Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-00561/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-00561-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 310
Nature of Suit: Airplane Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:2671 Federal Tort Claims Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BEN LOTT and LINDA LOTT,

Plaintiffs,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and

DGV HOLDINGS, INC., dba PAN AM

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

ACADEMY,

Defendants.

 

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Civil No. 06CV0561 J (BLM)

ORDER:

(1) GRANTING DEFENDANT

UNITED STATES’ APPLICATION

FOR DETERMINATION OF GOOD

FAITH SETTLEMENT [DOC. NO.

14]; AND

(2) GRANTING AMENDED JOINT

MOTION TO DISMISS

COMPLAINT AGAINST UNITED

STATES [DOC. NO. 21].

Before the Court is Defendant United States of America’s (“United States”) Application

for Determination of Good Faith Settlement and the Parties’ Joint Motion to Dismiss the

Complaint Against the United States. [Doc. Nos. 14, 21.] To date, Defendant DGV Holdings,

d.b.a. Pan Am International Flight Academy (“Pan Am”) has not filed a motion opposing the

Application. The Court finds these matters suitable for determination on the papers and without

oral argument. See S.D. Cal. Civ. R. 7.1(d)(1). For the reasons discussed herein, the Court

GRANTS Defendant United States’ Application for Determination of Good Faith Settlement

and GRANTS Parties’ Joint Motion to Dismiss Complaint Against Defendant United States.

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 While the Application indicates that the amount settled upon is $3,404,620.15, the

correct amount is $3,404,260.15, as indicated by the Stipulation for Compromise Settlement. 

(See App. Good Faith Determination of Settlement at 3; Settlement at 2.) 

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Background

The present case is the second of two wrongful death cases filed under the Federal Tort

Claims Act arising out of a fatal aircraft accident near Julian, California on May 10, 2004. (See

App. Good Faith Determination of Settlement at 3.) At the time of the incident, the aircraft was

being piloted by Bradford Cederblom and Damon Lott. (See id.) Following a bench trial in

Cederblom v. United States, Civil No. 05-1551 (S.D.Cal. 2006), the Court awarded a judgment

in favor of plaintiffs in the total amount of $3,404,260.15. 

Plaintiffs Ben Lott and Linda Lott, parents of Damon Lott, sued the United States and Pan

Am, the owner of the aircraft involved in the incident and flight school where the decedents

attended. (See id.) Defendant United States has reached a settlement with Plaintiffs in the

amount of $3,404,260.15,1

 equaling the amount awarded by this Court in Cederblom. (See id.;

Settlement at 2.) 

Discussion

Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 877.6(a)(2):

[A] settling party may give notice of settlement to all parties and to the court,

together with an application for determination of good faith settlement and a

proposed order. The application shall indicate the settling parties, and the basis,

terms, and amount of the settlement. The notice, application, and proposed order

shall be given by certified mail, return receipt requested. Proof of service shall be

filed with the court. Within 25 days of the mailing of the notice, application, and

proposed order, or within 20 days of personal service, a nonsettling party may file

a notice of motion to contest the good faith of the settlement. If none of the

nonsettling parties files a motion within 25 days of mailing of the notice,

application, and proposed order, or within 20 days of personal service, the court

may approve the settlement. The notice by a nonsettling party shall be given in the

manner provided in subdivision (b) of Section 1005. However, this paragraph

shall not apply to settlements in which a confidentiality agreement has been

entered into regarding the case or the terms of the settlement.

Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 877.6(a)(2) (2007). On December 21, 2006, Defendant United States

filed a Notice of Settlement and an Application for Determination of Good Faith Settlement. 

[Doc. No. 14.] 

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The settling parties are Defendant United States and Plaintiffs Ben and Linda Lott. (See

App. Good Faith Determination of Settlement at 4.) As the basis for the settlement, the

Defendant United States indicates that all Parties participated in a settlement conference before a

mediator and the Parties had the benefit of this Court’s prior award of $3,404,260.15 in

Cederblom. (See id.) Defendant also points to the similarities between the present case and that

of Cederblom—both decedents were single young men who died while attending flight school

and both are survived by their parents who are the only wrongful death plaintiffs. (See id.) 

Plaintiffs and Defendant United States have filed a Stipulation for Compromise Settlement and

Release of All Claims in which the Defendant United States has agreed to pay Plaintiffs the sum

of $3,404,260.15. (See Settlement at 2.) No Defendant to this action has come forward with

evidence that the foregoing settlement offer is not in good faith. Accordingly, the Court FINDS

that Defendant United States’ settlement has been made in good faith.

Conclusion

Having reviewed the papers and given the non-opposition by Defendant Pan Am, the

Court GRANTS Defendant United States’ Application for Determination of Good Faith

Settlement. [Doc. No. 14.] Additionally, good cause appearing therefor, the Court GRANTS

the Parties’ Joint Motion to Dismiss the Complaint Against the United States with prejudice. 

[Doc. No. 21.]

 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 8, 2007

HON. NAPOLEON A. JONES, JR.

United States District Judge

cc: Magistrate Judge Major

 All Counsel of Record

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