HomeMy WebLinkAboutLOWERY, ALEXISDocuSign Envelope ID: 92E05A55-37DF-464D-AB51-55E63EE0574A
N-2023-167
INSURANCE NOT REQUIRED
WORK MAY PROCEED
CITY CLERK
DATE' SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
SAC, C fto Co) �� This Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims ("Agreement") is made and entered
MVAF.lfti11.00 to by and between ALEXIS LOWERY ("Plaintiff'), and CITY OF SANTA ANA and BRYAN
ALLAN NICHOLSON ("Defendants").
WITNESSE
® WHEREAS, Plaintiff filed an action against Defendants in the Superior Court of the State
California, County of Orange, Central Justice Center District known as ALEXIS LOWERY v.
CITY OF SANTA ANA, BRYAN ALLAN NICHOLSON, et al., Case No. 30-2021-01185727-
CU-PA-CJC (the "Action")
WHEREAS, Plaintiff and Defendants (collectively, the "Parties"), desire to settle fully
and finally all differences between them, including, but in no way limited to, those differences
described above.
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 Defendants of any liability whatsoever, or as an admission by Defendants of any
violation of the rights of Plaintiff or any person, violation of any order, law, statute, duty, or contract
whatsoever against Plaintiff or any person. Defendants specifically disclaim 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 Defendants. 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. Each party will exchange a fully signed executed copy or original of this
Agreement. Defendants cannot proceed with processing payment without a fully executed copy of
the Agreement from Plaintiff.
3. Following receipt of, or in exchange for, an executed copy of a Request for
Dismissal with prejudice of the Action, Defendants will make available to Plaintiff a check in
the amount of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) made payable to "ALEXIS LOWERY
AND LEDERER & NORMA, LLP." Defendants will file the Request for Dismissal following
Plaintiffs counsel's receipt of the foregoing check. This monetary amount represents a full and
complete settlement of Plaintiffs claims for all damages alleged in the Action.
4. Plaintiff agrees that this Agreement constitutes full and complete settlement of all
claims made against Defendants 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.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 92E05A55-37DF-464D-A651-65E63EE0574A
5. Plaintiff acknowledges and agrees that Defendants have 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 Defendants harmless from
any and all claims made by federal, state, or local taxing authorities or lien holders against
Plaintiff on amounts owed by her.
6. Plaintiff agrees that she and she alone will be responsible for any known or
unknown liens for medical care related to, or arising from, the circumstances that gave rise to this
Action. Plaintiff expressly agrees to hold Defendants harmless from any and all claims, if any,
made by any lien holders against Plaintiff on amounts owed by her for any kind of medical care.
7. 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 Defendants including any of its officers, agents, directors,
supervisors, employees, or representatives of Defendants with any state, federal, or local agency or
court and that 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 Defendants on
Plaintiff s behalf, Plaintiff will direct that agency or court to withdraw and dismiss the matter with
prejudice.
8. 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."
9. 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.
10. Each person signing below represents that she has reviewed all aspects of this
Agreement, that the Agreement has been carefully read and fully explained to her and that she
understands every provision of this Agreement, that she understands that in agreeing to this
document she is releasing each party hereby from any and all claims she may have against each
party released, that she voluntarily agrees to all the terms set forth in this Agreement, that she
knowingly and willingly intends to be legally bound by the same, that she was 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.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 92E05A55-37DF-464D-AB51-55E63EE0574A
N-2023-167
11. Plaintiff hereto represents and acknowledges that in executing this Agreement, she
does not rely and has not relied upon any representation or statement made by Defendants or by
any of the Defendants' 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. This,Agreement may be executed in counterparts, secured via e-mail, facsimile
transmission or otherwise, each of which shall be deemed to be original. Photocopies of any
executed counterpart shall have the same force and effect as an original.
PARTIES:
laintiff
- Docu3lgned by:
Dated: 6/22/2023 _ a� iS jdWtn
l aaaaee�aeneas�...
ALEXIS LOWERY
Plaintiff
Defendant
Dated:
By:
CITY OF SANTA ANA
City Manager
Kristine Ridge
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 92E05A55-37DF464D-AB51-55E63EE0574A
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:
j
. al Jerk of the '
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
6/26/23
LEDERER & NOJIMA LLP
Monica Behnejad
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Alexis Lowery
SONIA R. CARVALHO
CITY AT ORNEY
Dated: 06/26/23
S dra M. Flores
Senior Assistant City Attorney
Attorneys for Defendants
City of Santa Ana and Bryan Allan Nicholson
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