Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01313/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01313-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 340
Nature of Suit: Marine Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 46:30505-30510 Exoneration, Limitation of Liability

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16cv1313-H-MDD

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN RE: COMPLAINT AND 

PETITION OF KDME, INC. AS 

OWNER AND CUSTODIAN OF A 

CERTAIN 2008 HURRICAN 

SUNDECK 195 FOR 

EXONERATION FROM OR 

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, 

Case No.: 16cv1313-H-MDD

REPORT AND 

RECOMMENDATION 

APPROVING STIPULATED 

MINORS’ COMPROMISE

[ECF NO. 14]

On June 1, 2016, Petitioner KDME1 (“Petitioner”) filed a Complaint for 

Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability. (ECF No. 1). “Petitioner filed 

the complaint as owner of a 2008 Hurricane Sundeck 195 vessel, which was 

allegedly involved in an incident on or near San Diego Bay.” (ECF No. 6 at 1). 

On September 13, 2017, Petitioner and Jakob Avitan, Oshrat Avitan, Amit 

Avitan (a minor), Ido Avitan (a minor) and Roy Avitan (a minor) settled this 

action and filed a Stipulation for an Order Approving Minor’s (sic) 

 

1 Petitioner KDME, Inc., is a corporation incorporated under and existing pursuant to the 

laws of California. (ECF No. 9 at 2). 

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Compromise. (ECF No. 14). Petitioner and the Avitans2 “agree to mutually 

release each other in exchange for a waiver of all costs and attorneys fees.” 

(Id. at 1). 

It is well settled that the district court has a special duty, rising out of 

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c), to safeguard the interests of litigants 

who are minors within the context of settlements proposed in civil suits with 

minors and plaintiffs. The duty obliges the court to “conduct its own inquiry 

to determine whether the settlement serves the best interests of the minor.” 

Dacanay v. Mendoza, 573 F.2d 1075, 1080 (9th Cir. 1978). The Ninth Circuit 

has held that this “duty requires only that the district court determine 

whether the net amount distributed to [a] minor plaintiff in the proposed 

settlement is fair and reasonable, without regard to the proportion of the 

total settlement value. . . .” Robidoux v. Rosengren, 638 F.3d 1177, 1179 (9th 

Cir. 2011). Here, the Court has considered the Petition, the supplemental 

information and after conducting an independent inquiry and evaluation of 

the proposed settlement, the Court finds that the proposed settlement is fair 

and reasonable and serves the best interest of Amit, Ido and Roy Avitan, the

minors in this case.

IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that the settlement between 

Petitioner KDME, Inc. and Amit Avitan (DOB 7/2/2000), Ido Avitan (DOB 

3/31/2005); and Roy Avitan (DOB 12/25/2007) be approved. The Settlement 

as to Petitioner and the named minor Avitan children is fully set forth as 

Exhibit A (Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release and Waiver) in the 

 

2 Attached as Exhibit B to the Stipulation for an Order Approving Minor’s Compromise is 

an Application for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem and Compromise of Minor’s Claims. 

The motion seeks to appoint Jakob and Oshrat Avitan as guardians ad litem for their 

named minor children Amit, Ido and Roy Avitan. (Id. at Ex. B at 12). 

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Stipulation of the Parties for an Order Approving Minor’s Compromise. (ECF 

14, Ex. A at 7). 

The Settlement “fully and forever” releases and discharges “each other 

from any and all manner of actions, suits, liens, debts, damages, judgments, 

injuries, claims, torts, contracts, controversies, agreements and demands 

whatsoever. . . .” (Id. at 8). The parties also “agree to waive their respective 

costs and attorney’s fees incurred in connection with the Incident and/or the 

Lawsuit.” (Id. at 7). 

IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED that Jakob and Oshrat Avitan be 

appointed guardians ad litem for their minor children Amit, Ido and Roy 

Avitan, in addition, Jakob Avitan shall be authorized to execute any and all 

documents reasonably necessary to carry out the terms of the settlement. 

This Report and Recommendation of the undersigned Magistrate Judge 

is submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to this case, 

pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Any written objections to 

this report must be filed with the court and served on all parties no later 

than October 24, 2017. The document should be captioned “Objections to 

Report and Recommendation.”

Any reply to the objections shall be filed with the court and served on 

all parties no later than October 31, 2017. The parties are advised that 

failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to 

those objections. 

Dated: October 10, 2017

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