RRA - Item 4A - Conference with Legal Counsel WALLIN, KRESS, REISMAN & KRAN LIZ
orFicrs
zeoo TwENTY-EIGHTH STREET. SUITE 315
SANTA MONICA. CALIFORNIA 90405-6205
TLLEPMONE (310p aso-a5S2
FACSIMILE 13101F50-0506
CONFIDENTIAL
April 8, 1999
Richard B. Andrade
Andrade &Associates
18401 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 350
Irvine, CA 92612
Re: So. Cal Underground Contractors v. City of Rosemead
Dear Mr. Andrade:
This week representatives of your client met with the City Engineer and reached a
tentative settlement of the claims which are the subject of the referenced lawsuit. The settlement
calls for payment of 517,000.00 to your client in return for a release of all claims against the City
and Agency and dismissal of the pending lawsuit.
We will recommend approval of this settlement to the Redevelopment Agency Board at
its April 26, 1999, meeting. I trust the matter will be approved and we will thereafter present you
with an executed copy of the settlement agreement and a check in the amount of S17,000.00.
Prior to the meeting, please have your client execute and return to me the three copies of
the settlement agreement that are enclosed herewith. I will return one fully executed copy to you
following Agency approval.
• • . Iy Yip
�,f
Peter Wallin
Office of the Rosemead City Attorney
cc: Ken Rukavina AGENCY AGENDA
Don Wagner APR 2 71999
Bob Kress
CONFIDENTIAL
ITEM No.
SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT
This Settlement and Release Agreement ("AGREEMENT") is made and executed as of
April , 1999, by and between SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNDERGROUND
CONTRACTORS, INC. ("CONTRACTOR") the CITY OF ROSEMEAD, a municipal
corporation ( "CITY") and the ROSEMEAD REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY a redevelopment
agency organized under the California Community Redevelopment Law ("AGENCY"), with
reference to the following facts and circumstances:
A. On or about October 8, 1997, CONTRACTOR and AGENCY entered into a
written agreement engaging CONTRACTOR to construct Project No. 97-03 -- Storm
Drain Improvements in San Gabriel Boulevard (the "PROJECT").
B. A dispute has arisen between CONTRACTOR, AGENCY and CITY arising out
of liquidated damages assessed against CONTRACTOR and CONTRACTOR's claim of
entitlement to compensation for change orders, all as are more particularly set forth in a
claim (the "CLAIM") filed with the CITY on or about August 9, 1998, and a lawsuit filed
by CONTRACTOR against CITY on or about October 24, 1997, in the Superior Court of
the State of California, Case No. GCO22321 (the "LAWSUIT").
C. The parties desire to resolve the CLAIM and LAWSUIT and release fully and
completely all claims which CONTRACTOR now has or has ever had, arising out of,
related to, or connected in any manner whatsoever with the PROJECT.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1. AGENCY shall pay CONTRACTOR the sum of$17,000.00 within fifteen days from the
date of execution of this Agreement.
2. In consideration of the payment made to CONTRACTOR pursuant to this
AGREEMENT, CONTRACTOR agrees to, and by executing this AGREEMENT hereby does,
waive and absolutely and forever discharge all the individuals and entities specified herein, and
each of them, from any, all, and each and every claim (s), right(s), demand(s), covenant(s),
agreement(s), contract(s), representation(s), waranty(ies), promise(s), lien(s), account(s), debt(s),
liability(ies), damage(s), expense(s), attorney's fee(s), cost(s), and cause(s) of action of every
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kind and nature, arising out of; related to, or connected in any manner whatsoever with the
CLAIM, the LAWSUIT and CONTRACTOR's engagement to construct the PROJECT for
AGENCY, whether}mown or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, anticipated or unanticipated,
whether at law or in equity, which it now has, may have in the future, or has ever had against any
of the individuals or entities named in this AGREEMENT. The general releases made and given
herein shall expressly extend to, benefit, and release the CITY and AGENCY, all successors,
assigns, predecessors-in-interest, successors-in-interest, officers, agents, contractors, managers,
representatives, associates, partners, and current and former councilmembers, board members,
attorneys, engineers and contract administrators of CITY and AGENCY, whether in their
individual or official capacities.
With respect to the foregoing release, CONTRACTOR hereby waives al] rights which it
may have under the provisions of California Civil Code section 1542, which reads:
A general release does not extend to claims which a creditor
does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of
executing the release, which if known by him must have
materially affected his settlement with the debtor.
CONTRACTOR acknowledges that the facts with respect to which it gives this general
release may turn out to be different from the facts that it now believes to be true.
CONTRACTOR hereby assumes the risk of the facts turning out to be different, and agrees that
this AGREEMENT shall in all respects be effective and not subject to termination or rescission
because of any such difference in facts.
3. Upon receipt of the payment from AGENCY, CONTRACTOR shall cause to be filed a
dismissal with prejudice of the LAWSUIT.
4. The PARTIES, and each of them, understand and agree that the consideration being given
and exchanged pursuant to this AGREEMENT is being given as consideration to compromise
disputed claims respecting the CLAIM and LAWSUIT, and that the entry into and performance
of this AGREEMENT, including said exchange of consideration, is not to be considered an
admission of liability or of the validity or invalidity of any allegation(s) or contention(s) of any
of the PARTIES.
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5. CONTRACTOR represents that, except for the LAWSUIT and CLAIM, it does not
currently have on file and will not file any complaint, charge, claim, legal action, or proceeding
arising out of or respecting the claims released herein with any court, tribunal, governmental
agency or administrative agency against any of the individuals and entities specified in Section 2
above. CONTRACTOR further represents that this AGREEMENT has been duly approved by
the corporation and is executed by a duly authorized representative thereof.
6. CONTRACTOR acknowledges, represents, and agrees that it freely and voluntarily
executed this AGREEMENT, and freely and voluntarily waived and released claims hereunder.
CONTRACTOR acknowledges, represents, and agrees that it undertook said acts knowingly and
after consultation with its attorney RICHARD B. ANDRADE, and without any duress or undue
influence on the part of any party, attorney, person, and/or entity, after having been advised of all
relevant information. CONTRACTOR acknowledges, represents, and agrees that in executing
this AGREEMENT it is relying solely upon facts obtained from its own investigation and advice
received from its above-named attorney of choice and not upon any statement or representation
of any nature by any other party, attorney, person, and/or entity.
7. The PARTIES, and each of them, shall bear their own attorneys' fees and costs incurred
in connection with the CLAIM, the LAWSUIT and this AGREEMENT. If any party to this
AGREEMENT brings an action to enforce the terms hereof or declare rights hereunder, the
prevailing party in any such action shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs to be
paid by the losing party as fixed by the court.
8. This AGREEMENT constitutes the entire agreement between the PARTIES pertaining to
the subject matter hereof; contains all terms and conditions of the PARTIES' agreement; is the
complete and final expression of the PARTIES' agreement; and supersedes ail prior or
contemporaneous oral or written agreements, negotiations, and understandings between them or
any one or more of them, if any. This AGREEMENT may only be changed, revoked, or
superseded by a written document signed by all PARTIES.
9. This AGREEMENT has been jointly reviewed and drafted by counsel for
CONTRACTOR and counsel for CITY and AGENCY and shall be construed as a whole,
according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any of the PARTIES.
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10. This AGREEMENT shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the heirs,
administrators, executors, successors, trustees, and assigns of the PARTIES, and each of them.
11. This AGREEMENT shall in all respects be interpreted, enforced, and governed by and
under the laws of the State of California.
12. This AGREEMENT may be executed in counterparts, which such counterparts when
taken together shall constitute but one entire AGREEMENT.
13. The PARI IES, and each of them, understand, acknowledge, and agree that certain
disclosures respecting this AGREEMENT are required to be made by CITY under the law.
14. All PARTIES shall receive a fully executed copy of the AGREEMENT.
Dated: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNDERGROUND
CONTRACTORS, INC.
By:
Dated: CITY OF ROSEMEAD
By: Mayor
Dated: ROSEMEAD REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
By: Executive Director
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