HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 5015-1969 RESOLUTION NO. 5015
A RESOLUTION REGARDING WESTERN PIPE LINE CASES
PREAMBLE:
City of SQu~h San Franc.i~co,
1. a munlclPaA corporanlon , hereafter
called entity, has previously authorized the Attorney
General of the State of California to institute on its
behalf one or more law suits under the Federal Antitrust
Laws which law suits were in fact filed against defendants
,
United States Steel Corporation, Smith-Scott Company, Inc.,
Kaiser Steel Corporation, United States Industries, Martin-
Marietta Corporat ion, United Concrete P~pe Corporation,
and American Pipe and Construction Co.
?. Pursuant to court orders, similar actions
brought by the Federal Government and other plaintiffs in
the States of California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii
were all coordinated before a single Federal District
Court Judge.
3. In 1967 the actions against all defendants,
with the exception of American Pipe and Construction Co.,
were settled and compromised on a lump sum basis, the pro-
ceeds being distributed amongst the various plaintiffs
pursuant to an agreement, all of which was duly approved
and rstif~.ed by entity ano approved by the Court.
4. A condition of the acceptance of said partial
settlement by certain plaintiffs not represented by the
Attorney General of the State of California was an agree-
ment by and between the plaintiffs concerning the conduct
of the litigation still remaining against, and the
allocation among plaintiffs of the expected recovery from
defendant American. This agreement known to plaintiffs
as the Western Associated Pipe Plaintiffs Organization
I ·
Compact provides, among other things, for (a) common
sharing of expenses; (b) the retention of a lead
counsel to prosecute and try all cases against the
remaining defendant American Pipe and Construction
Co. under the supervision of an Executive Committee
of the plaintiffs party to the compact; and (c) the
distribution of any v~covery against American to
all plaintiffs proportionately to their verified
transactions w~_th American over the fourteen year
period 1950 through 1963.
5. On July 14, 1967, the Attorney General
of the State of California entered into such Compact,
hereinafter called WA?FO, on behalf of entity. Since
then, the agreements embodied in the WAP?0 Compact have
been and are being carried out with the Attorney General
of California as chairman of its Executive Committee.
6. Plaintiffs' counsel, acting through their
Executive Committee and lead counsel, have now negotiated
and reached agreement on the terms of a settlement and
compromise of the litigation with defendant American
Pipe and Construction Co., the terms of which are more
fully set out in the attached document entitled "MEMORANDUM
OF UNDERSTANDING FOR SETTLEMENT OF WEST COAST PIPE CASES
BETWEEN ALL PLAINTIFFS AND AMERICAN PIPE AND CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY".
7. Such Memorandum of Understanding provides
for payment by American to all plaintiffs of the lump
sum amount of eight million five hundred thousand
dollars ($8,500,000) over a period of seven years
with interest.
/
NOW BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
A.
The MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR SETTLEMENT
OF WEST COAST PIPE CASES BETWEEN ALL PLAINTIFFS AND
AM~Ri0AN Pi?~ AND 00N~TRU0~ION ~0MPANY and ~he Western
Associated Pipe Plaintiffs Organization Compact, copies
of which are attached hereto as Exhibits "I" and "III",
respectively, are hereby adopted, ratified and confirmed.
B.
The Mayor of entity is
hereby authorized to sign the release of claims against
the defendant and attached hereto as Exhibit "II" as the
official act of entity.
C.
The Attorney General of the State of California
is hereby authorized by entity to enter into a stipulation
dismissing this litigation with prejudice and without
costs and to take any and all other action which may be
required of this entity in order to effectuate and con-
summate the compromise and settlement provided for in said
Memorandum of Understanding and distribute any monies
received from defendant American Pipe and Construction Co.
in accordance with said WAPPO Compact.
Adopted this 6th day of January , 196_~9.
Frank//J. Bertucelli
//"- ~o Mayor
Arthur A. Rodondi City Clerk
·
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was
regularly introduced and adopted by the City Council of the
City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting
held on the 6th day of January , 1969 ,
by the following vote:
AYES, COUNCILMEN Frank j. Bertucelli, Patrick E. Ahem, Andrew
Rocca and Warren Steinkamp
NOES, " None
ABSENT, " F. Frank Mammini
ATTEST'
eput¥ City Cl~erk '
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR SETTLE~NT OF WEST COAST PiPE
CASES BETWEEN ALL PLAINTIFFS AND AMERICAN PIPE AND CONSTRUCTION
CO~fPANY ,
Parties'
The parties to this memorandum of under§tanding are the.
Western A~sociation of Pipe Plaintiffs' Organization, hereafter
referred tO as "WAPPO", and American Pipe and Construction
Company, hereafter referred to as "American."
Amount to be Paid:
American agrees to pay to the fiscal agent designated by
·
WAPPO the sum of eight million five hundred thousand dollars
($8,500,000) payable as follows, to wit:
The sum of one million two hundred fifteen thousand two
hundred dollars ($1,215,200) on or before January 1, 1969, to
the fiscal agent designated by WAPPO which said sum shall be
placed in either an interest-bearing savings account or in the
purchase of a certificate of deposit at the option of WAPPO and
which is to be returned to American in the event of a failure
to consummate this settlement ~ithin nine months of the date
hereof. Said fiscal agent shall not'distribute the sum of one
million two hundred fifteen thousand two hundred dollars
($1,2i5,200) to.the plaintiffs .until the fiscal agent has received
certified copies of the orders of dismissal of all WAPPO Pipe Cass%s.
American further agrees on or befor~ January 1, 1969 to
deliver to sai~ fiscal agent its promissory note in the sum of
seven ~.~illlon two hundred eight-four thousand eight hundred
dollars ($7,284,800) payable to the order of said fiscal agent
at it~ address in instalIments as shown on Exhibit "A" and bearing
intere~t.at the rate of five percent (5%).per annum on the
declining balances of.said note, said interest to be payable at
o
EXHIBIT I,'p. 1 of 5
the same time principal payments are required to be made here-
under. Said note shall further provide that if any interest
is not paid as it becomes due, it shall be added to the principal
and bear a like rate of interest. Said note shall further
provide that if any paymefit of either principal or interest
is not made as it becomes due, the~entire balance of said note
remaining unpaid shall become-and be immediately due and payable.
Said note ~hall also reserve to American the right to make pay-
ments on account of principal or interest in advance of their
due date without penalty. Said note shall further provide
that in the event an action is conm~enced to collect said note
or any part thereof, there shall be added to the judgment for
any principal or interest found by the court to be due such
additional sum by way-of attorneys' fees as to the court having
jurisdiction of said cause shall seem reasonable, said attorneys'
fees to be due on the filing of a complaint. A,v~,~a--~
American by December 16, 196'8 shall provide WAPPO with copies
of any and all agreements o~ amendments thereto with creditors
of Ame::ican which authorizes the performance of this
memorandum of u=derstanding and shall be in form and substance .
satis-~actory to counsel for WAPPO.
American agrees .that it will providd such assistance in
veri;,-~-o- pl'aintiffs' transactions as WAPPO shall from time to
tim~ "~.qui?e.
Ame'~'ican and its attorneys agree that the appeal of a
~axpayc~r against the City' of San Diego shall be dismissed
by Dec~mb~r 16, 1968, and to withdraw .~otions by Ame-zican
=ctacx.~g the validity of WAPPO, selection of special, cot:nsal
by tl-,e 3tate of California, Amat'ican'~ settlefi~ent with
-9
E~iII~',IT I, -- p. 2 of
' · Jill II '
City and County of San Francisco, and all other pending motiOns
and challenges in the Western Pipe Cases.
American and its attorneys agree to execute a covenant in
a form satisfactory to WAPPO covenanting that American and its
attorneys shall not further attack in any manner the validity
of WAPPO and the selection of special couns'el by the State 'of
California.
Each plaintiff that is a signatorY to WAPPO shall release
its claim against American, and special counsel for WAPPO
shall stipulate to dismissal with prejudice and without costs
of its action against American.
Protective Order:
_ -
No person attending the .meeting between counsel on November
20 and 21, 1968 concerning the subject matter of th. is memorandum
.of understanding shall divulge the nature thereof nor of any
of the subjects discussed thereat to any person whose
responsibilities or duties to one or more of the parties herein'
·
d6 not require that he be consulted concerning or informed of
said discussions in order for one or more of said parties to
take action with respect to any of the~ subjects discussed 'on
said dates, and no officer, employee or agent of any of the
parties heret6 shall disclose any of the aforesaid subjects to
·
any other person'whose'responsibilities.or duties to one or
more of the parties d6 not require such other person to have
knowledge of such subjects in order for one. or more of said
·
parties to take action with respect thereto, until'
Dece~ber 2, 1968, or one day following disr~issal of the
jury in the trial of Washington public'Power S~stem Supply
v. American, whichever is later.
Consu~nation of Settlement:
The settlement herein zefarred to resulted from discussions
between counsel for plaintiffs and American in proceedings
EX~IBIT I -3- p. 3 of 5
-.
before the Honorable Martin Pence concluded on Nove~?.bsr 2]., 1968
in San Diego, Cal±fornia
·
Counsel for the parties hereto each agree to recommend in
good faith, without qualification, and ~:it, h full measure of
support, the settlement set forth herein to their respective
client or clients, it being undergtood that ratification by
such clients is necessary. .
In consideration of the payment of the settlement amount
set forth in this memorandum of understanding, plaintiffs
shall deliver to American duly executed releases and stipulations
to dismiss as ~ooove provided, together with duly adopted and
certified resolutions or equivalent documents ratifying and
confirming this settlement.
American agrees to furnish WAPPO with certified copies of
the resolution of Amez~ican Pipe and' Construction Company's
boan~d of directors, and certified copies of the resolution of
Pipe Linings, Inc. (the latter concerning the City of San
Diego litigation) authorizing American's officers aid attorneys
·
to make this settlement.
The documents =eferred to shall be in such form as. shall be
agreed to between WAPPO and D~-aerican.
Execution of this Memorandum:
This memorandum of understanding may-be executed in any
·
number of counterparts with like effect as if all signatures
~ere ~)h the Original'
DATED- November 21, 1968.
:!· 0:~ WA~ PO: FOR X~:~-,'£C,2~:: ' ~ '
'i Wm. H. ~erguson ;t., Geo~g.a W.,,'jansen
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~:' · ' ..-. ,.. - ...... /.'. ,2.)': .... / . .... ,'
:: / ' ..' ,' · .......... : ...... '.-' ./ ,, / . ~ k.... .' .,...
: . ~ , _.- . ' ,--- ... 't / ._._ , ' , ......
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" / ~ .... "~ ".~ '"' ~' ~ ' ' /."~"v' ' "'~ ' '~ ......
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'1 'ill[
PAY~F£NT SCHEDULE (NOT iNCLUDING INTEREST)
January 1, 1969
April 1, 1969
July 1, 1969
October 1, 1969
January 1, 1970
April 1, 1970
July 1, 1970
January 1, 1971
July 1, 1971
january 1, 1972
july 1, 1972
January~l,' 1973
july 1, 1973
January I, 1974
July 1, 1974
January 1, 1975
Total
$1,2].5,200
505,800
505,8OO
505,800
, 505,800
505,8O0
505,800
472,300
472,300'
472,300
472,300
472,300
472,300
472,300
472,300
471,600
$8,500,000
EXHIBIT I
p..5 of 5
'1 '{i~ I[ '
RELEASE OF AMERICAN PIPE & CONSTRUCTION CO.
1. This release is executed in favor of and for
the benefit of American Pipe & Construction Co., a California
corporation, together with its subsidiary and affiliated
companies and the present and former officers, directors,
employees and agents of American Pipe & Construction Co. and
its subsidiary and affiliated companies, including successors
by merger, the heirs, representatives, executors, adminis-
trators, successors and assigns thereof (hereinafter designated
as "American").
2. This release is executed by the City of
South San Francisco, a municipal corporation,
hereinafter designated as "Releasor".
3. This release concerns and relates to the
following products and services manufactured or supplied
by American: concrete or steel pipe or any other products
or services associated with the construction of pipelines
and other installations utilizing concrete ' or steel pipe,
including by way of illustration only and without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the lining or coating of
new pipe, the rehabilitation of used pipe, both in place
and elsewhere, pipe lining materials such as "Amerplate,"
either separately or as a constituent part of pipe manu-
factured by American or others, and "specials" such as
manhole pipe and fittings manufactured, sold by or supplied
by American (hereinafter designated "pipe products").
4. The period of time covered by this release is
prior to January 1, 1969, but includes nevertheless any
transactions between American and Releasor either directly
i ·
· "ill~
or indirectly which transactions are still pending as of
January l, 1969.
5. For and in consideration of the sum of One
Dollar ($1.00) and other valuable consideration paid by
American to Releasor, the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, Releasor hereby forever releases, discharges
and acquits American of and from each, every and all claims,
controversies, actions, muses of action, obligations or
liabilities of any nature whatsoever, now or hereafter
known, suspected or claimed, which Releasor or any of its
agents ever had, now has or hereafter can, shall or may
have or allege against American based upon allegations of
conspiracy, collusion, monopoly or attempted monopoly, which
might be asserted under the Clayton Act (15 USC, ~ 15 and
26), or under any other state or federal antitrust trade
regulation or similar law giving rights to relief under
the same or similar circumstances; and in connection with
the foregoing only, Releasor expressly waives the provisions
of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California,
rea ding:
"1542. (Certain Claims Not Affected by
General Release.) 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.
6. Releasor warrants that the persons executing
this document on behalf of Releasor are fully authorized
so to do and Releasor makes such warranty in full knowledge
that Releasee has no independent knowledge of the authority
or lack thereof of such persons but is relying upon
Releasor's warranty.
/
·
7. Any claim, action or controversy concerning
this release shall be determined under the laws of the
State of California.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Releasor has caused this
6th ~ day of January
release to be executed this
19 69.
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO,
a municipal corporation
(Full ~ame of ~eleasor)
, Office Mayor
Attesting Wttne ~ '
Office City Clerk
.
WESTERN ASSOCIATED PiPE
·
PLAINTIFFS' COMPACT
1. This Agreement is made and entered into this
l~th day of July , 1967, by and between the parties
set forth on attached Exhibit "A."
Back,round to and Purpose of Compact:
2. The parties have each for some t~me asserted
against defendant American Pipe and Construction Co..~pany
(hereinafter usually called "American"), and otpers in
Federal Court complaints and causes of action alleging
damage occasioned by activities in violation of the federal
antitrust laws.
3. Certain of the parties are also' asserting com-
plaints and causes of action of the same nature against,
American Vitrified Products Co. (hereinafter called "Amvit")
and certain of the parties are asserting complaints and
causes of action of the same nature relating to in-place
pipe rehabilitation against Pipe Linings, Inc., a subsidiary
of defendant American.
4. The parties are in the process of effectuating
an agreement with certain other defendants in the above act.ions
concerning the pipe transactions of said other defendants and
their respective liabilities with respect thereto and reserving
to the parties their causes of action against all other persons,
firms, and corporations, including American, Amvit and Pipe
Linings, Inc.
5. The parties have been and are currently required
by the Courb in their handling, past and present, of this
mass of litigation (hereinafter collectively referred to as
the "Western Pipe Cases" or the "litigation") to
cooperate and to coordinate their respective activities through
a single counsel and an attorneys' steering committee
$
without any assurance of relative trial priority inter se
or of any specific degree of trial consolidation and to
proceed to collective and simultaneous preparation for
trial of all causes pending against American.
6. It further appears from the volume of claims
now asserted against American by the partles~that successful
early trial of only some of said causes and execution of
Judgment thereon could substantially prejudice the
collectibility of other claims of equivalent merit and equity.
7. To achieVe equity and parity of right and
bearing in .mind the ultimate equivalence of the public
interest in all meritorious claims, the parties intend by
this Compact to provide a contractual framework to accomplish,
among other things, t~e following:
(a) Create an organization named and
hereinafter called, "Western Asso-
ciated Pipe Plaintiffs' Organiza-
~tion," or, "WAPPO," which will
equate their diverse interests,
sum their common interests and..
decide on steps to be taken by
the parties in the Western Pipe
Cases;
(b) Crea'te an Executive Commit~ee of
WAPPO to oversee the day-to-day
conduct, of the Western Pipe Cases
by special counsel;
(c) Arrange for the engagement of quali-
fied special counsel to conduct ~he
Western Pipe Cases on ~ day-t6-day
basis until concluded, subject
to the supervision and control of
Executive Committee;
(d) Provide for the financing of the
Western Pipe Cases and the
appointment of a Financial Committee
composed of two trustees to handle
and administer all financial provisions
of this Compact;
(e) Provide for the distribution of pro-
ceeds realized from the Western Pipe
Cases among the parties on a pro rata
basis in accord with the verified dollar
magnitude of each party's claim;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing
promises, recitals, objectives and purposes, and fo~ other
valuable consideration, the parties hereto mutually agree,
as follows:
WAPPO: Organization, Membersht~p, Powers and Duties,
_Voting, Procedures, Activities, Miscellaneous
8. There is hereby created t~e Western Associated
Pipe Plaintiffs' Organization (wAPPO), whose membership
shall consist of each party to this Compact and each of
which parties shall be represented in WAPPO activities bY
and act through a representative who is an attorney. This
attorney may represent more than one party. (A party may
designate alternate representatives.) Each party hereby
delegates to its representative all necessary authority,
subject to reasonable reports, to carry out Compact, except
as to those matters expressly requlrlng party governing
·
body action.
9. WAPP0 shall meet on the call, reasonably .
noticed, of Executive Committee, special counsel, or of
35% of the votes of WAPP0 members evaluated by the formal
(transaction basis) vote prescribed herein.
lO. Voting at WAPP0 Meetings:
(a) Unless any representative requests
a formal transaction basis vote or this Compact elsewhere
so requires, representatives shall each vote on the matter
being considered, each representative to have only one
vote regardless of the number of parties he represents.
This shall be known as the "informal voting basis."
(b) Whenever a representative requests s
formal (transaction basis) vote or this Compact so requires,
the matter in question Shall be determined by formal vote
and formsl vote shall supplant informsl vote on the ssme
matter if occurring at the same WAPPO meeting. In a formal
vote each rel~resentStive's vote shall be weighted to reflect
inter party the % of dollar volume of the parties for whom
the representative votes and represents to all parties' dollar
volume (i.e., 100%) based on pipe acquisition trsnssctions
of the parties from American as determined from the 8-year
verified transaction statements of American (Sept. 1, 1954
- Aug. 31,.1962, inc.) on file with the Bank of America
National Trust and Savings Association in San Francisco in
its capacity ss agent in effectuating the agreements
referred to In paragraph 4, above.
(c) Any representative at any WAPPO meeting
may request either 'an informal or formal vote on any matter
and if the request is seconded the vote shall be taken.
(d) Unless otherwise.specified herein, an
informal vot. e shall be decided by a simple majority of
those present and voting; and a formal vote shall be
decided by 51% of the dollar volume present and voting.
11. Duties of WAPPO Representative:
Each member shall perform such litigation
tasks as are assigned to it by special counsel and/or the
Executive Committee or by majority WA?PO vote. Such tasks
a~e to be distributed as equitably 8s possible.
12, A quorum for WAPPO meet.[ngs shall be 51%
of the dollar value of the 8-year period American verifi-
es tlon statements.
13, The designated WAP?O representatives of the
pst, ties are set forth on Exhibit "A" opposite the name of
the pax, ty represented.
EX'ECUT'I~E COMMITTEE':
Orgsni.z.ation, Membership, Powers and Duties,..
.Vo_t.inK Procedur.e..s, Misce!l.a,n.e.o.us.. ........ . _ . _ _
14. The Executive Committee shell consist of one
WAPPO representative from each of the following parties or
groups of ps~ies: ·
(a) Pacific Northwest
St$$e of C~llfornla
Los Angeles County Flood Control District
(d) City of San Diego
(e) Other California plaintiffs
Such representative may be removed by eithe~ the naming
party or by s 90% forms1 WAPPO vote but the successor shell
be named by the naming ps~ty. A party may voluntarily resign
its right to designate 8 WAPPO Executive Committee represents-
~ive, i~1 which case 8 51% fo~m81 WAPPO vote she11 designate
the suc,leeding naming ps~ty. The members of the Executive
Committee and their alternates are set forth on attached
Exhibit "B." An alternate may vote In the absence of his
principal.
15. The permanent Chairmen of the Executive Committee
shall be the representstlve of the State of California,
16.' The Executive Committee shall meet as needed in
its or its chairman's discretion to csr2y out its duties snd,
in addition, shall meet on c811, reasonably noticed, of
speclsl counsel.
lY. Executive Committee meetings sba11 be limited to
its personnel, their sides 8s needed and the ex officio membe~
who shall be, however, without vote. Said ex officio members
are specie1 counsel, his sides 'as needed and the members of
the Financial Committee estsbllshed by this Compact.
18. Any WAPPO member may (but without vote) attend
~ecutive Committee meetings where his case is under special
consideration or the meeting is with ~epFesentstives of
American snd his case is unde~ special cons:1, derstion.
19. Any WAPP0 member may attend '(but without
vote) any Executive Committee meeting where he is requested
to attend by a committee member, but such reques~ shall be
for cause ..
·
~0..Executive Committee, subject to the terms·
~and conditions of this compact, sha~l have fu~l authority
to supervise and control special counsel in his carrying out
of the day-to-day administration of the ~itigation.~ Execu-
·
rive Committee shall report on its ~ctiv. ity at WAPPO meetings
called as the Iltigatlon sitUation renders~desirab~e. Where
sti~ feasible, WAPPO may review and reverse ExeCutive
Committee dec~sions by majority vote.
~. Representatives of the Executive Committee
may attend such of.~speclal counsel's meetings with rePre-
sentative of defendants as said committee chooses.
22. Voting at Executive Committ'ee Meetings:
A~l Executive Committee matters shall be determined in
Executive Comml'ttee meetings by a slmp~e majority of bhe
m~mbers present, except those matters otherwise treated in
this Compact. A quorum: for Executive Committee meetings
shal! be three members unless the non-appearing members
waive a quorum.
~3. Executive Committee members shal~ be reimbursed
their reasonable travel and living expenses in attending
meetings of the Executive Committee du~y called as provided
in this Compact.
~PECIAL COUNSEL:
Engagement of - Basle Terms;
Powers and Duties.
24. The provisions~f this Comp. act sho~ll control
·
over 6be'provisions 0£~the .contract of ~ngagement of special
e0unsel' and that contract shall so ackn°,~led~e.
25. The Executive Committee shall contract,
behalf of WAPPO for the engagement of special counsel
sistent with the provisions of this Compact.
P-6. Special counsel shall be entitled to be reim-
bursed for expenses incurred in carrying out his duties, as
follows: personal expenses such as transportation, hotel
and living expenses, and the usual expenses of litigation,
such as reporters' fees, deposition costs and handling of
documents may be incurred without prior approval by the
Executive Committee. Extraordinary expenses such as expert
witness fees or the employment of personnel, must be approved
in advance by the Executive Committee. Expenses will be
paid for on a monthly basis based on statements thereof
submitted to and approved by the Executive Committee and
Finance Committee.
27. Special counsel shall receive for his services
his out-of-pocket expenses and 10% of amounts recovered from
American, American Vitrified, and Pipe Linings, Inc. in
concluding all the litigation against said defendants, after
first deducting the out-of-pocket expenses of WAPPO from
such recovery.. These shall include all Joint WAPPO expenses
but not those Of the individual members. Any awards of
attorneys' fees or costs shall be held and distributed by
the Finance Committee in the same manner as are proceeds of
settlement or Judgment.
28. Special counsel shall not receive on account of
his 10% contingent fee more than $500,000 unless and until all
WAPP0 causes of action against said defendants now on file or
subject to a motion to add in the litigation have been terminated.
29. Subject to this Compact, the day-to-day super-
vision and control of Executive Committee and the rendition
of adequate and timely reports to the Executive Committee,
special counsel shall have the duty, responsibility,
.
and authority to condUct the litigation to a final con-
clusion on behalf'of all WAPPO members. Special counsel,
with majority Executive Committee approval, may determine
the trial priority Stance of WAPPO before the. Judiciary.
·
30. Special counsel is not obligated to initiate
and conduct an appeal except as he is directed by the
ExeCutive Committee, but shall be obligated to defend all
appeals.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
· o
Organization; Membership, Powers
and Duties. ·
31. There is hereby created the Finance CoMmittee
· .
of WAPPO, ~compose'd of two individuals, Robert M. Desky, Esq.
and John M. Burnett, Esq., who shall function vis-a-vis
WAPPO as trustees in the matters here set forth. ~ ~
.32. The Finance Committee shall 'be the historical
..
·
successor and heir to the financial administrators of the
Association of Pipe Antitrust'Plaintiffs (APAP), who .. ~
,
arranged for and handled grOup financing of the litigation ·
prior to about July 1, 1967..~ ~'~
33. The Finance Committee shall'arrange for and
handle the funding of future litigation expenses and the
/
payment thereof. Funds for the payment of litigation
expenses will be obtained from the parties comprising WAPPO
bY means of pro rata assessment based upon. the American' 8-
.
year verification statements. Such assessments shall'be
·
proposed by the FinanCe .Committee from time to time in such
amounts'as' may be ne'cessary to provide a' fund for the payment
'of anticipated expenses .of the litigation and shall be
'apProVed by the.members of WAPPO. Each member of WAPPO
..
hereby agrees to Pay approved assessments promptly upon.
demand.
all pla..intiF~s aga. lnst o~e or more defe~dat~ts in the
Western .States Pipe Cases must receive the unanimous re-
commendation of all members of the Executive Committee.
·
37. It is expressly agreed that no party shall
settle any-cause of action referred to herein in which it
is a platntif£ except in accordance with the provisions o£
this Compact. In the event that any settlement is recom-
mended by special counsel and by the Executive Committee
in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph
36, it is agreed on beha. l£ o6 all attorneys of record for
WAPPO members that they, a. nd each of them, will, in good
fa]~th, recommen~_~ approva.! of such settlement to their Public
agencies or superior~ that they represent.
38. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Compact, the governing bodies of the parties hereto
expressly reserve the right to approve or disapprove any
settlement affecting their respective causes of action.
This reservatlon, however, shall not be deemed to affect
the authority delegated by this Compact to WAPPO, the
Executive Committee and special counsel as regards the
day-to-day conduct of the litigation.
Distribution of Proceeds of Settlement and
Judgments Obtained in.the Litigation.
39. All monies recovered and received from de-
fendents American, AmVit and Pipe Lini~]gs, Inc. as the pro-
ceeds of either a settlement negotiated and agreed upon or
a Judgment rendered in the litigatlnn shall be transferred
immmedlately upon receipt to the order of the Finance Com-
mittee for deposit in a state or national bank designated
by said Finance Committee, and shall be distributed as pro-
vided hereinafter.
10.
·
40. .Prp,c.egds_.: ~Pr.lority of Distribution. All
proceeds received by the Finance Committee shall be dis-
bursed according to the following priorities:
(a) Fees of a bank, if any, serving ss 8
depository, or 8Kent for payment.
(b) Other expenses of distribution.
(c) Reimbursement of all plaintiffs for the
lltlgation expenses advanced or paid by them to WAPPO pursuant
to assessments dul.¥ made in accordance with this Compact.
(d) Payment to special counsel of the fees
and expenses authorized in accordance with this Compact.
(e) The balance of the proceeds as provided
in paragraph
41. Proceeds: Distribution of recoveries from
defendant American .and .P_.tpe Linings, Inc. After payment of the
expenses referred to in the preceding par@graph, the balance
of the proceeds (hereinafter referred to as "net proceeds")
received from defendants American and Pipe Linings, Inc.,
whether by settleme~.t or Judgment in 8ny cause of action
in the Western Pipe Cases shall be distributed among 811
the parties to this Compact in proportion to the dollar
value that each party's pipe acquisition transactions from
American bears to the total transactions of all the parties,
using the trsnsactlon verification statements of American
for the 8-year period referred to in paragraph 10(b), above,
. .
as supplemented by the addltional transaction verifications
required by court order of American for the periods January 1,
1950 through August 31, 1954, inclusive, and September 1,
1962 through December 31, 1963, inclusive, the aggregate of
811 such periods being referred to herein ss "the 13-year
period." Additionally, pipe rehabilitation transactions of
11.
the City and County of San Francisco to a maximum of $3
million, and of t[le City of San Diego to a maximum of $1.25
million, .i.f said entities or either of them are pa~tie.s to
this Compact, will share.in the distribution of the ne~
proceeds that are tile subject of this paragraph on the
basis of 50~ of the amounts of such transactions as verified
by American or Pipe Linings, Inc. within the said 13-year
period.
~2. Proceeds: Distribution of recoveries from
Amvtt: All net proceeds, as defined herein, of the lltl-
gation received from defendant Amvit~ whether by settlement
·
or ~udgment, shall be distributed exclusively to the party
or parties who have specifically asserted complaints and
causes of action against sa~c] de£end~nt, in proportion to
the dollar value of ~he pipe acquJ, sition transaction of
each such party, determined or verified in such manner as
·
may be agreed in wrl~ing by all of.said parties participating
in this distribution.
~3. Proceeds: Partial distribution. No partial
or interim distribution of proceeds of any settlement or
~udgment or any combination thereof shall be made except by
formal 75~ vote of the parties to this Compact. No such
partial or interim distribution shall be made or cklculated
un~il the parties shall have been z'eimbursed in the amount
of the assessments previously paid to the Finance Committee
for litigation expenses and until after special counsel fees
and other major litigation expenses then due and owing shall
have been 'paid, or ~eserve for such pa. yraents has been set
·
aside. The sum of a'll partial or interim distribution of
neb proceeds, as defined herein, shall no~ exceed $5 million.
Part payments on account of sp,3cial counsels' fees should
be made as requested, based upon the cas}] received and
12.
available for such payments, having in mind t,,he priority
of payments specified in paragraph ;-~0 above. In no event
shall a tot, al of more than $500,000 be paid special counsel
until the termination of this l~tigatton when all balances
due shall, be pa id.
44. Proceeds: Extraordinary and final distribution.
Distribution of proceeds not accounted for by paragraph 43
above, shall be made only upon a 90~.formal vote at a WAPPO
meeting, especially called to consider extraordinary or
final distrlbut~_on. Prior to any final distribution meeting,
the Finance Committee shall take ali. steps necessary to
arrange for the payment of all WAPPO obligations and the
winding up of its fiscal affairs. Upon the completion of
final distribution of all proceeds of the litigation and the
rendering of its final report by the Ftna.~]ce Committee, WAPPO
and this Compact shall terminate.
45. Execution: Th~s Compact may ~e executed in
counterpart by the parties thereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
these presents to be subscribed by their representatives duly
empowered so to do as of the day, month, and year heretnabove
first written by subscribing these presents on the spaces
provided on attached Exhibit "h," which is hereby made a
part hereof.
13.
34. The Finance Committee is authorized to make
suitable arrangements for the safekeeping of all funds
received by them or subject to their order and to engage,
at WAPPO expense, clerical personnel as required in carrying
out their duties hereunder.
B5. The Finance Committee shall handle all financial
dealings with special counsel and the Executive Committee,
the payment of expenses and all other financial aspects of
the litigation. The Finance Committee shall make the aecessary
arrangements for and shall oversee the distribution of
proceeds of all recoveries contemplated herein.
Authority to' Negotiate Settlements, to
Recommend Approval of Settlements, to
Approve Settlements.
36. Except as hereinafter provided, special counsel
shall only be authorized to effect a negotiated settlement
of any cause or causes of action upon unanimous recommendation
of all members of the Executive Committee. In the event that
settlement of one or more causes of action, but less than
all, is to be negotiated, the re'commendation of the attorney
or attorneys of record for the plaintiff or plaintiffs
involved sh~ll also be secured. With respect to any case,
however, which is in the course of trial (i.e., called for
trial by the clerk and on which hearings are currently pro-
ceeding prior to verdict, or in the instance of a court trial,
prior to submission of the cause for decision), special counsel
shall be authorized to effect ~ negotiated settlement of the .
case at trial upon the recommendation of three out of five
members of the Executive Committee, provided that under such
circumstances the additional recommendation of the attorney or
attorneys of record for the plaintiff or plaintiffs whose
claims are being tried must also be secured. Notwith-
standing the foregoing provision, however, any settlement
which shall constitute a settlement of the claims of
e