HomeMy WebLinkAboutSANTA ANA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATIONA-2025-020
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND
SPECIFIC RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
This Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims ("Agreement') dated March 4, 2025 is
made and entered into by and between SANTA ANA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
("Plaintiff), and CITY OF SANTA ANA ("Defendant').
WHEREAS, Plaintiff filed an action against Defendant in the Superior Court of the State
California, County of Orange, Central Justice Center known as SANTA ANA POLICE OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION, et al. v. CITY OF SANTAANA, or al., Case No. 30-2021-01230129 (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
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 Patties 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. Each party will exchange a fully signed executed copy or original of this Agreement.
3. Following receipt of, or in exchange for, an executed copy of a Request for Dismissal
form from Plaintiff dismissing all claims made by Plaintiff in this Action with prejudice, Defendant
will return to Plaintiff check # 36570 in the amount of $10,040.00 from Plaintiff for payment of sanctions
in the Action pursuant to Court order dated Deccmbor 18, 2024 and will file the Request for Dismissal with
the Court.
4. Plaintiff and Defendant agree that this Agreement constitutes full and complete
settlement of all claims made by Plaintiff against Defendant in this Action. Plaintiff and Defendant
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 it and
it alone is liable for all taxes, if any, which are owed by it on any amount received hereunder including
interest and penalties. Plaintiff will hold Defendant harmless from any and all claims made by federal,
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state, or local taxing authorities or lien holders against Plaintiff on amounts owed by it.
6. Plaintiff will hold the City 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 or Plaintiff's attorneys are indebted. Plaintiff further
acknowledges that Plaintiff and not the City is responsible for compromising any liens related to, or
arising from, this Action., I
1,< (Plaintiff's Representatives Initials)
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, Plaintiff 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 it
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.
8. The Parties hereto hereby agree that all rights under Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the
State of California are hereby waived, as relates to the Action. 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 parry 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, Defwidant and Plaintiff
acknowledge that that this Release specifically excludes any claims that Defendant has or may have
against Gerry Serrano. In addition, Defendant and Plaintiff acknowledge and agree that this release
extends only to this Action, SANTA ANA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION et al v CITY OF
SANTAANA, of al., Case No. 30-2021-01230129. No other actions by the Plaintiff are being dismissed
or released in any way.
10. Each person signing below represents that they have 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 teens 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
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benefit they execute this Agreement. Plaintiff acknowledges he/she is represented by counsel in the
Action and the terms of this Agreement have been relayed to him/her by a means he/she understands.
Z(Plairitiffs Representative
Initials)
11, 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 hatter, 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 has been executed and delivered within the State of California, and
the rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance
with, and governed by, the laws of the State of California. All Parties shall be deemed to have
participated in the drafting of this Agreement, and it shall not be construed against any of them.
13. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Parties hereto and
fullysupersedes 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 1n accordance with the plain meaning of its
terms and not strictly for or against any of the Parties hereto.
17. Any notice appropriate or required to be given hereunder to the Parties shall be by
email and US, Mail, or in the alternative, at the option of the sender by messenger and shall he to
the following addresses, or such other address as is subsequently noticed in writing to the Parties.
To: Santa Ana Police Officers Association
,Attention: President
1607 North Sycamore Street
Santa Ana, California 92701
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To: City of Santa Ana
City Clerk
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, M-31
P.O. Box 1988
Santa Ana, California 92702
With a copy to:
City Attorney
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza. M-29
P.O. Box 1988
Santa Ana, California 92702
18. 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: 3 ' ZS J014V KIA111/015KI '
It's p1ZE3/PElf7
On behalf of Plaintiff
Santa Ana Police Officers Association
Defendant
Dated:_ CITY OF SANTA ANA, a charter law city and municipal
corporation, duly organized and existing under the Constitution
and laws of the State of ifomia
By:�
Alvaro Nufiez; City Manager
ATTEST:
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