Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00472/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00472-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:2674 Federal Tort Claims Act

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SETTLEMENT STIPULATION; ORDER 1 

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

CARLOS ESCOTO, 

 Plaintiff, 

 v. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Defendant. 

Case No. 1:07-cv-00472 OWW DLB

STIPULATION FOR COMPROMISE 

SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSAL AND 

ORDER THEREON 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Third-Party Plaintiff, 

 v. 

PEACHWOOD MEDICAL GROUP CLOVIS, 

INC.; DENNIS A. NAKATA, M.D.; DENIS J. 

HENTRICH, P.A., 

 Third-Party Defendants. 

It is hereby stipulated by and between plaintiff Carlos Escoto, (“Plaintiff”), defendant/thirdparty plaintiff the United States of America (“United States”), and third-party defendants Peachwood 

Medical Group Clovis, Inc., Dennis A. Nakata, M.D., and Denis J. Hentrich, P.A. (collectively, the 

(“Peachwood third-party defendants” and, together with the United States, the “defendants”) as 

follows: 

/// 

BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney 

LYNN TRINKA ERNCE 

JASON EHRLINSPIEL 

Assistant United States Attorneys 

501 I Street, Suite 10-100 

Sacramento, California 95814 

Telephone: (916) 554-2700 

Facsimile: (916) 554-2900 

Attorneys for Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

Case 1:07-cv-00472-OWW -DLB Document 78 Filed 02/18/10 Page 1 of 5
SETTLEMENT STIPULATION; ORDER 2 

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1. Plaintiff hereby agrees to settle and compromise each and every claim of any kind, 

whether known or unknown, arising directly or indirectly from the acts or omissions that gave rise to the 

above-captioned action, including but not limited to any and all claims arising out of any medical 

treatment Plaintiff has received to date from VA Central California Health Care System (“VACCHCS”) 

or other United States medical facility under the terms and conditions set forth in this Stipulation. 

2. The parties have agreed to settle this matter for a total sum of $111,500 as follows: The 

United States agrees to pay the sum of Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000) to Plaintiff, and the 

Peachwood third-party defendants agree to pay the sum of Thirty-Six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars 

($36,500) to Plaintiff, which sums 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 subject matter of this action, including 

any future claims for wrongful death, including but not limited to any and all claims arising out of any 

medical treatment Plaintiff has received to date from VACCHCS or other United States medical 

facility, which Plaintiff or his guardians, heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, and each of them, 

now have or may hereafter acquire against the United States, its agents, servants, and employees. 

3. Plaintiff and his guardians, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns hereby agree to 

accept the $111,500 in full settlement and satisfaction of any and all claims, demands, rights, and 

causes of action of whatsoever kind and nature, including claims for wrongful death, arising from, and 

by reason of, any and all known and unknown, foreseen and unforeseen bodily and personal injuries, 

death, or damage to property and the consequences thereof, including but not limited to any and all 

claims arising out of any medical treatment Plaintiff has received to date from VACCHCS or other 

United States medical facility, which they may have or hereafter acquire against the United States, its 

agents, servants, and employees on account of the subject matter that gave rise to this action from 

VACCHCS or other United States medical facility, including any future claim or lawsuit of any kind or 

type whatsoever, whether known or unknown, and whether for compensatory or exemplary damages. 

Plaintiff and his guardians, heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns further agree to reimburse, 

indemnify and hold harmless the United States and its agents, servants and employees from and against 

Case 1:07-cv-00472-OWW -DLB Document 78 Filed 02/18/10 Page 2 of 5
SETTLEMENT STIPULATION; ORDER 3 

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

resulting from further litigation or the prosecution of claims arising from the subject matter of this 

action, including claims arising out of any medical treatment Plaintiff has received to date from 

VACCHCS or other United States medical facility. 

4. Plaintiff expressly waives any rights or benefits available pursuant to Section 1542 of 

the Civil Code of the State of California, which provides as follows: 

A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does 

not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing 

the release, which if known by him or her must have materially 

affected his or her settlement with the debtor. 

The parties understand and agree that this Stipulation shall act as a release of future claims that may 

arise from any medical treatment which Plaintiff has received to date from VACCHCS or other United 

States medical facility, whether such claims are currently known, unknown, foreseen or unforeseen. 

The parties understand and acknowledge the significance and consequences of the specific waiver of 

section 1542 and hereby assume full responsibility for any injury, loss, damage or liability that may be 

incurred hereafter by reason of or related to the subject matter that gave rise to this action. 

5. This Stipulation is not, is in no way intended to be, and should not be construed as, an 

admission of liability or fault on the part of the United States, the Peachwood third-party defendants, or 

their agents, servants, or employees, and it is specifically denied that they are liable to Plaintiff. This 

settlement is entered into by all parties for the purpose of compromising disputed claims under the 

Federal Tort Claims Act and avoiding the expenses and risks of further litigation. 

6. In return for the settlement herein, each of the third-party defendants agrees to the 

dismissal with prejudice of the United States’ third-party complaint, and each third-party defendant, for 

itself and on behalf of its insurance carriers (if any), releases and waives all claims for contribution, 

defense or indemnity, express, implied or equitable, against all other defendants, or their insurance 

carriers (if any), as a result of plaintiff’s claims herein. 

/// 

/// 

/// 

Case 1:07-cv-00472-OWW -DLB Document 78 Filed 02/18/10 Page 3 of 5
SETTLEMENT STIPULATION; ORDER 4 

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7. The parties agree that they will each bear their own costs, fees, and expenses; that any 

attorney’s fees owed by Plaintiff shall not exceed 25% of the settlement amount (28 U.S.C. § 2678) and 

will be paid out of the settlement amount and not in addition thereto; and that all outstanding or future 

bills and liens will be the sole responsibility of Plaintiff. 

8. Payment of the settlement amount from the United States will be made by Electronic 

Funds Transfer to Plaintiff through an account to be specified by Plaintiff’s counsel. 

9. Payment by the Peachwood third-party defendants will be made on drafts issued to the 

plaintiff and his attorney David J. St. Louis and delivered to Mr. St. Louis. 

10. The parties agree to execute and deliver such other and further documents as may be 

required to carry out the terms of this Stipulation. 

11. Each person signing this Stipulation warrants and represents that he or she possesses full 

authority to bind the person[s] on whose behalf he or she is signing to the terms of the Stipulation. 

12. Each person signing this Stipulation warrants and represents that no promises, 

inducements, or other agreements not expressly contained herein have been made; that this Stipulation 

contains the entire agreement between the parties; and that the terms of this Stipulation are contractual 

and not mere recitals. This Stipulation may not be altered, amended, modified, or otherwise changed in 

any respect, except by a writing duly executed by the party to be charged. All prior oral understandings, 

agreements, and writings are superseded by this Stipulation and are of no force or effect. 

13. Each person executing this Stipulation represents that he or she has read and understands 

its contents; that he or she executes this Stipulation voluntarily; that he or she has not been influenced 

by any person acting on behalf of any party. 

14. Upon approval by the Court as provided below, the above-captioned action is hereby 

DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE in its entirety and the Clerk of the Court is requested to enter this 

dismissal and release in the official docket and to close the case. 

/// 

/// 

/// 

/// 

Case 1:07-cv-00472-OWW -DLB Document 78 Filed 02/18/10 Page 4 of 5
SETTLEMENT STIPULATION; ORDER 5 

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15. Notwithstanding the entry of a dismissal herein, the parties agree that that the Honorable 

Oliver W. Wanger shall retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this compromise settlement. 

 Respectfully submitted, 

DATED: January 29, 2010 BENJAMIN B. WAGNER 

 United States Attorney 

 By: /s/ Lynn Trinka Ernce LYNN TRINKA ERNCE 

 JASON EHRLINSPIEL 

 Assistant United States Attorneys 

DATED: January 29, 2010 McCORMICK, BARSTOW, SHEPPARD, 

WAYTE & CARRUTH, LLP 

 By: /s/ Lawrence E. Wayte 

 LAWRENCE EDWIN WAYTE 

Attorneys for Third-Party Defendants 

PEACHWOOD MEDICAL GROUP CLOVIS, 

INC; DENNIS A. NAKATA, M.D.; and 

DENIS J. HENTRICH, P.A. 

DATED: January 31, 2010 LAW OFFICES OF DAVID J. ST. LOUIS, INC. 

 By: /s/ David J. St. Louis DAVID J. ST. LOUIS 

 Attorneys for Plaintiff 

DATED: January 31, 2010 By: /s/ Carlos Escoto CARLOS ESCOTO 

 Plaintiff 

ORDER

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: February 17, 2010 /s/ OLIVER W. WANGER

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 

Case 1:07-cv-00472-OWW -DLB Document 78 Filed 02/18/10 Page 5 of 5