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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGELAZELA, MARKN-2024-169 0..[Aa(0)1� c K-. Ne��,ew^ SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ca AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS This Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims ("Agreement") is made and entered into by and between MARK GELAZELA ("Plaintiff'), and CITY OF SANTA ANA (erroneously sued as SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT), KENNETH WILLARD, and VINCENT GALAZ (collectively, "Defendants"). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, Plaintiff filed an action against Defendant in the United States District Court, Central District of California as MARK GELAZELA v. SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT, et al., Case No. 8:21-cv-01126-HDV-DFM (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 a fully executed copy or original of this Agreement, Defendants will make available to Plaintiff a check in the amount of Forty Thousand Dollars and no cents ($40,000) made payable to "MARK GELAZELA". Payment shall be directed to Mark Gelazela, 2507 Inglewood Avenue, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. 4. The foregoing amount to be paid by Defendants represent the Defendants' full and complete settlement of Plaintiff s claims for all damages alleged in the Action. Upon receipt of payment, Plaintiff will dismiss the action in its entirety, with prejudice. 5. Plaintiff and Defendants agree 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. Page 1 of 5 6. 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 and he alone is liable for all taxes, if any, which are owed by him 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 him. 7. Plaintiff agrees that he and he 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 him for any kind of medical care. 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, he has not filed any complaints, claims, or actions against Defendants including any of their 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 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 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. 11. 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 discussed with 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. Page 2 of 5 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: Plaintiff Dated:J I MARK GELAZELA Plaintiff Defendants CITY OF SANTA ANA, a charter law city and municipal corporation, duly organized and existing under the Constitution and laws oMCAyManQer lifornia Dated: S /` ZaZY By: varo Nunez, Act Page 3 of 5 ATTEST: CITY OF SANTA ANA, a charter law city and municipal corporation, duly organized and existing under the Constitution and laws of the State.Qfi.(jQifornia Dated:By: 11 APPROVED AS TO FORM: SONIA R. CARVALHO CITY ATTORNEY Dated: OS/06/2024 KytC. Nellesen Assistant City Attorney Attorney for Defendants Page 4 of 5