Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01696/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01696-21/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

CHRISTOPHER SLAIGHT, ET AL., 

Plaintiffs, 

vs. 

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES, LTD, 

Defendant.

CASE NO. 15-cv-01696-YGR 

ORDER RE: PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE 

MOTIONS

Re: Dkt. Nos. 506, 507, 508 

The Court has received and reviewed the administrative motions filed by defendant Tata 

Consultancy Services, Ltd (“TCS”) (Dkt. Nos. 506, 507) and by plaintiffs (Dkt. No. 508). 

With respect to TCS’s administrative motion requesting telephone hearing regarding 

depositions of recently-identified witnesses (Dkt. No. 506), the Court CLARIFIES that during the 

September 21, 2018, the Court did not “rule[] that TCS would be allowed to depose such newlyidentified persons” (Dkt. No. 506 at 1), but only provided guidance in light of parties’ thenupcoming meet-and-confer session. Given the parties agreement, which the Court supports, the 

Court now ORDERS that the depositions of the newly-identified witnesses shall last no longer than 

four (4) hours. 

Regarding plaintiffs’ administrative motion (Dkt. No. 508), the Court CLARIFIES that its 

September 10, 2018 order requires return of severance payment as a condition to participate in the 

instant class action. Plaintiffs have not presented newly discovered evidence, shown that the 

Court committed a clear error, or pointed to an intervening change in the controlling law. Kona 

Enters, Inc. v. Estate of Bishop, 229 F.3d 877, 890 (9th Cir. 2000). Plaintiffs’ reiteration of their 

arguments in support of their initial motion to invalidate the release agreements do not warrant this 

“extraordinary remedy, to be used sparingly in the interests of finality and conservation of judicial 

resources.” Id. Accordingly, the Court DENIES plaintiffs’ request for leave to file a motion for 

Case 4:15-cv-01696-YGR Document 511 Filed 09/27/18 Page 1 of 4
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reconsideration of the Court’s September 10, 2018 order. 

With respect to TCS’s administrative motion requesting telephonic hearing regarding 

update to corrective notice (Dkt. No. 507), the Court GRANTS IN PART defendant’s request to 

update the previously-issued corrective notice. The Court has reviewed and revised the proposed 

update notice, attached herein as Exhibit A. The Court believes the revisions provide the best 

practicable approach under the circumstances as to protect the effected class members. A redlined 

editable version of the proposed update notice will be sent as a courtesy via email to counsel of 

record. The Court will discuss the revisions to the proposed update notice during the telephone 

conference currently scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday October 1, 2018 unless the parties jointly 

agree to this approach in advance, in which case, the revised notice may be issued. Additionally, 

as noted during the September 21, 2018 telephone conference, the parties should be prepared to 

discuss their progress with respect to the deadlines articulated in the Court’s Pretrial Orders No. 1 

and 2, found at Docket Numbers 431 and 495. 

This Order terminates Docket Numbers 506, 507, and 508. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: September 27, 2018 

 YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Case 4:15-cv-01696-YGR Document 511 Filed 09/27/18 Page 2 of 4
EXHIBIT A 

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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

 OAKLAND DIVISION 

CHRISTOPHER SLAIGHT, ET AL., 

Plaintiffs, 

vs. 

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES, LTD, 

Defendant.

CASE NO. 15-cv-01696-YGR 

CLASS ACTION 

UPDATE REGARDING CORRECTIVE NOTICE 

TO CLASS MEMBERS

TO: ALL POTENTIAL CLASS MEMBERS WHO SIGNED SEPARATION AND 

RELEASE AGREEMENTS WITH TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES, LTD. (“TCS”): 

You are receiving this notice because you are a potential class member in the class action 

lawsuit Slaight, et al. v. Tata Consultancy Services, Ltd., No. 4:15-cv-1696-YGR. The class in 

this lawsuit is defined as “All individuals who are not of South Asian race or Indian national 

origin who were employed by TCS in the United States, were subject to a policy or practice of 

benching and allocation, were placed in an unallocated status and were terminated between April 

14, 2011 and December 27, 2017 and who are not bound by an arbitration agreement with TCS.” 

You may or may not be part of this class. 

Records produced in the case indicate that you signed a Separation and Release Agreement 

(“Release Agreement”) with TCS agreeing to waive any and all legal claims against TCS in 

exchange for a monetary severance payment. As you were previously notified, the Court has 

found that if you fall under the definition of a class member, you may participate in this lawsuit 

even though you signed a Release Agreement. However, the Court has recently determined 

that if you choose to participate in this lawsuit, you will be obligated to return the settlement 

payment that you received pursuant to the Release Agreement. You have two options: 

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1. Do Nothing: 

If you DO NOTHING and thereby keep the settlement payment you previously received, 

you will be deemed to have opted-out of the Class, you will retain your settlement payment, and 

your Release Agreement will remain in full effect. 

2. Participate and Return Severance: 

You may choose to participate in the lawsuit. To do so, you must contact Class Counsel at 

(202) 922-6148 or ClassCounsel@kotchen by Friday, November 2, 2018 and return the 

severance payment. Because you are returning the severance payment, your Release Agreement 

will be deemed VOID and RESCINDED. 

The Court takes no position in this case as to the parties’ claims and has not issued any 

determinations regarding the merits of the lawsuit. You are being sent this update to the 

previously-issued Corrective Notice to allow you to make an informed choice as to whether you 

wish to participate in the lawsuit in light of your Release Agreement. The decision is yours. 

If you have any questions with respect to this action or about this Corrective Notice, you 

may direct such questions to Class Counsel. They may be contacted at (202) 922-6148 or 

ClassCounsel@kotchen.com. 

YOU SHOULD NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR TCS WITH QUESTIONS. 

THIS NOTICE AND ITS CONTENT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY 

JUDGE YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS, 

U.S. DISTRICT COURT, NOTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA.

Dated: September  2018 

 YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Case 4:15-cv-01696-YGR Document 511 Filed 09/27/18 Page 4 of 4