Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00295/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00295-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 15:2301 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

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STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 1 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MICHELLE CAVEN, 

 Plaintiff, 

 

 vs. 

AUTOTIME MOTORS; JEFFREY ERCOLINI; 

KELLY ERCOLINI; CREDIT ACCEPTANCE 

CORPORATION; AMERICAN SAFETY 

CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, 

 Defendants 

________________________________________

AMERICAN SAFETY CASUALTY 

INSURANCE COMPANY, HUDSON 

INSURANCE COMPANY, 

 Cross-claimants, 

 vs. 

JEFFREY JOSEPH ERCOLINI, an individual 

and dba AUTOTIME MOTORS; and KELLY 

RAYLENE ERCOLINI, an individual and dba 

AUTOTIME MOTORS; LOBEL FINANCIAL, a 

California corporation; LYDIA BARNUM, an 

individual; MICHELLE CAVEN, an individual; 

BRASHER’S SACRAMENTO AUTO 

AUCTION, a California corporation; 

WESTLAKE FINANCIAL, a business entity, 

form unknown; CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT 

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Case No.: 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

STIPULATION FOR RELEASE OF 

INTERPLED BOND FUNDS AND 

DISMISSAL; AND ORDER THEREON 

 

Lawrence W. Miles, Jr. (#95522)

Brady D. McLeod (#205273) 

MILES McLEOD, a Professional Law Corporation 

3838 Watt Ave., Suite 301 

Sacramento, CA 95821 

916-973-9674 

Attorneys for Cross-Defendant 

Brasher’s Sacramento Auto Auction

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 1 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 2 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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OF MOTOR VEHICLES, a California State 

Agency, 

 Cross- Defendants. 

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THIS STIPULATION FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS AND DISMISSAL (“Stipulation”) 

is made by and among AMERICAN SAFETY CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, an 

Oklahoma corporation (“AMERICAN SAFETY”); HUDSON INSURANCE COMPANY, a 

Delaware corporation (“HUDSON”); LYDIA BARNUM, an individual (“BARNUM”); 

MICHELLE CAVEN, an individual (“CAVEN”); BRASHER’S SACRAMENTO AUTO 

AUCTION, a California corporation (“BRASHERS”); WESTLAKE SERVICES, INC., a 

California corporation dba WESTLAKE FINANCIAL SERVICES (“WESTLAKE”); 

(collectively the “Parties”) as follows: 

1. RECITALS. 

1.1 WHEREAS, disputes have arisen between the Parties to this Stipulation which 

are reflected in the First Amended Cross-Claim in Interpleader filed in the United States 

District Court, Eastern District of California as case number 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB by 

Cross-claimants AMERICAN SAFETY and HUDSON, which alleged, among other things, 

that BARNUM, CAVEN, BRASHERS, WESTLAKE, Lobel Financial, and California 

Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) have made claims against that certain Surety Bond of 

Dealer # 10003214 (“Bond”) issued by AMERICAN SAFETY pursuant to California Vehicle 

Code § 11710 et seq., in which JEFFREY JOSEPH ERCOLINI and KELLY RAYLENE 

ERCOLINI dba AUTOTIME MOTORS is named as principal. The allegations of the Crossclaim are incorporated by reference herein for informational purposes only. 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 2 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 3 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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1.2 WHEREAS, each Party to the Cross-claim has denied, and continues to deny, 

the material allegations and claims of the other Parties against it. 

1.3 WHEREAS, AMERICAN SAFETY and HUDSON deposited $50,000.00, the 

penal sum of the Bond, with the Court; and, 

1.4 WHEREAS, CROSS-DEFENDANTS have respective claims against the 

subject Bond and the resulting monies pled into the Court by SURETY, which claims total in 

excess of the amounts held by the Court; and, 

1.5 WHEREAS, the Parties agree that AMERICAN SAFETY and HUDSON are 

entitled to recover attorney’s fees and costs from the Bond corpus pursuant to California Code 

of Civil Procedure §386.6, and have incurred attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of 

$2,219.00; and 

1.6 WHEREAS, after deducting AMERICAN SAFETY and HUDSON’S fees and 

costs, the Bond balance remaining deposited with the Court is $47,781.00, for the benefit of 

CROSS-DEFENDANTS; and, 

1.7 WHEREAS, CROSS-DEFENDANTS DMV and LOBEL FINANCIAL have 

abandoned or withdrawn their claim to the bond and been dismissed from the Cross-claim; 

and 

1.8 WHEREAS, the remaining CROSS-DEFENDANTS, BARNUM, CAVEN, 

BRASHERS and WESTLAKE have stipulated to a pro-rata distribution of the remaining 

Bond funds of $47,781.00 in accordance with the following pro-rata formulae: 

/// 

/// 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 3 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 4 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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 Claimant Claim Pro-Rate % Pro-Rata Claim 

Barnum $7,671.00 10.42% $4,978.78 

Caven $8,500.00 11.54% $5,513.93 

Brasher’s $43,178.62 58.62% $28,009.22 

Westlake $14,306.05 19.42% $9,279.07 

CLAIMANTS’ TOTAL $73,655.67 100% $47,781.00 

2. NOW, THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING AND FOR 

GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, THE RECEIPT OF 

WHICH IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED, THE PARTIES STIPULATE 

AND AGREE AS FOLLOWS: 

2.1 Each party hereto agrees that AMERICAN SAFETY and HUDSON shall 

receive their attorney’s fees and costs in the full amount of $2,219.00. 

2.2 Each party hereto agrees and stipulates that the remaining balance of the Bond 

in the amount of $47,781.00 shall be paid and released to the Parties and to no others in full 

satisfaction of each’s Bond claim as follows: 

a. BARNUM shall receive 10.42% of the Bond balance in the amount of: $4, 978.78; 

b. CAVEN shall receive 11.54% of the Bond balance in the amount of: $5,513.93; 

c. BRASHERS shall receive 58.62%% of the Bond balance in the amount of: $28,009.22; 

d. WESTLAKE shall receive 19.42% of the Bond balance in the amount of: $9,279.07. 

2.3 The Parties agree that each party, with the exception of AMERICAN SAFETY 

and HUDSON shall bear its own attorney’s fees and costs in the litigation. 

2.4 This Agreement is entered into by the Parties solely for the purpose of settling 

the Bond claims described in the Cross-Claim. It does not constitute, nor shall it be construed 

as an admission by any Party of the truth or validity of any allegations asserted. 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 4 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 5 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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3. RELEASE OF CLAIMS. 

3.1 For valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, each of 

the Parties and their respective successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, 

representatives and attorneys hereby fully and expressly release and discharge the others and 

their respective successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives and 

attorneys from all liability for all present and future rights, claims, demands and actions, 

known or unknown, any of them now have, or may hereafter have, against the other arising out 

of the disputes described above. Additionally, the Parties, expressly acknowledge and agree 

that none of them would enter into this Stipulation but for the representation and warranty of 

the other that they are releasing any and all claims of any nature whatsoever, whether statutory 

or at common law, which any of them may believe any of them now has or could assert 

directly or indirectly against the other arising out of the circumstances alleged in the CrossClaim in Interpleader. 

3.2 The Parties hereto acknowledge that they may hereafter discover facts different 

from or in addition to those now known or believed to be true with respect to the disputes and 

differences which lead to the execution of this Stipulation. The Parties agree that this 

Stipulation shall be, and remain, effective in all respects for all purposes, notwithstanding any 

such different or additional facts. 

3.3 This Stipulation is entered into by the Parties solely for the purpose of settling 

the matters in dispute. It does not constitute, nor shall it be construed as an admission by any 

party of the truth or validity of any claims asserted. 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 5 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 6 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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3.4 The Parties, in executing this Stipulation, do not rely on any inducements, 

promises or representations made by the other party or their above-named successors or 

attorneys except as set forth herein. 

3.5 THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN 

ADVISED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE LEGAL COUNSEL AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH 

THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542, WHICH 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." 

THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, HEREBY 

EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS 

UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR 

EFFECT. 

3.6 Each Party and each’s respective successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, 

employees, representatives and attorneys hereby fully and expressly release and discharge one 

another and each’s respective successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, parent company, 

affiliates, subsidiaries, employees, representatives and attorneys from all liability for all present 

and future rights, claims, demands and actions, known or unknown, either of them now have, 

or may hereafter have, against one another arising out of the Cross-claim. 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 6 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 7 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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3.7 The Parties hereto expressly state that the release described above shall inure to 

the benefit of the successors and assigns of one another and shall be binding upon the 

successors and assigns of one another. 

4. THE PARTIES FURTHER REPRESENT, WARRANT AND 

COVENANT AS FOLLOWS: 

4.1 Each individual who is a signatory to this Stipulation warrants that he/she has 

the authority to enter into this Stipulation on behalf of himself/herself or the legal entity that is 

a party to the Stipulation. In the event that the party is a corporation, he/she represents that 

he/she is an authorized agent of the corporation and further, that the corporation has complied 

with all corporate formalities necessary to bind the corporation to the terms of this Stipulation. 

4.2 Each Party to this Stipulation acknowledges that it has executed this Stipulation 

freely and that no claims or inducements have been extended to any of them to execute this 

Agreement except as otherwise set forth herein. 

4.3 Each Party to this Stipulation acknowledges, warrants and represents that none 

of them has assigned its claim hereunder to any other third person or entity at or before the 

time of execution of this Stipulation. 

4.4 Each Party to this Stipulation represents and understands that she/it has 

carefully read the Stipulation and understands the contents thereof, and agrees to the terms of 

this Stipulation without reservation of any kind. 

4.5 Each Party has received or had the opportunity to receive independent legal 

advice from its attorneys, with respect to the advisability of making this transaction provided 

for herein, with respect to the advisability of executing this Stipulation. 

4.6 This Stipulation shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, 

personal representatives, successors or assigns of the parties hereto. 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 7 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 8 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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4.7 This Stipulation constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties and cannot 

be modified or supplemented except in writing. Further, the terms of this Agreement shall 

supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, verbal or written, on the subject 

matter of this Agreement. 

4.8 This Stipulation shall be governed and construed according to the law of the 

State of California, and the parties hereto agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Courts 

thereof. 

4.9 The obligations, representations, warranties and other terms and conditions 

hereof, shall survive the termination of this Stipulation, and shall be enforceable thereafter. 

4.10 Each provision of this Stipulation shall be severable from each other provisions 

of this Stipulation for the purpose of determining the legal and enforceability of each provision. 

4.11 This Stipulation may be executed and delivered in any number of counterparts, 

each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be original, and all of which together shall 

constitute the same Agreement. The parties agree that facsimile signatures shall be deemed the 

originals, and shall be fully enforceable upon execution of all parties hereto. 

4.12 The prevailing Party in any action or proceeding to interpret or enforce this 

Stipulation, or any of its terms, shall be entitled, in addition to any judgment or award upon 

such action or proceeding, to an award for all costs and expenses, including court costs and 

attorney’s fees. 

4.13 The Stipulation and Order, as well as the Judgment entered pursuant to it, shall 

not affect the claims of Cross-Claimants and/or Cross-Defendants against the remaining crossdefendants Jeffrey Joseph Ercolini dba Autotime Motors and Kelly Raylene Ercolini dba 

Autotime Motors. 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 8 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 9 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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SO STIPULATED: 

DATED: 8/30/16 

AMERICAN SAFETY CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY 

/s/ Timothy J. Tomlin 

By: Timothy J. Tomlin 

Law Offices of John L. Fallat 

Attorneys for Cross-Claimant 

American Safety Casualty Insur Company 

DATED: 8/30/16 

HUDSON INSURANCE COMPANY 

/s/ Timothy J. Tomlin 

By: Timothy J. Tomlin 

Law Offices of John L. Fallat 

Attorneys for Cross-Claimant 

Hudson Insurance Company 

DATED: 8/30/16 

LYDIA BARNUM, an individual in pro-per 

/s/ Lydia Barnum 

By: Lydia Barnum 

DATED: 8/30/16 

MICHELLE CAVEN, an individual 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 9 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 10 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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/s/ Linda Deos 

By: Linda Deos 

 Deos Law, PC 

Attorneys for Plaintiff and Cross-Defendant 

Michelle Caven 

DATED: 8/30/16 

BRASHER’S SACRAMENTO AUTO AUCTION 

/s/ Brady D. McLeod 

By: Brady D. McLeod 

Miles McLeod 

Attorneys for Cross-Defendant 

 Brasher’s Sacramento Auto Auction 

DATED: 8/30/16 

WESTLAKE FINANCIAL SERVICES 

 

/s/ Edit Alexandryan 

By: Edit Alexandryan 

Westlake Financial 

Attorneys for Cross-Defendant 

Westlake Financial Services 

ORDER 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall disburse the balance of 

the Bond now deposited with this Court as follows: 

1. $2,219.00 payable to American Safety Casualty Insurance Company and 

mailed to: 

Timothy J. Tomlin 

 Law Offices of John L. Fallat 

 68 Mitchell Blvd., Suite 135 

 San Rafael, CA 94903 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 10 of 12
 

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 11 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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2. $4,978.78 payable to the Lydia Barnum and mailed to: 

Lydia Barnum 

1660 Valley View Drive 

Yuba City, CA 95993 

3. $5,513.93 payable to Michelle Caven and mailed to: 

Linda Deos 

Deos Law 

770 L Street, Ste. 950 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

4. $28,009.22 payable to Brashers Sacramento Auto Auction and mailed: 

Brady D. McLeod 

Miles McLeod 

3838 Watt Ave., Ste. C-301 

Sacramento, CA 95821 

5. $9,279.07 payable to Westlake Financial Services and mailed to: 

Edit Alexandryan 

Westlake Financial 

4751 Wilshire Blvd., #100 

Los Angeles, CA 90010 

FURTHER, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the interest accrued on the balance of 

the Bond now deposited with the Court shall be disbursed evenly amongst Lydia Barnum, 

Michelle Caven, Brashers Sacramento Auto Auction, and Westlake Financial Services. 

FURTHER, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that American Safety Casualty Insurance 

Company and Hudson Insurance Company are discharged from further liability on the motor 

vehicle dealer bond No. 10003214 filed on behalf of Jeffrey Joseph Ercolini dba Autotime 

Motors and Kelly Raylene Ercolini dba Autotime Motors and is hereby exonerated. 

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STIPULATION AND ORDER RE: INTERPLEADER 12 

Caven v. Autotime Motors et al 

Case No. 2:15-CV-00295-WBS-EFB

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Disbursement checks shall be mailed in care of each party’s attorney of record, or to the 

party directly if the party has appeared in pro se to the addresses stated above. Upon disbursal, 

the Cross-Claim in Interpleader shall be dismissed with prejudice as to these Cross-Defendants. 

Dated: September 2, 2016 

Case 2:15-cv-00295-WBS-EFB Document 51 Filed 09/06/16 Page 12 of 12