HomeMy WebLinkAboutRAMONA MARQUEZ- PLANTIFFA-2019-247
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND
RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
This Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims (hereinafter "Agreement") is made
and entered into by and between RAMONA MARQUEZ (hereinafter "Plaintiff'), and CITY
OF SANTA ANA (hereinafter "City").
WHEREAS, Plaintiff filed an action against City in the Superior Court of the State
California, County of Orange, Central Justice Center, styled RAMONA MARQUEZ v. CITY OF
SANTAANACase No. 30-2018-01024447-CU-PO-CJC (the "Action).
WHEREAS, Plaintiff and City (collectively, the "Parties"), desire to settle fully and
finally all differences between them, including, but in no way limited to, those differences set
forth in the Action.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises herein
contained and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged,
and to avoid unnecessary litigation, it is hereby agreed by and between the Parties as follows:
FIRST: This Agreement and compliance with this Agreement shall not be construed as
an admission by City of any liability whatsoever, or as an admission by City of any violation
of the rights of Plaintiff or any person, or violation of any order, law, statute, duty, or contract
whatsoever against Plaintiff or any person. City specifically disclaims any liability to
Plaintiff or any other person for any alleged violation of the rights of Plaintiff or any person, or
for any alleged violation of any order, law, statute, duty, or contract on the part of any employees
or agents of City. Likewise, this Agreement and compliance with this Agreement shall not be
construed as an admission by Plaintiff of any liability, misconduct, or wrongdoing whatsoever.
SECOND: (a) Each party will exchange a fully signed executed copy or original of
this Agreement. Defendant cannot proceed with processing payment as set forth herein without
first receiving a fully executed copy of the Agreement from Plaintiff.
(b) Following receipt of, or in exchange for, an executed copy of a
Request for Dismissal from Plaintiff dismissing this Action with prejudice, Defendant will
make available a check in the amount of Two Hundred and Five Thousand Dollars
($205,000) made payable to "RAMONA MARQUEZ AND THE LAW OFFICES OF GENE J.
GOLDSMAN." Plaintiff will file the Request for Dismissal after delivering the check Plaintiff and
City agree that this Agreement constitutes full and complete settlement of all claims and
damages made against City in the Action. Plaintiff will not seek any further compensation for
any other claimed damages, costs, or attorneys fees in connection with the matters encompassed
in this Agreement.
(c) Plaintiff acknowledges and agrees that City has made no
representations regarding the tax consequences of any amounts received pursuant to this
Agreement. Plaintiff agrees that she and she alone is liable for all taxes, if any, which are owed
by her on any amount received hereunder including interest and penalties. Plaintiff will hold City
harmless from any and all claims made by federal, state, or local taxing authorities or lien holders
who identify liens for amounts owed by Plaintiff related to the facts that gave rise to the Action.
THIRD: Plaintiffrepresents that, with the exception of the Action and the government tort
claim associated therewith and submitted to the City of Santa Ana, she has not filed any
complaints, claims, or actions against City including any of its officers, agents, directors,
supervisors, employees, or representatives of City with any state, federal, or local agency or court
and that she will not do so at any time hereafter as it relates to the Action. Plaintiff further
represents that if any agency or court assumes jurisdiction of any complaint, claim, or action
against City on Plaintiff's behalf, Plaintiff will direct that agency or court to withdraw and
dismiss with prejudice the matter.
FOURTH: The Parties hereto hereby agree that all rights under Section 1542 of the Civil
Code of the State of California are hereby waived. Civil Code Section 1542 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."
FIFTH: Notwithstanding the provisions of Civil Code section 1542, each party hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally releases and forever discharges each other party and each and
all of its officers, agents, directors, supervisors, employees, representatives, and its successors
and assigns and all persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with each other party from
any and all charges, complaints, claims, and liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, known or
unknown, suspected or unsuspected (hereinafter referred to as 'claim" or 'claims") which each
releasing party at any time heretofore had or claimed to have or which each releasing party at
any time hereafter may have or claim to have, incidental to the incident(s) which form the basis
of the Action.
SIXTH: The Parties hereto represent that they have reviewed all aspects of this
Agreement, that the Agreement has been carefully read and fully explained to them and that
they understand every provision of this Agreement, that they understand that in agreeing to
this document they are releasing each party hereby from any and all claims they may have against
each party released, that they voluntarily agree to all the terns set forth in this Agreement,
that they knowingly and willingly intend to be legally bound by the same, that they were
given the opportunity to consider the terms of this Agreement and discussed them with legal
counsel. The Parties hereby warrant that they have the authority to enter into this Agreement and
bind the party for whose benefit they execute this Agreement.
SEVENTH: The Parties hereto represent and acknowledge that in executing
this Agreement they do not rely and have not relied upon any representation or statement
2
made by any of the Parties or by any of the Parties' agents, attorneys, or representatives with
regard to the subject matter, basis, or effect of this Agreement or otherwise, other than
those specifically stated in this Agreement.
EIGHTH: This Agreement shall be binding upon the Parties hereto and upon their
heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, predecessors, successors, and assigns, and
shall inure to the benefit of said Parties and each of them and to their heirs,
administrators, representatives, executors, predecessors, successors, and assigns.
NINTH: Should any provision of this Agreement be declared or be determined
by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, the
legality, validity, and enforceability of the remaining parts, terms, or provisions shall not
be affected thereby, and said illegal, unenforceable, or invalid part, tern, or provision
shall be deemed not to be a part of this Agreement.
TENTH: This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Parties
hereto and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings, written or oral,
between the Parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof.
ELEVENTH: This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the plain
meaning of its terms and not strictly for or against any of the Parties hereto.
TWELFTH: This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, secured via
e-mail, facsimile transmission or otherwise, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original. Photocopies of any executed counterpart shall have the same force and effect as
an original.
PARTIES:
Plaintiff
Dated: 2 - tP - 2O LEJ i2d?"a '
RAMONA MARQUEZ
Plaintiff
Defendants
CITY OF SANTA ANA, a charter law city and
municipal corporation, duly organized and existing
under the Constitution and laws of the State of
California
EPA
Kristine Ridge
City Manager
ATTEST: CITY OF SANTA ANA, a charter law city and municipal
corporation, duly organized and existing under the
Dated: cle-1-1'AAgo
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Dated: Z l7
Dated tf' a*
i 9
Constitution and laws of a of California \ r
By:
airy Gomez
)Clerk of the Council
LAW
Esq.
Ramona Marquez
J. GOLDSMAN
Sonia R. Carvalho,
CITY ATTORNEY
Cristina Talley
TALLLEY & TALLEY LAW, P. AI//�
Cristina Talley
Attorneys for Defendants
City of Santa Ana