Rodriguez, Vista Dunes MHP/Settlement Agr 06SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
AND
RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
This SETTLEMENT AG ENT AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS ("Agreement")
is entered into this ?e day o y 06 by and between the La Quinta Redevelopment Agency,
a public body corporate and politic (the "Agency"), and Arsenia Rodriguez ("Rodriguez"). The
Agency and Rodriguez are hereinafter sometimes individually referred to as "Party" and
collectively referred to as "Parties."
This Agreement is made with reference to the following facts:
RECITALS
A. Agency has purchased that real property commonly known as Vista Dunes
Mobile Home Park ("Park"), located at 78-990 Miles Avenue, La Quinta, California, 92253
("Property").
B. Rodriguez was the owner of a mobile home ("Mobile Home"), utilized for
residential purposes on the Property.
C. On June 10, 2004, Rodriguez signed a Notice of Eligibility and Conditional
Entitlement Letter (the `Eligibility Letter"). Under the terms of this letter, Rodriguez agreed to
accept a total of $42,865 for relocation assistance and Mobile Home acquisition.
D. Rodriguez vacated her Mobile Home on July 2, 2004 and received her final
compensation check from the Agency on July 15, 2004.
F. On February 17, 2006, Rodriguez's attorney sent a letter to Agency ("Appeal
Letter") alleging that Rodriguez was entitled to additional relocation assistance and requesting
an informal oral presentation before the agency.
G. An informal oral presentation hearing was held on May 9, 2006, but as a result of
time constraints, was not concluded on that date.
H. To provide for certain relocation assistance and acquisition payments and to
release any claims that may exist, Agency and Rodriguez, now desire to enter this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the foregoing Recitals, which are incorporated herein, and the
covenants and promises hereinafter contained, and for good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
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1. Additional Relocation Assistance Settlement Amount Payment to Rodriguez.
In settlement of all claims released by this Agreement, the Agency shall pay to Rodriguez
the total sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) as relocation assistance and acquisition (the
"Settlement Amount").
2. No Admissions.
It is understood and agreed that this Agreement is not an admission of liability, and that
the Parties intend merely to resolve Rodriguez's claims by entering into this Agreement. The
Parties agree that it is their mutual intention that neither this Agreement nor any terms hereof
shall be admissible in any pending or future proceedings against the Agency, except a
proceeding to enforce this Agreement.
3. Method and Timing of Payments
The Agency payment to Rodriguez of the Settlement Amount shall be made in the
following manner: Agency shall make the check for the Settlement Amount payable to Arsenia
Rodriguez. The Settlement Payment shall be made by delivering the check to Rodriguez within
five business days after the date this Agreement has been fully executed by all the
Parties identified in the signature pages. It is the understanding of the Parties that the Settlement
Amount consists of relocation assistance and is not subject to taxation; however, Rodriguez
acknowledges and understands that the Agency does not represent and warrant, nor has it
represented or warranted, any tax effects that may occur as a result of accepting the Settlement
Amount and Rodriguez acknowledges and understands that she should seek advice from a
competent tax professional. Agency's Settlement Amount obligation pursuant to this Agreement
shall be fully discharged and satisfied upon delivery of the Settlement Amount to Rodriguez as
set forth herein, provided however, that the Settlement Amount check is not thereafter returned
for insufficient funds or payment stopped thereon.
4. Promise Not to Prosecute.
Rodriguez agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that she will not prosecute or
allow to be prosecuted on her behalf, in any administrative agency or court, whether state or
federal, any Released Claim as set forth in Section 5. If any such action is brought, this
Agreement will constitute an Affirmative Defense thereto, and the prevailing party shall be
entitled to recover reasonable costs and attorneys fees incurred in prosecuting or defending
against any Released Claim brought pursuant to this Section 4.
5. Mutual Release.
Rodriguez for herself, all occupants of her Mobile Home, including without limitation
any members of her family or household, any co -tenants, guests, and sub -tenants, and any
members of any of their families or households (collectively, the "Occupants"), and her
respective agents, successors, assigns, and all entities related to any of the foregoing, and on
behalf of all persons claiming any interest in the Subject Space, Mobile Home or this Agreement
(collectively the "Releasing Parties"), irrevocably and absolutely releases and discharges the
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Agency, as well as any present or former employees, subsidiaries, officers, agents, consultants,
attorneys, insurers, successors and assigns of defendants and the Agency (collectively, the
"Released Parties") from any and all claims related in any way to the sufficiency of the
relocation assistance provided to Rodriguez, including but not limited to the claims raised in the
Appeal Letter and the facts and circumstances asserted therein, to the fullest extent permitted by
law. This release is intended to be interpreted broadly to apply to any and all of Rodriguez's
claims arising in connection with her relocation from the Park, including, but not limited to, any
and all losses, liabilities, claims, charges, demands and causes of action, known or unknown,
suspected or unsuspected, arising directly or indirectly out of or in any way connected with the
allegations made in the Appeal Letter (collectively, "Released Claims"). Except as otherwise
provided, Released Claims include, without limitation, any of Rodriguez's claims in connection
with her relocation from the Park, including those based in equity, tort, contract, common law,
the state or federal Constitutions, or state or federal statutes. The releases and covenants not to
sue granted in this Agreement do not extend to, and nothing in this Agreement will be construed
to limit, any Party's rights to enforce this Agreement according to its terms.
6. Unknown or Different Facts.
Rodriguez acknowledges that she may discover facts or law different from, or in addition
to, the facts or law known or believed to exist with respect to a Released Claim. The Releasing
Parties, agree, nonetheless, that this Agreement and the releases contained in it shall be and
remain effective in all respects notwithstanding such different or additional facts or law. Thus,
Rodriguez may not invoke the benefits of Civil Code section 1542 or any similar provision in
order to prosecute or assert in any manner claims released hereunder. 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
FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH, IF
KNOWN BY HIM, MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS
SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR."
Rodriguez's Initials: �k
By initialing above, Rodriguez on behalf of the Releasing Parties, acknowledges that she
has read all of this Agreement, including the above Civil Code section, and that she fully
understands both the Agreement and the Civil Code section. Insofar as California Civil Code
section 1542 or a similar provision relates to the releases given in this Agreement, Rodriguez
waives any benefits and rights granted to her pursuant to Civil Code section 1542 or a similar
provision.
7. No Personal Liability.
No officer, official, employee, agent, or representative of the Agency shall be personally
liable for any amounts due hereunder, and no judgment or execution thereon entered in any
action hereon shall be personally enforced against any such officer, official, member, employee,
agent or representative.
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8. Entire Agreement,• Merger of Prior Agreements and Understandings.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the Parties relating to the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement. All prior or contemporaneous agreements,
understandings, representations and statements, oral or written, are merged in this Agreement
and shall be of no further force or effect.
9. Severability.
Should it be determined by a court that any term of this Agreement is unenforceable, that
term shall be deemed to be deleted. However, the validity and enforceability of the remaining
terms shall not be affected by the deletion of the unenforceable terms.
10. Modifications.
This Agreement shall be amended only by a written instrument, which specifically
indicates in its recitals that it is for the purpose of amending this Agreement, that is executed by
all Parties hereto.
11. Cooperation and Further Assurances.
The Parties agrees to do all things necessary and to execute all further documents
necessary and appropriate to carry out and effectuate the terms and purposes of this Agreement.
12. Counterparts.
This Agreement can be executed in one or more counterparts, with the same force and
effect as if executed in one complete document.
21. Facsimile Signature Deemed Ori ig'nal.
This Agreement can be signed and delivered by facsimile transmission, and such
facsimile documents shall be deemed originals and binding upon the signatories upon receipt
(with transmission confirmed) by the Party to whom the facsimile transmission is sent.
13. Authority.
Each individual signing this Agreement warrants and represents that she/he has full
capacity and authority to execute the Agreement on whose behalf she/he so signed, as provided
by law.
14. Governing Law.
This Agreement is made and entered into in the State of California and shall, in all
respects, be interpreted, enforced and governed by and under the laws of the State of California.
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15. Warranty.
Each of the Parties to this Agreement warrants that no promise or inducement has been
made or offered by any of the Parties, except as set forth herein, and that this Agreement is not
executed in reliance upon any statement or representation of any of the Parties or their
representatives, concerning the nature and extent of the injuries, damages or legal liability
therefore.
16. Successors and Assignns.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and
their respective, heirs, administrators, executors, trustees, successors and assigns, and each of
them.
17. Interpretation• Construction; Advice of Counsel.
The headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used
in interpreting this Agreement. The Parties declare and represent that they fully understand this
Agreement are: (i) executing this Agreement with the opportunity to obtain advice from legal
counsel and without coercion by any party, (ii) that this Agreement shall be complete and shall
not be subject to any claim of mistake, and (iii) that the releases herein express full and complete
releases and, regardless of the adequacy or inadequacy of the consideration, the Parties intend
the releases herein to be final and complete. The Parties acknowledge they have had an
opportunity to review and discuss each term of this Agreement with legal counsel and, therefore,
the rule of construction stating that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party
is inapplicable and shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.
I a�'
Rodri ez's Initials
[Signatures on the following pages]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Agency and Plaintiff have signed this Agreement on the
date(s) set forth below.
Dated: , 2006
Dated: Gi,u q . $ , 2006
RO RIGUEZ
Ms. Arsenia Rodriguez
AGENCY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE
CITY OF LA QUINTA, a public body
corporate and politic, Donald Adolph, Stanley
Sniff, Ron Perkins, Terry Henderson, and Lee
Osborne, in their official capacities as directors
of as Qu
v / inta Redevelo me ency,
RZ�f7?�c-it
Thomas P. Genovese, Executive Director
ATTEST: n
June S. Greek, City Clerk
APPR D AS O FO
//w -/
. Katherine enson, Agenc Counsel
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