HomeMy WebLinkAboutRAMIREZ, MAN-2024-021
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
This Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims ("Agreement") is made and entered
into by and between MA RAMIREZ ("Plaintiff') and CITY OF SANTA ANA ("Defendant"),
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Plaintiff filed an action against Defendant in the Superior Court of the State
California, Countyof Orange, Central Justice Center styled Ma Ramirez v. City ofSantaAna, et al.,
Case No. 30-2021-01191294-CU-PO-CJC (the "Action").
WHEREAS, Plaintiff and Defendant (collectively, the "Parties"), desire to settle fully
and finally all differences between them, including, but in no way limited to, those differences
described 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:
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 of Plaintiff 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. Each party will 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.
3. Following receipt of, or in exchange for, an executed copy of a Request for
Dismissal form from Plaintiff dismissing this Action with prejudice, Defendant will make
available a check in the amount of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) made payable to "MA
RAMIREZ AND LAW OFFICES OF GENE GOLDSMAN." This amount represents a full and
complete settlement of Plaintiffs claims for all damages alleged in the Action. The City of Santa Ana
will file the Request for Dismissal following receipt of the foregoing check by Plaintiffs counsel.
4. 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.
5. Plaintiff 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 heron any amount
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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.
6. 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 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.
7. 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 Irer 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."
8. 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.
9. 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 hereto 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 sarne, that they were given the
opportunity to consider the terns 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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10. 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 other
Parties or by any of the other 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.
11. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Patties 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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: I- 5 - ZOZy M& LQ i s a G70 rtza
MA RAMIREZ
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
By:*14nMAR
HATCH, Interim City Manager
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ATTEST: CITY OF SANTA ANA, a charter law city and
municipal corporation, duly organized and existing
under the Constitution and la f the State of
California
Dated: I Ig 20 2 By: - '
*V r L.IfYafl, v Clerk !
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
LAW OFFICES OF GENE GOLDSMAN
Dated: 4r�—
Diane B. Newsome
Attorneys for Plaintiff
SONIA R. CARVALHO
CITY ATTORNEY
Dated: 1/9/2024 I&4WVLI
Kyl4t. Nellesen
Assistant City Attorney
Attorneys for Defendant
TALLEY & TALLEY LAW, APC
Dated: 1/9/2024 _
Cristina L. Talley
Attorneys for Defendant
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