Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07835/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07835-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1402 Medical Malpractice

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STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT; ORDER

No. C 06-7835 CW -1-

SCOTT N. SCHOOLS (SC Bar No. 9990)

United States Attorney

JOANN M. SWANSON (SBN 88143)

Chief, Civil Division

JONATHAN U. LEE (SBN 148792)

Assistant United States Attorney

450 Golden Gate Avenue, Ninth Floor

San Francisco, California 94102

Telephone: (415) 436-6909

Facsimile: (415) 436-6748

Email: jonathan.lee@usdoj.gov

Attorneys for UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OAKLAND DIVISION

JONATHAN AUGUST BROOKS,

BONITA FINNIE, and MILDRED

YVETTE MARSHALL,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Defendants. 

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No. C 06-7835 CW

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT;

ORDER

Case 4:06-cv-07835-CW Document 27 Filed 12/21/07 Page 1 of 8
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STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT; ORDER

Case No. C 06-7835 CW -2-

THE PARTIES, BY AND THROUGH THEIR ATTORNEYS OF RECORD, HEREBY

SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING STIPULATION:

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED as follows:

1. The parties to this litigation are plaintiffs Jonathan August Brooks, Bonita Finnie,

and Mildred Yvett Marshall (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “Plaintiffs”),

on the one hand, and defendant United States of America, on the other hand; 

2. The parties hereby agree to settle and compromise the above-entitled action under

the terms and conditions set forth herein.

3. The United States agrees to pay to the plaintiffs the sum of $210,000 (Two

Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars exactly), made payable to the trust account of

Hersh & Hersh, A Professional Corporation, under the terms and conditions set

forth herein, which sum shall be in full settlement and satisfaction of any and all

claims, demands, rights, and causes of action of whatsoever kind and nature,

arising from, and by reason of any and all known and unknown, foreseen and

unforeseen bodily and personal injuries, damage to property and the

consequences thereof, resulting, and to result, from the same subject matter that

gave rise to the above-captioned lawsuit, for which plaintiffs, their heirs,

executors, administrators, or assigns, and each of them, now have or may

hereafter acquire against the United States of America or its agents, servants, and

employees. 

4. Plaintiffs and their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns hereby agree to

accept the sum of $210,000 (Two Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars exactly) in full

settlement and satisfaction of any and all claims, demands, rights, and causes of

Case 4:06-cv-07835-CW Document 27 Filed 12/21/07 Page 2 of 8
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STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT; ORDER

Case No. C 06-7835 CW -3-

action of whatsoever kind and nature, arising from, and by reason of any and all

known and unknown, foreseen and unforeseen bodily and personal injuries,

damage to property and the consequences thereof which they may have or

hereafter acquire against the United States of America or its agents, servants and

employees on account of the same subject matter that gave rise to the abovecaptioned lawsuit. Plaintiffs and their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns

further agree to reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the United States of

America and its agents, servants or employees from any and all such causes of

action, claims, liens, rights, or subrogated or contribution interests incident to or

resulting from further litigation or the prosecution of claims by plaintiffs or their

heirs, executors, administrators or assigns against any third party or against the

United States of America.

5. In consideration of the payment of Two Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars and No

Cents ($210,000.00) and the other terms of this Stipulation and Agreement, as set

forth above, the plaintiffs agree to immediately upon execution of this agreement,

execute the accompanying Stipulation and [Proposed] Order for Dismissal

with Prejudice, which stipulation shall dismiss, with prejudice, all claims

asserted in This Action or any claims that could have been asserted in this Action,

which is captioned Jonathan August Brooks, Bonita Finnie, and Mildred Yvette

Marshall v. United States of America, C 06-7835 CW. The fully executed

Stipulation of Dismissal will be held by counsel for the defendant and will be

filed with the Court upon receipt by plaintiffs’ counsel of the settlement amount

and the completion of the settlement terms described herein.

Case 4:06-cv-07835-CW Document 27 Filed 12/21/07 Page 3 of 8
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STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT; ORDER

Case No. C 06-7835 CW -4-

6. This stipulation for compromise settlement is entered into by all parties for the

purpose of compromising disputed claims and avoiding the expenses and risks of

litigation. This settlement does not constitute an admission of liability or fault on

the part of any party.

7. It is also agreed by and among the parties that neither the plaintiffs nor plaintiffs’

attorneys may make any claim for attorney’s fees or other costs or expenses of

litigation against the Federal Defendant, the United States, their agents, servants,

or employees in connection with plaintiff’s claims as set forth herein.

8. This agreement may be pled as a full and complete defense to any subsequent

action or other proceeding which arises out of the claims released and discharged

by the agreement.

9. It is also agreed, by and among the parties, that the settlement amount of

$210,000 (Two Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars exactly) paid by the United States

of America to plaintiff represents the entire amount of the compromise settlement

and that the respective parties will each bear their own costs, fees, and expenses

and that any attorneys' fees owed by the plaintiff will be paid out of the settlement

amount and not in addition thereto.

10. The settlement amount will be made by a check payable to “Jonathan August

Brooks, Bonita Finnie, and Mildred Yvette Marshall and their attorneys of record

Hersh & Hersh.” Plaintiffs’ counsel shall be responsible for distributing the funds

to plaintiffs.

11. Counsel for the United States of America will submit the request for Judgment

Fund payment within 24 hours after receiving plaintiffs’ and their attorney’s

Case 4:06-cv-07835-CW Document 27 Filed 12/21/07 Page 4 of 8
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STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT; ORDER

Case No. C 06-7835 CW -5-

signatures on this agreement. Plaintiffs are advised that settlement checks are

often not available for 45 to 60 days after approval of the settlement by the court. 

Counsel for the United States of America will notify plaintiff’s counsel within 24

hours after receiving the settlement check in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

12. Plaintiffs hereby release and forever discharge the United States of America and

any and all of its past and present officials, employees, agents, attorneys, their

successors and assigns, from any and all obligations, damages, liabilities, actions,

causes of actions, claims and demands of any kind and nature whatsoever,

whether suspected or unsuspected, at law or in equity, known or unknown, arising

out of the allegations set forth in plaintiff’s pleadings in this action.

13. Plaintiffs Jonathan August Brooks, Bonita Finnie, and Mildred Yvette Marshall

each specifically represent and warrant the following: Other than the three

plaintiffs, there are no surviving children of the plaintiffs’ father, Henry V.

Brooks, Jr. Plaintiffs understand that this warranty is a material provision in this

settlement agreement.

14. The provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542 are set forth below:

"A general release does not extend to claims which

the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his

favor at the time of executing the release, which if

known by him must have materially affected his

settlement with the debtor."

Plaintiffs, having been apprised of the statutory language of Civil Code Section

1542 by their attorney of record, and fully understanding the same, nevertheless

elect to waive the benefits of any and all rights they may have pursuant to the

provision of that statute and any similar provision of federal law. Plaintiffs

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STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT; ORDER

Case No. C 06-7835 CW -6-

understand that, if the facts concerning injuries or liability for damages pertaining

thereto are found hereinafter to be other than or different from the facts now

believed by them to be true, this settlement agreement shall be and remain

effective notwithstanding such material difference.

15. The parties agree that this stipulation is intended to be a full and final settlement

of all claims arising out of the allegations set forth in plaintiffs’ pleadings in this

action. Plaintiffs agree to indemnify and hold harmless defendant United States

of America from any and all claims, demands, obligations, liens, and lawsuits

brought against the United States of America, its agencies or employees, arising

out of the allegations set forth in plaintiff’s complaint in this action.

16. This instrument shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties, and it is

expressly understood and agreed that the agreement has been freely and

voluntarily entered into by the parties hereto with the advice of counsel, who have

explained the legal effect of this agreement. The parties further acknowledge that

no warranties or representations have been made on any subject other than as set

forth in this Agreement. This Agreement may not be altered, modified or

otherwise changed in any respect except by writing, duly executed by all of the

parties or their authorized representatives.

17. If any withholding or income tax liability is imposed upon plaintiffs based on

payment of the settlement sum as set forth herein, plaintiffs shall be solely

responsible for paying any such liability. 

18. The parties agree that the District Court shall retain jurisdiction over this matter

for the purposes of resolving any dispute alleging a breach of this Stipulation and

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STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT; ORDER

Case No. C 06-7835 CW -7-

Agreement.

19. Each party acknowledges that they have been represented by and have relied upon

independent counsel in negotiating, preparing and entering into this Stipulation

and Agreement and that they have had the contents of this Stipulation and

Agreement fully explained by counsel and that they are fully aware of and

understand all of the terms of the agreement and the legal consequences thereof. 

It is further acknowledged that the parties have mutually participated in the

drafting of this Stipulation and Agreement and it is agreed that no provision

herein shall be construed against any party hereto by virtue of the drafting of this

Stipulation and Agreement.

20. If any provision of this Stipulation and Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal, or

unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining

provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. This instrument

shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties, and it is expressly

understood and agreed that this agreement has been freely and voluntarily entered

into by the parties hereto with the advice of counsel, who have explained the legal

effect of this agreement. The parties further acknowledge that no warranties or

representations have been made on any subject other than as set forth in this

agreement.

21. The parties agree that, should any dispute arise with respect to the implementation

of the terms of this Agreement, Plaintiff shall not seek to rescind the Agreement

and pursue any of the original causes of action. Plaintiff’s sole remedy in such a

dispute is an action to enforce the Agreement in district court. The parties agree

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STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT; ORDER

Case No. C 06-7835 CW -8-

that the district court will retain jurisdiction over this matter for the purposes of

resolving any dispute alleging a breach of this Agreement. This settlement

agreement may be signed in counterparts. 

22. The parties further agree that the filing of this executed Stipulation and

Agreement shall notify the Court of the parties’ agreement to vacate all pending

discovery, motion hearing dates, settlement or pretrial deadlines or trial date

associated with this litigation.

DATED: December 19, 2007 /S/ 

Jonathan August Brooks, Plaintiff 

DATED: December 18, 2007 /S/ 

Bonita Finnie, Plaintiff 

DATED: December 18, 2007 /S/ 

Mildred Yvette Marshall, Plaintiff 

DATED: December 19, 2007 HERSH & HERSH

 /S/ 

BETHANY CARACUZZO

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

DATED: December 19, 2007 SCOTT N. SCHOOLS

United States Attorney

 /S/ 

JONATHAN U. LEE

Assistant United States Attorney

Attorneys for Defendant UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA

PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED:

12/21/07

DATED: __________________ _____________________________________

The Honorable Claudia Wilken

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 4:06-cv-07835-CW Document 27 Filed 12/21/07 Page 8 of 8