Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-01257/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-01257-64/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Property Damage

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GUALCO LAW

400 Capitol Mall

Eleventh Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

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STIPULATION & ORDER SUBSTITUTING PARTIES

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LORI J. GUALCO (Bar No. 95232)

GUALCO LAW

400 Capitol Mall, Eleventh Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

Tel: (916) 930-0700

Fax: (916) 930-0705

Attorney for Defendant

RICHARD LASTER

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, FRESNO DIVISION

GARY COPPOLA, an individual; GARY 

COPPOLA, as SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF 

THE VIOLA M. COPPOLA IRREVOCABLE 

TRUST; and GARY COPPOLA, as TRUSTEE 

OF THE ANTHONY M. COPPOLA TRUST,

Plaintiffs,

v.

PARAGON CLEANERS, INC. (formerly sued 

as GREGORY SMITH, an individual); 

RICHARD LASTER, an individual; THE 

JANE HIGGINS NASH TRUST; JANE NASH

AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF 

DECATUR HIGGINS A/K/A THE ESTATE 

OF MABEL ELAINE HIGGINS; HARLEY 

MILLER, an individual; CHERYL MILLER, 

an individual; MARTIN AND MARTIN 

PROPERTIES; CALIFORNIA WATER 

SERVICE COMPANY; the CITY OF 

VISALIA; NASH PROPERTIES LLC 

[DOE # 1], DAVID H. NASH, as the successor 

co-trustee of the WILLIAM P. NASH AND 

JANE H. NASH REVOCABLE TRUST 

[DOE # 2], RICHARD P. NASH, as the 

successor co-trustee of the WILLIAM P. 

NASH and JANE H. NASH REVOCABLE 

TRUST [DOE # 3], VISALIA UNIFIED 

SCHOOL DISTRICT; and DOES 4-20, 

inclusive; 

Defendants.

Case No. 1:11-cv-01257-AWI-BAM

STIPULATION AND ORDER 

SUBSTITUTING PARTIES AND 

DIRECTING CLERK TO AMEND 

CAPTION

AND RELATED COUNTER AND CROSS 

CLAIMS

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Case 1:11-cv-01257-AWI-BAM Document 447 Filed 11/10/16 Page 1 of 7
GUALCO LAW

400 Capitol Mall

Eleventh Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

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STIPULATION & ORDER SUBSTITUTING PARTIES

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The following parties: Plaintiffs GARY COPPOLA, an individual; GARY COPPOLA, as 

SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE VIOLA M. COPPOLA IRREVOCABLE TRUST; and 

GARY COPPOLA, as TRUSTEE OF THE ANTHONY M. COPPOLA TRUST (hereinafter 

collectively “COPPOLA”); Defendants, Cross-Complainants, and Counter-Claimants RICHARD 

LASTER (hereinafter “LASTER”) and PARAGON CLEANERS, INC.; and Defendants and 

Cross-Defendants THE JANE HIGGINS NASH TRUST, JANE NASH AS EXECUTOR OF 

THE ESTATE OF DECATUR HIGGINS A/K/A THE ESTATE OF MABEL ELAINE 

HIGGINS, NASH PROPERTIES LLC [DOE #1], DAVID H. NASH, as the successor co-trustee 

of the JANE NASH TRUST, a trust created under the terms of the Last Will and Testament of 

Mabel Elaine Higgins, formerly known as the Mabel Elaine Higgins Testamentary Trust and 

commonly known as the Jane Higgins Nash Trust [DOE #2], and RICHARD P. NASH, as the 

successor co-trustee of the JANE NASH TRUST, a trust created under the terms of the Last Will 

and Testament of Mabel Elaine Higgins, formerly known as the Mabel Elaine Higgins 

Testamentary Trust and commonly known as the Jane Higgins Nash Trust [DOE #3]; (hereinafter

collectively “the NASH Parties”) hereby stipulate to substitute parties to correctly identify the 

names under which the NASH Parties are named in the following pleadings on file in this action:

 PLAINTIFF’S EIGHTH AMENDED COMPLAINT [and] DEMAND FOR JURY 

TRIAL [Document 402];

 DEFENDANT RICHARD LASTER’S (1) ANSWER TO EIGHTH AMENDED 

COMPLAINT; (2) COUNTERCLAIMS AGAINST PLAINTIFFS; (3) CROSSCLAIMS AGAINST OTHER DEFENDANTS; AND (4) DEMAND FOR JURY 

TRIAL [Document 408];

 DEFENDANT PARAGON CLEANERS, INC.’S (1) ANSWER TO EIGHTH 

AMENDED COMPLAINT; (2) COUNTERCLAIMS AGAINST PLAINTIFFS; 

(3) CROSS-CLAIMS AGAINST OTHER DEFENDANTS; AND (4) DEMAND 

FOR JURY TRIAL [Document 409]; and

 NASH PARTIES’ ANSWERS TO SEVENTH AMENDED COMPLAINT, 

ANSWERS TO AMENDED CROSS-CLAIMS OF PARAGON CLEANERS, 

Case 1:11-cv-01257-AWI-BAM Document 447 Filed 11/10/16 Page 2 of 7
GUALCO LAW

400 Capitol Mall

Eleventh Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

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STIPULATION & ORDER SUBSTITUTING PARTIES

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INC. (SEVENTH AMENDED COMPLAINT), and ANSWERS TO AMENDED 

CROSS-CLAIMS OF RICHARD LASTER (SEVENTH AMENDED 

COMPLAINT) [Documents 342 through 350, inclusive]. 

Whereas, COPPOLA, LASTER and PARAGON CLEANERS, INC. have named The 

Jane Higgins Nash Trust or Jane Nash as the Trustee of the Jane Higgins Nash Trust as a 

Defendant and Cross-Defendant in their respective Complaints and Cross-Claims; and whereas 

through recent communications with counsel for the NASH Parties, it has been brought to all 

parties’ attention that this Defendant and Cross-Defendant should be substituted for the named

Defendants and Cross-Defendants, as more particularly shown in the chart in numbers 4 and 5

below; and 

Whereas, COPPOLA, LASTER and PARAGON CLEANERS, INC. have named Jane 

Nash As Executor Of The Estate Of Decatur Higgins A/K/A The Estate Of Mabel Elaine Higgins

as a Defendant and Cross-Defendant1; and whereas, through recent communications with counsel 

for the NASH Parties, it has been brought to all parties’ attention that Jane Nash died during the 

pendency of this action and that this Defendant and Cross-Defendant should be named as two 

separate estates, as more particularly shown in the chart in number 2 below; and 

Whereas, the parties to this stipulation have agreed to correct the identification of the

NASH Parties as Defendants and Cross-Defendants in the Complaint and Cross-Claims

referenced above, so that they are named in their correct capacities in advance of trial. This will 

promote judicial economy and will not cause prejudice to any party; 

Now, therefore, the parties to this stipulation agree to the following substitution of 

parties: 

///

///

///

 

1 COPPOLA’s operative complaint also names Decatur Higgins, as an individual, deceased; Mabel Elaine 

Higgins, as an individual, deceased – see ¶ 10, as granted in their motion for leave to file a Seventh Amended 

Complaint.

Case 1:11-cv-01257-AWI-BAM Document 447 Filed 11/10/16 Page 3 of 7
GUALCO LAW

400 Capitol Mall

Eleventh Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

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As pled in in COPPOLA’S Eighth Amended 

Complaint [Document 402] and LASTER’S and 

PARAGON CLEANERS, INC.’s Eighth Amended 

Cross-Claims [Documents 408 and 409 respectively]:

Stipulated Substitution:

1. The Jane Higgins Nash Trust or Jane Nash as Trustee of 

the Jane Higgins Nash Trust DAVID H. NASH, as the 

successor co-trustee of the 

JANE NASH TRUST, a trust 

created under the terms of the 

Last Will and Testament of 

Mabel Elaine Higgins, 

formerly known as the Mabel 

Elaine Higgins Testamentary 

Trust and commonly known as 

the Jane Higgins Nash Trust 

[DOE #2]

RICHARD P. NASH, as the 

successor co-trustee of the 

JANE NASH TRUST, a trust 

created under the terms of the 

Last Will and Testament of 

Mabel Elaine Higgins, 

formerly known as the Mabel 

Elaine Higgins Testamentary 

Trust and commonly known as 

the Jane Higgins Nash Trust 

[DOE #3] 

2. Jane Nash As Executor Of The Estate Of Decatur 

Higgins A/K/A The Estate Of Mabel Elaine Higgins

Stipulation to substitute this 

one party with two separate 

parties as it is actually two 

separate estates, as follows:

Estate of Decatur Higgins, 

Deceased; and 

Estate of Mabel Elaine 

Higgins, Deceased.

3. Nash Properties LLC [Doe #1] No change

4. DAVID H. NASH, as the successor co-trustee of the 

JANE NASH TRUST, a trust created under the terms of 

the Last Will and Testament of Mabel Elaine Higgins, 

formerly known as the Mabel Elaine Higgins 

Testamentary Trust and commonly known as the Jane 

Higgins Nash Trust [DOE #2]

No change

Case 1:11-cv-01257-AWI-BAM Document 447 Filed 11/10/16 Page 4 of 7
GUALCO LAW

400 Capitol Mall

Eleventh Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

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5. RICHARD P. NASH, as the successor co-trustee of the 

JANE NASH TRUST, a trust created under the terms of 

the Last Will and Testament of Mabel Elaine Higgins, 

formerly known as the Mabel Elaine Higgins 

Testamentary Trust and commonly known as the Jane 

Higgins Nash Trust [DOE #3] 

No change

The successor Defendants and Cross-Defendants – Estate of Decatur Higgins, Deceased, 

and Estate of Mabel Elaine Higgins, Deceased – shall be added to the allegations and claims in 

the Complaint and Cross-Claims as if they were fully set forth therein against these successor 

Defendants and Cross-Defendants, and each of them. The answers on file by the NASH Parties 

will serve as the answer on behalf of each of the newly named successor Defendants and CrossDefendants as if they were fully set forth by each of them, individually. 

Dated: November 4, 2016 GUALCO LAW

By: /s/ Lori J. Gualco

 LORI J. GUALCO 

 Attorney for RICHARD LASTER 

 and PARAGON CLEANERS, INC.

Dated: November 4, 2016 GREBEN & ASSOCIATES

By: /s/ Jan A. Greben as authorized 11/4/16

 JAN A. GREBEN

 Attorneys for GARY COPPOLA, an individual;

 GARY COPPOLA, as SUCCESSOR 

 TRUSTEE OF THE VIOLA M. COPPOLA 

 IRREVOCABLE TRUST; and GARY 

 COPPOLA, as TRUSTEE OF THE 

 ANTHONY M. COPPOLA TRUST

Case 1:11-cv-01257-AWI-BAM Document 447 Filed 11/10/16 Page 5 of 7
GUALCO LAW

400 Capitol Mall

Eleventh Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

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STIPULATION & ORDER SUBSTITUTING PARTIES

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Dated: November 7, 2016 WILLIAMS, BRODERSEN & PRITCHETT LLP

By: /s/ Steven R. Williams as authorized 11/7/16

 STEVEN R. WILLIAMS

Attorneys for THE JANE HIGGINS NASH 

TRUST; JANE NASH AS EXECUTOR OF 

THE ESTATE OF DECATUR HIGGINS 

A/K/A THE ESTATE OF MABEL ELAINE 

HIGGINS; NASH PROPERTIES LLC 

[DOE # 1]; DAVID H. NASH, as the successor 

co-trustee of the WILLIAM P. NASH AND 

JANE H. NASH REVOCABLE TRUST 

[DOE # 2]; and RICHARD P. NASH, as the 

successor co-trustee of the WILLIAM P. NASH 

and JANE H. NASH REVOCABLE TRUST 

[DOE # 3]

ORDER

Based on the agreement of the parties, the stipulation is GRANTED in full. The Court 

finds that the current parties referenced in the Complaint and Cross-Claims (Docs. 342 - 350, 

inclusive, and 402, 408, and 409) shall be substituted for the purposes of this action as follows: 

1. Substitute DAVID H. NASH, as the successor co-trustee of the JANE NASH 

TRUST, a trust created under the terms of the Last Will and Testament of Mabel Elaine Higgins, 

formerly known as the Mabel Elaine Higgins Testamentary Trust and commonly known as the 

Jane Higgins Nash Trust [DOE #2];

2. Substitute RICHARD P. NASH, as the successor co-trustee of the JANE NASH 

TRUST, a trust created under the terms of the Last Will and Testament of Mabel Elaine Higgins, 

formerly known as the Mabel Elaine Higgins Testamentary Trust and commonly known as the 

Jane Higgins Nash Trust [DOE #3]; and

///

///

Case 1:11-cv-01257-AWI-BAM Document 447 Filed 11/10/16 Page 6 of 7
GUALCO LAW

400 Capitol Mall

Eleventh Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

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STIPULATION & ORDER SUBSTITUTING PARTIES

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3. Substitute Jane Nash As Executor Of The Estate Of Decatur Higgins A/K/A The

Estate Of Mabel Elaine Higgins with (a) Estate of Decatur Higgins, Deceased, and (b) Estate of 

Mabel Elaine Higgins, Deceased, as Defendants and Cross-Defendants. 

4. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to AMEND the CAPTION to substitute 

Jane Nash As Executor Of The Estate Of Decatur Higgins A/K/A The Estate Of Mabel Elaine 

Higgins with: 

(a) “Estate of Decatur Higgins, Deceased”; and 

(b) “Estate of Mabel Elaine Higgins, Deceased” as Defendants and CrossDefendants. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 9, 2016 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:11-cv-01257-AWI-BAM Document 447 Filed 11/10/16 Page 7 of 7