Christina Gonzalez v. State of California ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CHRISTINA GONZALEZ, ET. AL., Case No. 1:20-cv-00912-JLT-BAK 12 Plaintiffs, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO GRANT UNCONTESTED PETITION 13 v. FOR APPROVAL OF MINOR’S 14 COMPROMISE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ET. AL., 15 (Doc. No. 62) Defendants. 16 17 18 19 On July 21, 2022, Plaintiff J.G., a minor, by and through her mother and guardian ad litem 20 Jessica Soliz, filed an uncontested petition for approval of minor’s compromise.1 (Doc. No. 62). 21 Having considered the uncontested petition, the terms of the settlement, and the record in this 22 matter, the undersigned finds that the proposed settlement agreement and the method of 23 disbursement is fair and reasonable. For the reasons that follow, the undersigned recommends 24 granting Plaintiff’s Petition for Minor’s Compromise.2 25 26 1 This matter was referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302 (E.D. Cal. 2022). See also Minute Order at Doc. No. 63. 27 2 Because the motion is uncontested and the memorandum in support of the petition adequately sets forth the information required under Local Rule 202(b), there is good cause to approve the settlement without a 28 hearing. 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Plaintiffs Christina Gonzalez, Anjelica Gonzalez, and Victoria Gonzalez initiated this 3 action on May 27, 2020, in Kern County Superior Court. The complaint alleged multiple claims, 4 including federal claims for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for violations of the Fourth and 5 Fourteenth Amendments. (See Doc. No. 1-1). The claims arise out of alleged excessive force by 6 Defendants, resulting in the death of Jason Gonzalez. (See Doc. No. 28) The matter was 7 removed to this Court on June 30, 2020. (Doc. No. 1). 8 On September 10, 2020, J.G., by and through her mother and guardian ad litem Jessica 9 Soliz, initiated an action alleging similar claims for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for violations of 10 the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, arising out of the same facts. (See Gonzalez v. Nunez, 11 1:20-cv-01298-NONE-JLT, Doc. No. 1). On September 23, 2020, the Court appointed Jessica 12 Soliz as J.G.’s guardian ad litem. (Id. at Doc. No. 5). On December 7, 2020, the Court consolidated 13 the instant action and the later-filed Gonzalez v. Nunez, 1:20-cv-01298-NONE-JLT for all purposes, as 14 the plaintiffs were found to bring similar claims and present similar questions of fact and law. (Doc. 15 No. 21). 16 On June 17, 2022, the parties participated in a settlement conference before Magistrate 17 Judge Helena M. Barch-Kuchta, and the parties reached a settlement. (Doc. No. 59). Plaintiff 18 J.G., through her guardian ad litem, filed the instant uncontested petition for minor’s compromise 19 on July 21, 2022. (Doc. No. 62). 20 II. APPLICABLE LAW 21 The Local Rules for this district provide that “[n]o claim by or against a minor or 22 incompetent person may be settled or compromised absent an order by the Court approving the 23 settlement or compromise.” L.R. 202(b). The purpose of requiring the Court’s approval is to 24 provide an additional level of oversight to ensure that the child’s interests are protected. Toward 25 this end, the motion for approval of a proposed settlement shall be filed pursuant to Local Rule 26 230, and must disclose, among other things, the following: 27 the age and sex of the minor or incompetent, the nature of the causes of action to be settled or compromised, the facts and circumstances 28 1 out of which the causes of action arose, including the time, place and persons involved, the manner in which the compromise amount or 2 other consideration was determined, including such additional information as may be required to enable the Court to determine the 3 fairness of the settlement or compromise, and, if a personal injury 4 claim, the nature and extent of the injury with sufficient particularity to inform the Court whether the injury is temporary or permanent. 5 6 L.R. 202(b)(2). “When the minor or incompetent is represented by an attorney, it shall be 7 disclosed to the Court by whom and the terms under which the attorney was employed; whether 8 the attorney became involved in the application at the instance of the party against whom the 9 causes of action are asserted, directly or indirectly; whether the attorney stands in any relationship 10 to that party; and whether the attorney has received or expects to receive any compensation, from 11 whom, and the amount.” L.R. 202(c). 12 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c) similarly imposes on district courts a special duty to 13 safeguard the interests of litigants who are minors. Robidoux v. Rosengren, 638 F.3d 1177, 1181 14 (9th Cir. 2011). In the context of proposed settlements in suits involving minor plaintiffs, the 15 district court’s special duty requires it to “conduct its own inquiry to determine whether the 16 settlement serves the best interests of the minor.” Id. (quoting Dacanay v. Mendoza, 573 F.2d 17 1075, 1080 (9th Cir. 1978)). However, in Robidoux, the Ninth Circuit cautioned that this inquiry 18 “requires only that the district court consider whether the net recovery of each minor plaintiff is 19 fair and reasonable, without regard to the amount received by adult co-plaintiffs and what they 20 have agreed to pay plaintiffs' counsel” and “in light of the facts of the case, the minor’s specific 21 claim, and recovery in similar cases.” Id. at 1181-82 (holding that district court erred in denying 22 settlement based solely on the proportion of the settlement going to plaintiffs' counsel). 23 III. ANALYSIS 24 The petition for approval of the settlement on behalf of the minor J.G. sets forth the 25 information required by Local Rule 202(b)(2). Plaintiff J.G. was a female minor who was 26 seventeen at the time the petition was filed. (Doc. No. 62 at 2). Here, the petition explains that 27 Jason Gonzalez, deceased father of J.G., 28 1 had been walking in his socks on Highway 58 on August 30, 2019, a multiple lane freeway with a speed limit of 65 miles an hour when 2 CHP [California Highway Patrol] was called out to monitor the situation. Mr. Gonzalez ran across lanes of traffic in the presence of 3 CHP officers after an unknown vehicle stopped to offer him a ride. 4 Mr. Gonzalez had consumed PCP and methamphetamine at some point before this incident. He continued walking on the inside 5 shoulder of the highway, and CHP officers eventually tackled him and handcuffed him so he couldn’t create a danger to himself or the 6 general public. Mr. Gonzalez suffered broken cartilage in his throat 7 at some point during the incident. It was not clear from discovery who inflicted the injury, though it appears most likely Officer Mack 8 had his arm around Jason Gonzalez’s throat as he brought him to the pavement. Mr. Gonzalez eventually lost consciousness at the scene, 9 where CPR was applied, and died of asphyxiation, at least according to the coroner and an expert forensic pathologist retained by the 10 plaintiffs’ attorneys. Defendants had also retained a number of 11 medical experts who were of the opinion the drugs in Mr. Gonzalez’s system caused his death. 12 13 (Id. at 2-3). 14 A. Terms of Settlement 15 The total settlement in this case is $2,000,000.00. (Id. at 2.). According to the petition, the 16 four named plaintiffs agreed before the settlement conference that any settlement would be split 17 evenly among Christina Gonzalez, decedent’s wife at the time of his death, and decedent’s three 18 daughters; thus, under the plaintiffs’ agreement, J.G. is entitled to compensation in the amount of 19 $500,000.00. (Id. at 3). After subtracting for attorney fees and costs, the net proposed settlement 20 amount to J.G. is $349,164.08. (Id.). Petitioners request the Court to allow the funds to be placed 21 in a blocked account at Bank of America where it cannot be withdrawn, and that the funds be 22 available to J.G. on or after her eighteenth birthday, September 5, 2022. 23 B. Proposed Attorney Fees and Costs 24 Plaintiff is represented by Thomas A. Brill of The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, 25 LLP. Counsel attests he has spent 259.7 hours working on this matter and attaches an exhibit 26 identifying a breakdown of the costs. (Doc. No. 62 at 8-13). Notably there were 29 witness and party 27 depositions and nine expert witness depositions. According to the petition, Plaintiff J.G. and her 28 attorney, entered into a retainer agreement in which they agreed to 25% attorney fees after costs. 1 (Id. at 4).3 Thus, out of J.G.’s share of the settlement proceeds, Plaintiff’ counsel will be awarded 2 fees and costs in the total amount of $150,835.92, representing $34,447.89 in costs and 3 $116,338.03 in attorneys’ fees (25% of $465, 552.11). (Id. at 5.). Plaintiff’s counsel represents to 4 the Court that he did not become involved in this matter at the request of any party against whom 5 any cause of action is asserted, does not stand in any relationship with any of the parties being 6 sued, and the only compensation Plaintiff’s counsel will receive is the agreed upon contingency 7 fee requested. (Id.). 8 Based upon the actions taken by counsel, and the fact that Plaintiff’s guardian ad litem 9 indicates her assent to the fees and costs requested, the Court finds the award is fair and 10 reasonable. (See Doc. No. 62 at 5). 11 C. Recovery in Similar Actions 12 As noted above, the Court must consider the outcome of similar cases to determine 13 whether the sum to settle the minor’s claims is reasonable. See Robidoux, 638 F.3d at 1181; 14 Salmeron, 724 F.2d at 1363 (“a court must independently investigate and evaluate any 15 compromise or settlement of minor’s claims to assure itself that the minor’s interests are 16 protected” even if the settlement is recommended by the minor’s parent or guardian ad litem). 17 Here, the uncontested petition identified similar actions to support approval of the minor’s 18 compromise, and after independent review of similar actions in this district, the Court finds the 19 recovery is appropriate considering the amounts received in other actions. See, e.g., Estate of 20 Casimero Casillas v. City of Fresno, 2021 WL 3674517 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 19, 2021) (approving net 21 amount of $450,450.00 distributed to each minor in wrongful death and excessive force action 22 against city and police officers); E.S. ex rel. Gonzalez v. City of Visalia, No. 1:13-cv-01697-LJO- 23 BAM, 2015 WL 6956837 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 3, 2015) (approving settlement of a minor’s claim for a 24 net amount of $130,444.83 in an action involving his father’s fatal shooting by police), report and 25 recommendation adopted, No. 1:13-cv-01697-LJO-BAM, 2015 WL 13215675 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 26 20, 2015). 27 28 3 A copy of the retainer agreement is not appended to the petition. 1 Based on the information provided in the petition and the supporting documents and 2 | considering the totality of the facts and circumstances of this case, the undersigned finds the 3 | settlement serves the best interests of the minor plaintiff J.G. and is fair and reasonable in light of 4 | the facts of the case, the specific claim, and recoveries in similar cases. 5 Accordingly, IT IS RECOMMENDED: 6 1. The uncontested Motion for Approval of Minor’s Compromise be GRANTED, and 7 the terms of the settlement, including attorney’s fees, and the minor’s net 8 compensation of $349,164.08 to be placed in a blocked account at Bank of America 9 where it cannot be withdrawn and available to J.G. until her eighteenth birthday on 10 September 5, 2022 be APPROVED IN FULL as fair and reasonable. 11 2. The parties be DIRECTED to file with the Court a stipulation for dismissal of the 12 action with prejudice, and lodge a separate order, no later than 45 days after these 13 findings and recommendations are adopted. 14 NOTICE TO PARTIES 15 These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States district judge 16 | assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen (14) 17 | days after being served with these findings and recommendations, a party may file written 18 | objections with the court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s 19 | Findings and Recommendations.” Parties are advised that failure to file objections within the 20 | specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 21 | 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 22 | Dated: __August 1, 2022 Mihaw. Wh. foareh fackte 24 HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA 35 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 26 27 28