Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_00-cv-02441/USCOURTS-caed-2_00-cv-02441-38/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 28:2201 Constitutionality of State Statute(s)

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 ORDER APPROVING 

NORTHERN PLUME SETTLEMENTS; 

CASE NO. CIV-S-00-2441 FCD/KJM 

 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

CITY OF LODI, CALIFORNIA, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

M&P INVESTMENTS, et al. 

Defendants. 

Case No. CIV-S-00-2441 FCD KJM 

ORDER APPROVING NORTHERN 

PLUME SETTLEMENTS AND BARRING 

CONTRIBUTION CLAIMS, INDEMNITY, 

AND OTHER CLAIMS PURSUANT TO 

CERCLA, THE UNIFORM 

COMPARATIVE FAULT ACT AND FOR 

DETERMINATION OF GOOD FAITH 

SETTLEMENT UNDER CALIFORNIA 

LAW [CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL 

PROCEDURE § 877.6] 

AND RELATED CROSS-CLAIMS, 

COUNTERCLAIMS, THIRD-PARTY 

CLAIMS AND FOURTH-PARTY 

CLAIMS. 

The City of Lodi (the “City”) and defendants Ackel Investment Co., a dissolved California 

corporation; Northridge Mills, Inc., a California corporation; Charles R. Ackel; William Ackel, as 

Trustee of the Trust under the Will of August A. Ackel; William Ackel, as Trustee of the Norma 

Ackel Trust UAD 12/14/1988; William Ackel, as Administrator of the Estate of Norma Ackel, 

Deceased; Belden CDT Networking, Inc., a Washington corporation, successor in interest to 

Super Mold Corporation, Intercole Subsidiary, Inc., Intercole Automation, Inc., Intercole Inc., 

and Cable Design Technologies Inc.; Melvin Duane Roush; Robert L. Griffin; Geraldine Griffin; 

Janet Griffin Yarbrough; Linda Griffin Hernandez; Beth Griffin Latta; David E. Worfolk; and 

Case 2:00-cv-02441-FCD-KJM Document 2991 Filed 05/19/08 Page 1 of 4
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 -2- 

ORDER APPROVING 

NORTHERN PLUME SETTLEMENTS; 

CASE NO. CIV-S-00-2441 FCD/KJM 

Stefan I. Sekula1; Cain Electrical Works; Ida P. Weber; Estate of Herman C. Weber, Deceased; 

Ehlers Auto; Ehlers Holding, Inc. d/b/a Loren Ehlers Auto Services; Loren Ehlers; Mercedes 

Ehlers; Elizabeth Nugent, as Trustee of the Nancy Lee Benson Revocable Living Trust; Reginald 

Mason; Reginald Mason dba Lodi Chrome; Reggie Mason dba Lodi Chrome; Lodi Chrome 

Company; Lodi Chrome, Inc.; The Larsson Family Trust, dated May 23, 1996; Douglas A. 

Larsson; and Susan L. Larsson2; Lodi Dodge Chrysler Plymouth, Inc., a California Corporation; 

the Weil Family Trust; the Estate of Jack M. Weil, Deceased; Lustre-Cal Nameplate Corporation, 

a California Corporation; Preszler Electric & Pump Service; Richard Preszler; Service Laundry & 

Dry Cleaners; James Babcock; Thomas Gundershaug; Gundershaug Electric Co.; the Estate of 

Norval Gundershaug, Deceased; Wright Motors, a California Corporation; Kayser-Roth 

Corporation; San Joaquin Sulphur Company; Ralph A. Burlington; Bruce A. Burlington; Norma 

J. Burlington; Lodi Printing Co., a California Corporation; Phil Katzakian; and Hertha Katzakian 

(the “Northern Plume Defendants”) have reached final settlements of this matter. 

After consideration of the City’s Motion for Order Approving Northern Plume 

Settlements and Barring Contribution Claims, Indemnity, and Other Claims Pursuant to 

CERCLA, the Uniform Comparative Fault Act and for Determination of Good Faith Settlement 

Under California Law [California Code of Civil Procedure § 877.6] (“Motion”), the Northern 

Plume Defendants’ Joinder thereto, the various statements of non-opposition, and the record as a 

whole, the Court finds that the settlements, as embodied in the Settlement Agreement and Mutual 

Releases (“Settlement Agreements”), set forth in Exhibits “A” through “O” to the Declaration of 

Margaret Dollbaum in Support of the City’s Motion, were made in good faith within the meaning 

of California Code of Civil Procedure section 877.6, and are fair, reasonable, and consistent with 

the purposes of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

(“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq. 

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 Melvin Duane Roush, Robert L. Griffin, Geraldine Griffin, Janet Griffin Yarbrough, 

Linda Griffin Hernandez, Beth Griffin Latta, David E. Worfolk, and Stefan I. Sekula are not 

defendants in this action. 

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 The Larssons are not defendants in this action. 

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ORDER APPROVING 

NORTHERN PLUME SETTLEMENTS; 

CASE NO. CIV-S-00-2441 FCD/KJM 

The matter having been briefed and submitted for decision, and good cause appearing, 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the City’s Motion is GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER 

ORDERED that: 

1. The Settlement Agreements are hereby approved as good faith settlements. 

2. Section 6 of the Uniform Comparative Fault Action (“UCFA”), 12 U.L.A. 147 

(1996), in pertinent part, is hereby adopted as the federal common law in this case for the purpose 

of determining the legal effect of the Settlement Agreements. 

3. The Court further finds and determines that the Settlement Agreements have been 

entered into in good faith within the meaning of sections 877 and 877.6 of the California Code of 

Civil Procedure. 

4. Pursuant to Section 6 of UCFA and section 877.6 of the California Code of Civil 

Procedure, any and all claims, including but not limited to claims for contribution or indemnity 

against the Northern Plume Defendants arising out of the facts alleged in the Fourth Amended 

Complaint in this action filed by the City, and as further identified and provided for in the 

Settlement Agreements, the terms of which are incorporated herein, regardless of when such 

claims were asserted or by whom, are barred. Such claims are barred regardless of whether they 

are brought pursuant to CERCLA or pursuant to any other federal or state law, provided, 

however, that the Benson Trust and Lodi Printing are not releasing each other for any claims, 

common law, statutory or contractual, relating to soil contamination at the Benson Site (as that 

term is defined in the Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release between the Benson Trust and 

the City), and this contribution bar does not apply to such claims. 

5. Pursuant to Section 6 of UCFA and section 877.6 of the California Code of Civil 

Procedure, any and all claims for contribution or indemnity against the City arising out of the 

facts alleged in the Fourth Amended Complaint in this action filed by the City, and as further 

identified and provided for in the Settlement Agreements, the terms of which are incorporated 

herein, regardless of when such claims were asserted or by whom, are barred. Such claims are 

barred regardless of whether they are brought pursuant to CERCLA or pursuant to any other 

federal or state law. 

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ORDER APPROVING 

NORTHERN PLUME SETTLEMENTS; 

CASE NO. CIV-S-00-2441 FCD/KJM 

6. All claims asserted by the City against the Northern Plume Defendants are hereby 

dismissed with prejudice. 

7. All claims asserted by the Northern Plume Defendants against the City are hereby 

dismissed with prejudice. 

8. The Court dismisses with prejudice, or alternatively bars, any and all claims 

asserted or which could have been asserted by the City, by any Northern Plume Defendant, by 

any current owner of property at which any Northern Plume Defendant or its corporate 

predecessor is alleged to have operated, or by any other party or entity, against the City or any 

Northern Plume Defendant for any of the matters raised in the City’s Fourth Amended Complaint 

or in the Settlement Agreements, provided, however, that the Benson Trust and Lodi Printing are 

not releasing each other for any claims, common law, statutory or contractual, relating to soil 

contamination at the Benson Site (as that term is defined in the Settlement Agreement and Mutual 

Release between the Benson Trust and the City), and this contribution bar does not apply to such 

claims. 

9. The Court retains jurisdiction over the Settlement Agreements and any necessary 

applications for enforcement of its terms may be made by motion. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: May 16, 2008 

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