromising disputed claims and avoiding the expenses and risks of litigation.
5. This Agreement may be pled as a full and complete defense to any subsequent action or other proceeding involving any person or party which arises out of the claims released and discharged by the Agreement.
6. It is also understood by and among the parties that, pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 2678, attorneys' fees for services rendered in connection with this action shall not exceed 25 percent of the amount of the compromise settlement.
7. Payment of the settlement amount to Plaintiff USAA Casualty Insurance Company will be made by a check for Six Thousand Three Hundred Three Dollars and seventy-two cents exactly ($6,303.72) and made payable to plaintiff USAA Casualty Insurance Company and the Law Offices of Jeffrey E. Karpel.
8. In consideration of this Agreement and the payment of the foregoing amounts thereunder, Plaintiff USAA Casualty Insurance Company agrees that upon notification that the settlement check is ready for delivery, plaintiff will deliver to Defendant's counsel a fully executed Notice of Dismissal with prejudice of USAA Casualty Insurance Company v. United States, Northern District of California case number C 05-1680 MMC. Upon delivery of the Notice of Dismissal, Defendant's counsel will release the settlement check to Plaintiffs' counsel or their agents.
9. Plaintiff USAA Casualty Insurance Company has been informed that payment will be made within sixty days of full execution of the settlement agreement and the delivery of a completed Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) for each person or entity listed as a payee on the settlement check.
10. The parties agree that should any dispute arise with respect to the implementation of the terms of this Agreement, Plaintiff shall not seek to rescind the Agreement and pursue its original causes of action. Plaintiff's sole remedy in such a dispute is an action to enforce the Agreement in district court. The parties agree that the district court will retain jurisdiction over this matter for the purposes of resolving any dispute alleging a breach of this Agreement.
11. Plaintiff hereby releases and forever discharges the United States and any and all of its past and present officials, employees, agencies, agents, attorneys, their successors and assigns, from any and all obligations, damages, liabilities, actions, causes of action, claims and demands of any kind and nature whatsoever, whether suspected or unsuspected, at law or in equity, known or unknown, arising out of the allegations set forth in the pleadings in this action.
12. The provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542 are set forth below:
"A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor."
Plaintiff USAA Casualty Insurance Company, having been apprised of the statutory language of Civil Code Section 1542 by its attorneys, and fully understanding the same, nevertheless elects to waive the benefits of any and all rights it may have pursuant to the provision of that statute and any similar provision of federal law. Plaintiff understands that, if the facts concerning Plaintiff's injuries and the liability of the government for damages pertaining thereto are found hereinafter to be other than or different from the facts now believed by them to be true, the Agreement shall be and remain effective notwithstanding such material difference.
13. This instrument shall constitute the entire Agreement between the parties, and it is expressly understood and agreed that the Agreement has been freely and voluntarily entered into by the parties with the advice of counsel, who have explained the legal effect of this Agreement. The parties further acknowledge that no warranties or representations have been made on any subject other than as set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement may not be altered, modified or otherwise changed in any respect except by writing, duly executed by all of the parties or their authorized representatives.
APPROVED AND SO ORDERED.