Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00374/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00374-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 350
Nature of Suit: Motor Vehicle Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1346 Breach of Contract

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

----oo0oo----

PATRICK KAKUDO, BRANDON

KAKUDO, a Minor, by and

through his Guardian ad Litem,

HOLLY MATSUDA, and HEIDI

KAKUDO,

CASE NO. CIV. S-04-0374 WBS KJM

Plaintiffs,

v. ORDER APPROVING COMPROMISE OF 

DISPUTED CLAIM OF MINOR

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant.

----oo0oo----

Petitioner Holly Matsuda, the guardian ad litem for 

seven year-old plaintiff Brandon Kakudo, moves this court to

approve settlement of Brandon’s claims against the United States. 

Because this Order covers all of the relevant sections of the

form issued by the Judicial Council of California for approval

the compromise of a disputed claim of a minor (MC-351), this

Order shall serve in lieu of that form.

These claims arose from an automobile accident caused

Case 2:04-cv-00374-WBS -KJM Document 30 Filed 01/04/06 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

by a U.S. Postal Service truck. As a result of the collision,

“Brandon was shaken up . . . and complained of back pain. He had

one visit to a physician and has no major medical problems or

complaints stemming from the accident.” (Pls.’ Mot. for Approval

of Compromise 2.)

Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure § 372,

settlement of a minor’s claim requires judicial approval. “[T]he

compromise of a minor’s claim is not final or binding until it

has been approved by the trial court.” Scruton v. Korean Air

Lines Co., 39 Cal. App. 4th 1596, 1603 (1995). Furthermore, if

any fees or expenses will be covered by a portion of the

settlement amount, the court order approving the settlement must

specify the amounts and the recipients. Cal. Prob. Code §§ 3600,

3601. 

Here, Matsuda proposes to settle Brandon’s claim

against the government for $500. This amount will be paid in

full to his mother, plaintiff Heidi Kakudo, and held in trust for

Brandon. All costs of this litigation will be deducted from Mrs.

Kakudo’s settlement proceeds. Likewise, medical expenses will

not reduce Brandon’s settlement amount. The court finds these

proposed settlement terms acceptable and directs petitioner to

execute any and all documents reasonably necessary to execute the

agreement explained above.

///

///

///

///

///

Case 2:04-cv-00374-WBS -KJM Document 30 Filed 01/04/06 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Matsuda’s petition for the

approval of minor Brandon Kakudo’s settlement be, and the same

hereby is, GRANTED. 

DATED: January 3, 2006

Case 2:04-cv-00374-WBS -KJM Document 30 Filed 01/04/06 Page 3 of 3