Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-02814/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-02814-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 290
Nature of Suit: Other Real Property Actions
Cause of Action: 15:1601 Truth in Lending

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28 This disposition is not designated for publication and may not be cited. 1

Case No. C 07-2814

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT DETERMINATION

(JFLC1)

**E-Filed 5/23/2008**

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

JUAN CUEVAS,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

ATLAS REALTY/FINANCIAL SERVICES,

INCORPORATED, a California corporation d/b/a/

ATLAS REALTY, d/b/a/ ATLAS FINANCIAL

SERVICES, ALVIN CLAIR SILBERNAGEL,

SAMANTHA TREVINO, WORLD SAVINGS,

INC. d/b/a WORLD SAVINGS BANK, FSB, and

DOES 1 to 100,

 Defendants.

Case Number C 07-02814

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR 1

GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT

DETERMINATION

[re: docket no. 39]

Defendants Alvin C. Silbernagel d/b/a Atlas Realty d/b/a/ Atlas Financial Services, Alvin

Clair Silbernagel and Samantha Trevino (collectively, “Moving Defendants”) move for good

faith settlement determination under Cal. Civ. Code § 877.6. The motion is unopposed. 

Plaintiff Juan Cuevas (“Cuevas”) filed the operative complaint in this action on August

31, 2007, alleging that the Moving Defendants failed to disclose to him the material terms of a

Case 5:07-cv-02814-JF Document 43 Filed 05/23/08 Page 1 of 4
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 Cuevas argues that the documents provided to him explaining the material terms of the 2

loan were insufficient because they were written in English and he speaks only Spanish. Moving

Defendants dispute that Cuevas is unable to understand English.

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Case No. C 07-2814

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT DETERMINATION

(JFLC1)

loan that they found for him. The operative complaint asserts the following claims against the 2

Moving Defendants: (1) violations of the Federal Truth in Lending Act and Federal Home

Ownership & Equity Protection Act; (2) violation of California Civil Code § 1632; (3) fraud; (4)

negligent misrepresentation in violation of California Civil Code §§ 1709-1710; (5) breach of

fiduciary duty; (6) violation of California Business and Professions Code § 17200 et seq.; (7)

negligence; (8) violation of the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act; and (9) unjust

enrichment. On March 24, 2008, Moving Defendants filed the motion for approval of their

settlement with Cuevas. 

Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 887.6, a court may approve a settlement if it

determines that the settlement was made in good faith. “A determination by the court that the

settlement was made in good faith shall bar any other joint tortfeasor or co-obligor from any

further claims against a settling tortfeasor or co-obligor for equitable comparative contribution,

or partial or comparative indemnity based on comparative negligence.” Cal. Code Civ. Pro. §

887.6(c). “[A] tort defendant who has entered into a good faith settlement within the meaning of

section 877.6 subdivision (c) is absolved of any further liability . . . including claims seeking

total equitable immunity.” Far W. Fin. Corp. v. D&S Co., 46 Cal. 3d 796, 817 (Cal. 1988). 

Subdivision (c) applies only if the Court finds that “the amount of the settlement is within the

reasonable range of the tortfeasor’s proportional share of comparative liability for the plaintiff’s

injuries.” L.C. Rudd & Son v. Superior Court, 60 Cal. Rptr. 2d 703, 747 (Cal. Ct. App. 1st Dist.

1997). Should any party challenge a settlement, the burden is on that party to show that the

settlement was not made in good faith. Fisher v. Superior Ct., 103 Cal. App. 3d 434, 447-49

(1980). The parties have agreed to settle Cuevas’s claims against the Moving Defendants for

$12,000.00. The Court has reviewed the settlement agreement and the supporting documents and

concludes that the settlement is in good faith as required by Cal. Code Civ. Pro. § 877.6. 

Accordingly, any pending and future claims against Moving Defendants and related entitles for

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Case No. C 07-2814

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT DETERMINATION

(JFLC1)

contribution or equitable indemnity will be discharged.

IV. ORDER

Good cause therefor appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion for good

faith settlement determination is GRANTED.

DATED: May 23, 2008.

 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

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Case No. C 07-2814

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT DETERMINATION

(JFLC1)

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Annette D. Kirkham annettek@lawfoundation.org

Brian Danitz bdanitz@wsgr.com

Mona Motwani monam@lawfoundation.org

Mark Christopher Carlson mcc@carlsonlawgroup.com

Jack R. Nelson jnelson@reedsmith.com

Keith David Yandell kyandell@reedsmith.com

Case 5:07-cv-02814-JF Document 43 Filed 05/23/08 Page 4 of 4