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HomeMy WebLinkAbout064457 - Settlements - Contract - State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Majorie BrownCSC No. 64457 CAUSE NO. JP03-25-SC00028147 STATE FARM MUTUAL § JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURT AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE § COMPANY AS SUBROGEE OF § MARJORIE BROWN, § Plaintiff, § § PRECINCT NO.3 V. § LORENZO CEDILLO, JR AND CITY § OF FORT WORTH, § Defendants § TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS FOR PROPERTY DAMAGES I. RECITALS WHEREAS, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown, Plaintiff in the above -entitled and numbered cause ("Plaintiff'), alleges that on or about November 18, 2023, the vehicle of its insured, Marjorie Brown, received damage in an automobile accident when the vehicle she was driving was struck by a City of Fort Worth vehicle, operated by Officer, Lorenzo Cedillo ("Officer Cedillo"); WHEREAS, Plaintiff, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown, further alleges that the negligence of the City of Fort Worth ("City" or "Defendant"), by way of its employee, Officer Cedillo, proximately caused the above -described accident and the subsequent property damage to Plaintiff's vehicle, a 2010 Hyundai Elantra, VIN #: KMHDU4AD2AU 13 6490 ("Vehicle"); WHEREAS, as a result of such accident Plaintiff, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown, compensated its insured for property damages allegedly suffered; WHEREAS, while the City of Fort Worth denies that the alleged damage to Plaintiff's insured's vehicle was caused by any negligence or other fault of the City or its officers, agents or employees, to include Officer Cedillo, it has agreed to pay, and Plaintiff has agreed to accept, the total sum of Five Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Dollars ($5,950.00) in full and final settlement of any and all property damage claims of Plaintiff, his/her heirs, representatives, successors and assigns and any other person or Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims for Property Damages State Farm Mutual Automobile Lisurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown Cause No. JP03-25-SC00028147; Slate Farm Mulual fluiorvobile Insurance Company as Subrogee oJMarjorie Brown r CFW Page I of 7 OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TX entity claiming by, through, or under Plaintiff only, against the City of Fort Worth, its officers, agents and employees, to include Officer Cedillo, and all other persons and entities in privity with, or connected with, the City of Fort Worth, hereinafter sometimes re urged to as the Released Parties, as a result of the described above accident; and, WHEREAS, even though the City and Officer Cedillo denies any liability of any kind on account of the alleged incident made the subject of Plaintiff, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown's suit, the City has agreed to the payment terms described above in compromise and settlement of the disputed claims and in order to avoid further time consuming and costly litigation. II. TERMS NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals set forth above, the mutual promises and agreements made herein, and other valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the City and Plaintiff agree that: 1. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown, Plaintiff herein, for and in consideration of payment by the City of Fort Worth to State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown and mailed to Plaintiff's attorney, The Garner Law Firm, in the sum of Five Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Dollars ($5,950.00) in full and final settlement of all Plaintiff's property damage claims against the City, its agents, employees, to include Officer Cedillo, workers or representatives, arising out of Plaintiff's damages, and the sufficiency of such consideration being hereby acknowledged and confessed by Plaintiff, does for itself, its representatives, successors and assigns, unconditionally release, acquit and forever discharge the City of Fort Worth, and its agents, employees, workers and representatives, and all others connected with or in privity with the City of Fort Worth, of and from any and all property damage claims of every kind, character or nature which said Plaintiff might assert by reason of the above described incident together with all claims heretofore asserted in Cause No. JP03-25-SC00028147, in the Justice Court, Precinct 3, Tarrant County, Texas, including claims for any other kind, character, or nature of property damage, which could or might be the subject of a claim by it arising from the incident hereinabove described. PLAINTIFF, STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY AS SUBROGEE OF MARJORIE BROWN, ALSO REPRESENTS THAT IT WILL FULLY SATISFY ALL LEGAL BILLS INCURRED BY IT WITH ANY OTHER LAW FIRM OR ATTORNEY WHO MAY BE OWED FEES RELATED TO THIS MATTER. 2. Taxes. The Parties will report, as may be required by law, their respective payments and receipt of the amounts described herein. Plaintiff, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown, and its attorney Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims for Property Damages State Farm Mutual Automobile Lisurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown Cause No. JP03-25-SC00028147; Slate Farm Mutual Aulomobile Insurance Company as Subrogee oJMaiyorie Brown r CFIY Page 2 of 7 acknowledge and agree that: (1) the City and its counsel have made no representations to Plaintiff or its counsel regarding the tax consequences of the payments made to it or to its attorney under this Agreement; and (2) Plaintiff and its attorney are ultimately responsible � r determining the taxability of any of the payments made to Plaintiff and its attorney in this Agreement, and for paying taxes (federal, state, or otherwise), if any, which any taxing authority determines or claims are owed with respect to such payments. 3. The release of property damage claims contained herein is given with full knowledge of all parties to the referenced suit that there is a dispute on the part of the City regarding whether or not it is liable for any damages alleged in the above -entitled and numbered cause. It is also understood and agreed that this settlement is in compromise of disputed claims and that the payment made hereunder is not to be construed as admission of liability on the part of the City of Fort Worth, and, in fact, City denies liability for the above -described accident, if any, and intends, by this settlement, merely to buy its peace. 4. Plaintiff, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown, agrees to dismiss the cause of action in the above -entitled and numbered matter, with prejudice, and hereby authorizes and directs its attorney to prepare and file the appropriate Motion and Order of Dismissal, with prejudice, with respect to Plaintiff's claims and causes of action in the above entitled and numbered case against the City. Plaintiff, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown, and its attorney, agree to expeditiously provide any information the Court may require, and/or to attend any hearings the Court may require, in connection with the dismissal of said lawsuit. 5. It is understood and agreed that all taxable court costs will be paid by the party incurring same. 6. This Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Property Damage Claims may be executed in a number of identical counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original for all purposes. The Parties agree that this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes any and all prior agreements, arrangements, or undertakings between the Parties relating to the subject matter. No oral understandings, statements, promises, or inducements contrary to the terms of this Agreement exist. This Agreement cannot be changed orally, and any changes or amendments must be signed by all Parties affected by the change or amendment. 7. Plaintiff, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown, represents and acknowledges that this Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Property Damage Claims has been read in its entirety before signing and that it has been fully explained, in detail, to it by its attorney and that it is fully understood. 8. By its signature hereto, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown, Plaintiff, represents and declares that the person signing Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims for Property Damages State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Maijorie Brown Cause No. JP03-25-SC00028147; Siate Farnr Mutual dulowhile Insurance Company as Subrogee ojMar jorie Brown P CFW Page 3 of 7 this Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Property Damage Claims is more than eighteen (18) years of age and is fully competent to enter into this Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Property Damage Claims, that the representations, declarations and agreements herein are accurate, binding, and are contractual in nature and that no representation or agreement not herein expressed has been made to it as inducement to enter into this Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Property Damage Claims. 9. It is understood and agreed that this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and subject to, the laws of the State of Texas, to the extent not preempted by federal law. 10. This Agreement is the product of arm's-length negotiations between the Patties, and no Party shall be deemed to be the drafter of any provision or the entire Agreement. The wording in this Agreement was reviewed and accepted by all Parties after reasonable time to review with legal counsel, and no Party shall be entitled to have any wording of this Agreement construed against the other Party as the drafter of the Agreement in the event of any dispute in connection with this Agreement. This agreement should be effective as of the date the last party signature is affixed hereto as indicated by the dates set forth below. STATEr MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY AS SUBROGEE OF MARJORIE BROWN, Plaintiff Date: December 8, 2025 Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims for Property Damages State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown Cause No. JP03-25-SC00028147; Slate Farm Munral Aruomobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown v CFW Page 4 of 7 STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF TARRANT § BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared Meredith Peek , a representative for STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY AS SUBROGEE OF MARJORIE BROWN, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged to me that she executed the same as his/he free act and deed for purposes and consideration therein expressed. GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL O OFFIC his 8th day of December 2025. f. ;. JORGEG'0 u c NotA i r t e State of Texas ...�Qy.• MyNoiatylb#12408fi09i ' � F V�:i E�IreaJanttazY �02028 Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims for Property Damages State Farm Mutual Automobile Lisurance Company as Subrogee of Maijorie Brown Cause No. JP03-25-SC00028147; Staie Farm Manual Auomobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Maijorie Brown r, CFW Page 5 of 7 APPROVED AS TO FORM: Date: December 8, 2025 Attorney( for Plaintiff Stephen E. Garner State Bar No.: 07677450 Meredith M. Peek State Bar No.: 24076207 TxE GARNER Law FIRM 7660 Woodway Drive, Suite 250 Houston, TX 77063 Telephone: 713.952.0122 Facsimile: 713.952.1660 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims for Property Damages State Farm Muh4al Automobile bisurance Company as Subrogee of Maijorie Brown Cause No. JP03-25-SC00028147; Slate Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee of Marjorie Brown v CFIV Page 6 of 7 CITY OF FORT WORTH: APPROVED: Assistant City Manager CITY OF FORT WORTH APPROVED AS TO FORM: Attorney for Defendant, City of Fort Worth Heather Banahan Nease Assistant City Attorney ATTEST: Jannette S. Goodall, City Secretary Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims for Property Damages State Fann Munial Automobile Insurance Company as Subrogee ofMa1jorie Brown 12/08/2025 Date: ------------ 12/08/2025 Date: ----------- 12/09/2025 Date: Cause No. JP03-25-SC00028147; Srare Farm Murual A1110111obile I11s11rance Company as Subrogee of Ma,:;orie Brown v CFW Page 7 of7 City Secretary’s Office Contract Routing & Transmittal Slip *Indicates the information is required and if the information is not provided, the contract will be returned to the department. Contractor’s Name: Subject of the Agreement: M&C Approved by the Council? * Yes  No  If so, the M&C must be attached to the contract. Is this an Amendment to an Existing contract? Yes  No  If so, provide the original contract number and the amendment number. Is the Contract “Permanent”? *Yes  No  If unsure, see back page for permanent contract listing. Is this entire contract Confidential?*Yes No If only specific information is Confidential, please list what information is Confidential and the page it is located. Effective Date: Expiration Date: If different from the approval date.If applicable. Is a 1295 Form required?* Yes No  *If so, please ensure it is attached to the approving M&C or attached to the contract. Project Number: If applicable. *Did you include a Text field on the contract to add the City Secretary Contract (CSC) number? Yes  No  Contracts need to be routed for CSO processing in the following order: 1.Katherine Cenicola (Approver) 2.Jannette S. Goodall (Signer) 3.Allison Tidwell (Form Filler)