HomeMy WebLinkAboutSANCHEZ, STEVENDocusign Envelope ID: C3CDD5F3-63DF-4A49-AF92-A5F3835168DA
N-2024-264
AUG 0 9 2024
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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 STEVEN SANCHEZ (hereinafter "Plaintiff'), and the CITY
OF SANTA ANA and KEVIN GUZMANOROZCO (hereafter "Defendants").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Plaintiff filed an action against Defendants in the Superior Court of the State
California, County of Orange, Central Justice Center known as STEVEN SANCHEZ v. CITY OF
SANTA ANA, et al., Case No. 30-2023-01369799 (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 it 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 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 it 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 process payment without a fully executed copy of the Agreement
from Plaintiff.
a. Following receipt of, or in exchange for, an executed copy of a Request for
Dismissal form from Plaintiff dismissing this Action with prejudice, Defendants will make
available a check in the amount of Thirty -Eight Thousand dollars and no cents ($38,000) made
payable "STEVEN SANCHEZ AND NESS LAW, INC". This amount represents a full and
complete settlement of Plaintiffs claims for all damages alleged in the Action. Defendants will file the
Request for Dismissal following Plaintiffs receipt of the settlement check. 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.
3. 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 he/she and he/she alone is liable for all taxes, if any, which are owed by his/her on
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Docusign Envelope ID: C3CDD5F3-63DF-4A49-AF92-A5F3835168DA
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 regarding
amounts owed by Plaintiff.
4. Plaintiff will hold the Defendants harmless from any and all lien holders of any
kind, including liens for medical care or medical expenses owed to private insurance companies,
Medi-Care or Medi-Cal, or any other medical providers, to whom Plaintiff is indebted. Plaintiff
further acknowledges that he/she and not the Defendants is responsible for compromising any liens
related to, or arising from, this Action.
(Plaintiffs Initials)
5. Plaintiff represents that, with the exception of this Action and the government tort
claim associated therewith and submitted to the City of Santa Ana, he/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 they 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
Plaintiffs behalf, Plaintiff will direct that agency or court to withdraw and dismiss the matter with
prejudice.
6. 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."
7. 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.
8. Each person signing below represents -that he/she has 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 terms 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 had the opportunity to discuss this
Agreement with legal counsel. Each party hereby warrants they have the authority to enter into
this Agreement and bind the party for whose benefit they execute this Agreement.
9. The Parties represent and acknowledge that in executing this Agreement they do
not rely and have not relied upon any representation or statement made by another party or by
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Docusign Envelope ID: C3CDD5F3-63DF-4A49-AF92-A5F3835168DA
anotherparties' 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.
10. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Parties 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.
11. 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.
12. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Parties and fully
supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings, written or oral, between the Parties
pertaining to the Action or any related issue.
13. 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.
14. 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
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Dated:/3o/zo2a
IPFPBIi fiF
STEVENSANCHEZ
Plaintiff
Defendant
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
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Dated:
By: L!2'
Alvaro Nunez, City Manager
[CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE]
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Docusign Envelope ID: C3CDD5F3-63DFAA49-AF92-A5F3835168DA
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Dated: 07/30/204
Dated: 08/01/2024
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
JIM
�► 1 y'�
NESS LAW, INC
O. Hovik Oganesyan
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Steven Sanchez
SONIA R. CARVALHO
City Attorney
City of anta Ana
N /� /. _
andra M. Flores
Senior Assistant City Attorney
Attorneys for Defendants
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