Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-02926/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-02926-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 350
Nature of Suit: Motor Vehicle Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:2671 Federal Tort Claims Act

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STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT; PROPOSED ORDER

Case No. C 03-02885 JF (PVT MED) -1-

SCOTT N. SCHOOLS (SCSBN 9990)

United States Attorney

JOANN M. SWANSON (CSBN 88143)

Chief, Civil Division

CLAIRE T. CORMIER (CSBN 154364)

Assistant United States Attorney

150 Almaden Blvd., Suite 900

San Jose, California 95113

Telephone: (408) 535-5082

FAX: (408) 535-5081

Claire.Cormier@usdoj.gov

Attorneys for Defendant 

United States of America

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

WINONA HENEBRY,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant.

 

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C06-02926 RS

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT;

[PROPOSED] ORDER

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between plaintiff Winona Henebry and defendant

United States of America, as follows:

1. The parties do hereby agree to settle and compromise the above-entitled personal

injury action under the terms and conditions set forth herein.

2. The United States of America previously received the assignment of a lien from the

County of Santa Clara relating to payments made to or on behalf of plaintiff relating to the motor

vehicle collision that is the subject of this case. A copy of the Settlement Agreement and

*E-FILED 3/29/07*

Case 5:06-cv-02926-RS Document 22 Filed 03/29/07 Page 1 of 5
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STIPULATION RE SETTLEMENT; [PROPOSED] ORDER

Case No. C 06-02926 RS -2-

Assignment of Lien and Claims is attached as an exhibit hereto and will be referred to herein as

“the Lien Assignment.”

3. The United States of America, defendant, agrees to pay to the plaintiff the sum of

$32,500.00, which sum shall be in full settlement and satisfaction of any and all claims,

demands, rights, and causes of action of whatsoever kind and nature, arising from, and by reason

of any and all known and unknown, foreseen and unforeseen bodily and personal injuries,

damage to property and the consequences thereof, resulting, and to result, from the same subject

matter that gave rise to the above-captioned lawsuit, for which plaintiff or her heirs, executors,

administrators, or assigns, and each of them, now have or may hereafter acquire against the

United States of America or its agents, servants, and employees. In addition to above-described

payment, the United States of America agrees that it will not seek to recover from plaintiff any

liens or other claims assigned to it in the Lien Assignment. 

4. Plaintiff and her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns hereby agree to accept the

sum of $32,500.00 and the waiver of the Lien Assignment in full settlement and satisfaction of

any and all claims, demands, rights, and causes of action of whatsoever kind and nature, arising

from, and by reason of any and all known and unknown, foreseen and unforeseen bodily and

personal injuries, damage to property and the consequences thereof which they may have or

hereafter acquire against the United States of America or its agents, servants and employees on

account of the same subject matter that gave rise to the above-captioned lawsuit. Plaintiff and

her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns further agree to reimburse, indemnify and hold

harmless the United States of America and its agents, servants or employees from any and all

such causes of action, claims, liens, rights, or subrogated or contribution interests incident to or

resulting from further litigation or the prosecution of claims by plaintiff or her heirs, executors,

administrators or assigns against any third party or against the United States of America.

5. This stipulation for compromise settlement is entered into by all parties for the

purpose of compromising disputed claims and avoiding the expenses and risks of litigation. This

settlement does not constitute an admission of liability or fault on the part of the defendant.

Case 5:06-cv-02926-RS Document 22 Filed 03/29/07 Page 2 of 5
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STIPULATION RE SETTLEMENT; [PROPOSED] ORDER

Case No. C 06-02926 RS -3-

6. This agreement may be pled as a full and complete defense to any subsequent action or

other proceeding which arises out of the claims released and discharged by the agreement.

7. It is also agreed, by and among the parties, that the settlement amount of 

$32,500.00 paid by the United States of America to plaintiff and the waiver of the Lien

Assignment represents the entire amount of the compromise settlement and that the respective

parties will each bear their own costs, fees, and expenses and that any attorneys' fees owed by the

plaintiff will be paid out of the settlement amount and not in addition thereto.

8. It is also understood by and among the parties that, pursuant to Title 28, United States

Code, Section 2678, attorneys' fees for services rendered to plaintiff in connection with this

action shall not exceed 25 per centum of the amount of the compromise settlement.

9. Payment of the settlement amount will be made by a check payable to “Winona

Henebry and her attorney Louis S. Abronson.”

10. Plaintiff is advised that settlement checks are sometimes not available for eight to ten

weeks after approval of the settlement by the court. Counsel for the United States of America

will notify plaintiff’s counsel when the settlement check is available. Within ten (10) days of

such notification, plaintiff agrees that she will cause her attorneys to execute and provide to

defense counsel, a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice of plaintiff’s complaint. Within ten

(10) days of receipt of the plaintiff’s stipulation of dismissal, the United States of America will

deliver the above-referenced settlement check to plaintiff’s counsel. Dismissal to be filed when

check is mailed.

11. Plaintiff hereby releases and forever discharges the United States Postal Service, the

United States of America and any and all of their past and present officials, employees, agents,

attorneys, their successors and assigns, from any and all obligations, damages, liabilities, actions,

causes of actions, claims and demands of any kind and nature whatsoever, whether suspected or

unsuspected, at law or in equity, known or unknown, arising out of the allegations set forth in

plaintiff’s pleadings in this action.

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Case 5:06-cv-02926-RS Document 22 Filed 03/29/07 Page 3 of 5
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STIPULATION RE SETTLEMENT; [PROPOSED] ORDER

Case No. C 06-02926 RS -4-

12. The provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542 are set forth below:

"A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or

suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known

by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor."

Plaintiff, having been apprised of the statutory language of Civil Code Section 1542 by her

attorneys, and fully understanding the same, nevertheless elects to waive the benefits of any and

all rights she may have pursuant to the provision of that statute and any similar provision of

federal law. Plaintiff understands that, if the facts concerning injuries or liability for damages

pertaining thereto are found hereinafter to be other than or different from the facts now believed

by her to be true, the Agreement shall be and remain effective notwithstanding such material

difference.

13. The parties agree that this stipulation is intended to be a full and final settlement of

all claims arising out of the allegations set forth in plaintiff’s pleadings in this action. Plaintiff

agrees to indemnify and hold harmless defendant United States of America from any and all

claims, demands, obligations, liens, and lawsuits brought against the United States of America,

its agencies or employees, including but not limited to the United States Postal Service, arising

out of the allegations set forth in plaintiff’s complaint in this action.

14. This instrument shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties, and it is

expressly understood and agreed that the agreement has been freely and voluntarily entered into

by the parties hereto with the advice of counsel, who have explained the legal effect of this

agreement. The parties further acknowledge that no warranties or representations have been

made on any subject other than as set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement may not be

altered, modified or otherwise changed in any respect except by writing, duly executed by all of

the parties or their authorized representatives.

15. The parties agree that, should any dispute arise with respect to the implementation of

the terms of this Agreement, Plaintiff shall not seek to rescind the Agreement and pursue her

original causes of action. Plaintiff’s sole remedy in such a dispute is an action to enforce the

Case 5:06-cv-02926-RS Document 22 Filed 03/29/07 Page 4 of 5
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STIPULATION RE SETTLEMENT; [PROPOSED] ORDER

Case No. C 06-02926 RS -5-

Agreement in district court. The parties agree that the district court will retain jurisdiction over

this matter for the purposes of resolving any dispute alleging a breach of this Agreement.

16. This settlement agreement may be signed in counterparts.

DATED: March 29, 2007 SCOTT N. SCHOOLS

United States Attorney

 /s/ 

CLAIRE T. CORMIER

Assistant United States Attorney

Attorneys for United States of America

DATED: March 29, 2007 ABRONSON LAW OFFICE

 /s/ 

Louis S. Abronson

Attorney for Plaintiff

DATED: March 29, 2007

 /s/ 

WINONA HENEBRY

Plaintiff

[PROPOSED] ORDER

 Pursuant to the parties’ stipulation of settlement, IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:_________________ _____________________________________ 

RICHARD SEEBORG

United States Magistrate Judge

March 29, 2007

Case 5:06-cv-02926-RS Document 22 Filed 03/29/07 Page 5 of 5