Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00387/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00387-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:6901 Environmental Cleanup Expenses

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ORDER GRANTING THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR VOLUNTARY DISMISSALS OF THIRDPARTY DEFENDANTS THOMPSON AND CHARTER MORTGAGE Page - 1 - 

 

Daniel F. Reidy - California Bar No. 74941

LAW OFFICES OF DANIEL F. REIDY

3701 Sacramento Street, # 386

San Francisco, CA 94118

Telephone: (415) 750-4210

Facsimile: (415) 750-4214

Attorneys for Defendants and Third-Party

Plaintiffs Alpheus Kaplan and

Nehemiah Development Company

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, 

INC., ALPHEUS KAPLAN, 

NEHEMIAH DEVELOPMENT 

COMPANY,

Defendants

_________________________________/

ALPHEUS KAPLAN AND NEHEMIAH

DEVELOPMENT COMPANY,

Third-Party Plaintiffs,

v.

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

AMCAL, KIRK L. BRYSON, GENEVIEVE

FULLER, JOHN B. ALLEN, SR., JANET

ALLEN, JOHN MUNN AND ANN MUNN, 

Case No. 2:06-cv-00387- MCE-JFM 

ORDER GRANTING THIRD-PARTY

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR

APPROVAL OF VOLUNTARY

DISMISSALS OF THIRD-PARTY

DEFENDANTS SHELDON

THOMPSON AND CHARTER

MORTGAGE & INVESTMENTS,

INC. 

Hearing Date: 11/02/2007

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Place: Courtroom 3

Judge: Morrison C. England, Jr.

Pretrial Conference: 3/17/2008

Trial Date: 4/23/2008

Case 2:06-cv-00387-MCE -JFM Document 104 Filed 10/31/07 Page 1 of 3
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ORDER GRANTING THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR VOLUNTARY DISMISSALS OF THIRDPARTY DEFENDANTS THOMPSON AND CHARTER MORTGAGE Page - 2 - 

 

ELGIN BOWERS AND CAROLYN BOWERS,

ASSOCIATED ENGINEERS AND 

PLANNERS, INC., WARREN NOTEWARE,

JAMES MESSINGER, STEEL BUILDING

SYSTEMS, INC., MYRTLE SALMON,

CHARTER MORTGAGE & INVESTMENTS,

INC., SHELDON THOMPSON, CHARLES C.

BRUNER, ROBERT E. MILLER AND

MEREDITH MILLER, JACK BRUSATORI,

ROBERT EARL OLSON AND MARTHA

WADELL OLSON, SUMMIT APARTMENTS,

WALTER E, HAMILTON, JEAN HAMILTON,

CHARLES O. ALLEN AND BARBARA E.

ALLEN, FRANK HARDY, CHRISTINA SUNG,

THOMAS P. JONES AND JACQUELINE L.

JONES, ROBERT BUGNI AND MARGOT

BUGNI, LEO MONSON AND MAURINE

MONSON, PHYLLIS STUMPF,

Third Party Defendants

_________________________________/

Third-Party Plaintiffs ALPHEUS KAPLAN and NEHEMIAH DEVELOPMENT

COMPANY (“collectively “Third-Party Plaintiffs”)’s Motion for Court Approval of Voluntary

Dismissals of Third-Party Defendants Sheldon Thompson (“Thompson”) and Charter Mortgage &

Investments, Inc. (“Charter”) (the “Motion”) was considered by this Court. After considering the

moving papers, any responses thereto, and the record as a whole, the Court in applying Fed. R.

Civ. Pro. 41(a)(2) and applicable case law finds that Third-Party Defendants Thompson and

Charter will not suffer any legal prejudice from their proposed dismissals, since they have

stipulated to their dismissals and agreed that this Court may approve their dismissals, and that the

other parties remaining in this action will not suffer any legal prejudice from the proposed

dismissals of Thompson and Charter. Further, the Court finds that it is not necessary or

appropriate to impose reimbursement of attorney’s fees and costs as a condition of approving the

requested voluntary dismissals, since Third-Party Defendants Thompson and Charter have agreed

in writing in the Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement to waive and release Third-Party

Plaintiffs from any claim for reimbursement of attorney’s fees and costs incurred in defending the

claims brought against them in the Third-Party Complaint or otherwise in this action. Third-Party

Case 2:06-cv-00387-MCE -JFM Document 104 Filed 10/31/07 Page 2 of 3
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ORDER GRANTING THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR VOLUNTARY DISMISSALS OF THIRDPARTY DEFENDANTS THOMPSON AND CHARTER MORTGAGE Page - 3 - 

 

Plaintiffs have stipulated that these voluntary dismissals may be approved with prejudice. Also,

the Court finds that approval of the voluntary dismissals of Third-Party Defendants Thompson

and Charter will promote judicial efficiency and economy by eliminating the need for a trial on

the claims brought against Thompson and Charter for contribution of equitable shares of the

response costs incurred by the U.S. EPA in connection with the Site. 

The matter having been briefed, argued, and submitted for decision, and good cause

appearing, 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Third-Party Plaintiffs’ voluntary dismissals of ThirdParty Defendants Sheldon Thompson and Charter Mortgage & Investments, Inc. with prejudice

are approved, and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Third-Party Defendants Sheldon Thompson

and Charter Mortgage & Investments, Inc. are hereby dismissed as parties in this action with

prejudice.

Dated: October 31, 2007

________________________________

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:06-cv-00387-MCE -JFM Document 104 Filed 10/31/07 Page 3 of 3