Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-04035/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-04035-45/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 470
Nature of Suit: Civil (Rico)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSE ROE, et al.,

Plaintiffs

 v.

THOMAS WHITE, 

Defendant. /

No. C 03-04035 CRB

ORDER RE: HEARING ON

DISTRIBUTION OF SETTLEMENT

FUNDS TO PLAINTIFFS

In June 2007, attorney Eric Safire filed a motion with this Court seeking to be

substituted in as counsel for most of the plaintiffs. Safire claimed that these plaintiffs no

longer wished to participate in the settlement which the Ninth Circuit had recently

confirmed. The Court subsequently appointed a Special Master to investigate: (1) the legal

representation of plaintiffs; (2) the relationship between plaintiffs’ attorney David Replogle

and the guardian ad litem and whatever payment arrangement they may have or had; and (3)

any other factual matters related to attorney’s fees and the disbursement of the settlement. 

The Special Master has since interviewed some of the plaintiffs in Puerto Vallerta,

Mexico and most of the attorneys involved with this matter. Based on that investigation, the

Special Master issued Report No. 2 finding that attorney Safire does not represent the

plaintiffs he purported to represent and that there “is no impediment to honoring the 

Case 3:03-cv-04035-CRB Document 674 Filed 12/10/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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G:\CRBALL\2003\4035\specialmasterproceedings\orderrereport2.wpd 2

Confidential Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release previously approved by this Court

on August 29, 2005, and subsequently affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on

May 23, 2007.” 

In light of this Report, and attorney Safire’s motion to withdraw as counsel for

plaintiffs, which is hereby granted, the Court finds that there is no reason to further delay the

distribution of the settlement funds to plaintiffs. Accordingly, the Court will hold a hearing

at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 18, 2007, to finalize the distribution of the settlement

funds to the plaintiffs through the Trust as set forth in the Confidential Settlement Agreement

and plaintiffs’ July 2007 Motion to Approve the Trust Instrument. The proposed Trust

Protector, C. Joseph Smith, shall appear at the hearing, along with a representative from

Wells Fargo, the proposed institutional trustee. The Court proposes to distribute to plaintiffs

60 percent of the funds currently held by the Court at that time. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 10, 2007 

CHARLES R. BREYER

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:03-cv-04035-CRB Document 674 Filed 12/10/07 Page 2 of 2