Loading...
CONTRACT 3541 Settlement Agreement3541 • . . . SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT This SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ( "Agreement ") is made and entered into as of October 18, 2005, by and between RODGER YEATON and LINDA POLLARD as trustees of the YEATON AND POLLARD TRUST (referred to herein as "Plaintiff'), on the one hand, and the CITY OF EL SEGUNDO, a California municipal corporation and SEIMONE JURJIS (collectively the "City "), on the other hand, in order to settle plaintiff's claims against the City in that action entitled RODGER YEATON AND LINDA POLLARD as trustees of the YEATON and POLLARD TRUST v. CITY OF EL SEGUNDO, SEIMONE JURJIS, in his official capacity as Building Official of the City of El Segundo; (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BS096531) (the "Action "). RECITALS A. Plaintiff owns property in the City of El Segundo located at 916 Sheldon Street ( "the Property "). In August 2004 Plaintiff received building permits for two units on the Property; a front unit and a second unit, as that term is defined in Government Code §65852.2. Plaintiff filed the Action against the City on or about April 25, 2005 seeking an order mandating the City to acknowledge the validity of the building permits and to allow construction of the units in accordance with the plans. B. After the submission of evidence and argument, on September 23, 2005, Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janays ruled that the permits were valid because: (1) the City of El Segundo was estopped to deny the validity of the building permits to construct the units on the Property; and (2) that former El Segundo Municipal Code §20.20.020(J), entitled Permitted Uses, was invalid, as it related to locational requirements for second dwelling units. Judge Janays also ruled that Plaintiff was entitled to damages as compensation for lost rents and stated that current El Segundo Municipal Code §15 -1 -6, defining "second dwelling unit," and Chapter 15 -4, entitled "Second Dwelling Units," areis valid. Judge Janays ordered additional briefing on the issue of the amount of such compensation. Judge Janays scheduled a further hearing to resolve the issue of damages on November 7, 2005. C. Plaintiff and the City have each expressed willingness to enter into a settlement agreement which resolves all disputes alleged in the Action and avoid further litigation between the parties. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual promises and covenants hereinafter set forth, it is hereby agreed by and among the parties hereto that all claims, contentions, allegations, causes of action and demands which are specifically alleged in or which arise from the matters alleged in the Action are to be compromised and settled, without any admission of liability or concession by any party that the contentions of the other party are correct, on the following terms: 1. Plaintiff's Obligations. A. The windows on the current structures shall be the only windows permitted on the structures and shall remain in their current location except the window on the south side of the front unit located towards the rear property line shall be removed and replaced with a window that is 2' wide by 5' tall and moved to the center of the wall, approximately 10" from the ceiling. The window on the north side of the rear unit shall be made of opaque material such as leaded decorative glass but shall be openable. B. Plaintiff shall not object to any variance to raise the fence between the Property and the southern neighbor, which may be sought by the property owner to the south, so long as such fence does not exceed 3 feet in height from the existing height and such fence meets all current building and safety standards. C. Provided that Plaintiff is provided with access for construction, Plaintiff shall construct a 6' high block wall, measured from grade on Plaintiff's Property, from the existing wooden /steel fence located on the north side property line of the rear portion of his property along the northerly property line to the beginning of the front yard setback line. D. Plaintiff, its successors and assigns, shall refrain from challenging the validity of current El Segundo Municipal Code §15 -1 -6, defining "second dwelling unit," and Chapter 15 -4, entitled "Second Dwelling Units." 2. City's Obligations. A. From and after the date of execution of this Agreement, the City shall not interfere with the construction of either unit on the Property consistent with the previously approved building permit nos. 501 -04 and 502 -04 and related construction permits, except as modified by this Agreement. There is no requirement to underground the electrical, phone and cable service to the Property and the City waives imposition of any such requirements. 2 3541 B. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the City shall pay Plaintiff $6,000 to contribute toward the cost of construction associated with the obligations described in paragraphs 1. A. and C. C. The City shall waive all permit fees associated with the construction of the 6' high block wall to be constructed by plaintiff on the northerly property line, as set forth in paragraph 1.C., above. D. The City waives all rights to appeal the judgement entered pursuant to this Agreement. 3. No constraint on future exercise of police powers. No part of this Agreement shall serve to constrain the discretion of the City with respect to any future applications for development. 4. Stipulated judgment. A. The parties shall cooperate to present to the court a stipulated judgment consistent with the terms of this Agreement. Such Stipulated Judgment is attached hereto as Exhibit A. B. Judge Janays' failure to sign the stipulated judgment in the form attached hereto, or at all, shall not impact the effectiveness of this settlement agreement. 5. Mutual Release. Effective upon execution of this Agreement, the parties shall forever release, discharge and acquit each other from any and all sums of money, claims, contentions, allegations, demands, accounts, actions and causes of action whatsoever heretofore arising or now existing by virtue of any matter, fact, transaction or occurrence whatsoever, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, relating specifically to the matters referred to in the Action. Without any limitation on the foregoing, the parties specifically waive all claims to attorney's fees and costs and damages associated with the Action or matters referred to therein. It is understood and agreed that the release shall extend to all claims of every nature and kind whatsoever, known or unknown, addressed in the Action, and all rights under Section 1542 of the California Civil Code are hereby expressly waived. Said section reads as follows: "A general release does not extend to claims which the 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 3 3 5 4 1' 1 with the debtor." 6. No Liability. It is understood and agreed that this settlement is the compromise of disputed claims, and that the terms and conditions recited herein above are not to be construed as an admission of liability on the part of the parties hereby released, and that said parties deny liability therefor and intend merely to avoid litigation. 7. Entire Agreement. It is understood and agreed that no promise, inducement or agreement not herein expressed has been made to the parties hereto, and that this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with reference solely to the matters herein addressed and not to any other matters. This Agreement may be modified only by a writing signed by all of the parties hereto. 8. Advice of Counsel. The advice of legal counsel has been obtained by the parties prior to the execution of this Agreement. All parties hereby execute this settlement and release voluntarily with full knowledge of its significance, and with the express intention of effecting the extinguishment of any and all obligations and claims arising out of or in any way connected with the matters addressed. 9. Attorneys' Fees. In the event of any litigation to enforce this agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees as determined by the Court. 10. Interpretation. The Agreement is deemed to have been prepared by all of the parties hereto, and any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall not be interpreted against the drafter, but rather, if such ambiguity or uncertainty exists, shall be interpreted according to the applicable rules of interpretation of contracts without regard to which party drafted it. 11. Authority. The persons so signing this Agreement hereby warrant that they have full authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the respective parties. 12. Costs. Each of the parties shall bear its own costs and attorneys' fees in connection with the Action, and the negotiation, execution and implementation of this Agreement. 13. Waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective, or shall be deemed to have occurred by implication or operation of law, unless such waiver is made in writing, is signed by a duly authorized 4 3541�.� representative of the party against whom enforcement of the waiver is sought, and refers expressly to this paragraph. No waiver of any right or remedy in respect to any individual occurrence or event shall be deemed a waiver of any right or remedy in respect to any separate occurrence or event. The exercise of any remedy provided in this Agreement shall not be a waiver of any consistent remedy provided by law, and the provisions of this Agreement for any remedy shall not exclude any other consistent remedies unless they are expressly excluded. 14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument. 15. Binding on Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of successors of the parties. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by each of them and /or by their respective and duly authorized representatives on the date set forth below. Dated: October 25, 2005 City of El Segundo ATTEST: By i Dated: October 25, 2005 ROGER YEATON and LINDA POLLARD as trustees of the YEATON AND POLLARD TRUST 10/26/2005 09:49 3106436441 JENKINS & HOGIN LLP PAGE 11 APPROVED AS TO FORM: UT Peter L. Wallin WALLIN, KRESS, REISMAN & KRANITZ attorneys for ROGER YEATON and LINDA POLLARD as trustees of the YEATON AND POLLARD TRUST L 354 1 . , , `! M k D. Hensley City Attorney, City of El Segundo JENKINS & HOGIN, LLP attorneys for City 10/26/2005 09:49 3106438441 JEWINS & HOGIN LLP PAGE 05 3541.., EXHIBIT "A" 10/26/2005 09:49 3106438441 JENKINS & HOGIN LLP PAGE 02 1 2 3 4 5 6 7I 8 9 10 1' 1 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 MARK D. HENSLEY (SBN 142653) Ci Attorney, City of El Segundo CHMSTI HOGIN (SBN 138649) JOHN C. COTTI (SBN 193139), and JENKINS & HOG,1N, LLP Manhattan Towers 1230 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 110 Manhattan Beach, California 90266 (310) 643 -8448; (310) 643 -8441 (fax) Attorneys for Defendants CITY OF EL SEGUNDO and SEIMONE JURJIS 3541 • , •.1 Exempt from fees per Government Code § 6103 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES RODGER YEATON and LINDA POLLARD, as Trustees for the Yeaton and Pollard Trust, Petitioners and Plaintiffs, V. CITY OF EL SEGUNDO, SEIMONE JURJIS, in his official capacity as Building Official of the City of El Segundo and DOES 1 through 50, Respondents and Defendants. Case No. BS096531 Assigned for all purposes to the Honorable Dzintra janays - Dept. 85 STIPULATION FOR ENTRY OF JUDGMENT- (PROPOSED dUDGMEW GRANTING WRIT OF MANDATE Petition and Complaint Filed: 04/25/05 Respondent CITY OF EL SEGUNDO and Petitioners RODGER YEATON and LINDA POLLARD hereby represent as follows: WHEREAS, on April 25, 2005, Petitioners Rodger Yeaton and Linda Pollard, as Trustees for the Yeaton and Pollard Trust, filed the instant action seeking an order mandating Respondents City of El Segundo and Seimone Jurjis to honor the validity of building permits to construct a front unit and a second unit, as that term is defined in Government Code §65852.2, on property located at 916 Sheldon Street, El Segundo, California (the "Property ") and to allow construction of the units in accordance with the permitted plans. STIPULATION FOR ENTRY OF JUDGMENT; (PROPOSED) JUDGMENT 10/26/2005 09:49 3106438441 JENKINS & HOGIN LLP PAGE 03 8' 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 .5541-,. WHERE,AS, after the submission of evidence and argument, the matter came regularly for hearing before the Honorable Dzintra Janays on September 23, 2005, in Department 85 of the Los Angeles Superior Court. WHEREAS, Judge Janays riled that the building permits to construct the units on the Property were valid because (1) the City of El Segundo was estopped to deny the validity of the building permits to construct the units on the Property; and (2) former El Segundo Municipal Code §20.20.020(J), entitled Permitted Uses, was invalid as it related to locational requirements for second dwelling units. WHEREAS, Judge Janays further stated that current El Segundo Municipal Code § 15- 1-6, defining "second dwelling unit, and Chapter 15 -4, entitled "Second Dwelling Units," is valid. WHEREAS, Judge Janays further ruled that Petitioners were entitled to damages as compensation for lost rents. Judge Janays ordered additional briefing on the issue of the amount of such compensation. Judge Janays scheduled a further hearing to resolve the issue of damages on November 7, 2005. WHEREAS, Petitioners and Respondent now wish to resolve the instant dispute. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a true and correct copy of the Settlement Agreement. STIPULATION FOR ENTRY OF JUDGMENT; (PROPOSED] JUDGMENT 2 10/26/2005 09:49 3106438441 JEWINS & HOGIN LLP PAGE 04 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 14 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3541.,.,. WHEREFORE, the Parties stipulate and agree as follows: 1. That Judgment shall be entered by the Court granting the Petition for Writ of Mandate consistent with this Stipulation for Judgment. 2. The parties shall thlly and completely abide by the terms of this Stipulation for Judgment and the Settlement Agreement. 3. Each party shall bear its own costs and attorneys' fees. DATED: October 18, 2005 MARK D. HENSLEY, City Attorney, and JENKINS & HOGIN, LLP & e 1.g' By: JO C. COTTI, Att C. for Respondents and Defendants, CITY OF EL SEGUNDO and SEIMONE JUR.JIS DATED: October 18, 2005 WALLIN, KRIjkS, REIS & KRANITZ By: PETER L. WALLIN Attorneys for Petitioners RODGER YEATON and LINDA POLLARD STIPULATION FOR ENTRY OF JUDGMENT; [PROPOSED) JUDGMENT 3 10/26/2005 09:49 3106438441 JEWINS & HOGIN LLP PAGE 12 1 2 3 4 5' 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 354 1 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES RODGER YEATON and LINDA POLLARD, as Trustees for the Yeaton and Pollard Trust, Petitioners and Plaintiffs, V. CITY OF EL SEGUNDO, SEIMONE JURJIS, in his official capacity as Building Official of the City of El Segundo and DOES 1 through 50, Respondents and Defendants. Case No. BS096531 (PROPOSED] STIPULATED JUDGMENT GRANTING WRIT OF MANDATE Petition and Complaint Filed: 04/25/05 Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure §664,6 and on Motion for Entry of Judgment based upon the Stipulation for Entry of Judgment, and good cause appearing therefore: STIPULATION FOR ENTRY OF JUDGMENT; [PROPOSED] JUDGMENT 4 10/26/2005 09:49 3106438441 JENKINS & HOGIN LLP PAGE 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3541.x IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED, that: 1. The Petition for Writ of Mandate is granted. The Court finds as follows: A. The building permits to construct the units on the Property at 916 Sheldon Street were valid because the City of El Segundo is estopped to deny their validity; B. The building permits to construct the units on the Property at 916 Sheldon Street are valid because former El Segundo Municipal Code §20.20.020(J), entitled Permitted Uses, was invalid as it related to locational requirements for second dwelling units, C. Current El Segundo Municipal Code §15 -1 -6, defining "second dwelling unit," and Chapter 15 -4, entitled "Second Dwelling Units," is valid. 2. Petitioners waive any and all claims for damages, except as provided in the settlement agreement; and 3. Each patty shall bear their own attorneys' fees and costs. DATED: zmtra Janays Judge of the Superior Court STIPULATXON FOR ENTRY OF JUDGMENT; (PROPOSER)) JUDGMENT 5 10/26/2005 09:49 3106439441 JEWINS & HOGIN LLP PAGE 15 Rodger Yeaton, et al. vs. City of El Segundo LASC Case No.: BS096351 SERVICE, LIST Peter L. Wallin, Esq. Lisa E. Kranitz, Esq. WALLIN, K.RESS, REISMAN & KRANI'TZ 2800 28h Street, Suite 315 Santa Monica, CA 90405 Attorneys for RODGER YEATON and LINDA POLLARD Tea: 310.450.9582 Fax: 310.450.0506 10/26/2005 09:49 3106439441 JEWINS & HOGIN LLP PAGE 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 241 W 26 27 28 3541•,.`. ROOF OF SERVIC E STATE OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES I am employed in the County of Los Angeles, State of California. I am over the age of 18 and not a party to the within action; my business address is 1230 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 110, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. On October 26, 2005, I served the foregoing documents described as: STIPULATION FOR ENTRY OF JUDGMENT; [PROPOSED] STIPULATED JUDGMENT GRANTING WRIT OF MANDATE on all interested parties in this action by placing the original thereof enclosed in sealed envelopes with fully prepaid postage thereon and addressed as follows: ,PLEASE SEE SER P7CE LIST ATTACHED X BY MAIL. I caused such envelope with postage thereon fully prepared to be placed in the United States mail at Los Angeles, California. I am readily familiar with the firm's practice of collection and processing correspondence for mailing. Under that practice it would be deposited with U.S. postal service on that same day with postage thereon prepaid at Manhattan Beach, California in the ordinary course of business. I am aware that on motion of the party served, service is presumed invalid if postal cancellation date or postage meter date is more than one day after date of deposit for mailing in affidavit. OVERNIGHT COURIER. I caused such envelope to be transmitted via Overnight Courier to the offices of the addressee(s). VIA, FACSIMILE. I caused such document to be transmitted via facsimile to the offices of the addressee(s). X STATE I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the above is true and correct. FEDERAL I declare that I this Court at w Executed this 26th day of October 200 in the office of a member of the Bar of the service is made. Beach, California. E. Jones