Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01903/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01903-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 350
Nature of Suit: Motor Vehicle Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:2671 Federal Tort Claims Act

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JOSEPH P. RUSSONIELLO (CSBN 44332)

United States Attorney

JOANN M. SWANSON (CSBN 88143)

Chief, Civil Division

JAMES A. SCHARF (CSBN 152171)

Assistant United States Attorney

 150 Almaden Boulevard, Suite 900

San Jose, CA 95113

Telephone: (408) 535-5044

FAX: (408) 535-5081

james.scharf@usdoj.gov

Attorneys for Defendant

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

CINDY PINA AND RANNDY PINA,

Plaintiffs,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant.

 

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No. C 07 1903 SC

STIPULATION AND AGREEMENT OF

COMPROMISE AND SETTLEMENT 

AND [PROPOSED] ORDER

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED by and between plaintiffs CINDY PINA

AND RANNDY PINA(“Plaintiffs”) and defendant UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(hereinafter the “Federal Defendant”), by and through its undersigned counsel, as follows:

1. The parties do hereby agree to settle, compromise and dismiss the abovecaptioned action (“This Action”) under the terms and conditions set forth herein.

2. The Federal Defendant agrees to pay the sum of $300,000.00 (“the settlement

amount”) to plaintiffs under the terms and conditions set forth herein. Plaintiffs are responsible

for satisfying any and all outstanding liens relating to plaintiff’s medical treatment arising out of

the subject matter of This Action. 

Case 3:07-cv-01903-SC Document 14 Filed 02/25/08 Page 1 of 5
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

C 07-1903 SC 

3. The plaintiffs and their heirs, executors, administrators, assigns and attorneys

hereby agree to accept the settlement amount, in full and final settlement and satisfaction of the

claims raised in This Action under the terms and conditions set forth herein.

4. It is also agreed, by and among the parties, that the settlement amount represents

the entire amount payable to plaintiffs and their heirs, executors, administrators, assigns and

attorneys.

5. It is also agreed, by and among the parties, that the settlement amount shall be

made payable to plaintiffs and their attorney, Bruce L. Ahnfeldt, and shall be mailed to his

attorney’s business address. 

6. It is also agreed, by and among the parties, that neither plaintiffs nor any of their

attorneys may make any claim for attorney’s fees or other costs against the Federal Defendant. It

is also agreed, by and among the parties, that the respective parties will bear their own costs,

fees, and expenses and that any attorney’s fees owed by the plaintiffs will be paid out of the

settlement amount and not in addition thereto.

7. It is also understood, by and among the parties, that pursuant to Title 28, United

States Code, Section 2678, that if plaintiffs incurred any attorney’s fees for services rendered in

connection with this action, said fees shall not exceed 25 percent of the amount of the

compromise settlement.

8. In consideration of the settlement amount as set forth above, the plaintiffs agree

that they will immediately upon execution of this agreement, execute a Stipulation of Dismissal,

which stipulation shall dismiss, with prejudice, all claims asserted in This Action or any claims

that could have been asserted in This Action. The fully executed Stipulation of Dismissal will be

held by counsel for the Federal Defendant and will be filed with the Court upon receipt by

plaintiffs’ attorneys of the settlement amount.

9. In consideration of the payment of the settlement amount as set forth above, the

plaintiffs hereby release and forever discharge the Federal Defendant, and any and all of their

past and present agencies, officials, employees, agents, attorneys, successors, and assigns from

any and all obligations, damages, liabilities, causes of actions, claims, and demands of any kind

Case 3:07-cv-01903-SC Document 14 Filed 02/25/08 Page 2 of 5
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

C 07-1903 SC 

and nature whatsoever, whether suspected or unsuspected, arising in law or equity, arising from

or by reason of any and all known, unknown, foreseen, or unforeseen injuries, and the

consequences thereof, resulting from the facts, circumstances and subject matter that gave rise to

This Action, including all claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), all constitutional

or Bivens claims, any and all current or future claims by plaintiffs’ children, and any other claim

relating to the subject accident of October 21, 2003, including loss of consortium, or any and all

claims that could have been asserted in the Complaint, including any and all claims for personal

injury.

10. In consideration of the payment of the settlement amount as set forth above, the

plaintiffs further agree that they may not and will not use or rely on the incidents and actions

underlying the Complaint in any other administrative proceeding, state court action or federal

court action to prove any kind of further or future claim against the United States or its agencies

and employees.

11. 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.

The plaintiffs, having been apprised of the statutory language of Civil Code Section 1542, 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. The

plaintiffs understand that if the facts concerning the plaintiffs’ alleged damages and the liability

of the Federal Defendant, or its agents, servants, or employees, for damages pertaining thereto are

found hereafter to be other than or different from the facts now believed by them to be true, this

agreement shall be and remain effective notwithstanding such material difference.

12. The parties acknowledge that neither this agreement nor anything contained herein

shall constitute an admission of liability or fault on the part of the Federal Defendant or its

agents, servants, or employees. This agreement is entered into by the parties for the purpose of

compromising disputed claims, avoiding the expenses and risks of litigation, and buying peace.

Case 3:07-cv-01903-SC Document 14 Filed 02/25/08 Page 3 of 5
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

C 07-1903 SC 

13. This agreement may be pled as a full and complete defense to any action or other

proceeding, including any local, state or federal administrative action, involving any person or

party which arises out of the claims released and discharged by this agreement.

14. 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. Plaintiffs will indemnify and hold harmless the Federal Defendant from any

liability the Federal Defendant may incur from any government agency arising out of any failure

by plaintiffs to pay any tax liability they might be responsible for from any government agency. 

Plaintiffs will also indemnify and hold harmless the Federal Defendant from any liability the

Federal Defendant may incur from any lien claimant arising out of any failure by plaintiffs to

satisfy the outstanding liens. 

15. Plaintiffs have been informed that payment of the settlement amount may take six

to eight weeks to process. 

16. 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 agreement.

17. Each party acknowledges 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 agreement and it is agreed that no

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

agreement.

18. If any provision of this 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.

19. 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. The parties further acknowledge that no warranties or representations have

been made on any subject other than as set forth in this agreement.

Case 3:07-cv-01903-SC Document 14 Filed 02/25/08 Page 4 of 5
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

C 07-1903 SC 

20. The parties agree that this Stipulation for Compromise Settlement and Release,

including all the terms and conditions of this compromise settlement and any additional

agreements relating thereto, may be made public in their entirety, and the plaintiff expressly

consents to such release and disclosure pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b).

21. The persons signing this Stipulation and Agreement warrant and represent that

they possess full authority to bind the persons on whose behalf they are signing to the terms of

the settlement.

22. This agreement may not be altered, modified or otherwise changed in any respect

except in writing, duly executed by all of the parties or their authorized representatives.

Dated: February 14, 2008 /s/ Cindy Pina 

Cindy Pina

Plaintiff

Dated: February 14, 2008 ___/s/ Randy Pina________________

 Ranndy Pina

 Plaintiff

Dated: February 19, 2008 /s/ Bruce Ahnfeldt 

Bruce L. Ahnfeldt

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. RUSSONIELLO

United States Attorney

Dated: February 21, 2008 By: _/s/ James Scharf________________

JAMES A. SCHARF

Assistant United States Attorney

Attorney for the Federal Defendant

United States of America

PURSUANT TO THE ABOVE STIPULATION AND AGREEMENT, 

APPROVED AND SO ORDERED:

Dated: 

Hon.Samuel Conti, Senior Judge

United States District Court

2/21/08

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORN

I

A

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Samuel Conti

Case 3:07-cv-01903-SC Document 14 Filed 02/25/08 Page 5 of 5