Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-05031/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-05031-21/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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APPLICATION FOR GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT 1

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James Mills, SBN 203783 

Law Office of James Mills 

1300 Clay Street, Suite 600 

Oakland, California 94612 

MAILING ADDRESS 

P.O. Box 2386 

Alameda, California 94501 

Tel: 510-521-8748 

Fax: 510-277-1413 

Attorney for Defendant and 

Cross-Defendant JOHN McNAMEE 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION 

MACARIA CALMO PEREZ, et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

JOHN McNAMEE, et al., 

 Defendant(s). 

___________________________________ 

EDWIN DISSOSWAY and NANCY 

PUZZIFERRI, 

Cross-Complainants, 

v. 

MORBARK, INC., a corporation, JOHN 

McNAMEE, individually and dba A&M 

TREE SERVICE, 

 Cross-Defendant(s). 

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Case No.: C06-5031 BZ

EX-PARTE APPLICATION OF 

DEFENDANT AND CROSS-DEFENDANT 

JOHN McNAMEE FOR 

DETERMINATION OF GOOD FAITH 

SETTLEMENT PURSUANT TO C.C.P. § 

877.6 

 

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 167 Filed 12/27/07 Page 1 of 24
APPLICATION FOR GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT 2

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 Defendant and Cross-defendant John McNamee (hereinafter “Defendant”) has settled the 

claims of plaintiffs for the sum of $87,200.00. Defendant has paid plaintiffs $33,600.00 to date 

and will pay the balance of $53,600 in 134 monthly payments of $400.00, through January 20, 

2019. The settlement was reduced to a written agreement on February 15, 2005. See 

Declaration of James Mills, Exhibit A. The settlement is in conjunction with the Third Party 

Compromise and Release entered into in Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board case number 

032683 which accepts the payment terms set forth above. See Mills Decl., Exh. B. 

 Defendant and Cross-defendant Morbark, Inc. (hereinafter, “Morbark”) does not have a 

cross-complaint on file against Defendant, and counsel for Morbark has indicated that he does 

not intend to file such a cross-complaint. 

 Defendant has provided plaintiffs’ counsel with an asset declaration of Defendants’ 

personal assets, which are minimal. See Mills Decl., Exh. C. Defendant has represented to 

plaintiffs and their counsel that he is incapable providing additional sums beyond the negotiated 

amount. Defendant has a wife and three minor children whom he supports with the fluctuating 

income of his landscaping business. Plaintiffs and their Guardian Ad Litem will release 

Defendant, subject to the approval of a Minor’s Compromise, in exchange for the payment of the 

above sums. 

 The settlement has been negotiated in good faith and should be confirmed by this Court. 

Defendant respectfully requests that this Court enter and Order confirming that the Settlement 

was made in good faith pursuant to California C.C.P. § 877.6 

DATE: December 19, 2007 LAW OFFICE OF JAMES MILLS 

 

By:______/s/____________________________ 

JAMES MILLS 

Attorney for Defendant and Cross-Defendant 

 JOHN McNAMEE 

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 167 Filed 12/27/07 Page 2 of 24
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DECLARATION OF JAMES MILLS

I, JAMES MILLS, do declare: 

 1. I am an attorney duly licensed to practice law before all the courts of the State of 

California and am counsel of record for JOHN McNAMEE in this matter. 

 2. I am personally familiar with and competent to testify to the matters stated herein 

if called as a witness, except as to those matter based on information and belief, which I 

believe to be true. 

 3. On February 15, 2005, JOHN McNAMEE entered into release and settlement 

agreement with representatives of plaintiffs, setting forth the terms under which Mr. 

McNamee would pay sums to plaintiffs totaling $87,200.00. A true and correct copy is 

attached hereto as Exhibit A. 

4. On December 12, 2007, JOHN McNAMEE entered into a Third Party 

Compromise and Release with representatives of plaintiffs and the Uninsured Employers 

Fund. The compromise and release accepts the payment terms negotiated under the 

February 15, 2005 release and settlement agreement. A true and correct copy is attached 

hereto as Exhibit B. 

5. On December 7, 2007, JOHN McNAMEE executed an asset declaration for 

plaintiffs’ counsel, setting forth his present assets and liabilities. A true and correct copy 

is attached hereto as Exhibit C. 

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California the foregoing is true 

and correct. 

 _________/s/________________________ 

 JAMES MILLS 

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 167 Filed 12/27/07 Page 3 of 24

APPLICATION FOR GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT 4

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James Mills, SBN 203783 

Law Office of James Mills 

1300 Clay Street, Suite 600 

Oakland, California 94612 

MAILING ADDRESS 

P.O. Box 2386 

Alameda, California 94501 

Tel: 510-521-8748 

Fax: 510-277-1413 

Attorney for Defendant and 

Cross-Defendant JOHN McNAMEE 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION 

MACARIA CALMO PEREZ, et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

JOHN McNAMEE, et al., 

 Defendant(s). 

___________________________________ 

EDWIN DISSOSWAY and NANCY 

PUZZIFERRI, 

Cross-Complainants, 

v. 

MORBARK, INC., a corporation, JOHN 

McNAMEE, individually and dba A&M 

TREE SERVICE, 

 Cross-Defendant(s). 

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Case No.: C06-5031 BZ

[PROPOSED] ORDER CONFIRMING 

DETERMINATION OF GOOD FAITH 

SETTLEMENT OF PLAINTIFFS AND 

DEFENDANT AND CROSS-DEFENDANT 

JOHN McNAMEE PURSUANT TO C.C.P. 

§ 877.6 

 

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 167 Filed 12/27/07 Page 21 of 24
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 Having reviewed the application of Defendant and Cross-defendant John McNamee 

(hereinafter “Defendant”) for determination of good faith settlement pursuant to California 

C.C.P. § 877.6 and no opposition being filed thereto, this Court determines that the settlement 

between Defendant and plaintiffs was made in good faith. 

 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that any other joint tortfeasor, including but not limited to 

Morbark, Inc., Edwin Dissosway and Nancy Puzziferri, are barred from any claims against 

Defendant for equitable comparative contribution, or partial or comparative indemnity, based 

upon comparative negligence or comparative fault. 

Dated:_________________________ ___________________________________ 

 Honorable Bernard Zimmerman 

 Magistrate Judge of the Federal Court 

December 27, 2007

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORN

I

A

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Bernard Zimmerman

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 167 Filed 12/27/07 Page 22 of 24
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PROOF OF SERVICE

 I declare that I am a citizen of the United States, that I have attained the age of majority, 

and that I am not a party to this action. My business address is 1300 Clay Street, Suite 600, 

Oakland, California, 94612. I am familiar with this firm's practice of collection and processing 

of correspondence to be deposited for delivery via the U.S. Postal Service as well as other 

methods used for delivery of correspondence. On the below stated date, in the manner 

indicated, I caused the within document(s) entitled: 

EX-PARTE APPLICATION OF DEFENDANT AND CROSS-DEFENDANT JOHN 

McNAMEE FOR DETERMINATION OF GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT PURSUANT 

TO C.C.P. § 877.6; DECLARATION OF JAMES MILLS; PROPOSED ORDER 

to be served on the party(ies) or their (its) attorney(s) of record in this action: 

[ ] Via Mail: I caused each envelope (with postage affixed thereto) to be placed in the U.S. 

mail at Oakland, California. 

[ ] Via CERTIFIED Mail: I caused each envelope (with postage affixed thereto) to be 

placed in the U.S. mail at Alameda, California. 

[ ] Via Personal Service: I instructed each envelope to be hand-delivered via AERO 

SPECIAL DELIVERY to the address listed below. 

[ ] Via Overnight Courier: I caused each envelope to be delivered via overnight mail by 

FEDERAL EXPRESS. 

[ ] Via FACSIMILE: I instructed such to be transmitted via facsimile to the office(s) of the 

addressee(s). 

[X] Via E-Mail: I caused to be transmitted via electronic mail to the e-mail addresse(s) of the 

addressee(s). 

addressed as follows: 

SEE SERVICE LIST ATTACHED 

[ ] State: I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the 

foregoing is true and correct. 

[ X ] Federal: I declare that I am a member of the bar of this court and service was made as 

stated herein. 

 Executed on December 19, 2007, at Oakland, California. 

 _____/s/____________ 

JAMES MILLS 

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 167 Filed 12/27/07 Page 23 of 24
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SERVICE LIST

Attorneys Plaintiffs

John E. Hill, Esq. 

Daniel A. Stenson, Esq. 

Law Offices of John Hill 

8105 Edgewater Drive, Ste. 100 

Oakland, CA 94621 

Tel: 510-588-1000 

Fax: 510-729-6333 

johnhill@hill-law-offices.com 

danielstenson@hill-law-offices.com 

Attorneys for Defendants/Cross-Defendant

Morbark, Inc.

Duane C. Musfelt, Esq. 

John Walovich, Esq. 

Lewis Brisbois, et al. 

One Sansome Street, Ste. 1400 

San Francisco, CA 94104 

Tel: 415-362-2580 

Fax: 415-434-0882 

musfelt@lbbs.com 

walovich@lbbslaw.com 

Attorneys for Defendants/Cross-Defendant 

Morbark, Inc.

Kevin Dougherty, Esq. 

Warner, Norcross & Judd LLP 

900 Fifth Third Center 

111 Lyon Street, NW 

Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2487 

Tel: 616.752.2000 

Fax: 616.752.2500 

kdougherty@wnj.com 

Attorneys for Defendants/Cross-Complainants 

Edwin Dissosway and Nancy Puzziferri

Lawrence A. Baker, Esq. 

Buresh, Kaplan, et al. 

2298 Durant Avenue 

Berkeley, CA 94704 

Tel: 510-548-7474 

Fax: 510-548-7488 

lbaker@bkjf.com 

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 167 Filed 12/27/07 Page 24 of 24