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HomeMy WebLinkAboutROMERO, LETICIAI N-2021-199 r NOWW NOT RE(uuNEU o WORK WAY PRO= DM OF OKIL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS This Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims ("Agreement") is made and entered into by and between Leticia Romero ("Plaintiff'), and CITY OF SANTA ANA ("Defendant"). WITNESSE H: WHEREAS, Plaintiff filed an action against Defendant in the Superior Court of the State California, Countyof Orange, Central Justice Center District known as LETICIA ROMERO v. CTIYOF SANTAANA et al., Case No. 30-2019-01114413-CU-PO-C7C (the "Action"). WHEREAS, Plaintiff and Defendant City of Santa Ana (collectively the "Parties"), desire to settle fully and finally all differences between them, including, but in no way limited to, those differences described above. WHEREAS, the Parties agreed that the tentative settlement discussed below was conditioned on the Court's approval of the Defendant's Motion for Good Faith Settlement Determination (the "Motion"). The Court subsequently granted the Defendant's Motion on September 7, 2021. The Defendant filed and served notice of the ruling on September 13, 2021. Defendant, County of Orange, has until October 5, 2021 to file a petition for a writ of mandate for review of the Superior Court's ruling. 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: 1. This Agreement and compliance with this Agreement shall not be construed as an admission by Defendant of any liability whatsoever, or as an admission by Defendant of any violation of the rights ofPlaintiff or any person, violation of any order, law, statute, duty, or contract whatsoever against Plaintiff or any person. Defendant 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 Defendant. Likewise, this Agreement and compliance with this Agreement shall not be construed as an admission by Plaintiff of any liability, misconduct, or wrongdoing whatsoever. 2. In settlement of this Action, Defendant will pay a total amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) to Plaintiff in the form of a check, made payable to "LETICIA ROMERO and her attorneys HUNT & ADAMS". The check will be made available on or after October 6, 2021, once it is determined whether Defendant, County of Orange, will seek a writ of mandate regarding the Court's ruling on the above Motion. 3. Each party must exchange a fully signed executed copy or original of this Agreement. Defendant cannot proceed with processing payment without a fully executed copy of the Agreement from Plaintiff. 4. Plaintiff will present Defendant with an executed copy of a Request for Dismissal form dismissing this Action with prejudice in exchange for the above check. Defendant will assume the Page 1 of 4 responsibility and cost for filing the Request for Dismissal, but will do so only after Plaintiff's receipt of the above check. 5. Plaintiff understands, acknowledges, and agrees that the foregoing monetary amount represents a fill and complete settlement of Plaintiffs claims for all damages alleged in the Action against Defendant. 6. Plaintiff and Defendant agree that this Agreement constitutes full and complete settlement of all claims made against Defendant in this Action. Plaintiff will not seek any further compensation for any other claimed damages, costs, or attorney's fees in connection with the matters encompassed in this Agreement. 7. Plaintiff understands, acknowledges, and agrees that Defendant 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 Defendant harmless from any and all claims made by federal, state, or local taxing authorities or lien holders against Plaintiff on amounts owed by her, 8. Plaintiff represents that, with the exception of this 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 Defendant including any of its officers, agents, directors, supervisors, employees, or representatives of Defendant with any state, federal, or local agency or court and that he/she will not do so at any time hereafter as it relates to this Action and that if any agency or court assumes jurisdiction of any complaint, claim, or action against Defendant on Plaintiff's behalf, Plaintiff will direct that agency or court to withdraw and dismiss the matter with prejudice, 9, 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." 10. 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 fi-om 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. 11. Each person signing below represents that he/she has reviewed all aspects of this Agreement, that the Agreement has been carefidly 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 terms set forth in this Agreement, that they knowingly and Page 2 of 4 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. Each party hereby warrants that they have the authority to enter into this Agreement and bind the party for whose benefit they execute this Agreement. 12. The Parties hereto represent and acknowledge that in executing this Agreement they do not rely and have not relied upon any representation or statement 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. 13, 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. 14, 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, term, or provision shall be deemed not to be a part of this Agreement. 15. 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. 16. 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. 17. 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: laintif Dated: r c/ T 2' Leticia Romero Plaintiff [CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE] Page of N-2021-199 Defendant Dated: ;OK�� CITY OF SANTA ANA City Manager Kristine Ridge ATTEST: 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 Dated: By, Daisy Gomez, Clerk of the Council f" APPROVED AS TO FORM: p n HUNT & ADAMS Dated: Jo l C. ms, III Att s for Plaintiff Leticia Romero SONIA R. CARVALHO CITY ATTORNEY CITY OF SANTA ANA Dated: Oct. 6, 2021 X-/— Sandra M. Schwarzmann Senior Assistant City Attorney Attorneys for Defendant City of Santa Ana Page 4 or4