Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01364/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01364-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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STIPULATION TO CAP PLAINTIFF’S DAMAGES AND REMAND

CHARLES D. MAY, ESQ.; STATE BAR NO.: 129663

GENE B. SHARAGA, ESQ.; STATE BAR NO.: 131661

BRIAN J. KIM, ESQ.: STATE BAR NO.: 282538

 THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Blvd,, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403

(818) 205-9955; (818) 205-9944 fax

E-Mail: cmay@tharpe-howell.com

E-Mail: gsharaga@tharpe-howell.com

E-Mail: bkim@tharpe-howell.com

Attorneys for Defendant,

 LOWE’S HOME CENTERS, LLC

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA – FRESNO DIVISION

BELLA PETERSON, an individual,

Plaintiff,

v.

LOWE’S HOME CENTERS, LLC a 

business organization, form unknown; 

DOES 1 to 50, inclusive,

Defendants.

CASE NO.: 1:15-CV-01364-LJO-EPG

(Merced County Superior Court Case No.: 

15CV-02135)

STIPULATION TO CAP PLAINTIFF’S 

DAMAGES AND REMAND; ORDER

Hon. Lawrence J. O’Neill

U.S. District Court Judge

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between Plaintiff BELLA 

PETERSON (“Plaintiff”) and Defendant LOWE’S HOME CENTERS, LLC

(“Defendant” or “Lowe’s”), by and through their counsel of record, as follows:

1. Plaintiff BELLA PETERSON, a resident of California, brought the 

instant action against defendant LOWE’S HOME CENTERS, LLC, a North Carolina 

limited liability company, in the Superior Court of California, County of Merced.

2. Plaintiff claims personal injuries arising out of negligence and premises 

liability causes of action which allegedly occurred on the premises of defendant’s 

retail store located in Merced, California. 

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Case 1:15-cv-01364-LJO-EPG Document 13 Filed 11/03/15 Page 1 of 3
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STIPULATION TO CAP PLAINTIFF’S DAMAGES AND REMAND

THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Boulevard, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403-3221

3. Plaintiff acknowledges that she claims damages in excess of 

$75,000.00.

4. On September 3, 2015, Defendant Lowe’s removed this matter to the 

United States District Court for the Eastern District of California pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. §§ 1332, 1441 and 1367.

5. Plaintiff hereby agrees and stipulates that her damages, resulting from

the alleged incident that occurred on defendant’s premises on or about August 10, 

2013, that are the subject of the within action (formerly Merced County Superior 

Court Case No.: 15CV-02135) (hereinafter “the litigation”), are hereby capped at 

$74,999.99.

6. Plaintiff hereby agrees and stipulates that if her damages should exceed 

$74,999.99, she hereby waives the right to claim such damages as a result of the 

litigation.

7. Plaintiff hereby agrees and stipulates that her recovery of damages in 

the litigation, including but not limited to economic damages and non-economic 

damages, are hereby capped at $74,999.99.

8. Plaintiff hereby agrees and stipulates that if her recovery of damages in 

the litigation should exceed $74,999.99, either by verdict or other means, she hereby 

waives the right to recover any such damages in excess of $74,999.99.

9. Plaintiff hereby agrees and stipulates that should any award or judgment 

be rendered or entered against defendant with damages in excess of $74,999.99, she 

will execute any necessary documents to reduce such award or judgment to 

$74,999.99 in damages, and will not execute on any award or judgment in excess of 

$74,999.99 in damages. The $74,999.99 cap to recovery of damages does not in any 

way limit the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded to and 

recovered by plaintiff.

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Case 1:15-cv-01364-LJO-EPG Document 13 Filed 11/03/15 Page 2 of 3
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STIPULATION TO CAP PLAINTIFF’S DAMAGES AND REMAND

THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Boulevard, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403-3221

10. The parties hereby agree that because the amount in controversy in this 

matter does not exceed $75,000, subject matter jurisdiction is lacking. 

11. The parties further agree that in light of their agreement to cap 

Plaintiff’s damages at $74,999.99, the matter should be remanded to the Merced 

County Superior Court, Case No.: 15CV-02135.

12. WHEREFORE, based on the foregoing the parties hereby stipulate and 

agree that the case be REMANDED to the Merced County Superior Court, Case 

No.: 15CV-02135.

13. The parties stipulate and request that an Order be issued in accordance 

with this Stipulation.

Dated: 11/2/15 TOREM & ASSOCIATES

 /s/ Ron Torem

By: 

RON TOREM

Attorney for Plaintiff, 

BELLA PETERSON

Dated: 11/2/15 THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

 /s/ Brian J. Kim

By: 

 CHARLES D. MAY

 GENE B. SHARAGA

 BRIAN J. KIM

 Attorneys for Defendant, 

 LOWE’S HOME CENTERS, LLC

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 2, 2015 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-01364-LJO-EPG Document 13 Filed 11/03/15 Page 3 of 3