Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Purpose: Settlement of Civil Litigation
Docket No.: ESX-L-001627-21
Claimant: Zarifa Wilson
Claimant's Attorney: Jack Sanders, Esq., Shebell & Shebell Attorneys at Law, 600 Broad Street, Suite 100, Shrewsbury, New Jersey 07702
Settlement Amount: $85,000.00
Funding Source: Insurance Trust Fund
Additional Information:
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WHEREAS, Plaintiff, captioned Zarifa Wilson v. City of Newark, et al., ESX-L-001627-21, in which the plaintiff sought recovery for damages allegedly sustained in 2019 for the alleged violations of age discrimination; and
WHEREAS, a settlement proposal has been made to resolve this litigation in its entirety by payment in the total amount of Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents (85,000.00) ("Settlement Sum"), and execution of a Settlement Agreement and Release; and
WHEREAS, to avoid the costly expense of litigation, the Parties and the City's Corporation Counsel desire to amicably resolve this matter with payment by the City of Newark of the Settlement Sum, in exchange for Plaintiff's execution of the Settlement Agreement and Release (attached) as a full and complete release of the matter; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation Counsel, based upon all facts and circumstances presented, deems it is in the best interest of the City of Newark to resolve said matter by payment of the proposed Settlement Sum and execution of the Settlement Agreement and Release.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Corporation Counsel is hereby authorized on behalf of the City of Newark to execute and accept the terms of the Settlement Agreement and Release, attached hereto.
2. Upon receipt by the Corporation Counsel of all documents deemed necessary, the Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to issue payments in the amount of: One payment of Thirty-One Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Five Dollars and Fifty Cents ($31,155.50) will be made payable to Shebell & Shebell, LLC for attorney's fees and costs, and for which Plaintiff and Shebell & Shebell, LLC will be issued an IRS Form 1099. Shebell & Shebell, LLC shall provide its Employer Identification Number and other necessary information to Defendants' counsel to enable Defendants to issue the IRS form 1099. Two payments shall be made payable to Plaintiff. One Payment in the amount of Twenty-Six Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-Two Dollars and Twenty-Five Cents ($26,922.25) as alleged back wages, less any legally required taxes and withholdings or other customary deductions, and for which Plaintiff will be issued an IRS For W-2. A second payment in the amount of Twenty-Six Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-Two Dollars and Twenty-Five Cents ($26,922.25) for alleged emotional distress damages, for which Plaintiff will be issued an IRS Form 1099 and shall be made payable to "Zarifa Wilson and Shebell & Shebell, LLC" and mailed to Jack Sanders, Esq., Shebell & Shebell Attorneys at Law, 600 Broad Street, Suite 100, Shrewsbury, New Jersey 07702.
3. Annexed hereto is the Certification of Funds issued by the Director of Finance, City of Newark, which states that there are available sufficient legally-appropriate funds from Business Unit NW025, Dept. ID 25T, Division/Project 5T25 and Account #96320, in the amount of Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents (85,000.00) for the purpose set forth herein.
4. A copy of the Comptroller's Certification shall be filed in the Office of the City Clerk along with this Resolution by the Corporation Counsel.
5. The Corporation Counsel shall file a fully executed copy of the Settlement Agreement and Release in the Office of the City Clerk.
6. This Resolution shall be effective upon adoption in accordance with applicable State Law.
7. The Settlement Agreement and Release and Resolution does not admit, nor should it be construed as an admission of liability or violation of any law, statute or regulation or a breach of any duty by the City of Newark, its agents, officers and/or employees whatsoever and is entered into based upon recommendations of the Corporation Counsel and to eliminate all risks and future litigation costs.
STATEMENT
This Resolution authorizes the Corporation Counsel on behalf of the City of Newark to enter into a Settlement Agreement and Release to settle civil litigation captioned "Zarifa Wilson v. City of Newark", ESX-L-001627-21 in the amount of Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents (85,000.00) in exchange for Plaintiff's dismissal of any and all claims against the City of Newark and its employees, and a complete release.