Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_03-cv-03813/USCOURTS-cand-5_03-cv-03813-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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Andrea M. Tytell, Esq. SBN 166836

LAW OFFICE OF ANDREA M. TYTELL

2121 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 1350

El Segundo, California 90245

Phone: (310) 416-9710

Facsimile: (310) 640-1601

Attorney for Plaintiffs

CRAIG and ANN GAYDOS as Parents and Guardians ad Litem of PAIGE

GAYDOS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CRAIG AND ANN GAYDOS as

Parents and Guardians ad Litem of

PAIGE GAYDOS, a minor,

 Plaintiffs, 

vs.

CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL

DISTRICT; et al., 

 

 Defendants. 

Case No. CV-03-03813 HRL

PLAINTIFF’S PETITION FOR

COMPROMISE OF MINOR’S

CLAIM

Plaintiffs’ CRAIG GAYDOS and ANN GAYDOS as Parents and Guardians

ad Litem of PAIGE GAYDOS, a minor, hereby Petition this Honorable Court to

approve the Settlement reached by the parties on February 28, 2006 based on the

foregoing undisputed facts and mutually agreeable terms:

1. Plaintiffs CRAIG GAYDOS and ANN GAYDOS are the biological parents

of PAIGE GAYDOS, date of birth November 29, 1993;

2. PAIGE GAYDOS is the real party in interest in this action. PAIGE is

currently twelve years old and a resident of El Paso County, Colorado where she

**E-filed 4/27/06**

Case 5:03-cv-03813-JF Document 147 Filed 04/27/06 Page 1 of 7
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has resided since November 11, 2005.

3. At all times material to this action, PAIGE and her family were residents of

Cupertino, Santa Clara County, California.

4. PAIGE has Aspergers Syndrome, a form of high functioning autism. 

5. While enrolled in Defendant CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT,

PAIGE was restrained and otherwise injured by her teacher, Defendant KAREN

MILLER. There were culminating events of abuse upon PAIGE on July 16, 2002

which caused Plaintiffs CRAIG GAYDOS and ANN GAYDOS to withdraw

PAIGE from school.

6. All instances of Defendant KAREN MILLER’s harmful and injurious

conduct, actually known by Plaintiffs were reported to Defendant ELIZABETH

ADAMS. Plaintiffs maintain that Defendant ELIZABETH ADAMS remained

willfully ignorant and dismissive about Plaintiff’s complaints as well as the risk of

harm that Defendant KAREN MILLER posed to special education children

entrusted to her care. 

7. Plaintiffs and Defendants proceeded to a ten day jury trial on this matter on

January 13, 2006. On February 1, 2006, the jury reached a verdict of seven

hundred thousand dollars ($700,000.00) apportioned as follows: an aggregate sum

of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) for negligence against

Defendants KAREN MILLER and ELIZABETH ADAMS and an aggregate sum

of four hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($450,000.00) for civil rights violations

inflicted upon PAIGE by Defendants KAREN MILLER, ELIZABETH ADAMS

and the CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT.

8. Post verdict, on February 28, 2006, the parties agreed to participate in a

settlement conference with the Honorable Judge Jeremy D. Fogel presiding. All

parties agreed that the settlement conference was conducted in an effort to achieve

closure and to avoid post trial motions and appeal. 

9. As a result of said settlement conference, the parties agreed to settle their

Case 5:03-cv-03813-JF Document 147 Filed 04/27/06 Page 2 of 7
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dispute for an aggregate sum of two hundred and sixty thousand dollars 

($260,000.00). The parties also agreed to a two year period of judicial oversight

wherein Judge Fogel will supervise and hold Defendant, CUPERTINO UNION

SCHOOL DISTRICT accountable for policy changes regarding the

implementation and documentation of discipline and behavior management of

special needs children. The parties agreed that the instant lawsuit has been a

catalyst for change and now wish to work collaboratively towards the common

goal of legally mandated, procedural compliance regarding training, supervision

and accountability. The parties also agree to prepare a joint statement to the press

about this action and the ultimate result negotiated by the parties on February 28,

2006. The last component of the settlement entailed a future meeting between

Plaintiffs and Dr. William Bragg, Superintendent of Defendant CUPERTINO

UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT. It was agreed that the spirit and intent of the

meeting between Plaintiffs and Dr. Bragg is to promote understanding as well as

open communication and collaboration between the special education community

and CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT.

10. The following reasonable fees and expenses have been incurred by Plaintiffs

as result of this action:

a. Attorney’s fees (30%): $78,000.00 

b. Costs advanced by attorney: $17,782.45 

c. Costs advanced by Plaintiffs: $73,923.58

d. Net sum for PAIGE’s blocked account: $90,293.97 **(less $1,000.00)

11. **Plaintiffs CRAIG GAYDOS and ANN GAYDOS agree that the minor,

PAIGE is the de-facto client of the undersigned attorney. In an effort to honor

PAIGE’s request and good faith intentions towards her three siblings who have

endured the difficulty of this ordeal with PAIGE and their parents, both Plaintiffs

and PAIGE’s attorney hereby request the sum of one thousand dollars($1,000.00)

be released to PAIGE from her net settlement proceeds. PAIGE intends to allocate

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the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) equally amongst herself and three

siblings in order to immediately purchase certain educational toys, games and

school supplies. PAIGE makes this request as a means of compensating and

acknowledging the emotional difficulties she and her siblings have encountered

during the course of this action. 

12. Plaintiffs CRAIG GAYDOS and ANN GAYDOS and their attorney join in

the belief that settlement terms described in Paragraphs 9 ,10 and 11 are in the best

interest of the Minor, PAIGE GAYDOS. The aforementioned settlement

accomplishes Plaintiff’s goals in that the terms are reasonably calculated to be a

catalyst for 

change within the CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT.

13. The net proceeds of the settlement due to the minor, PAIGE GAYDOS as 

identified and detailed in Paragraphs 10(d) and 11 above, shall immediately be

placed in a blocked account at The Raymond James Investment Group. It is

understood that until this Petition for Compromise of the Minor’s Claims becomes

the Order of this Court, the Raymond James Investment Group cannot open a

blocked account. Upon the issuance of this Court’s Order, Plaintiffs CRAIG

GAYDOS and ANN GAYDOS shall forthwith provide the Raymond James

Investment Group with the Order and proceed with the set up and initiation of the

aforesaid account. Once the account is set up and assigned a number, Plaintiffs

shall provide said account number to their attorney of record, Andrea M. Tytell.

Thereafter, Ms. Tytell shall issue a check from her attorney-client trust account to

PAIGE GAYDOS in the amount identified in Paragraph 10(d) above. Said check

shall clearly identify the number of the Court Blocked Account.

In order to ensure the greatest interest rates and return on all funds

deposited in the blocked account intended to benefit the Minor, PAIGE GAYDOS,

Plaintiffs CRAIG GAYDOS and ANN GAYDOS shall have the power and

discretion to manage the account for investment and growth potential ONLY. The

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management and discretion as permitted shall be subject to the limitations set forth

in Paragraphs D, E and F below. 

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff’s request:

A. They be given the right to execute the necessary releases and documents to

effect a full and complete settlement in accordance with the terms and conditions

set forth in Paragraphs 9, 10 and 11;

B. This Petition be approved by this Honorable Court;

C. The disbursements as outlined in Paragraphs 9, 10 and 11 be approved;

D. They be ordered to place the net proceeds due the minor, PAIGE GAYDOS

in the blocked account identified in Paragraph 13 above; 

E. The net proceeds placed in the blocked account for PAIGE shall remain in

said account until PAIGE reaches the age of majority;

F. CRAIG GAYDOS and ANN GAYDOS shall be permitted to Petition a

Court of competent jurisdiction should any of the net proceeds in the aforesaid

blocked account be necessary to further PAIGE’s educational endeavors prior to

her reaching the age of majority. 

G. This Honorable Court make any further orders as it deems just and proper.

Dated: April ____, 2006 Respectfully submitted, 

LAW OFFICES OF ANDREA M. TYTELL

By:______________________________

 ANDREA M. TYTELL

 Attorney for Plaintiffs 

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VERIFICATION

We are the Plaintiffs/Petitionersin this action. By affixing our signatures below,

we affirm that all of the statistical data is correct. We also agree with all of the terms

and conditions set forth in this Petition and will follow the Orders of this Honorable

Court. 

Dated: April ___, 2006 ___________________________

CRAIG GAYDOS, as Parent and Guardian ad

Litem of Paige GAYDOS, a Minor

Dated: April ___, 2006 ___________________________

ANN GAYDOS, as Parent and Guardian as

Litem of Paige Gaydos, a Minor

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April _____, 2006 _____________________________

THE HONORABLE JEREMY D. FOGEL

JUDGE, UNITED STATES DISTRICT

COURT, NORTHERN DISTRICT 

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Case 5:03-cv-03813-JF Document 147 Filed 04/27/06 Page 7 of 7