Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-04594/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-04594-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 350
Nature of Suit: Motor Vehicle Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Sett. Agreement & [Proposed] Order

Case No. C 06-4594 MMC -1-

LEONARD S. BECKER (California Bar No. 113065)

MARTIN G. OCCHIPINTI, JR. (California Bar No. 126991)

LAW OFFICES OF LEONARD S. BECKER

1728 B Street

Hayward, California 94541-3102

Telephone: (510) 886-1996

Facsimile: (510) 538-8089

Email: lsbeckerlaw@aol.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

DEVAKI MURCH

SCOTT N. SCHOOLS (South Carolina Bar No. 9990)

United States Attorney

JOANN M. SWANSON (California Bar No. 88143)

Chief, Civil Division

LETITIA R. KIM (California Bar No. 200142)

Assistant United States Attorney

450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36055

San Francisco, California 94102-3495

Telephone: (415) 436-7181

Facsimile: (415) 436-6748

Email: letitia.r.kim@usdoj.gov

Attorneys for Defendant

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

DEVAKI MURCH,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG

ADMINISTRATION; WILLIAM BRIAN

MARTIN,

Defendants.

 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No. C 06-4594 MMC

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT; ORDER

THEREON

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

Plaintiff Devaki Murch and defendant United States Food and Drug Administration

(collectively, the “Parties”) hereby enter into this Settlement Agreement (the “Agreement”), as

follows:

Case 3:06-cv-04594-MMC Document 29 Filed 04/05/07 Page 1 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Sett. Agreement & [Proposed] Order

Case No. C 06-4594 MMC -2-

1. The Parties hereby agree to settle and compromise all claims asserted by plaintiff

in Devaki Murch v. United States Food and Drug Administration, et al., United States District

Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. C 06-4594 MMC (the “Lawsuit”), under

the terms and conditions set forth herein.

2. The United States of America agrees to pay plaintiff the sum of Three Thousand

Dollars ($3,000.00) (the “Settlement Amount”) in full settlement of the claims asserted in the

Lawsuit and any and all liability, claims, causes of action, demands, and rights of whatsoever

kind and nature (including any claim for wrongful death), which arise or may arise from the

same subject matter that gave rise to the Lawsuit. Payment of the Settlement Amount will be

made by a check payable to “Devaki Murch and her attorneys, the Law Offices of Leonard S.

Becker.” Payment of the Settlement Amount may take sixty days or more to process, but the

United States of America agrees to make good faith efforts to expeditiously process the payment.

3. In consideration of payment of the Settlement Amount, plaintiff agrees that upon

notification that the settlement check is ready for delivery, she will deliver to defense counsel a

fully executed stipulation for dismissal of the lawsuit, with prejudice. Upon receipt of the

executed stipulation for dismissal, defense counsel will release the settlement check to plaintiff’s

counsel and file the stipulation for dismissal.

4. In consideration of payment of the Settlement Amount, plaintiff and her heirs,

executors, administrators, and assigns hereby release and forever discharge the United States of

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

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

action, claims, and demands of any kind and nature whatsoever, whether suspected or

unsuspected, at law or in equity, known or unknown (including any claim for wrongful death),

which arise or may arise from the same subject matter that gave rise to the Lawsuit.

5. In consideration of payment of the Settlement Amount, plaintiff and her heirs,

executors, administrators, and assigns further agree to reimburse, indemnify, and hold harmless

the United States of America, its agencies, agents, servants, and employees from any and all such

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

Case 3:06-cv-04594-MMC Document 29 Filed 04/05/07 Page 2 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Sett. Agreement & [Proposed] Order

Case No. C 06-4594 MMC -3-

resulting from further litigation or the prosecution of the claims alleged in the Lawsuit by

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

United States of America, including any future claim for wrongful death.

6. California Civil Code Section provides as follows:

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.

Plaintiff, having been apprised of such language by her attorney, and fully understanding the

same, nevertheless waives the benefits of any and all rights she may have pursuant to Section

1542 and any similar provisions of federal law. Plaintiff understands that, if the facts concerning

her injuries or the facts concerning the liability of the United States of America, its agencies,

agents, servants or employees for damages pertaining thereto are found hereinafter to be other

than or different from the facts now believed to be true, this Agreement shall be and remain

effective notwithstanding such difference.

7. This Agreement shall not constitute an admission of liability or fault on the part

of the United States of America, its agencies, agents, servants, or employees, for the liability

alleged in the Lawsuit, and is entered into by and between the Parties for the purpose of

compromising disputed claims and avoiding the expenses and risks of litigation.

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

action or other proceeding involving any person or party which arises out of the claims released

and discharged by this Agreement.

9. The Settlement Amount represents the entire amount of the compromise

settlement between plaintiff and the United States of America. The Parties will each bear their

own costs, attorneys’ fees, and expenses, and any attorneys’ fees or liens owed by plaintiff will

be paid out of the Settlement Amount and not in addition thereto.

10. It is also understood by plaintiff that, pursuant to Title 28, Section 2678 of the

United States Code, attorneys’ fees for services rendered in connection with this Lawsuit shall

not exceed 25 percent of the Settlement Amount.

Case 3:06-cv-04594-MMC Document 29 Filed 04/05/07 Page 3 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Sett. Agreement & [Proposed] Order

Case No. C 06-4594 MMC -4-

11. 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 her

original causes of action. Plaintiff’s sole remedy in such a dispute is an action to enforce the

settlement in the United States District Court. The parties agree that the United States District

Court will retain jurisdiction over this matter for purposes of resolving any dispute alleging a

breach of this Agreement.

12. 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 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,

amended, or otherwise changed in any respect except by writing, duly executed by the Parties

and their authorized representatives.

DATED: April 2, 2007 SCOTT N. SCHOOLS

United States Attorney

/s/

________________________________

By: LETITIA R. KIM

Assistant United States Attorney

Attorneys for Defendant

DATED: March 27, 2007 LAW OFFICES OF LEONARD S.

BECKER

/s/

________________________________

By: LEONARD S. BECKER

MARTIN G. OCCHIPINTI, JR.

Attorneys for Plaintiff

Case 3:06-cv-04594-MMC Document 29 Filed 04/05/07 Page 4 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Sett. Agreement & [Proposed] Order

Case No. C 06-4594 MMC -5-

ORDER

The above Settlement Agreement is APPROVED and SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 5, 2007 ________________________________

MAXINE M. CHESNEY

United States District Judge

Case 3:06-cv-04594-MMC Document 29 Filed 04/05/07 Page 5 of 5