Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02113/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02113-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Karine Manookian Revocable Trust
Defendant
Gagik Manookian
Defendant
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
Plaintiff

Document Text:

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Matthew J. Gonsalves (SBN: 95147) 

LAW OFFICES OF MATTHEW J. GONSALVES 

4 3 8 Estudillo A venue 

San Leandro, CA 94577 

Telephone: (51 0) 351-5102 

Facsimile: (51 0) 351-6311 

6 Attorney For Defendant, 

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NORMA GORDOA, as Trustee of the Karine Manokian Trust 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

II SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF 

CANADA, 

) Case No. 3:15-CV-02113 CRB 

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PLAINTIFF, 

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STIPULATED SETTLEMENT 

AGREEMENT AND [PROPOSED] ORDER 

KARINE MANOOKIAN REVOCABLE 

!5 TRUST. ET AL. 

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________________________) 

This Settlement Agreement and Mutual General Release (hereinafter "Agreement") is 

entered into by and between Defendants KARINE MANOOKIAN REVOCABLE TRUST 

(hereinafter, the "Trust'J, naming Norma Gordoa, as trustee (hereinafter "Trustee") and 

GAGIK MANOOKIAN, Individually and in his capacity as parent and Natural Guardian of 

E. S.M., a Minor (hereinafter "Manookian") (Manookian and the Trustee refened to hereinafter 

as "the Parties"). The purpose of this Agreement is to fully and finally settle and resolve all 

claims between the Parties related to the payment of insurance proceeds by PlaintiffS un Life 

Assurance Company of Canada (hereinafter "Piaintifj'J on the death of Karine Manookian, 

hereinafter, the "Decedent". 

CASE NO 3:I5-CV-02ll3 STIPULATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT 

AND[PROPOSED]ORDER PAGE I 

Case 3:15-cv-02113-CRB Document 36 Filed 03/24/16 Page 1 of 9
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CASE BACKGROUND 

1. WHEREAS. on or about February 23, 2012, Decedent, thorough her employer, purchased 

a total of $300,000 ($20,000 basic and $280,000 optional) in life insurance through 

Plaintiff. 

2. The Decedent named her husband, Manookian individually, as a 30% beneficiary of the 

policy proceeds and E. S.M., her daughter, as a 70% beneficiary of the policy. 

3. In the fall of 2014, Decedent contacted counsel and created the Trust. 

4. The first beneficiary designation of 2012 was changed on October 24, 2014 to name the 

Trust as the sole beneficiary. 

5. WHEREAS, a complaint in interpleader was filed in this Court by Sun Life and the case 

was assigned to District Judge Charles R. Breyer; 

6. WHEREAS, Sun Life has previously deposited the sum of$301,656.71 with the Clerk of 

this Court for distribution in accordance with the judgment made by the Court in the 

above-entitled action; 

7. WHEREAS Sun Life was dismissed from this action with prejudice, the parties having 

resolved and settled all issues involving Sun Life; 

8. WHEREAS, the parties, through their authorized representatives, and without any 

admission or final adjudication of the issues of fact or law with respect to Manookian's 

claims have reached a settlement that they consider to be a just, fair, adequate, and 

equitable resolution of the disputes set forth by Manookian; 

9. WHEREAS, the parties agree that settlement of this action in this matter is in the Parties' 

best interests and is an appropriate way to resolve the dispute between them; 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS STIPULATED BY AND BETWEEN THE PARTIES 

AS FOLLOWS: 

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10. In consideration of the foregoing promises (which are incorporated and made part of this 

Agreement by this reference) and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt 

and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be 

legally bound, agree as follows: 

11. The Clerk of the above-entitled Court is hereby ordered and directed to release the 

previously deposited sum by Sun Life of$30l,656.7l,p/us any accruals on that amount 

to the Trustee to be deposited into the Trust. 

12. The Trustee, is to deposit the remaining sum of approximately $26,933 in the GoFundMe 

account into the Trust for the benefit of E. S.M., a Minor. 

13 _ The Trustee is to pay attorney Matthew J. Gonsalves for all future and outstanding fees 

for services provided in December, 2015, and January 2016, up to a maximum amount 

of $5,431.00 .. 

14. The Trustee is to pay Manookian the sum of$50,000 from the Trust funds. 

15. The Trustee is to place all remaining Trust funds into a 529 investment college fund. If a 

529 investment college fund becomes unavailable, all remaining Trust funds are to be 

placed in a Federally Insured Blocked Accountfor the benefit ofE.S.M .• a Minor. 

16. Manookian is to pay the descendant's bills, which Trustee represents are approximately 

$19,627.76. 

17. Matthew J. Gonsalves, attorney for Trustee will provide Manookian. with all of the 

descendant's outstanding bills, which are approximately $19,627.76. 

18. The Trustee will provide Manookian with an accounting of all the bills and receipts for 

the funeral expenses of the decedent, which are approximately $37,000. 

19. The Trustee is to provide notice of deposit of funds into the 529 account fund or 

Federally Insured Blocked Account for the benefit of E.S.M. and copies of statements of 

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I account, not less frequently than quarterly of the Trust's 529 plan fund or Federally 

2 Insured Blocked Account to Manookian. 

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4 MUTUAL RELEASES 

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20. Upon full performance of Paragraphs 11 through 16 above and in consideration for the 

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performance of all terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as to such rights as 

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8 may be created by this Agreement, the Parties, and each of them, on behalf of themselves 

9 and their past and present parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, 

10 servants, professional corporations, employees, heirs, executors, representatives, 

II investors, shareholders, attorneys, predecessors, successors, assigns, sureties, insurers, 

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excess insurers, reinsurers, principals, managing members, trustees, beneficiaries, unit 

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holders, limited and general partners, and all persons acting through or in concert with 

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any of them, hereby generally release and forever discharge each other and their 

16 respective past and present parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, 

17 servants, professional corporations, employees, heirs, executors, representatives, 

18 investors, shareholders, attorneys, predecessors, successors, assigns, sureties, insurers, 

19 excess insurers, reinsurers, principals, managing members, trustees. beneficiaries, unit 

20 holders, limited and general partners, and all persons acting through or in concert with 

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any of them, if any, from any and all claims, losses, debts, liabilities, demands, 

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obligations, rights, disputes, fees, controversies, costs, expenses. damages, actions and 

24 causes of action whatsoever, in law or equity, whether known or unknown, suspected or 

unsuspected, fixed or contingent, existing as of the date of this Agreement and accrued or 

26 hereafter accruing from any cause whatsoever, including, but not limited to • any and all 

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claims, demands and allegations, made, or which could have been made, arising out of or 

relating to the Creditor Claims (collectively, the "Released Claims''), 

WAIVER OF UNKNOWN CLAIMS 

21. The Parties are aware that they may have claims of which they have no present 

knowledge or suspicion. Having taken into account such a possibility in entering into 

this Agreement, the mutual general release set forth in Section 18 of this Agreement shall 

constitute full and final release by the Parties of any unknown claim or claims and 

expressly waives any right or claim of right to assert hereafter that any claim has, through 

oversight or error, been omitted from the Creditor Claims. Accordingly, the Parties 

expressly waive any rights or benefits which they otherwise might have under California 

Civil Code Section 1542, and any other statutory or non-statutory law of any jurisdiction 

that is similar in wording, import, or effect to California Civil Code Section 

1542. California Civil Code Section 1542 provides as follows: 

A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS TO 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. 

22. In connection with such waiver and relinquishment, the Parties acknowledge that they are 

aware that they or their attorneys, accountants, or agents may hereafter discover claims or 

facts in addition to or different from those which they now know or believe to exist with 

respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, but nonetheless, they intend hereby fully, 

finally, and forever to settle and release all matters being released herein, whether known 

or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which now exist or may heretofore have 

existed. In fLtrtherance of the intentions of the Parties, the mutual general release given in 

Section 18 of this Agreement by the Parties shall be and remain in effect as a full and 

complete mutual general release notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any 

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additional or different claims or facts or the failure of any consideration or promises 

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LIMITATION ON RELEASE 

23. The Parties hereby expressly acknowledge that no Party to this Agreement is. by this 

Agreement, releasing any cause of action, claim, set-off, or defense that arises from the 

terms of this Agreement, or the breach of such terms. 

MUTUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 

24. Each party represents and warrants for the benefit of the other party as follows: 

25. The Party has all necessary power and authority to execute, deliver, perform and comply 

with this Agreement; 

26. The Party, or the Party's authorized agent, has duly authorized, executed, and delivered 

this Agreement to the other Party, and this Agreement constitutes a legal and binding 

agreement. enforceable against each Party in accord with the terms of this Agreement; 

27. To the knowledge of the signatory on behalf of each Party, that Party's execution, 

delivery, performance of, and compliance with this Agreement does not violate or 

conflict with the terms of any agreement, instrument, order, judgment, or applicable law, 

statute, regulation, or rule to which the Pmty or any assets of the Party is bound and shall 

not require the Party to file or register with, or obtain any permit, authorization, consent, 

or approval of any goverrunental authority; 

28. To the knowledge of the signatory on behalf of each Party, there is no action or 

proceeding, judicial or non-judicial, by which any third party, prior creditor, or claimant 

of the Party, or non-party seeks to restrain, prohibit, or invalidate the Party's execution, 

delivery. and/or performance of, and/or compliance with, this Agreement; 

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29. The Party is and has been represented by legal counsel of his or its choice. or has had the 

opportunity to be represented by legal counsel of his or its choice, throughout the 

negotiations and drafting that preceded the finalization and execution of this Agreement. 

30. The Party (i) has carefully read and reviewed this Agreement; (ii) has had or has had the 

opportunity to have the provisions, and consequences thereof. fully explained by such 

Party's legal counsel; and (iii) is freely and voluntarily signing this Agreement; 

31. Each Party is the sole owner of all rights and interest in the Released Claims, and has not 

assigned, transferred, or granted an interest or lien in, or purported to assign, transfer, or 

grant an interest or lien, in any of the Released Claims; and 

32. Each Party and the signatory on their behalf have no actual knowledge or notice of any 

claim of assignment, transfer, or granting of an interest or lien in any of the Released 

Claims. 

33. The above representations and warranties shall survive the execution and delivery of this 

Agreement. 

ENFORCING THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT 

34. This Court shall retain jurisdiction under California Code of Civil Procedure§ 664.6 over 

the Parties to enforce this agreement until performance in full of all the terms of the 

agreement. 

35. In the event that any of the Parties hereto brings any action or proceeding to enforce this 

Agreement or any provision thereof, the "prevailing party" (as detem1ined by the court) 

in such action or proceeding will be entitled to recover from the other Party. reasonable 

attorneys' fees and costs, including court costs, expert witness fees, and other necessary 

costs, whether or not such action or proceeding is prosecuted to Judgment. as shall be 

fixed by the court. 

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36. It is agreed that a compliance date will be set by this Court for 60 days from the day this 

Court ratifies this Agreement. 

37. It is agreed that the Court shall vacate the trial date/s. 

38. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the 

State of California. 

39. Facsimile and/or electronic signatures shall be considered original signatures for the 

purposes of this Settlement Agreement. 

ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS 

40. The Parties shall bear their own costs and attorneys' fees incurred relating to the Creditor 

Claims and this Agreement. However, in the event that proceedings are implemented to 

enforce any provision of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the mutual general 

release provided above by Section 18 of this Agreement, the Court or Arbitrator shall 

award the prevailing party its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in such 

enforcement efforts. 

/Cfru4 =f 

Dated: Februruy , 2016 

~ii,(CA..-"Ck I 5 

Dated: Febtctary , 2016 

The forgoing settlement agreement is approved as to form and content by the undersigned 

attorneys. 

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Dated: Februah'! 2016 

D BORNSTEIN 

Counsel for Defendants 

GAGIK MANOOKIAN, Individually 

and in his capacity as Parent and 

Natural Guardian ofE.S.M., a Minor 

LAW OFFICE OF MATTHEW J. GONSAL YES 

MA H . N 

Counsel for Defen 

NORMA GORDO A, Trustee of the Karine 

Manookian Trust 

ORDER 

IT IS SO ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED. 

Dated: ____ ,2016 

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HON.CHARLESR.BRYER 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

3: 15-CV -021!30RDER ON MOTION DIRECTING DISBURSEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS 

March 24

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