Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_96-cv-03483/USCOURTS-cand-3_96-cv-03483-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jesse B.
Plaintiff
Contra Costa County
Defendant
Kendra G.
Plaintiff
Angel L.
Plaintiff
Laurie Q.
Plaintiff
Christina T.
Plaintiff
Rebecca T.
Plaintiff
Megan W.
Plaintiff

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[PROPOSED] ORDER APPROVING PETITION TO CO MPROM ISE CLAIMS OF MINORS

JOHN HOUSTON SCOTT SBN 72578

LIZABETH N. de VRIES SBN 227215

The Scott Law Firm

1375 Sutter St, Suite 222

San Francisco, California 94109

Telephone: (415) 561-9600

Facsimile: (415) 561-9609

MICHAEL S. SORGEN SBN 43107

ANDREA ADAM BROTT SBN 121288

LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL S. SORGEN

240 Stockton Street, 9th Floor

San Francisco, California 94105

(415) 956-1360

DARREN J. KESSLER SBN 114986

LAW OFFICES OF DARREN J. KESSLER

6306 Eureka Avenue, Suite #2

El Cerrito, California 94530

(510) 524-7750

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LAURIE Q., ANGEL L., MEGAN W.,

CHRISTINA T., REBECCA T., JESSE B.,

KENDRA G., and CHERIDA L., each by

guardian ad litem, individually and on behalf

of others similarly situated, 

Plaintiffs,

vs.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,

Defendant.

No. C 96-3483 MHP (JCS)

[PROPOSED] ORDER APPROVING

PETITION TO COMPROMISE CLAIMS OF

MINORS

The verified petition by the plaintiffs in this case has been filed for an Order Approving

the Proposed Compromise of Plaintiffs’ claims against Contra Costa County. This Court

supervised lengthy settlement negotiations and the parties have stipulated that Magistrate Judge

Joseph Spero may review and approve the Petition to Compromise the Claims of Minors. In

addition, this Court finds that good cause exists to approve this petition without a hearing and

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[PROPOSED] ORDER APPROVING PETITION TO CO MPROM ISE CLAIMS OF MINORS

without requiring the personal appearance of the minors and their Guardians ad Litem who have

petitioned the Court to compromise their claims.

The plaintiffs/petitioners include: Patricia Brooks as the Guardian ad Litem for plaintiff

Laurie Q, a minor in this action; Judith Gonzales as Guardian ad Litem for plaintiff Kendra J., a

minor in this action; Mary Love as Guardian ad Litem for plaintiffs Angel L. and Cherida L.,

former minors in this action; Rosada Russell as Guardian ad Litem for plaintiff Jesse B., a minor

in this action; Terri Woods, as Guardian ad Litem for plaintiff Megan W., a minor in this action;

and Sheila Trokey as Guardian ad Litem for plaintiffs Christina T. and Rebecca T., former

minors in this action. 

On the evidence introduced, the Court finds that the facts set forth in the Petition are true

and that it is in the best interests of the minors and former minors that this case be settled for

monetary and non-monetary relief described in the Settlement Agreement and that the proceeds

from the settlement be allocated between the plaintiffs and their attorneys as provided below. 

1. Contra Costa County shall pay $50,000 to Plaintiff Laurie Q., payable to the trust

fund of Michael S. Sorgen, to be distributed pursuant to further order of this Court.

2. Contra Costa County shall pay $50,000 to Judith Gonzales as Guardian ad Litem

for plaintiff Kendra J., who is a minor, payable to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen, to be

distributed pursuant to further order of this Court.

3. Contra Costa County shall pay $40,000 to Mary Love as Guardian ad Litem and

Attorney in Fact for plaintiff Angel L., payable to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen, to be

distributed pursuant to further order of this Court.

4. Contra Costa County shall pay $70,000 to Mary Love as Guardian ad Litem for

plaintiff Cherida L., who is disabled, payable to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen, to be

distributed pursuant to further order of this Court.

5. Contra Costa County shall pay $60,000 to Rosada Russell as Guardian ad Litem

for plaintiff Jesse B., who is a minor, payable to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen, to be

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[PROPOSED] ORDER APPROVING PETITION TO CO MPROM ISE CLAIMS OF MINORS

distributed pursuant to further order of this Court.

6. Contra Costa County shall pay $40,000 to Terri Woods, as Guardian ad Litem for

plaintiff Megan W., who is a minor, payable to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen, to be

distributed pursuant to further order of this Court.

7. Contra Costa County shall pay $45,000 to plaintiff Annabelle Christina T.,

payable to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen, to be distributed pursuant to further order of this

Court.

8. Contra Costa County shall pay $45,000 to plaintiff Elizabeth Rebecca T., payable

to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen, to be distributed pursuant to further order of this Court.

9. Contra Costa County shall pay $350,000 to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen for

attorneys fees and costs, payable to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen to be distributed to the

Law Office of Michael S. Sorgen, Darren Kessler and The Scott Law Firm as follows. The

allocation of this amount is that $300,000 is for attorney fees, $47,748.98 for costs already

advanced. Out of this amount, $2,251.02 shall remain in trust as a reserve for future costs

associated with finalizing this settlement, to be distributed pursuant to further order by this Court.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the compromise be approved in the manner provided

in the Petition and this Order.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Contra Costa County shall distribute the proceeds of

the settlement to the trust fund of Michael S. Sorgen for the settlement of this lawsuit as

described above.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the plaintiffs’ individual distributions will be made

pursuant to further order by this Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that upon receipt of the full amount of the settlement

sum here approved, of $750,000.00, that petitioners are authorized and directed to execute and

deliver to defendant a complete and final release and discharge of any and all claims of plaintiffs

arising from the facts set forth in the petition, and a properly executed dismissal of this action

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[PROPOSED] ORDER APPROVING PETITION TO CO MPROM ISE CLAIMS OF MINORS

with prejudice.

DATED: ____________________________________

HON. JOSEPH C. SPERO

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

F:\Cases\Cases - Active\Q, Laurie\Settlement\Minors Comp\Petition to Compromise Minors Claim.Order.wpd

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August 10, 2005

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