Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-05031/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-05031-19/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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28 1 

REVISED (PROPOSED) ORDER APPROVING

COMPROMISE OF MINORS’ CLAIMS 

JOHN E. HILL (Bar No. 45338)

DANIEL A. STENSON (Bar No. 83939)

LAW OFFICES OF JOHN E. HILL

A Professional Corporation

8105 Edgewater Drive, Suite 100

Oakland, CA 94621

Telephone: (510) 588-1000

Fax: (510) 588-1087

Attorney for MACARIA PEREZ, et al., PLAINTIFFS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MACARIA CALMO PEREZ, SANTOS M. 

CALMO, a minor, BONIFACIO E. 

CALMO, a minor, ELIZABETH M. 

CALMO, a minor, ALISANDRA V. 

CALMO, a minor, by and through their

Guardian ad Litem JEFFREY MILES

BRYANT,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

JOHN McNAMEE, MORBARK INC., a

corporation; EDWIN DISSOSWAY;

NANCY PUZZIFERRI and DOES 1

through 500,

Defendants.

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Case No. C06 5031 BZ 

REVISED (PROPOSED) ORDER

APPROVING COMPROMISE OF

MINORS’ CLAIM AS TO

DEFENDANTS EDWIN DISSOSWAY

AND NANCY PUZZIFERRI AND AS TO

DEFENDANT JOHN McNAMEE 

The Court having reviewed the Petition to Compromise Minors’ Claim filed by the

Guardian ad Litem, Jeffrey Miles Bryant, AND GOOD CAUSE APPEARING: 

THE COURT ORDERS:

1. That the Petition is granted and the proposed compromise of the claims of the

minor plaintiffs, Santos M. Calmo, Bonifacio E. Calmo, Elizabeth M. Calmo and Alisandra 

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 165 Filed 12/27/07 Page 1 of 4
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28 2 

REVISED (PROPOSED) ORDER APPROVING

COMPROMISE OF MINORS’ CLAIMS 

V. Calmo , against defendants Edwin Dissosway and Nancy Puzziferri is approved and the

proposed compromise of the claims of the minor plaintiffs, Santos M. Calmo, Bonifacio E. 

Calmo, Elizabeth M. Calmo and Alisandra V. Calmo , against defendant John McNamee is

approved. 

2. That the allocation of the $300,000.00 to be recovered from defendants Dissosway

and Puzziferri be made in accordance with the provisions of the California Probate Code

regarding intestate succession. In accordance with that allocation, $100,000.00, one third of the

amount recovered, is due and payable to Macaria Perez. The remaining $200,000.00, two thirds

of the amount recovered, is due and payable in equal parts to the four minor plaintiffs, Santos M. 

Calmo, Bonifacio E. Calmo, Elizabeth M. Calmo and Alisandra V. Calmo, resulting in

each minor plaintiff receiving $50,000.00 before any recovery of attorneys fees or case costs. 

3. That defendants Dissosway and Puzziferri are directed to make payment in

furtherance of this Order by check in the amount of $300,000.00 made payable to “Law Offices

of John E. Hill California State Bar Client Trust Account.” After endorsement that check is to be

deposited in the Law Offices of John E. Hill California State Bar Client Trust Account for

collection and the settlement funds shall be distributed after deposit only as provided by this

Order and by such further Orders as the Court may make in connection with this matter. 

4. That the Law Offices of John Hill is to recover a proportionate share of case costs

advanced from each plaintiff. Under this allocation the Law Offices of John Hill is to recover

case costs in the amount of $15,894.74 from plaintiff Macaria Perez. Under this allocation the

Law Offices of John Hill is to recover case costs in the amount of $7,947.37 from each minor

plaintiff, for a total recovery of case costs advanced in the amount of $31,789.48 from the minor

plaintiffs. The Law Offices of John Hill is to recover case costs totaling $47,684.22 from the

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 165 Filed 12/27/07 Page 2 of 4
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28 3 

REVISED (PROPOSED) ORDER APPROVING

COMPROMISE OF MINORS’ CLAIMS 

$300,000.00 to be paid by defendants Puzziferri and Dissosway after deposit of those funds in

the Law Offices of John E. Hill California State Bar Client Trust Account. 

5. That the Law Offices of John Hill is to receive an award of attorneys fees in the

amount of $10,513.15 for representation of the interests of each minor plaintiff, representing

25% of the amount recovered by each minor plaintiff from the settlement with defendants

Dissosway and Puzziferri after reduction for the payment of case costs allocated to each of the

minors’ claims. The total amount of attorneys fees payable to the Law Offices of John Hill in

connection with representation of the interests of the minor plaintiffs is $42,052.60. The total

amount of attorneys fees payable to the Law Offices of John Hill in connection with

representation of the interests of Macaria Perez is $33,333.33. The Law Offices of John Hill is

authorized to collect attorneys fees totaling $75,385.93 from the $300,000.00 to be paid by

defendants Puzziferri and Dissosway after deposit of those funds in the Law Offices of John E.

Hill California State Bar Client Trust Account. 

6. That the balance due to each minor plaintiff after payment of fees and costs,

$31,539.48, shall be held in the Law Offices of John E. Hill California State Bar Client Trust

Account pending further order of this Court after plaintiffs’ remaining claim against defendant

MORBARK has been resolved by settlement or trial. The Guardian ad Litem and plaintiffs’

counsel are directed to submit a proposed plan for investment and/or distribution of these funds

to the Court once the plaintiffs’ claim against defendant MORBARK has been resolved by either

settlement or trial. 

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Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 165 Filed 12/27/07 Page 3 of 4
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28 4 

REVISED (PROPOSED) ORDER APPROVING

COMPROMISE OF MINORS’ CLAIMS 

7. That the balance due to Macaria Perez after payment of fees and costs,

$50,771.93, shall be distributed to Macaria Perez from the $300,000.00 to be paid by defendants

Puzziferri and Dissosway after deposit of those funds in the Law Offices of John E. Hill

California State Bar Client Trust Account. 

8. That plaintiff MACARIA PEREZ is ordered to provide a declaration to the Court

within thirty days stating how the funds paid to date by defendant McNAMEE have been used. 

9. That plaintiff MACARIA PEREZ is directed to utilize the future payments to be

made by defendant McNAMEE for the benefit of the minor plaintiffs, including their educational

needs. Use of the funds to be received from defendant McNAMEE for the benefit of the minor

plaintiffs is a condition of this Court’s approval of this minors’ compromise. 

10. That the Guardian ad Litem is authorized to complete all paperwork necessary to

effect the compromise of the minors’ claims against defendants Dissosway and Puzziferri and

against defendant McNamee, including execution of a full and final release of all claims on

behalf of each minor plaintiff as to each such defendant. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED:___________________

_______________________________________

HON. BERNARD ZIMMERMAN 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

December 27, 2007

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORN

I

A

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Bernard Zimmerman

Case 3:06-cv-05031-BZ Document 165 Filed 12/27/07 Page 4 of 4