Judge Mark E. Windham, Case Number: 19STLC00927, Date: 2023-10-17 Tentative Ruling

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State Farm v. Garcia, et al.

VACATE DISMISSAL AND ENTER JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO STIPULATION

Plaintiff State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company’s Motion to Enforce Settlement Agreement is GRANTED. JUDGMENT TO BE ENTERED IN PLAINTIFF’S FAVOR AND AGAINST DEFENDANT CELIA JANETH GARCIA IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,800.00 PRINCIPAL and $509.50 IN COSTS.

On January 28, 2019, Plaintiff State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (“Plaintiff”) filed this subrogation action against Defendant Celia Janeth Garcia (“Defendant”). On July 19, 2022, Plaintiff filed a copy of the parties’ settlement agreement with a request for dismissal and retention of jurisdiction under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6. The Court dismissed the action pursuant to the stipulation on the same date. (Stip and Order, filed 07/19/22.)

On September 13, 2023, Plaintiff filed the instant Motion to Vacate Dismissal, Enforce Settlement, and Enter Judgment. To date, no opposition has been filed.

The instant motion is brought under Code of Civil Procedure, section 664.6, which states in relevant part:

If parties to pending litigation stipulate, in a writing signed by the parties outside the presence of the court or orally before the court, for settlement of the case, or part thereof, the court, upon motion, may enter judgment pursuant to the terms of the settlement. If requested by the parties, the court may retain jurisdiction over the parties to enforce the settlement until performance in full of the terms of the settlement.

(Code Civ. Proc., § 664.6, subd. (a).) Prior to January 1, 2021, “parties” under section 664.6 meant the litigants themselves, not their attorneys. (Levy v. Superior Court (1995) 10 Cal.4th 578, 586.) The current statute provides that “parties” includes “an attorney who represents the party” and an insurer’s agent. (Code Civ. Proc., § 664.6, subd. (b).) The settlement must include the signatures of the parties seeking to enforce the agreement, and against whom enforcement is sought. (J.B.B. Investment Partners, Ltd. v. Fair (2014) 232 Cal.App.4th 974, 985.) The settlement agreement here complies with the statutory requirements set forth above because it was signed by both parties and their counsel. (Motion, Reese Decl., Exh. A, p. 3.)

Furthermore, the request for retention of jurisdiction must be made in writing, by the parties, before the action is dismissed for the Court’s retention of jurisdiction to conform to the statutory language. (Wackeen v. Malis (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 429, 433 [“If, after a suit has been dismissed, a party brings a section 664.6 motion for a judgment on a settlement agreement but cannot present to the court a request for retention of jurisdiction that meets all of these requirements, then enforcement of the agreement must be left to a separate lawsuit.”].) The parties’ request for retention of jurisdiction complies with these requirements because it was made in writing to the Court before the action was dismissed. (Motion, Reese Decl., Exh. A, ¶3.) Therefore, the Court finds that the parties’ settlement agreement is enforceable, and the request for the Court’s retention of jurisdiction is proper, under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6.

The settlement agreement provides that Defendant would pay Plaintiff $4,740.48. (Id. at Exh. A, ¶2.) Defendant was to make an initial payment of $2,940.48 by June 10, 2022, and make monthly payments beginning on June 25, 2022, until the settlement is paid in full. (Ibid.) The Agreement provided that if Defendant failed to make a timely payment, and the payment is not made within 14 days after Plaintiff mails a letter of default, Plaintiff would be entitled to have any dismissal set aside and judgment entered for the settlement amount, minus credit for payments received, plus any costs associated with entering the judgment, not to exceed $500. (Id. at Exh. A, ¶3.) Defendant made total payments in the amount of $2,940.48. (Id. at ¶¶4-5.) Plaintiff mailed a default letter regarding the missed payments on August 9, 2023. (Id. at ¶6, Exh. B.) Defendant has not responded to the default letter and Plaintiff is now entitled to have dismissal set aside and judgment entered.

Plaintiff seeks an order entering judgment against Defendant based on the settlement amount of $1,800.00 ($4,740.48 - $2,940.48) plus costs of $509.50. The request for entry of judgment is granted.