Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-07272/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-07272-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

---

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Shaun Setareh (SBN 204514) 

 shaun@setarehlaw.com 

William M. Pao (SBN 219846) 

 william@setarehlaw.com 

Alexandra R. McIntosh (SBN 320904) 

 alex@setarehlaw.com 

SETAREH LAW GROUP 

315 South Beverly Drive, Suite 315 

Beverly Hills, California 90212 

Telephone (310) 888-7771 

Facsimile (310) 888-0109 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

THEODORE A. EMETOH 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

OAKLAND DIVISION 

THEODORE A. EMETOH, on behalf of 

himself, all others similarly situated, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

FEDEX FREIGHT, INC., an Arkansas 

corporation; and DOES 1 through 50, 

inclusive, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 3:17-cv-07272-YGR 

Assigned For All Purposes To The Honorable 

Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, Courtroom 8 1 

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING 

AMENDED MOTION FOR 

PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS 

ACTION SETTLEMENT 

*As Modified by the Court*

Re: Dkt. No. 74 

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 1 of 84
1

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

[PROPOSED] ORDER 

Plaintiff Theodore A. Emetoh’s (“Plaintiff”) Amended Motion for Preliminary Approval 

of Class Action Settlement came on regularly for hearing before the Honorable Yvonne Gonzalez

Rogers. 

After full consideration of all the materials filed in support of the Amended Motion, 

including the First Amended Joint Stipulation of Settlement and Release, and GOOD CAUSE

APPEARING THEREFROM, the Court makes the following findings and orders: 

1. The Court GRANTS preliminary approval of the settlement pursuant to Fed. R. Civ.

Proc. 23 based upon the terms set forth in the First Amended Joint Stipulation of

Settlement and Release (“Amended Settlement and Release Agreement”) attached to

the Declaration of Shaun Setareh in support of Plaintiff’s First Amended Motion for

Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement and Certification of Settlement

Class. (Dkt. Nos. 75, 75-1; Dkt. No. 75-1 attached hereto as Exhibit 1.)

2. The settlement as proposed through the Amended Motion and Amended Settlement

and Release Agreement appears to be fair and reasonable and to provide significant

benefit to the Settlement Classes.

3. The settlement was reached through good faith and arm’s length negotiation with the

assistance of an experienced mediator.

4. Named Plaintiff Theodore A. Emetoh is a suitable class representative and is

appointed as the Class Representative for the settlement class.

5. Named Plaintiff’s counsel, Shaun Setareh and William M. Pao of the Setareh Law

Group, is experienced in matters of this nature and is appointed as Class Counsel for

the settlement class.

6. The proposed settlement class defined in the settlement is provisionally certified for

purposes of the settlement only.

7. The notice provision in the settlement is constitutionally sound because individual

notices will be mailed to all class members whose identities are known to the parties,

and such notice is the best notice practicable under Federal Rule 23(c)(2). The 

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 2 of 84
2

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

proposed Notice of Class Action Settlement (Declaration of Shaun Setareh in support 

of Plaintiff’s First Amended Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action 

Settlement and Certification of Settlement Class, Exh. C, Dkt. No. 75-1 at 66-75; 

attached hereto as Exhibit ) is sufficient to inform Class Members of the terms of 

the settlement, their rights under the settlement, their rights to object to the 

settlement, their rights to dispute their number of workweeks, and their rights to elect 

not to participate in the settlement; the processes for doing so; and the date and 

location of the final approval hearing, and are therefore approved. 

8. A Final Approval Hearing on the question of whether the proposed settlement,

attorneys’ fees and costs to Class Counsel, payment to the Labor & Workforce

Development Agency, and the Named Plaintiffs’ enhancement awards should be

finally approved as fair, reasonable, and adequate as to the members of the Class is

scheduled in Courtroom 8 1 of this Court on July 21, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

9. The Court approves, as to form and content, the Notice of Class Action Settlement, in

substantially the form attached to the Declaration of Shaun Setareh in support of

Plaintiff’s First Amended Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action

Settlement and Certification of Settlement Class as Exhibit C. (Dkt. No. 75-1 at

66-75; attached hereto as Exhibit .) The Court approves the procedure for

settlement class members to participate in, to opt out of, and to object to, the

settlement as set forth in the Class Notice.

10. The Court directs the mailing of the Class Notice Packet to all settlement class

members by First-Class Mail.

11. To facilitate administration of the settlement pending final approval, the Court hereby

enjoins plaintiffs and all settlement class members from filing or prosecuting any

claims, suits or administrative proceedings (including filing claims with the Division

of Labor Standards Enforcement of the California Department of Industrial

Relations) regarding claims released by the settlements unless and until such

settlement class members have filed valid written requests for exclusion with the

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 3 of 84
3

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Settlement Administrator and the time for filing claims with the Settlement 

Administrator has elapsed. 

12. The Court orders the following Implementation Schedule for further proceedings:

a. Deadline for Defendants to submit Settlement Class Member contact

information to Settlement Administrator: Monday, March 16, 2020 [30 days

after preliminary approval].

b. Deadline for Settlement Administrator to mail the Class Notice Packet to

Settlement Class Members: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 [40 days after

preliminary approval].

c. Deadline for Settlement Class Members to postmark Requests for Exclusion,

Objection to settlement and disputes regarding the number of workweeks:

Monday, May 11, 2020 [45 days after mailing of Class Notice Packet]

d. Deadline for Class Counsel to file Motion for Final Approval of Class Action

Settlements: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 [30 days before the Final Fairness and 

Approval Hearing]

e. Final Fairness and Approval Hearing: July 21, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

13. The Court retains jurisdiction over the parties to enforce the terms of the judgment. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: February 14, 2020

YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 4 of 84
EXHIBIT 1

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 5 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

22

23

25

26

27

28

SHAUN SETAREH, Bar No. 204514

shaun a)setarehlaw. com

WILLIAM PAO, Bar No. 219846

william a^setarehlaw. com

ALEXANDRA MCINTOSH, Bar No. 320904

alex a)setarehlaw. com

SETAREH LAW GROUP

315 S. BeverlyDr., Suite 315

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Telephone: 310. 888-7771

Facsimile: 310. 888-0109

Attorneys for Plaintiff

THEODORE A. EMETOH

KEITH A. JACOBY, Bar No. 150233

k'acob littler. com

LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C.

2049 Century Park East, 5th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067.3107

Telephone: 310. 553-0308

Facsimile: 310. 553-5583

SOPHIA BEHNIA, Bar No. 2893 18

sbehnia littler. com

LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C.

333 Bush Street, 34th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

Telephone: 415.433-1940

Facsimile: 415.399-8490

Additional counsel on next page

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

THEODORE A. EMETOH, on behalf of

^ himself, all others similarly situated,

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff,

V.

24 FEDEX FREIGHT, INC. an Arkansas

corporation; and DOES 1 through 50, inclusive,

Case No. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

CLASS ACTION

FIRST AMENDED JOINT

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

Defendant.

LITTL^cM.ENDE^SlNip'c' FIRST AMENDED JOINT

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

5th Floor

Los Angeles. CA 90067. 3*07

310. 553. C3aB

CASE NO.: 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 6 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

LINDA NGUYEN BOLLINGER, Bar No. 289515

Ibollin er littler. com

LITTLER MENDELSON, P. C.

50 West San Fernanda Street, 7th Floor

San Jose, CA 95113

Telephone: 408. 998-4150

Facsimile: 408.288-5686

SANDRA C. ISOM, Bar No. 157374

scisom fedex.com

FEDEX FREIGHT, INC.

1715 Aaron Brenner Drive, Ste. 600

Memphis, TN 3 8120

Telephone: 901.434-8526

Facsimile: 901. 468-1726

Attorneys for Defendant

FEDEX FREIGHT, INC.

UTTL^. cME,N,DE, ^ZN.i 

p-c- FIRSTAMENDED JOINT

,'.^5?HL^',., STIPULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

5th Flc

Los Angeles, CA 9CDG7. 3107

il0. 553. 030a

CASE NO.: 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 7 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 This Joint Stipulation of Settlement and Release ("Agreement") is made and entered into

2 between Plaintiff Theodore A. Emetoh ("Plaintiff or "Class Representative"), individually and on

3 behalf of all others similarly situated, including current and former alleged aggrieved employees,

4 ("Class Members") and Defendant FedEx Freight, Inc. ("Defendant" or "FedEx") (collectively, the

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

"Parties").

1. DEFINITIONS.

The following terms, when used in this Agreement, have the following meanings:

1. 1 "Action" means the above stated action Theodore A. Emetoh v. FedEx Freight, Inc.,

Case No. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR, currently pending in United States District Court for the Northern

District of California.

1.2 "Agreement" means this Joint Stipulation of Settlement and Release, which includes

the PAGA Settlement, except where noted.

1. 3 "Claim Amount" means an individual Class Member's potential allocation of the Net

Settlement Amount, as defined in Section 1.22.

1.4 "Class" or "Class Member(s)" means all persons who have worked for Defendant as

non-exempt, hourly-paid Road Drivers, City Drivers, or Driver Apprentices in California at any time

during the Class Period. There are approximately 3,020 Class Members.

1. 5 "Class Counsel" means Shaun Setareh, William Pao, and Alexandra Mclntosh of the

Setareh Law Group.

1. 6 "Class Period" means from November 14, 2013 through the date of Preliminary

Approval, except that for Road Drivers, the settlement class period for all but the cell phone

Sth Floor

Loa Angeles. CA S3QB7. 310T

310. 553. C30a

21 reimbursement claim begins on January 1, 2016.

22 1.7 "Class Representative" is Plaintiff Theodore A. Emetoh.

23 1. 8 "Class Representative's Released Claims" means any and all claims, obligations,

24 demands, actions, rights, causes of action, and liabilities, against the Released Parties (as defined in

25 Section 1. 35), of whatever kind and nature, character, and description, whether in law or equity,

26 whether sounding in tort, contract, federal, state and/or local law, statute, ordinance, regulation,

27 common law, or other source of law, whether known or unknown, and whether anticipated or

28 unanticipated, including unknown claims covered by California Civil Code § 1542, as quoted in

CASE NO.: 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

LITTL^ SEi.s0^ f'c- FIRST AMENDED JOINT

^^!^1. STIPULATK)N OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 8 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 Section 1. 34, by the Class Representative, arising from the beginning of time to the date of signing of

2 this Agreement, for any type of relief that can be released as a matter of law, including, without

3 limitation, claims for wages, damages, unpaid costs, penalties (including civil and waiting time

4 penalties), liquidated damages, punitive damages, interest, attorneys' fees, litigation costs, and

5 restitution or equitable relief. The Class Representative's Released Claims exclude his claims pending

6 in Theodore Emetoh, an individual v. FedEx Freight, Inc., an Arkansas corporation; and DOES 1

7 through 50, inclusive, pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of

8 California, Case No. 3:18-cv-02898-CRB, claims for workers' compensation or unemployment

9 insurance benefits, or any claims which cannot be released as a matter of law (the "Excluded Claims").

1.9 "Complaint" means the Second Amended Class Action Complaint filed with this Court

by Plaintiff on August 16, 2018 attached hereto as Exhibit A, and incorporated herein by reference.

1. 10 "Court" means the United States District Coiirt for the Northern District of California.

1. 11 "Data" are the Class Members' dates of employment and number of Workweeks as a

Class Member during the Class Period, as determined by Defendant's business records.

1. 12 "Data Dispute" is a Class Member's challenge to their dates of employment or number

of Workweeks set forth in the Data Dispute Form in their Notice Packet.

1. 13 "Data Dispute Deadline" shall mean forty-five (45) calendar days from the mitial

mailing of the Notice Packet. This is also the deadline for exclusions and objections to the Agreement.

1. 14 "Data Dispute Form" shall mean the document substantially in the fonn attached hereto

as Exhibit B.

1. 15 "Defendant" shall mean FedEx Freight, Inc.

1. 16 "Defendant's Counsel" means Keith A. Jacoby, Sophia Behma, and Linda N. Bollinger

ofLittler Mendelson, P.C., and Sandra C. Isom ofFedEx Freight, Inc.

1. 17 "Enhancement Payment" means the amount approved by the Court to be paid to the

Class Representative, not to exceed $7, 500. 00, in addition to his Claim Amount as a Qualified

25 Claimant, in recognition of his efforts in coming forward as a Class Representative. The Enhancement

26 Payment shall be considered non-wages for which an appropriate IRS Form 1099 will be issued to the

27 Class Representative.

10

11

12

13

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

28

LITTL,E.R. cME,NSEp^^,i 

p'c- FIRSTAMENDED JOINT

..T.31H1"",., sTipuLA'iToNOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

511) Floor

igeles, CA 90067. 3107

310. 5S3. 3308

4. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 9 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1. 18 "Final Approval Date" means the latest of the following dates: (i) if nd Class Member

intervenes or files an objection to the Agreement on or prior to the Court entering an order granting

final approval of the Agreement, then the day after the Final Judgment becomes final (meaning the

expiration of the deadline to seek any type of appellate review); (ii) if there is an objection to the

Agreement by a Class Member, or a Class Member intervenes, on or prior to the date the Court enters

an order granting final approval of the Agreement, then on the date affinal resolution of that objection

or the exhaustion of any appellate rights of that objector or any intervener, resulting in final judicial

approval of the Agreement, and entry of a non-reviewable judgment; or (iii) if an appeal, review or

writ is sought fi-om the judgment, the day after the judgment is affirmed or the appeal, review or writ

is dismissed or denied, and the judgment is no longer subject to further judicial review.

1. 19 "Final Approval and Fairness Hearing" means the hearing set by the Court to (a) review

the Agreement and determine whether the Court should give final approval, (b) consider any timely

objections made pursuant to Section 6.5.7 of this Agreement, and all responses by the Parties, (c)

consider the request for attorneys' fees and expenses submitted by Class Counsel, (d) consider the

Settlement Administrator's Settlement Administration Costs, and (e) consider the Class

Representative's application for an Enhancement Payment.

1.20 "Final Judgment" shall mean the order granting final approval of the Agreement and

final judgment entered by the Court. The Final Judgment shall constitute a final judgment of the PAGA

Settlement for purpose of enforcing the rule announced in Arias v. Superior Court of San Joaquin

County (Dairy), 46 Cal.4th 969 (2009).

1. 21 "Gross Settlement Amount" is the sum of Three Million Two Hundred and Fifty

Thousand U. S. Dollars ($3,250, 000.00), which represents the total amount payable to the Settlement

Administrator to be held in tmst in the Qualified Settlement Fund for this Agreement by Defendant,

and includes without limitation the Settlement Administration Costs, attorneys' fees, litigation costs,

the Class Representative Enhancement Payment, and the PAGA Payment. The Gross Settlement

Amount is exclusive of the employer's share of payroll taxes.

1.22 "Net Settlement Amount" is the remaining portion of the Gross Settlement Amount

available for distribution to Qualified Claimants aflter deduction of Court approved attorneys' fees and

CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

LITTL,ER. Sf-S, p c' FIRST AMENDED JOINT .

L.a<",3HLE^',., STIPULATTONOF SETTLEMENT

-3'°s""°° AND RELEASE

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 10 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

litigation costs. Settlement Administration Costs, the Eiihancement Payment to the Class

Representative, and the State of California's portion of the PAGA Payment.

1.23 "Notice of Settlement" means the document substantially in the form attached hereto

as Exhibit C.

1.24 "Notice Packet" means the Notice of Settlement and Data Dispute Form.

1.25 "PAGA Payment" means One Hundred and Twelve Thousand Five Hundred U. S.

Dollars ($112, 500. 00) of the Gross Settlement Amount to be allocated to claims under the Private

Attorneys General Act of 2004, which includes Eighty Four Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Five

U. S. Dollars ($84, 375. 00) being awarded to the State of California, subject to Court approval, and

Twenty Eight Thousand One Hundred Twenty Five U. S. Dollars ($28, 125. 00) being awarded to

Qualified Claimants, divided pro-rata based upon the Qualified Claimants' number of Workweeks

during the PAGA Period of November 9, 2016 through the date of Preliminary Approval, by including

that sum in the Net Settlement Amount, subject to Court approval. The Parties acknowledge and agree

that for purposes of PAGA and the Final Judgment, all Class Members were allegedly aggrieved in

the same manner pursuant to Cal. Lab. Code 2698 et seq. in that each Class Member allegedly suffered

at least one violation for which PAGA provides an available remedy. In light of the binding nature of

a PAGA judgment on non-party employees pursuant to Arias v. Superior Court of San Joaquin County

(Dairy), 46 Cal.4th 969 (2009), and Cardenas v. McLane Foodservice, Inc., 2011 WL 379413 at *3

(C.D. Cal. Jan. 31, 201 1), individuals otherwise meeting the definition of Class Members who exclude

themselves from the Class pursuant to Section 6. 5. 3 and were employed during the PAGA Period shall

receive a payment for the amount of each such individual's estimated share of the PAGA Payment

that was included by the Settlement Administrator in calculating the Claim Amount.

1.26 "PAGA Settlement" means the agreement to resolve the PAGA representative action

pursuant to Cal. Lab. 2698 et seq., for which the PAGA Parent provides consideration.

1.27 "Parties" means the Plaintiff and Defendant.

1.28 "Payroll Settlement Check" means the wage portion of the Qualified Claimant's Claim

Amount.

1.29 "Plaintiff is Theodore A. Emetoh.

LITTLER MENDELSON, P. C.

2049 Cenlu'y Park Esal

51h Floor

Los Ange!es, CA 90087. 3107

310. 553. 03CB

FIRST AMENDED JOINT

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

6. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 11 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1 1. 30 "Preliminary Approval Date" means the date the Court approves the Agreement, and

2 the exhibits thereto, and enters an order providing for notice to the Class, an opportunity to opt out of

3 the Class or to submit timely objections to the Agreement (excluding the PAGA Settlement), a

4 procedure for submitting Data Dispute Forms, and setting a hearing on the fairness of the terms of

settlement, including approval of attorneys'1 fees and costs.

1. 31 "Preliminary Approval Order" means the document substantially in the form attached

hereto as Exhibit D. The Parties will jointly request that any order granting preliminary approval not

be entered before December 1, 2019.

1. 32 "QSF" or "Qualified Settlement Fund" means the Qualified Settlement Fund set up by

the Settlement Administrator for the benefit of the Qualified Claimants and from which the settlement

payments shall be made. The QSF shall be an interest-bearing escrow account established by the

Settlement Administrator to hold the Gross Settlement Amount from the time the Defendant deposits

the funds pursuant to Section 6. 11 herein until such funds are fully and fmally distributed. The QSF is

intended to be a Qualified Settlement Fund within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code section 468B

^5 and Treasury Regulation section 1.468B-1, and the Settlement Administrator shall be solely

^ ^ responsible for filing tax returns for the QSF and paying from the QSF any taxes owed with respect to

j-7 same. In addition, the Settlement Admmistrator, and, as required, Defendant, will jointly and timely

^g make the "relation-back election" (as defined in Treasury Regulation 1.468B-1) back to the earliest

19 permitted date. Such elections shall be made in compliance with the procedures and requirements

20 contained in such regulations, provided that Defendant shall not be required to deposit any monies

21 into the QSF before the time set forth in Section 6. 11 It will be the responsibility of the Settlement

22 Administrator to timely and properly prepare and deliver the necessary documentation for signature

23 to all necessary parties, and thereafter cause the appropriate filing to occur. In fhe event it is determined

24 that the QSF is not a Qualified Settlement Fund within the meaning of Treasury Regulation section

25 1.468B-1, any tax liabilities associated with such determination shall be satisfied solely from the QSF

26 without any recourse against Defendant for additional monies.

27

28

LITT^RcMEiN,D^^N.ip'c' FIRST AMENDED JOD^T JZ31H^'l. STIPULAITONOF SETTLEMENT ^^^". "" ANDVRELEASE^ CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 12 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 1. 33 "Qualified Claimant" means any and all Class Members who do not submit a timely

2 and correctly completed request for exclusion, as set forth in Section 6. 5. 3.

3 1. 34 "Released Claims" means any and all claims contained in the Complaint and any

4 additional wage and hour claims that could have been brought by the Plaintiff and the Class Members

5 based on the facts alleged in said Complaint, for the Class Period as defined in Section 1.6 through the

6 Preliminary Approval Date. "Released Claims" includes any and all claims for relief, whether

7 suspected or unsuspected, which Qualified Claimants as well as all Class Members for purposes of

8 PAGA relief, as explained in Section 1.25 have had, now have, or may discover in the future against

9 the Released Parties or any of them for any or all claims alleged in the Complaint or which could have

10 been alleged in the Complaint based on the allegations, facts, matters, transactions or occurrences

^ 1 alleged therein, and shall specifically include without limiting the generality thereof: claims for missed

12 and/or unpaid meal periods and/or rest periods; failure to reimburse business expenses; failure to pay

all wages owed (including without limitation, regular wages, the regular rate of pay, minimum wage,

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

overtime pay, double time pay, premium pay or otherwise properly calculate overtime or the regular

rate of pay, failure to pay employees for all hours worked, and/or off-the-clock claims); failure to

properly pay all wages upon termination; any claim for failure to keep and/or maintain accurate

records; imlawful deductions; failure to timely pay wages owed; claims for failure to provide accurate,

itemized wage statements; waiting time penalties; and claims for PAGA penalties and/or unfair

competition claims based on the foregoing. The Release of the foregoing claims extends to all theories

of relief regardless of whether the claim is, was, or could have been alleged as separate claims, causes

of action, lawsuits or based on other theories of relief, whether under California law, federal law, state

law or common law (including, without limitation, as violations of the California Labor Code, the

California Wage Orders, applicable regulations, California's Business and Professions Code section

17200 or under California's Private Attorneys General Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act).

"Released Claims" includes all types of relief available for the above-referenced claims, including,

without limitation, any claims for damages, restitution, losses, penalties, fines, liens, attorneys' fees,

costs, expenses, debts, interest, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or liquidated damages. "Released

LITTL^ cMEiNSEpl^.N, p-c' FIRSTAMENDED JOINT .

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

8. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 13 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

^ Claims" also includes an express waiver of all benefits under section 1542 of the California Civil Code

2 as to the Released Claims only, as well as under any other federal or state statutes or coimnon law

3

4

5

6

7

20

21

22

23

24

principles of similar effect. Section 1542 provides as follows:

A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH

THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN

fflS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE

RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE

MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH

THE DEBTOR.

g The Class Representative's and the Class Members' Section 1542 waiver releases all claims, known

9 or unknown, within the definition of Released Claims, irrespective of the factual or legal basis for such

10 claims. This 1542 waiver was a specifically negotiated term, and was specifically taken into

11 consideration in arriving at the Gross Settlement Amount. Class Members, including Class

12 Representatives, will be infonned in the Notice of Settlement and will be deemed to understand that

13 Section 1542 gives them the right not to release existing claims of which they are not now aware,

14 unless they voluntarily choose to waive this right. Having been so informed. Class Members, including

15 the Class Representative, will be deemed to have voluntarily waived the rights described in Section

16 1542, and elected to assume all risks for claims that now exist in their favor, known or imknown, that

^ fall within the scope of the Released Claims. The Final Judgment shall expressly provide that it covers

1 ^ and bars each and every Qualified Claimant as well as all Class Members for purposes ofPAGA relief,

as explained in Section 1.25, from asserting any Released Claims in the future.

1. 35 "Released Parties" means Defendant, its past or present parents, subsidiaries, and

officers, directors, shareholders, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, legal representatives,

successors, assigns, and predecessors in interest, affiliates, related entities, third-party staffing

agencies, and any individual or entity which could be jointly liable with Defendant.

1. 36 "Settlement Administration Costs" means reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the

Settlement Administrator, not to exceed $35,000.00, as a result of the procedures and processes

26 expressly required by this Agreement, and shall include all costs of administering the Agreement,

27 including, but not limited to, all tax document preparation and obligations related to the QSF, custodial

28

UTTL,ER. cME,NDE^lN;p c- FIRSTAMENDED JOINT .

...21",.C^H^rt- STffULA'TTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

51h Floor

Los Angelas, CA SOOG7. 3107

310. 553. 030S

CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 14 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 fees, and accounting fees incurred by the Settlement Administrator; all costs and fees associated with

2 preparing, issuing and mailing any and all notices of settlement and other settlement correspondence

3 to Class Members and/or Qualified Claimants; all costs and fees associated with commumcating with

4 Class Members, Class Counsel, and Defendant's Counsel regarding settlement; all costs and fees

associated with computing, processing, reviewing, and paying the Claim Amounts, and resolving

disputed claims; all costs and fees associated with calculating tax withholdings and payroll taxes,

working with Defendant so that related payments to federal and state tax authorities can be made, and

printing tax forms relating to payments made under the settlement; all costs and fees associated with

preparing any tax returns and any other filings required by any governmental taxing authority or

agency; all costs and fees associated with preparing any other notices, reports, or filings to be prepared

in the course of administering Claim Amounts; and any other costs and fees incurred and/or charged

by the Settlement Administrator in connection with the execution of its duties under this Stipulation.

1. 37 "Settlement Administrator" means and refers to the mutually agreed upon third-party

claims administrator that will be responsible for establishing, maintaining, and admmistering the QSF,

as well as the administration of the Agreement and related matters as described in this Agreement.

1.38 "Settlement Payment" means each Qualified Claimant's share of the Net Settlement

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Amount plus, where applicable, each Class Member's share of the PAGA Payment.

1. 39 "Workweeks" means each week (Sunday through Saturday) during which Class

^ Members were employed, but excluding weeks during which the Class Member was not performing

driving duties. There are no partial or fractional Workweeks. Thus, if a Class Member perfbnned any

driving duties during any part of a Sunday through Saturday week, that week shall count as a

Workweek. The number of Workweeks will be detemiined by Defendant's records.

22 2. THE CONDITIONAL NATURE OF THIS STIPULATION.

23 2. 1 This Agreement and all associated exhibits or attachments are made for the sole

24 purpose of settling the above-captioned lawsuit, which is entitled Theodore A. Emetoh v. FedEx

25 Freight Inc., Case No. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR. This Agreement is made in compromise of disputed

26 claims. Because the Parties desire to settle this Action on a class-wide basis pursuant to Federal Rule

27 of Civil Procedure 23, and as a representative action pursuant to Cal. Lab. Code §2699(1), this

28

LITTI;E.R cME,N?^^.N; p-c- FIRSTAMENDED JOINT HL"^',., STiPULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

51h Floi

Los Angeles. CA 9CC67.3107

i1C. 553. D30B

10. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 15 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Agreement must receive preliminary and final approval by the Court. Accordingly, the Parties enter

into this Agreement on a conditional basis.

2.2 Subject to the obligation(s) of mutual full cooperation set forth herein, FedEx may void ,

this this Agreement if the Court refuses to approve any economic term or term related to the scope of

the release, or declines to enter the Preliminary Approval Order, the Final Approval Order, or Final

Judgment in substantially the form submitted by the Parties, or if the Agreement does not become final

because of appellate court action or due to some other voidable event described herein. The terminating

Party shall give to the other Party (through its Counsel) written notice of its decision to terminate no

later than ten (10) calendar days after receiving notice that one of the enumerated events has occurred.

Termination shall have the following effects:

1) The Agreement shall be terminated and shall have no force or effect, and no

Party shall be bound by any of its terms.

2) In the event the Agreement is terminated, Defendant shall have no obligation to

make any payments to any Party, Class Member or attorney.

3) The Preliminary Approval Order, Final Approval Order and Final Judgment,

including any order of class certification, shall be vacated.

4) hi the event this Agreement is terminated or canceled pursuant to its terms, the

Settlement Administrator shall refund all funds received by Defendant into the

QSF, and the Settlement Administration Costs incurred as of the date of

termination will be paid by Defendant, assuming the Defendant voided the

Agreement at its option. Otherwise, the Parties shall equally share such

Settlement Administration Costs.

5) The Parties will not be deemed to have waived any claims, objections, defenses,

or arguments in this Action, including with respect to the issue of class

certification. The Parties retain and reserve these rights, and agree not to argue

or present any argument, and hereby waive any argument that, based on this

Agreement, the other Party caimot piirsue or challenge claims, allegations and

f

defenses in the Action, upon any procedural or factual grounds.

"^R. c"E,N,D^^.N;"c- FIRSTAMENDED JOINT

..2C.",.C^H^T.. STIPULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

'3"s530'" AND RELEASE

11 CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 16 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

LITTLER MENDELSON. P. O.

204fl Century Park East

5th Floor

Los Angeles. CA 90067, 3107

310. 553.0308

6) The Agreement and all negotiations, statements and proceedings relating

thereto shall be without prejudice to the rights of any of the Parties, all of whom

shall be restored to their respective positions prior to the Agreement and

mediation on May 21, 2019. The Parties agree to return to mediation in good

faith to attempt to address the concerns of the Court, and upon reachmg an

agreement, submit a revised agreement to the Court.

7) The Agreement shall not be admissible or offered into evidence in the Action

or any other action for any purpose whatsoever. Similarly, any conditional class

certification (obtained for any purpose) shall be void ab initio and of no force

or effect, and shall not be admissible in any judicial, administrative, or arbitral

II

proceeding for any purpose or with respect to any issue, substantive or

procedural.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE LITIGATION.

3. 1 Plaintiff, a former Road Driver of Defendant, brought this Action asserting the

following violations: 1) Failure to Provide Meal Periods (Lab. Code §§ 204, 223, 226.7, 512 and

1198); 2) Failure to Provide Rest Periods (Lab. Code §§ 204, 223, 226.7 and 1198); 3) Failure to Pay

Hourly Wages (Lab. Code §§ 223, 510, 1194, 1194. 2, 1197, 1997. 1 and 1198); 4) Failure to Indemnify

(Lab. Code § 2802); 5) Failure to Provide Accurate Written Wage Statements (Lab. Code §§ 226(a));

6) Failure to Timely Pay All Final Wages (Lab. Code §§ 201, 202 and 203); 7) Unfair Competition

(Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200 et seq.); and 8) Civil Penalties (Lab. Code §§ 2698 et seq.).

3. 2 Through discovery, Defendant provided Class Counsel with nearly 3,000 pages of

documents, including copies of all applicable versions of personnel and payroll policies, contact

information for the putative class, and records reflecting Class Members' hours worked and wages

paid, amongst numerous other documents, as well as payroll and time clock data for the putative class.

Defendant also served written discovery upon and deposed Plaintiff as well as several third-party

subpoenas.

3.3 The Parties participated in two separate full-day mediations before Hon. Stephen

Sundvold and Tripper Ortman, Esq. on January 15, 2019 and May 21, 2019, respectively. The Parties

were able to come to an agreement and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on May 21, 2019.

FLRST AMENDED JOINT

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT 12.

AND RELEASE CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 17 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

LITTLER MENDELSON. P. C.

204BCBnlury Park East

5th Floor

Los Angeles. CA 90067. 3107

310. 553. 0306

3.4 This Agreement was reached after evaluating the Parties ' theories of potential exposure

for the underlying claims. The Parties also assessed appropriate discounts to the potential liability

based on Defendant's contentions and defenses.

3. 5 The Parties agree that the above-described investigation and evaluation, as well as

discovery and the information exchanged during the settlement negotiations, are more than sufficient

»

to assess the merits of the respective Parties' positions and to compromise the issues on a fair and

equitable basis.

4. BENEFITS OF THE SETTLEMENT TO THE PROPOSED CLASS.

4. 1 Based on their own independent investigations and evaluations, Class Counsel are of

the opinion that the settlement with Defendant for the consideration and terms set forth below, in view

of the Class Representative's and average Class Members' claims and the risk of loss, is fair,

reasonable, and adequate in light of all known facts and circumstances, and is in the best interests of

the Class. Class Counsel are also of the opinion that the total consideration and payment set forth in

this Agreement is adequate in light of the uncertainties surrounding the risk of further litigation and

the defenses that Defendant has asserted and could assert.

4.2 Class Counsel has weighed the monetary benefit under the Agreement to the Class

against the expenses and length of continued proceedings that would be necessary to prosecute the

Action against Defendant through trial and possible appeals. Class Counsel have also taken into

account the uncertain outcome and risk of any litigation, especially in complex actions such as class

actions, as well as the difficulties and delay inherent in such litigation. Therefore, Class Counsel has

determined that the Agreement is in the best interests of the Class.

5. POSITION OF DEFENDANT.

5. 1 Defendant denies any liability or wrongdoing of any kind associated with the claims

alleged in the Action, and further denies that, for any purpose other than settling this matter, this Action

is appropriate for class treatment. Defendant maintains, among other things, it has complied with

Federal and California law in all aspects. Nothing in this Agreement shall be constmed or deemed as

an admission of liability, culpability, negligence, or wrongdoing on the part of Defendant.

5.2 There has been no final determination by any court as to the merits of fhe claims

asserted by Plaintiff against Defendant, nor has there been any final detennination as to whether a

FIRST AMENDED JOINT

STDPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

13. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 18 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

class should be certified, other than for settlement purposes only. Defendant will stipulate to the .

certification of the class claims for settlement purposes only, Class certification of the PAGA

Settlement is not necessary to bind alleged aggrieved employees pursuant to Arias v. Superior Court

of San Joaquin County (Dairy), 46 Cal. 4th 969 (2009). Defendant disputes that certification is proper

for the purposes of litigating the class claims proposed in or flowing from the Complaint; and the

Court has not evaluated manageability.

6. OPERATIVE TERMS OF SETTLEMENT.

The Parties to this Action agree as follows:

6. 1 Coo eration. The Parties will cooperate in obtaining, through written stipulation or

unopposed motion if a motion is required, an order from the Court approving the Agreement. The

Parties agree to use their best efforts to expedite the preparation and submission of the Agreement and

related documents. The Parties further agree to fully cooperate in the drafting and/or filing of any

further required documents or filings, shall take all steps that may be requested by the Court or that .

are otherwise necessary for the approval and implementation of this Agreement, and shall otherwise

use their respective best efforts to obtain Court approval of this Agreement.

6. 2 Preliminary Approval. The Parties will seek to obtain the Court's preliminary approval

of the settlement pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 23(e) and Cal. Lab. Code § 2699(1). The Parties will

jointly request that any preliminary approval order be dated no earlier than December 1, 2019 and

request an immediate vacation or stay of pending dates until the entry of Final Judgment by the Court.

6. 2. 1 Class Counsel will prepare and file the motion for preliminary approval and

related documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement and Defendant agrees not to oppose it.

The Parties and their Counsel agree that this settlement is strictly confidential unless and until the

Preliminary Approval Motion is filed granted. Plaintiff will not oppose FedEx filing a motion to seal

the preliminary approval pleadings. If the Court declines to enforce this provision, it will not be

grounds to void the Agreement.

6. 2.2 Plaintiff, Defendant, and their respective Counsel will not make any public

disclosure of the Agreement until after the Agreement is preliminarily approved by the Court. Plaintiff

and Class Counsel agree not to disclose or publicize the Agreement, including the fact of the

LITTLERMENDELSON. P. C.

204S Century Park East

5th Floor

Laa Angeles, CA 80087. 3107

310. 553. 03SS

FIRST AMENDED JOINT

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

14. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 19 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 Agreement, its tenns or contents, and the negotiations underlying the Agreement, in any manner or

2 form, directly or indirectly, to any person or entity, except potential class members and as shall be

3 contractually required to effectuate the terms of the Agreement as set forth herein. Class Counsel will

4 take all steps necessary to ensure that Plaintiff is aware of, and will encourage him to adhere to, the

5 restriction against any public disclosure of the Agreement until after the Agreement is preliminarily

6 approved by the Court.

7 6.2. 3 The Parties agree not to initiate any contact with the media concerning this case

8 at any time. Plaintiff and Counsel will not at any time publish details of this case or the settlement

9 except on Plaintiffs Counsel's website or other publications it controls. If either Party or their Counsel

10 is contacted by the media, neither Party is required to make a statement, but may make the following

11 statement:

12 (a) If Motion to Seal is granted: "The Parties have reached an agreement to

13 settle the pending claims in the Theodore Emetoh v. FedEx Freight, Inc. lawsuit. The tenns of the

14 settlement are confidential and have not yet received final approval by the Court."

15 (b) If Defendant's Motion to Seal is not granted: "The Parties have reached

16 an agreement to settle the pending claims in the Theodore Emetoh v. FedEx Freight, Inc. lawsuit. The

17 terms of the settlement have not yet received final approval by the Court."

18 (c) After preliminary approval is granted: "The Parties have reached an

19 agreement to settle the pending claims in the Theodore Emetoh v. FedEx Freight, Inc. lawsuit."

20

21

22

(d) At any time. Plaintiff may say: "We believe the settlement is fair and in

the best interests of the class."

(e) If Defendant's Motion to Seal is not granted and after preliminary

23 approval is granted, Defendant may say: "FedEx Freight denies liability in this matter. Contrary to

24 Plaintiffs claims, FedEx Freight complies with the wage and hour laws in all jurisdictions where we

25 do business, including California. We have agreed to settle this matter simply to avoid the

26 burdensome cost of continued litigation."

27 (f) The Parties expressly agree that neither Party shall provide any

28 comment beyond the above statements to any third party entity, on any digital platform, or in any

LITTL^ cME,NDE^?.N; p'c- FIRST AMENDED JOINT

L.:;,.^i;:»,., STffULATION OF SETTLEMENT

,,. ss,.,.. ^fQ RELEASE

15 CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 20 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 other forum, except for Plaintiffs Counsel's website or other publications controlled by Plaintiffs

2 Counsel.

3 6. 2. 4 The Parties agree that the preliminary approval order will include a provision

4 enjoining Class Members from filing any DLSE claims, or from initiating other proceedings, regarding

5 claims released by the settlement before opting out of the settlement. If the Court declines to enforce

6 this provision, it will not be grounds to void the Agreement;

7 6. 2. 5 The Parties will submit this Agreement to the Court for preliminary approval

8 of its terms and for approval of the steps to be taken to obtain its final approval. The Parties will

9 request that the Court's preliminary approval of this Agreement be embodied in the Preliminary

10 Approval Order, a proposed fonn of which is attached as Exhibit D.

11

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

6. 3 Notice to Class Members. The Settlement Administrator shall disseminate the Notice

12 Packet in the manner described below, with the Settlement Administration Costs being paid firom the

j3 Gross Settlement Amount.

^4 6. 3. 1 No later than thirty (30) calendar days after the entry of the Preliminary

Approval Order, for each Class Member, Defendant shall provide the Settlement Administrator with

the name, last known mailing address, last known telephone number, Social Security Number, the

dates the Class Member was employed as a Class Member of Defendant in California during the Class

Period, the number of Workweeks attributable to the Class Member, and whether the Class Member's

employment with Defendant ended, in a form requested by the Settlement Administrator. This class

data, as well as any other class data provided to the Settlement Administrator, shall be confidential.

Except as provided for in this Agreement, the Settlement Administrator shall not provide the class data

to Class Counsel or Plaintiff or any third party, or use the class data or any information contained

therein for any purpose other than to administer this Agreement. Class Counsel agrees they will not

use the Class Member data for any purpose other than as required for this Agreement. The Settlement

Administrator shall use commercially reasonable efforts to secure the Class Member data at all times

25 so as to avoid inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure or use of such data other than as permitted by

26 this Agreement, and shall destroy the data and all copies in a complete and secure manner at the end

27 of any retention periods after which the data is no longer required for purpose of the Agreement. Class

28

LITTL,E.I;cM.E,ND^,s?.N,;p-c- FIRST AMENDED JOINT

..21"..1;H1^',,, STIPULAtTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

5th Floor

LDS Angeles, CA 9COBT. 3107

310. 553.03Se

16. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 21 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Members' addresses, telephone numbers, or social security numbers shall not be filed with the Court,

except as may be ordered by the Court.

6. 3. 2 No later than ten (10) calendar days after receipt of such address information,

the Settlement Administrator will perform a national change of address ("NCOA") search, update the

addresses per the results of the NCOA search, and then mail the Notice of Settlement and Data Dispute

Form, substantially in the forms attached as Exhibits B and C, respectively, to each Class Member by

first-class mail, postage prepaid.

6. 3.3 If a Class Member is deceased, the successor or estate may receive the payment.

Within ten (10) calendar days of notification that the Class Member is deceased, the Settlement

Administrator shall mail a Beneficiary Declaration and Release to the successor or individual acting

on behalf of the estate.

6. 3. 4 In the event that a Notice Packet is returned as undeliverable, the Settlement

Administrator will make reasonable efforts to obtain a valid mailing address by using the social

security number of the class member and standard skip tracing devices to conduct a search for a correct

mailing address and by contacting Class Counsel and Defendant through Defendant's Counsel.

Following each search that results in a corrected address, the Settlement Administrator shall promptly

resend the original Notice Packet to the Class Member by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Such efforts

must be completed no less than fourteen (14) calendar days before the date of the Final Approval and

Fairness Hearing. No further action is required if the search results in no corrected address.

6. 3.5 The Parties shall cooperate in good faith with Ae Settlement Administrator's

reasonable efforts to obtain valid mailing addresses for Class Members.

6. 3.6 All costs of mailing of the Notice Packet, whether foreseen or not, shall be paid

from the Gross Settlement Amount, including the cost of searching for Class Members' addresses as

provided in Section 6.3.4. All other reasonable costs of the Settlement Administrator shall also be paid

from the Gross Settlement Amount.

6. 3. 7 No later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the date of the Final Approval

and Fairness Hearing, the Settlement Administrator shall file a declaration under penalty of perjury

advising the Court that the requirements of Sections 6.3. 1 through 6.3.4 of this Agreement have been

fulfilled.

LITTLER MENDELSON, P. C.

2048 Century Pa-k Easl

5th Floor

FLRST AMENDED JOINT

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

17. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 22 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 6. 3. 8 Compliance with these procedures shall constitute due and sufficient notice to

2 Class Members of this Agreement and shall satisfy the requirement of due process. Nothing else shall

be required of, or done by, the Parties or their Counsel to provide notice of the proposed Agreement.

6.4 Res onses to Notice. The Notice Packet shall provide Class Members with

information as to how they may challenge the Data in the Data Dispute Form. Class Members need

not exclude themselves from the Agreement to submit a Data Dispute Form. If a Class Member timely

submits both a Data Dispute Form and a request for exclusion, the Data Dispute Form shall control,

and the request for exclusion shall be null and void.

6. 5 Class Members will have until the Data Dispute Deadline within which to complete

and postmark their Data Dispute Form for return to the Settlement Administrator. Except as provided

by Section 6.5. 1 and 6. 5.2, no Data Dispute Forms will be honored if postmarked after the Data

Dispute Deadline.

6. 5. 1 For Class Members who are re-mailed the Notice Packet due to it being

undeliverable, the deadline by which to submit a Data Dispute Form, file an objection, or submit a

request for exclusion will be the later of (i) fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the Notice Packet

was re-mailed, or (ii) the Data Dispute Deadline.

6. 5.2 If a Data Dispute Fomi is timely submitted, but is deficient or incomplete, the

17 Settlement Administrator will return the Data Dispute Form (or, if deemed necessary, a new Data

18 Dispute Form) to the Class Member within five (5) business days of receipt of the Data Dispute Form

19 with a deficiency notice explaining the deficiencies and stating that the Class Member will have fifteen

20 (15) calendar days from the date of the deficiency notice to correct the deficiencies and resubmit the

21 Data Dispute Form. Neither the Parties nor their Counsel shall discourage any Class Member from

22 submitting a Data Dispute Form. The Settlement Administrator will timely notify Class Members

^ whose dispute letters are untimely or denied for other reasons.

6. 5.3 Class Members, with the exception of the Class Representative, may opt-out of

the Agreement. Class Members who wish to exercise this option must submit a request for exclusion

to the Settlement Administrator as provided in this section. The request for exclusion must (a) be in

27

28

3

4

5

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

writing; (b) state the name, address and telephone number of the Class Member; (c) state either the

Class Member's approximate years of employment with Defendant or the employee identification

UTT^RcME, N,D^^.N;pc' FIRST AMENDED JOINT

L.. *,,.,^h^. 73, c, STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

"°S"BM' AND RELEASE

18. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 23 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

number assigned to the Class Member by Defendant; (d) request exclusion from the Class saying

words to the effect of "I wish to opt out of the Class in; Emetoh v. FedEx Freight, Inc."; (e) be sent

»

via U.S. Mail postmarked no later than the Data Dispute Deadline; and (f) be signed and dated with

return address or contact information. No request for exclusion may be made on behalf of a group of

members of the Class. The date of the postmark on Ae retiim-mailing envelope shall be the exclusive

means used to determine whether a request for exclusion has been timely submitted. By submitting

such a Request for Exclusion, a Class Member shall be deemed to have exercised his or her option to

opt out of the class action lawsuit, except that opting out does not alter the binding nature of the PAGA

Settlement, Release, Final Approval, and Final Judgment related to the PAGA Settlement.

6. 5.4 Any member of the Class who requests exclusion from the Agreement will not

be entitled to any share of the settlement (except for a PAGA Payment), will not be bound by the

Agreement or Final Judgment (except as to the PAGA Settlement and related Final Judgment), and

will not have any right to object, appeal or comment thereon. Members of the Class who fail to submit

a valid and timely request for exclusion shall be bound by all terms of the Agreement and the Final

Judgment entered in this Action, regardless of whether they otherwise have requested exclusion from

the Agreement.

6. 5. 5 The Settlement Administrator is to send a deficiency notice to the Class

Members for any irregularities in the requests for exclusion that are timely submitted; the deficiency

notice will provide the Class Members no less than fifteen (15) calendar days from the mailing of the

deficiency notice to cure fhe deficiency, even if after the claims period ends.

6. 5. 6 Within ten (10) calendar days of the Data Dispute Deadline, the Settlement

Administrator shall notify Class Counsel and Defendant's Counsel of the identity of Class Members

who have submitted requests for exclusion and whether the request for exclusion was timely or

untimely filed. No later than fourteen (14) calendar days before the Final Approval and Fairness

Hearing, the Settlement Administrator shall file a declaration under penalty of perjury providing the

Court with a complete list of all members of the Class who have timely requested exclusion from the

Agreement.

6. 5. 7 Any person who does not request exclusion but who wishes to object or

otherwise be heard concerning this Agreement must provide the Settlement Administrator with written

LITTLERMENDELSON, P. O.

2049 Century Pa'K East

5th Floor

31B. 553. 030a

FIRST AMENDED JOINT

STIPULATIO^OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

19 CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 24 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 notice of his or her intent to object to this Agreement, although no Class Member has the right to

2 object to the PAGA Settlement. To be considered timely, the notice must be sent to the Settlement

3 Administorator via U.S. Mail and postmarked no later than the Data Dispute Deadline. The notice must

4 set forth any and all objections to this Agreement and include any supporting papers and arguments.

^ Any person who fails to submit such a timely written notice shall be barred from making any statement

objecting to this Agreement, and shall forever waive his or her objection, except by special pennission

of the Court, but may still attend the hearing to obtain such special permission. The Settlement

Administrator shall promptly forward all objections to the Parties and have them filed with the Court

within ten (10) calendar days of the Data Dispute Deadline with any later received objections filed

with the Court promptly upon receipt and in any case no later than five (5) business days before the

Final Approval and Fairness Hearing. Either of the Parties may file a responsive document to any

notice of intent to object with the Court no later than five (5) business days before the Final Approval

and Fairness Hearing. Any person who objects to the Agreement shall be bound by the order of the

Court.

6. 5. 8 If any individual whose name does not appear on the updated class list provided

to the Settlement Administrator believes that he or she is a member of the Class, he or she shall have

the opportunity to dispute his or her exclusion from the Class. Individuals who believe they are Class

17 members must notify the Settlement Administrator in writing no later than the Data Dispute Deadline.

18 The Parties will meet and confer regarding any such individuals in an attempt to reach an agreement

19 as to whether any such individual should be regarded as a Class member. If the Parties so agree, the

20 Settlement Administrator will mail a Notice Packet to the individual, and treat the individual as a Class

21 member for all other purposes. Such an individual will have all of the same rights as any other Class

22 member under this agreement.

^3 6. 5.9 If five percent (5%) or more of the total number of Class Members submit

timely and valid requests for exclusion, then Defendant shall have the option to void the Agreement.

Defendant must exercise this option within fourteen (14) calendar days of receiving a report from the

26

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

27

28

Settlement Administrator showing the total number of timely and valid requests for exclusion

exceeding 5% of Class Members. If Defendant chooses to exercise this option, the effect will be

51h Floor

Los Ange'es. CA 30C67. 3107

110. 553. 0308

precisely the same as if final approval did not occur, as discussed in Section 2.2. As a condition to

20.

LITTL^R. M.E,N,DEp;,s?.N;p c- FIRST AMENDED JOINT . ^^1., STIPULAtTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 25 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

10

11

12

13

14

15

26

27

28

exercise of this option. Defendant must pay the Settlement Administration Costs incurred as of the

date of this exercise, notwithstanding other allocations of Settlement Administration Costs set forth in

this Agreement.

6. 5. 10 Neither the Parties nor their respective Counsel will solicit or otherwise

encourage any Class Member, directly or indirectly, to request exclusion from the Agreement or object

to the Agreement.

6. 6 Data Dis ute Procedures. Any Qualified Claimant who disputes the Data listed on the

Data Dispute Form shall complete the Data Dispute Fonn and provide it together with any supporting

infonnation or documentation to the Settlement Administrator by the Data Dispute Deadline. A Data

Dispute Form will be deemed submitted (a) when postamarked, if it is mailed by first-class, registered,

or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed in accordance with the instructions on the form, or (b) if

otherwise submitted, when it is actually received at the address designated on the form. If a Qualified

Claimant does not timely dispute the Data contained in the Data Dispute Form, the Data contained in

the Data Dispute Form mailed to the Qualified Claimant shall govern the calculation of his or her

entitlement under the Agreement

6. 6. 1 Defendant shall review and respond to each submitted Data Dispute Fonn

within ten (10) calendar days of receipt, and shall transmit a copy of its response to the Settlement

17 Administrator. Defendant's response shall state whether Defendant agrees with or disputes the

18 infonnation provided in the Data Dispute Form.

19 (a) If Defendant agrees with all of the infonnation provided in the Data

20 Dispute Form, the information and documentation provided by the Qualified Claimant and attached

21 to the Data Dispute Fonn shall govern the calculation of the entitlement under the Agreement of the

22 person whose employment information is listed in the Data Dispute Form.

^3 (b) If Defendant disagrees with any of the information provided in a Data

^ Dispute Form, it shall follow the procedure set forth in Section 6. 6.2 of this Agreement.

6. 6. 2 In the event that Defendant disagrees with the infomiation provided in a Data

Dispute Form, Defendant's Counsel will promptly advise Class Counsel in writing of the dispute and

provide Class Counsel with copies of all information relevant to the dispute. Copies of all Data Dispute

Forms and correspondence with the person(s) submitting the Data Dispute Form(s) shall be made

LITTL^R cME,N,DE^lN; 

p-c' FIRSTAMENDED JOINT

IHL^',. STIPULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

Slti Fit

Los Angeles, CA 3CG67.3107

31G. 553. 03C8

21. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 26 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 available to Class Counsel upon request. Defendant's Counsel and Class Counsel shall attempt in good

2 faith to resolve any such dispute within ten (10) calendar days of Class Counsel's receipt of

Defendant's Counsel's notice of a dispute as to the Data Dispute Fonn. Class Counsel shall have full

discretion on behalf of the Qualified Claimants to resolve such disputes with Defendant's Couiisel,

except that any and all payments relating to the disputed entitlement must be from the Net Settlement

Amount.

6. 6. 3 In the event the Parties are unable to resolve any dispute under this section, the

Court shall review all mformation, materials and documents provided by the Qualified Claimant, Class

Counsel, and/or Defendant's Counsel, and make a decision regarding the dispute. This decision shall

be final and unappealable.

6.7 Ap plication for Attome s' Fees and Ex enses. Class Counsel shall apply to the Court

for an award of fees from the Gross Settlement Amount in an amount not to exceed One Million

Eighty-Two Thousand Two-Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,082,250. 00) (thirty three and one-third percent

of the Gross Settlement Amount) and actual costs incurred up to Twenty Thousand Dollars

($20, 000. 00). Defendant agrees not to oppose Class Counsel's application for fees and expenses

provided the application is made consistent with this section. To the extent the Court awards less than

this amount, the remainder shall be distributed to the Qualified Claimants. Failure of the Court to

17 award the requested attorneys' fees and costs is not a grounds to void this Agreement, however,

18 Plaintiff reserves the right to appeal any such decision.

19 6. 8 A lication for Enhancement Pa ent. Class Counsel, on behalf of Plaintiff, shall

20 apply to the Court for an Enhancement Payment from the Gross Settlement Amoimt, per the Court's

21 direction, or no later than the same day Plaintiff files his anticipated Motion for Final Approval of

22 Class Action Settlement. To the extent the Court awards less than the requested amount, the remainder

^3 shall be distributed to the Qualified Claimants. Failure of the Court to award the requested

Enhancement Payment is not a grounds to void this Agreement.

6. 8. 1 Any request for an Enhancement Payment may be supported by a declaration

26

27

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

28

from the Class Representative seeking payment and outlining the burdens and obligations assumed in

connection with his role as a Class Representative. Defendant agrees not to oppose Class

LITTL^M.E,N,D^^.Nip-c' FIRST AMENDED JOINT ^ ^^!^L STIPULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

51h Fl(

Los Angeles. CA SOOB7. 31DT

310. 553. 0308

22. CASE NO. 4.-17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 27 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Representative's application for the Enhancemeut Payment provided the application is made

consistent with this Agreement.

6. 8.2 Plaintiff shall be solely and legally responsible to pay any and all applicable

taxes on his Class Representative Enhancement Payment and hold harmless Defendant from any claim

or liability for taxes, penalties, or interest arising as a result of the Class Representative Enhancement

Payment.

6. 9 Final A roval and Fairness Hearin . On the date set forth in the Notice Packet, the

Court shall hold the Final Approval and Fairness Hearing where objections, if any, may be heard. If

the Court approves this Agreement at the Final Approval and Fairness Hearing, the Parties request that

the Court enter the Final Judgment.

6. 10 Tax Allocation of the Net Settlement Amount. To fairly allocate settlement funds based

on Ae Qualified Claimant's dates of employment as a Class Member (excluding workweeks where

the Qualified Claimant was not performing driving duties) and any entitlement to waiting time

penalties, the distribution amounts will be calculated as follows: The total Workweeks for all Class

Members in the class period plus additional Workweeks allocated for separated employees shall be

divided into the Net Settlement Amount to calculate the agreed upon payment per Workweek (the

16 "Workweek Rate"). Each Qualified Claimant who separated from Defendant during the class period

at least once will receive an allotment of six additional Workweeks. Each Qualified Claimant will be

paid the Workweek Rate for each Workweek.

6. 10. 1 There will be no reversion of any of the Gross Settlement Amount or Net

Settlement Amount to Defendant. For any Class Member that requests exclusion from the Class, his

or her Claim Amount will be added to the Net Settlement Amount and distributed to Qualified

22 Claimants on a proportional basis. All Qualified Claimants will receive their Claim Amount, such that

^ 100% of the Net Settlement Amount will be paid.

6. 10.2 The Parties recognize that the Claim Amounts to be paid to Class Members

reflect settlement of a dispute over claimed wages, business expenses, interest, premiums and

penalties. The parties agree that such payments are not, and are not intended to be made as a payment

27

28

17

18

19

20

21

with respect to, a penalty or a punishment of any type or kind for purposes of Internal Revenue Service

51h F I BE

Los Angeles. CA 90367.31CT

310. 553,0308

Code §162(f), except that the PAGA Payment is a civil penalty.

23.

L'TTL.E.RcM.E,N5^,M.Nip'c' FIRST AMENDED JOINT '^!^^ STIPULAtTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 28 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

LITTLER MENDELSON. P. O.

3C4SCBniur¥ Park East

6. 10. 3 With the exception of the PAGA Payment, no governmental entity is directly

or indirectly a recipient of any portion of the payments made pursuant to this Agreement, and no

governmental entity has any interest or involvement of any type or kind in the litigation hereby settled.

The payments made herein are not made or received with the intention of avoiding or reducing any

liability to a governmental entity of any type or kind.

6. 10. 4 The Settlement Administrator will prepare and issue Fomis 1099 and W-2's as

part of this Agreement and calculate and deduct required withholdings from each Payroll Settlement

Check, and file tax forms with the appropriate government agencies as required by law. Pursuant to

its duties and undertakings, the Settlement Administrator shall work with Defendant to ensure that all

monies and information needed to remit and report the applicable portions of the payroll tax payment

to the appropriate taxing authorities are provided on a timely basis. Defendant agrees to reasonably

cooperate with the Settlement Administrator to the extent necessary to determine the amount of the

payroll tax payment required under this section. Defendant and Defendant's Counsel will not be

responsible for any errors or omissions in the Settlement Administrator's calculations of the

»

withholdings.

6. 10. 5 Qualified Claimants shall be solely responsible for the reporting and payment

of their share of any federal, state and/or municipal income or other taxes on payments made pursuant

to this Agreement. No Party has made any representation to any of the other Parties as to the taxability

of any payments pursuant to this Agreement, including the payments to Class Members, the payments

to Class Counsel, the payments to the Class Representative, the payroll tax liability of Defendant, or

the allocation of settlement proceeds to wage and non-wage income as provided in Section 6. 10.4, or

otherwise as to tax implications of any provision of this Agreement.

6. 10. 6 Defendant will pay the employer's share of payroll taxes only attributable to

the portion of the Net Settlement Amount deemed to be wages. Defendant shall not be responsible for

payroll tax payments on any other portion of the Gross Settlement Amount or Net Settlement Amount.

6. 10. 7 Defendant and Defendant's Counsel will not be liable for any errors or

»

omissions in the Settlement Administrator's calculation of each Qualified Claimant's Claim Amount.

Defendant and Defendant's Counsel will not be liable with respect to any claims relating to

management of the QSF or distribution of the fimds from the QSF, the payment of taxes (other than

FIRST AMENDED JOINT

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

24. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 29 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 the employer's share of payroll taxes), the withholding of taxes, or any obligations or losses incurred

2 by any person or any entity in coimection therewith.

6. 10.8 The Settlement Administrator shall allocate all Claim Amounts to Qualified

Claimants as follows:

(a) Twenty percent (20%) of the Claim Amounts shall be allocated for

payment of disputed wages to Qualified Claimants. For this portion of the Claim Amounts, Qualified

Claimants shall receive an IRS Form W-2 from the Settlement Administrator.

(b) Eighty percent (80%) of the Claim Amounts shall be allocated for

disputed business expense reimbursement. Labor Code § 226, penalties, including the PAGA

Payment, and interest. This portion of the Claim Amounts consists of other income, not wages, for "

which the Qualified Claimants shall receive an IRS Form 1099 fi-om the Settlement Administrator as

and if required by law.

6. 10. 9 The Class Members receiving all or any portion of any payment hereunder are

present or fanner employees of Defendant.

6. 11 Distribution of Settlement Proceeds. Within fourteen (14) calendar days aflter the Final

Judgment is entered. Defendant shall electronically wire the entire Gross Settlement Amount and

^ employer's share of payroll taxes to the Settlement Administrator, who shall deposit it and hold it m

17 trust in the QSF. The final and complete delivery by Defendant to the Settlement Administrator of the

18 Gross Settlement Amount and employer's share of payroll taxes shall constitute full and complete

19 discharge of the entire obligation of Defendant under this Agreement, except that Defendant is also

20 responsible for any retroactive tax increase assessed on the amounts allocated to wages, upon an

21 accoimting provided by the Settlement Administa-ator. No Released Party shall have any further .

22 obligation or liability to Class Counsel, Class Representative, or Qualified Claimants.

^ 6. 11. 1 Within seven (7) calendar days after the Final Approval Date, the

Settlement Administrator shall promptly deduct and pay (and, if available, electronically wire) from

the Gross Settlement Amount (1) all Court-awarded attorney's fees and costs; (2) the Enhancement

26

27

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

28

Payment; (3) Settlement Administration Costs; and (4) the State of California's portion of the PAGA

Payment. Following deduction of the amounts of such payments, the Settlement Administrator shall

calculate and make payments to the Qualified Claimants in accordance with this Agreement.

LITTL^, M.E,N51^1N, p'c- FIRSTAMENDED JOINT .

..21"..CSH1E,1, STffULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

5th Floor

Los Angeles. CA 90C67. 3107

110, 553. 0308

25. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 30 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

(a) The Settlement Administrator shall wire the Court-approved attorneys'

fees and costs to Class Counsel. Class Counsel shall provide the Settlement Administrator with the

pertinent taxpayer identification number and wire instmctions.

(b) The Settlement Administrator shall send a check by mail for the Courtapproved Enhancement Payment to the Class Representative, in care of Class Counsel.

6. 11.2 Within fifteen (15) calendar days of the Final Approval Date, the Settlement

Administrator shall issue Claim Amounts to Qualified Claimants in the form of a check, which shall

become null and void if not deposited within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days of issuance.

After one hundred eighty (180) calendar days of issuance, funds from undeposited checks, plus any

interest that has accmed on that sum after being deposited into the QSF, shall be deposited with the

State of California pursuant to California's Unclaimed Property Law, Code of Civil Proc. (C. C.P.)

§1500 et seq., and specifically as imclaimed intangible property and/or wages within the meaning of

C.C.P. §1513 (4)& (7) and subject to distribution pursuant to Court order pursuant to C.C.P. §1519. 5.

6. 11.3 The failure by a Class Member to claim or deposit any check issued by the

Settlement Administrator shall have no effect on that Class Member's release of all Released Claims

as set forth herein.

6. 11.4 No person shall have any claim against the Settlement Administrator,

Defendant or any of the Released Parties, the Class Representative, the Class Members, or Class

Counsel based on distribution or payments made substantially in accordance with this Agreement, or

further orders of this Court. The Settlement Administrator, however, shall be licensed and bonded in

an amount sufficient to cover any claims against it.

6. 12 Release of Claims. The Parties agree that it is their intent that the tenns set forth in this

Agreement will release any further attempt, by lawsuit, administrative claim or action, arbitration,

demand, or other action of any kind by each and all of the Qualified Claimants as well as all Class

Members for purposes ofPAGA relief, as explained in Section 1.25, including participation to any

extent in any class or collective action, to obtain a recovery based on each and all of the allegations in

the operative complaint in this matter, for harms arising during the Class Period.

6. 12. 1 Upon full and final payment by Defendant of the Gross S ettlement Amount

consistent with Section 6. 11, the Class Representative and each Qualified Claimants as well as all

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

25

26

27

28

LITTL^ cME,N,DEl.s^,N.i p-c- FIRST AMENDED JOINT .

.,21". 3;H»E^',.. STIPULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

5th Floor

Los Angeles. CA 90067. 3107

310. 553. C306

26. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 31 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

LITTLERMENDELSON. P. O.

2049 Century Pa-it East

5th Floor

Los Angeles. Cft 90087. 3107

313. 553, 0338

Class Members for purposes ofPAGA relief, as explained in Section 1.25, shall be deemed to have

fully, finally, and forever released the Released Parties from all Released Claims, as defined in

Sections 1.8, 1.34 and 1.35. The Agreement includes a release of all Released Claims by Qualified

Claimants, as well as all Class Members for purposes ofPAGA relief, as explained in Section 1.25.

As of the entry and filing of the Final Judgment, Plaintiff, the Qualified Claimants, as well as all Class

Members for purposes of PAGA relief, as explained in Section 1.25, shall be permanently enjoined

and forever barred from prosecuting any and all Released Claims against the Released Parties.

6. 12.2 In addition, upon full and final payment by Defendant of the Gross

Settlement Amoimt, and conditioned upon the Court approving a Class Representative Enhancement

Payment in any amount, the Class Representative shall be deemed to have fully, finally, and forever

released the Released Parties from the Class Representative's Released Claims, and the Class

Representative shall be deemed to have expressly waived and relinquished, to the fullest extent

permitted by the law, the provisions, rights, and benefits he may otherwise have had pursuant to

Section 1542, as quoted in the preceding paragraph.

6. 13 Miscellaneous Provisions

6. 13. 1 The respective signatories to this Agreement represent that they are fully

authorized to enter into this Agreement and bind the respective Parties to its tenns and conditions.

6. 13. 2 The Parties represent, covenant, and warrant that they have not directly or

indirectly assigned, transferred, encumbered, or purported to assign, transfer, or enciunber to any

person or entity any portion of any liability, claim, demand, action, cause of action, or right released

and discharged in this Agreement.

6. 13. 3 Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, all notices, demands, or other

communications given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given as

of the third business day after mailing by United States certified mail, return receipt requested,

addressed as follows:

To the Plaintiff and the Class:

Shaun Setareh

William Pao

Alexandra Mclntosh

Setareh Law Group

FIRST AMENDED JOWJ

STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

27. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 32 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

315S. BeverlyDr. Ste. 315

Beverly Hills; CA 90212

To Defendant:

Keith A. Jacoby

Littler Mendelson, P.C.

2049 Century Park East, 5th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067. 3107

Sophia Behnia

Littler Mendelson, P.C.

333 Bush Street, 34th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

Linda N. Bollinger

Littler Mendelson, P.C.

50 W. San Fernanda, 7th Floor

San Jose, CA 95113. 2303

Sandra C. Isam

FedEx Freight, Inc.

1715 Aaron Brenner Drive, Ste. 600

Memphis, TN 38120

5th FIDE

Los Anfleles, CA 90C67. 31Q7

310. 553. 03S8

6. 13.4 The Parties hereto agree that the terms and conditions of this Agreement are

the result of lengthy, intensive, ami's-length negotiations between the Parties and that this Agreement

shall not be constmed m favor of or against any Party by reason of the extent to which any Party or its

Counsel participated in the drafting of this Agreement.

6. 13. 5 The Class Representative, by signing this Agreement, is boimd by the tenns

herein and further agrees not to request to be excluded from the Agreement and not to object to any

terms of this Agreement. Any such request for exclusion or objection shall therefore be void and of no

force or effect. Defendant, Class Counsel, and the Class Representative waive their rights to file an

appeal, writ, or any challenge whatsoever to the tenns of this Agreement.

6. 13. 6 The Parties agree that nothing contained in this Agreement shall be

construed or deemed an admission of liability, culpability, negligence, or wrongdoing on the part of

Defendant, and Defendant denies any liability therefore. Each Party has entered into this Agreement

with the intention to avoid further disputes and litigation with the attendant inconvenience and

26 expenses. This Agreement is a settlement document and shall not be admissible in evidence in any

27 proceeding, except an action or proceeding to approve, interpret, or enforce its terms or in which

28

, ;pc FIRST AMENDED JOINT

28.

L'TTL^R. oM.E,N,DE,^s?.Nipc- FIRST AMENDED JOINT ^Z^^l, STIPULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 33 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

5

6

7

1 Defendant is relying upon this Agreement in support of an affinnative defense. To the extent this

2 Agreement is deemed void or the Final Approval Date does not occur or for whatever reason does not

3 result in the final resolution of the Action, Defendant does not waive, and, instead, expressly reserves

4 its rights to challenge all claims and allegations in the Action upon all procedural, factual and legal

grounds, as well as asserting any and all other potential defenses or privileges.

6. 13. 7 With the exception of the Excluded Claims, Plaintiff and Class Counsel

represent that they do not currently intend to pursue any claims against Defendant, including, but not

g limited to, any and all claims relating to or arising from Plaintiffs employaient with Defendant, and

^ that Class Counsel is not currently aware of any facts or legal theories upon which any claims or causes

^0 of action could be brought against Defendant by Plaintiff, excepting those facts or legal theories

^ ^ alleged in the Complaint and the Excluded Claims. The Parties further acknowledge, understand, and

j^ agree that this representation is essential to the Agreement and that this Agreement would not have

been entered into were it not for this representation.

^4 6. 13. 8 Neither Class Counsel nor any other attorneys acting for, or purporting to act

^ for, the Class, Class Members, or the Class Representative, may recover or seek to recover any

^ amounts for fees, costs, or disbursements from the Released Parties or the settlement except as

expressly provided herein.

^ g 6. 13. 9 This Agreement, including exhibits, constitutes the full, complete and entire

^ g understanding, agreement and arrangement between the Class Representative and Qualified Claimants

on the one hand and Defendant on the other hand with respect to the settlement of the Action and

^ Released Claims against Defendant. Except those set forth expressly in the Agreement, there are no

other agreements, covenants, promises, representations or arrangements between the Parties with

respect to the settlement of the Action and the Released Claims against Defendant.

^4 6. 13. 10 This Agreement may not be changed, altered, or modified, except in writing

signed by the Parties hereto and approved by the Court. This Agreement may not be discharged except

by performance in accordance with its terms or by a writing used by the Parties hereto. No rights under

this Agreement may be waived except in writing.

28

LITT1-^ cME,N,°^.M.N; p'c- FIRST_AMENDED JOINT ?HLE^. STfPULAtTON OF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

51h Floe

Lot AngBies, CA SSC67. 310T

310. 553.03SB

29. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 34 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 6. 13. 11 This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties '

2 hereto and their respective heirs, tmstees, executors. Settlement Administrators, successors, and

3 assigns.

4 6. 13. 12 This Agreement and the exhibits hereto shall be considered to have been

5 negotiated, executed, and delivered, and to have been wholly performed, in the State of California,

6 and the rights and obligations of the Parties to the Agreement shall be construed and enforced in

7 accordance with, and governed by, the substantive laws of the State of California without giving effect

8 to that State's choice of law principles.

9 6. 13. 13 This Agreement shall become effective upon its execution by the Parties.

10 The Class Representative, Class Counsel, Defendant and Defendant's Counsel may execute this

11 Agreement in counterparts and by way of facsimile signature or scanned signature attached to an email,

12 and execution of counterparts shall have the same force and effect as if each signatory had signed the

13 same instmment.

14 6. 13. 14lnthe event that one or more of the Parties to this Agreement institutes any

15 legal action, arbitration, or other proceeding to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or to declare

16 rights and/or obligations under this Agreement, the successful Party or Parties shall be entitled to

17 recover from the unsuccessful Party or Parties reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, including expert

18 witness fees incurred in connection with any enforcement actions. Notwithstanding the entry of Final

19 Judgment, the Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for purposes of interpreting and enforcing

20 the terms of this Agreement and the Judgment.

21 6. 13. 15 Paragraph titles or captions contained in the Agreement are inserted as a

22 matter of convenience and for reference, and in no way define, limit, extend, or describe the scope of

23 this Agreement, or any provision thereof.

24 6. 13. 16 Class Counsel will provide an opportunity for Defendant's Counsel to .

25 review the Motions for Preliminary and Final Approval prior to filing with the Court, including

26 furnishing any drafts at least seven (7) calendar days before filing.

27 6. 13. 17 With respect to all of the documents produced by Defendant in this

28 litigation. Plaintiffs attorneys acknowledge that they continue to be bound by the Parties' Stipulated

LITTLJR, cME,N,DEp^?.N; p-c' FIRST AMENDED JOINT

t....,. ^i°o».. 7,,., STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT 30. CASEN0. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

'3"'5"°3M AND RELEASE

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 35 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E^2B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1 Protective Order and that these documents must be kept confidential and otherwise handled in

2 accordance with the tenns of the Protective Order.

3 6. 13. 18 IRS Circular 230 Disclaimer. Each Party to this Agreement (for purposes of

4 this section, the "acknowledging party" and each Party to this Agreement other than the

5 acknowledging party, an "other party") acknowledges and agrees that:

6 (a) No provision of this Agreement, and no written communication or

7 disclosure between or among the Parties or their attorneys and other advisers, is or was intended to be,

8 nor shall any such communication or disclosure constitute or be constmed or be relied upon as, tax

9 advice within the meaning of United States Treasury Department circular 230 (31 CFR part 10, as

10 amended);

11 (b) The ackaowledging party (a) has relied exclusively upon his, her or its own,

12 independent legal and tax counsel for advice (including tax advice) in coimection wifh this Agreement;

13 (b) has not entered into this Agreement based upon the recommendation of any other Party or any

14 attorney or advisor to any other Party; (c) is not entitled to rely upon any communication or disclosure

15 by any attorney or adviser to any other Party to avoid any tax penalty that may be imposed on the

16 acknowledging party; and

17 (c) no attorney or adviser to any other Party has imposed any limitation that

18 protects the confidentiality of any such attorney's or adviser's tax strategies (regardless of whether

19 such limitation is legally binding) upon disclosure by the acknowledging party of the tax treatment or

20 tax structure of any transaction, including any fa-ansaction contemplated by this Agreement.

21 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed by the Parties and their duly

22 authorized attorneys, as of the day and year herein set forth.

23

24 Dated: 1/28/202° By:

25

26

27

28

DqcuSigned by:

^-?' L

Theo ore metoh

Plaintiff

Dated:

LITTL^ cME,ND^^.N, p'c' FIRST AMENDED JOINT .

..2°,",.C^H^1, sTlPULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

,, ^.. c. ^fQ RELEASE

By:

31. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 36 of 84
DocuSign Envelope ID: 09A67551-6A8E-42B1-B680-ACDDCA54449A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

FedEx Freight, Inc.

Defendant

APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CONTENT

Dated:

Dated:

4834-3565-3539.5 057116.1023

1-'TTL^ cME,N,DEp^?.N; p'c' FIRST AMENDED JOINT

..T,.C^H^", c, STIPULA'tTONOF SETTLEMENT

AND RELEASE

SETAREH LAW GROUP

By

Shaun Setareh

Attorneys for Plaintiff

LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C.

By:

Keith A. Jacoby

Attorneys for Defendant

FedEx Freight, Inc.

Slh Floor

Los A'ise;es, CA 9D067. 31C7

310. 553, 0308

32. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 37 of 84
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Dated: January 28, 2020 By:

FedEx Freight, Inc.

Defendant

APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CONTENT.

Dated; //2f/2^

Dated: January 28, 2020

4834-3565-3539.5 057116. 1023

LITT^ R '. FIRSTAMENDED JOINT J^3;IS^., STIFULA^nO^OFSETTiEMENT

AND RELEASE

SETAREH LAW GROUP

By: A^

Shaun Setareh

Attorneys for Plaintiff

LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C.

By:

Keith A. Jacoby

Sophia Behnia

Linda N. Bollinger

Attorneys for Defendant

FedEx Freight, Inc.

5th f es

LnsA«rl... _u tW», )i|,|

310. 55i63W

32. CASE NO. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 38 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 39 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Documents? Filed 08/16/18 Page 1 of 26

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Shaun Setareh (SBN 204514)

shaun@setarehlaw. corn

H. Scott Leviant (SBN 200834)

scott@setarehlaw.com

SETAREH LAW GROUP

9454 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 907

Beverly Hills, California 90212

Telephone: (310)888-7771

Facsimile: (310)888-0109

Attorneys for Plaintiff THEODORE A. EMETOH

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THEODORE A. EMETOH, on behalf of himself, Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR

all others similarly situated,

CLASS ACTION

Plaintiff,

vs.

FEDEX FREIGHT, INC., an Arkansas

corporation; and DOES 1 through 50, inclusive,

Defendants.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAENT

1. Failure to Provide Meal Periods (Lab.

Code §§ 204, 223, 226. 7, 512 and 1198);

2. Failure to Provide Rest Periods(Lab.

Code §§ 204, 223, 226. 7 and 1198);

3. Failure to Pay Hourly Wages (Lab. Code

§§ 223, 510, 1194, 1194. 2^ 1197, 1997.1

and 1198);

4. Failure to Indemnify (Lab. Code § 2802);

5. Failure to Provide Accurate Written

Wage Statements (Lab. Code §§ 226(a));

6. Failure to Timely Pay All Final Wages

(Lab. Code §§ 201, 202 and 203);

7. Unfair Competition (Bus. & Prof. Code

§§ 17200 etseq.)

8. Civil Penalties (Lab. Code §§ 2698 et

seq.)

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Filed:

Removed:

November 14, 2017

December 22, 2017

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 1

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht, Inc., et al.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 40 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Documents? Filed 08/16/18 Page 2 of 26

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................!

II. JURISDICTON AND VENUE...................................................................................................... 1

III. PARTIES......................................................................................................................................... 1

IV. GENERAL ALLEGATIONS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS.................................................... 2

A. Missed Meal Periods..................................................................................................... 3

B. Meal Periods and Off-the-Clock Work......................................................................... 3

C. On-Duty Meal Periods.................................................................................................. 4

D. Missed Rest Periods...................................................................................................... 5

E. Expense Reimbursement............................................................................................... 5

F. Wage Statements........................................................................................................... 5

V. CLASS ALLEGATIONS..............................................................................................................^

FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF................................................................................................................. 9

SECOND CLAIM FORRELIEF.......................................................................................................... 11

THIRD CLAIM FORRELIEF.............................................................................................................. 12

FOURTH CLAIM FORRELIEF......................................................................................................... 15

FIFTH CLAIM FORRELIEF............................................................................................................... 16

SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF.............................................................................................................. 17

SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF........................................................................................................ 19

EIGHTH CLAIM FORRELIEF........................................................................................................... 21

PRAYER FOR RELIEF ........................................................................................................................ 23

DEMAND FOR JURY TMAL............................................................................................................. 24

Case No.: 3:17.cv-07272. YGR Page i

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., etal.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 41 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 3 of 26

1 COMES NOW, Plaintiff THEODORE A. EMETOH ("Plaintiff"), on behalf of himself, all others

2 similarly sihiated, and the general public, complains and alleges as follows:

3 I. INTRODUCTION

4 1. Plaintiff brings this class and representative action against Defendant FEDEX FREIGHT,

5 WC,, an Arkansas corporation; and DOES 1 through 50, inclusive (collectively referred to as

6 "Defendants") for alleged violations of the Labor Code and Business and Professions Code. As set forth

7 below. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants have:

8 (a) failed to provide him and all other similarly situated mdividuals with meal periods;

9 (b) failed to provide them with rest periods;

10 (c) failed to pay them premium wages for missed meal and/or rest periods;

11 (d) failed to pay them at least mimmum wage for all hours worked;

12 (e) failed to pay them for all vested vacation pay and/or floating holidays;

13 (f) failed to reimburse them for all necessary business expenses;

14 (g) failed to provide them with accurate written wage statements; and

15 (h) failed to pay them all of their final wages following separation of employment.

16 Based on these alleged Labor Code violations, Plaintiff now brings this class and representative action to

17 recover unpaid wages, restitution and related relief on behalf of himself, all others similarly situated, and

18 the general public.

19 II. JURISDICTON AND VENUE

20 2. Venue is proper in this District under 28 U. S .C. section 13 91 (b)(2) and (c) because a

21 substantial part of the events and omissions giving rise to the claims alleged m this complaint occurred in

22 this District.

23 3. This Court has personal j urisdiction over this matter because Defendants conduct

24 substantial business activity in tiiis District, and because many of the unlawful acts described in this

2 5 complaint occurred in this District and gave rise to the claims alleged.

26 III. PARTIES

27 4. Plaintiff THEODORE A. EMETOH is, and at all relevant times mentioned herein, an

2 8 individual residing in the State of California.

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 1

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., etal.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 42 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 4 of 26

1 5. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereupon alleges that Defendant FEDEX

2 FREIGHT, INC. is, and at all relevant times mentioned herein, an Arkansas corporation doing business in

3

4

5

6

7

the State of California.

6. Plaintiff is ignorant of the ime names and capacities of the defendants sued herein as

DOES 1 through 50, inclusive, and therefore sue these defendants by such fictitious names. Plaintiff will

amend this Complaint to allege the tme names and capacities of the DOE defendants when ascertained.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereupon alleges that each of the fictitiously named defendants are

8 responsible in some manner for the occurrences, acts and omissions alleged herein and that Plaintiffs

9 alleged damages were proximately caused by these defendants, and each of them. Plaintiff will amend this

10 complaint to allege both the true names and capacities of the DOE defendants when ascertained.

11 7. Plaintiff is infonned and believes, and thereupon alleges that, at all relevant times

12 mentioned herein, some or all of the defendants were the representatives, agents, employees, partners,

13 directors, associates, joint venturers, principals or co-participants of some or all of the other defendants,

14 and in doing the things alleged herein, were acting within the course and scope of such relationship and

15 with the full knowledge, consent and ratification by such other defendants.

16 8. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereupon alleges that, at all relevant times

17 mentioned herein, some of the defendants pursued a common course of conduct, acted in concert and

18 conspired with one another, and aided and abetted one another to accomplish the occurrences, acts and

19 omissions alleged herein.

IV. GENERAL ALLEGATIONS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS

9. Plaintiff was hired by Defendants as a non-exempt, hourly employee from approximately

2 2 February 2006 through July 14, 2017. Plaintiff worked as a long-haul truck driver transporting goods m

23 interstate commerce.

24 10. PlamtifFsjob duties fell within the definition of being in the "Transportation Industry" as

2 5 defined in Section 2 of the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order 9-2001 ("Wage Order").

2 6 Accordingly, Plamtiffwas entitled to the protections of the Labor Code and the applicable Wage Order.

27 11. Plaintiff and the putative class regularly worked through their meal periods and/or took his

2 8 meal periods after the fifth hour as he was driving long distances and needed to arrive at his designated

CaseNo. :3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page2 Emetohv. FedexFrei ht. Inc.. etal.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAEST

20

21

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 43 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 5 of 26

1 drop off location by a certain time.

2 12. Even though Plaintiff and the putative class did not take their meal periods and/or took

3 them after the fifth hour, they would be required to sign a "Kronos Edit Form" on those days each time by

4 their manager deducting thirty minutes for a purported meal period that they did not take.

5 13. Defendants knew or should have known that Plaintiff and the putative class did not take

6 their meal periods and/or took them after the fifth hour and so should not have required Plaintiff and the

7 putative class to sign a "Kronos Edit Form" purporting to authorize the deduction of thirty minutes as a

8 meal period when they did not take their meal periods and/or took them after the fifth hour.

9 A. Missed Meal Periods

10 14. Plaintiff and the putative class members were not provided with meal periods of at least

11 thirty (30) minutes for each five (5) hour work period due to (1) Defendants' policy of not scheduling each

12 meal period as part of each work shiflt; (2) chronically understafFmg each work shift with not enough

13 workers; (3) imposing so much work on each employee such that it made it unlikely that an employee

14 would be able to take their breaks if they wanted to fmish thek work on tune; and (4) no formal written

15 meal and rest period policy that encouraged employees to take their meal and rest periods.

16 15. As a result of Defendants' policy. Plaintiff and the putative class were regularly not

17 provided with uninterrupted meal periods of at least thirty (30) minutes for each five (5) hours worked due

18 to complying with Defendants' productivity requirements that required Plaintiff and the putative class to

19 work through their meal periods in order to complete their assignments on time.

20 B. Meal Periods and Off-the-Clock Work

21 16. Plaintiff and the putative class were not paid all wages earned as Defendants directed,

2 2 pennitted or otherwise encouraged Plaintiff and the putative class to perform off-the-clock work.

23 17, When Plaintiff and the putative class were unable to take their meal periods and/or took

2 4 them after the fifth hour, they were required to sign a "Kronos Edit Form" authorizing the deduction of

2 5 thirty minutes from their daily hours worked for purported meal periods, even though Plaintiff and the

2 6 putative class were unable to take fheir meal periods and/or took them after the fifth hour of work.

27 18. As a result of performing off-the-clock work that was directed, permitted or otherwise

2 8 encouraged by Defendants, Plaintiff and the putative class should have been paid for this tune. Instead,

CaseNo.:3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page3 Emetohv. FedexFrei ht, Inc., etal.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 44 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 6 of 26

1 Defendants only paid Plaintiff and the putative class based on the time they were "on the clock" and did

2 not pay Plaintiff and the putative class for the time that was deducted based on the Kronos Edit Forms they

3 were required to sign.

4 19. Defendants knew or should have known that Plaintiff and the putative class did not take

5 their meal periods and/or took them after the fifth hour and failed to pay Plaintiff and the putative class for

6 these hours.

7 20. Defendants were aware of this practice and directed, permitted or otherwise encouraged

8 Plaintiff and the putative class to perform off-the-clock work.

9 21. As a result of Defendants' policies and practices. Plaintiff and the putative class were not

10 paid for all hours worked.

11 C. On-Du Meal Periods

12 22. Plaintiff and the putative class were directed by Defendants to always have theu- cellphones

13 with them during each shift. Plamtiff is infonned and believes that the purpose for this requirement was to

14 permit Defendants to provide instructions to him at any time Defendants chose, which was consistent with

15 the fact that Plaintiff and putative class members were instmcted that they were expected to take any calls

16 that came in from their supervisors at any time.

17 23. Even if they were on a meal period, Defendants even required and du-ected Plamtiff and

18 the putative class to have their cellphones with them and requu-ed Plaintiff and the putative class to take

19 calls that came in during meal periods.

2 0 24. During his shifts, there were many occasions when Plaintiff took calls on his cellphone

21 while he was on a meal period.

22 25. As a result of Defendants' policies and practices, Plaintiff and the putative class were not

2 3 provided with at least thirty minutes, unintermpted meal periods during which they were relieved of all

2 4 duty as they were (1) required to have their cellphones with them at all times; and (2) required to take any

2 5 calls that came m.

26 26. As a result of Defendants' policies and practices. Plaintiff and the putative class were not

2 7 paid for the time spent where they were not relieved of all duty and/or took calls while they were on a

2 8 meal period.

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 4 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht, Inc., et al.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 45 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 7 of 26

1 27. Therefore, as an alternative theory of liability to Plaintiffs allegations of missed, late,

2 short, or intermpted meal periods set forth above, the practices, procedures, requirements, and/or policies

3 of Defendants imposed on-duty meal periods upon Plaintiff and the putative class, an arrangement that

4 Plaintiff did not agree to and, to Plaintiffs knowledge, no member of the putative class agreed to.

5 D. Missed Rest Periods

6 28. Plaintiff and the putative class members were not provided with rest periods of at least ten

7 (10) minutes for each four (4) hour work period, or major fraction thereof, due to (1) Defendants' policy o

8 not scheduling each rest period as part of each work shift; (2) chronically understaffing each work shift

9 with not enough workers; (3) unposing so much work on each employee such that it made it unlikely that

10 an employee would be able to take their breaks if they wanted to finish their work on time; and (4) no

11 formal written meal and rest period policy that encouraged employees to take their meal and rest periods.

12 As a result of Defendants' policy. Plaintiff and the putative class were regularly not provided

13 with uninterrupted rest periods of at least ten (10) minutes for each four (4) hours worked due

14 to complying with Defendants' productivity requirements that required Plaintiff and the

15 putative class to work through their rest periods in order to complete their assignments on

16 time.

17 E. Ex ense Reimbursement

18 29. Plaintiff and the putative class members were required to utilize their own personal cell

19 phones to take calls diuing the course ofbusmess from dispatch in order to notify them of their daily

2 0 assignments, changes to their routes and/or schedules, and other necessary mformation for them to

21 complete their j obs.

2 2 30. Plaintiff and the putative class members were not reimbursed for business expenses

2 3 incurred in the use of fhek personal cell phones.

24 31. Defendants failed to reimburse Plaintiff and the putative class for such necessary business

2 5 expenses incurred by them.

26 F. Wa e Statements

27 32. Plaintiff and the putative class were not provided with accurate wage statements as

2 8 mandated by law pursuant to Labor Code section 226.

Case No.: 3:17-cv.07272.YGR Page 5

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAEST

Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., etal.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 46 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 8 of 26

1 33. Defendants failed to comply with Labor Code section 226(a)(l) as "gross wages earned"

2 were not accurately reflected in that: (1) all hours worked, including overtime, were not included; and (2)

3 any and all meal and/or rest period premium wages were not paid.

4 34. Defendants failed to comply with Labor Code section 226(a)(2) as "total hours worked by

5 the employee" were not accurately reflected in that: all hours worked, including overtime, were not

6 included.

7 35. Defendants failed to comply with Labor Code section 226(a)(5) as "net wages earned"

8 were not accurately reflected m that: (1) all hours worked, including overtime, were not included; and (2)

9 any and all meal and/or rest period premium wages were not paid.

10 36. Defendants failed to comply with Labor Code section 226(a)(9) as "all applicable hourly

11 rates in effect during the pay period and the corresponding number of hours worked at each hourly rate by

12 the employee" were not accurately reflected in that: all hours worked, includmg overtune, were not

13 included.

14 V. CLASS ALLEGATIONS

15 37. This action has been brought and may be maintained as a class action pursuant to Federal

16 Rules of Civil Procedure 23 because there is a well-defined community of interest among the persons who

17 comprise the readily ascertainable classes defined below and because Plaintiff is unaware of any

18 difficulties likely to be encountered in managing this case as a class action.

19 38. Relevant Time Period: The relevant time period is defined as the time period beginning

2 0 four years prior to the filing of this action until judgment is entered.

21 39. Truck Driver Class: All persons employed by Defendants and/or any staffing agencies

2 2 and/or any other third parties in hourly or non-exempt positions in California durmg the Relevant Time

2 3 Period; excluding claims released by Califomia-based employees who worked for Defendants as Road

2 4 Drivers or other drivers paid by the hour to the extent they perfonned road runs paid on a piece rate basis,

25 in California on or after January 28, 2012 through December 31, 2015.

26

27

28

Truck Drwer Meal Period Sub-Class: All Trucker Drwer Class members who

worked in a shift in excess of five hours during the Relevant Time Period.

Truck Driver Rest Period Sub-Class: All Truck Driver Class members who

worked a shiflt of at least three and one-half(3. 5) hours during the Relevant Time

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 6

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAEMT

Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., et al.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 47 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Documents? Filed 08/16/18 Page 9 of 26

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Period.

Truck Driver Wa e Statement Penalties Sub-CIass: All Truck Driver Class

members employed by Defendants in California during the period beginning one year

before the filing of this action and ending when final judgment is entered.

Truck Driver Ex ense Reimbursement Sub-Class: All Truck Driver Class

members employed by Defendants in California who incurred business expenses during

the Relevant Time Period.

Truck Driver Waitin Time Penalties Sub-Class: All Truck Driver Class members

who separated from their employment with Defendants during the period beginning

three years before the filing of this action and ending when final judgment is entered.

Waitin Time Penalties Class: All exempt and non-exempt employees who separated

from their eniployment with Defendants during the period beginning three years before

the filing of this action and ending when final judgment is entered.

UCL Class: All Truck Driver Class members employed by Defendants in California

during the Relevant Time Period.

40. Reservation of Ri ts: Plaintiff reserves the right to amend or modify the class

definitions with greater specificity, by fijrther division into sub-classes and/or by limitation to particular

issues.

41. Numerosi : The class members are so numerous that the mdividual joinder of each

individual class member is impractical. While Plamtiffdoes not currently know the exact number of class

17 members, Plaintiff is infonned and believes, and thereupon alleges that the acftial number exceeds the

18 minimum required for numerosity under California law.

19 42. Commonali and Predominance: Common questions of law and fact exist as to all

2 0 class members and predomiiiate over any questions which affect only individual class members. These

21 common questions include, but are not limited to:

(a) Whether Defendants maintained a policy or practice of failing to provide

employees with their meal periods;

(b) Whether Defendants maintained a policy or practice of failmg to provide

employees with their rest periods;

(c) Whether Defendants failed to pay premium wages to class members when they

have not been provided with required meal and/or rest periods;

(d) Whether Defendants failed to pay minimum and/or overtime wages to class

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page?

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht, Inc., et al.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 48 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 10 of 26

1 members as a result of policies that fail to provide meal periods in accordance with

2 California law;

3 (e) Whether Defendants failed to reimburse class members for all necessary business

4 expenses mcurred during the discharge of their duties;

5 (f) Whether Defendants failed to provide class members with accurate written wage

6 statements as a result of providing them with written wage statements with

7 inaccurate entries for, among other things, amounts of gross and net wages, and

8 total hours worked;

9 (g) Whether Defendants applied policies or practices that result in late and/or

10 incomplete final wage payments;

11 (h) Whether Defendants are liable to class members for waitmg time penalties under

12 Labor Code section 203;

13 (i) Whether class members are entitled to restitution of money or property that

14 Defendants may have acquired from them through unfair competition;

15 43. Typicality: Plaintiffs claims are typical of the other class members'claims. Plaintiff is

16 informed and believes and thereupon alleges that Defendants have a policy or practice of failing to comply

17 with the Labor Code and Business and Professions Code as alleged in this Complaint.

18 44. Ade uac of Class Re resentative: Plaintiff is an adequate class representative in that he

19 has no interests that are adverse to, or otherwise conflict with, the interests of absent class members and is

2 0 dedicated to vigorously prosecuting this action on their behalf. Plaintiff will fairly and adeqiiately

21 represent and protect the interests of the other class members.

22 45. Ade uac of Class Counsel: Plaintiff s counsel are adequate class counsel m that they

2 3 have no known conflicts of interest with Plaintiff or absent class members, are experienced m wage and

2 4 hour class action litigation, and are dedicated to vigorously prosecuting this action on behalf of Plaintiff

2 5 and absent class members.

2 6 46. Superiority: A class action is vastly superior to other available means for fair and

2 7 efficient adjudication of the class members' claims and would be beneficial to the parties and the Court.

2 8 Class action treatment will allow a number of similarly situated persons to simultaneously and efficiently

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 8 Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., et al.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAENT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 49 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 11 of 26

1 prosecute their common claims in a single forum without the unnecessary duplication of effort and

2 expense that numerous individual actions would entail. In addition, the monetary amounts due to many

3 individual class members are likely to be relatively small and would thus make I difficult, if not

4 impossible, for individual class members to both seek and obtain relief. Moreover, a class action will

5 serve an important public interest by pennitting class members to effectively pursue the recovery of

6 monies owed to them. Further, a class action will prevent the potential for inconsistent or contradictory

7 judgments inherent in individual litigation.

8 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF

9 FAILURE TO PROVIDE MEAL PERIODS

10 (Lab. Code §§ 004, 223, 226. 7, 512 and 1198)

11 (Plaintiff and Truck Driver Meal Period Sub-Class)

12 47. Plamtiff incorporates by reference the preceding paragraphs of the Complamt as if fully

13 alleged herein.

14 48. At all relevant times, Plaintiff and the Truck Driver Meal Period Sub-Class members

15 have been non-exempt employees of Defendant entitled to the full meal period protections of both the

16 Labor Code and the applicable Industiial Welfare Commission Wage Order.

17 49. Labor Code section 512 and Section 11 of the applicable Industrial Welfare Commission

18 Wage Order impose an afEinnative obligation on employers to provide non-exempt employees with

19 uninterrupted, duty-free meal periods of at least thirty minutes for each work period of five hours, and to

2 0 provide them with two uninterrupted, duty-fi-ee meal periods of at least thirty minutes for each work period

21 of ten hours.

22 50. Labor Code section 226. 7 and Section 11 of the applicable Industrial Welfare Comnmission

2 3 Wage Order ("Wage Order") both prohibit employers from requiring employees to work during required

2 4 meal periods and require employers to pay non-exempt employees an hour of premium wages on each

2 5 workday that the employee is not provided with the required meal period.

26 51. Compensation for missed meal periods constitutes wages within the meaning of Labor

27 Code section 200.

2 8 52. Labor Code section 1198 makes it unlawful to employ a person under conditions that

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 9 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht, Inc., et al.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 50 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 12 of 26

1 violate the applicable Wage Order.

2 53. Section 11 of the applicable Wage Order states:

3 "No employer shall employ any person for a work period of more than five (5) hours

without a meal period of not less than 30 minutes, except that when a work period of

4 not more than six (6) hours will complete the day's work the meal penod may be

waived by mutual consent of the eniployer and employee. Unless the employee is

5 relieved of all duty during a 30 minute meal period, the meal period shall be considered

an 'on duty' meal period and counted as time worked. An 'on duty' meal period shall

6 be pemiitted only when the nature of the work prevents an employee from being

relieved of all duty and when by written agreement between the parties an on-the-job

7 paid meal period is agreed to. The written agreement shall state that the employee may,

in writing, revoke the agreement at any time."

8

9 54. At all relevant times. Plaintiff was not subject to a valid on-duty meal period agreement.

10 Plaintiff is informed and believes that, at all relevant times, Truck Driver Meal Period Sub-Class

11 members were not subject to valid on-duty meal period agreements with Defendants.

12 55. Plaintiff alleges that, at all relevant times during the applicable limitations period,

13 Defendants maintained a policy or practice of not providing Plaintiff and members of the Truck Driver

14 Meal Period Sub-Class with unintermpted, duty-free meal periods for at least thirty (30) minutes for each

15 five (5) hour work period, as required by Labor Code section 512 ad the applicable Wage Order.

16 56. Plaintiff alleges that, at all relevant times during the applicable limitations period,

17 Defendants maintained a policy or practice of failing to pay premium wages to Truck Driver Meal

18 Period Sub-CIass members when they worked five (5) hours without clocking out for any meal period.

19 57. Plaintiff alleges that, at all relevant times durmg the applicable limitations period,

2 0 Defendants maintained a policy or practice of automatically deducting one-half hour for a meal period

21 from the paychecks of Truck Driver Meal Period Sub-Class members on each day they worked,

2 2 regardless of whether or not they were able to take an uninterrupted, duty-free meal period.

23 58. Plaintiff alleges that, at all relevant times durmg the applicable limitations period,

2 4 Defendants maintained a policy or practice of not providing Plaintiff and members of the Truck Driver

2 5 Meal Period Sub-Class with a second meal period when they worked shiflts often or more hours and

2 6 failed to pay them premium wages as required by Labor Code 51 2 and the applicable Wage Order.

2 7 59. At all relevant times. Defendants failed to pay Plaintiff and the Truck Driver Meal

2 8 Period Sub-Class members additional premium wages, and/or were not paid premium wages at the

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 10 Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., etal.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 51 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Documents? Filed 08/16/18 Page 13 of 26

1 employees' regular rates of pay when required meal periods were not provided.

2 60. Pursuant to Labor Code section 204, 218.6 and 226.7, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and

3 the Truck Driver Meal Period Sub-Class members, seek to recover unpaid premium wages, interest

4 thereon, and costs of suit.

5 61. Pursuant to Labor Code section 1194, Code of Civil Procedure section 1021. 5, the

6 substantial benefit doctrine, and/or the common fund doctiine, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the

7 Truck Driver Meal Period Sub-Class members, seek to recover reasonable attorneys' fees.

8 SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF

9 FAILURE TO PROVIDE REST PERIODS

10 (Lab. Code §§ 204, 223, 226. 7 and 1198)

11 (Plaintiff and Truck Driver Rest Period Sub-Class)

12 62. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs of the Complaint as if fully alleged herein.

13 63. At all relevant times, Plaintiff and the Truck Driver Rest Period Sub-Class members

14 have been non-exempt employees of Defendants entided to the full rest period protections of both the

15 Labor Code and the applicable Wage Order.

16 64. Section 12 of the applicable Wage Order unposes an affirmative obligation on employers

17 to permit and authorize employees to take required rest periods at a rate of no less than ten minutes of net

18 rest time for each four hour work period, or major fi-action thereof, that must be in the middle of each work

19 period insofar as practicable.

2 0 65. Labor Code section 226. 7 and Section 12 of the applicable Wage Order both prohibit

21 employers from requiring employees to work during required rest periods and require employers to pay

2 2 non-exempt employees an hour of premium wages at the employees' regular rates of pay, on each

2 3 workday that the employee is not provided with the requu-ed rest period(s).

24 66. Compensation for missed rest periods constitutes wages within the meaning of Labor Code

25 section 200.

2 6 67. Labor Code section 1198 makes it unlawful to employ a person under conditions that

2 7 violate the Wage Order.

28 68. Plaintifif alleges that, at all relevant times during the applicable limitations period,

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 1 1 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht. Inc., et al.

SECOND AME1NDED COMPLAENT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 52 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 14 of 26

1 Defendants mamtained a policy or practice of not providing members of the Truck Driver Rest Period

2 Sub-Class with net rest period of at least ten minutes for each four hour work period, or major fraction

3 thereof, as required by the applicable Wage Order.

4 69. At all relevant times. Defendants failed to pay Plaintiff and the Truck Driver Rest Period

5 Sub-CIass members additional premium wages when required rest periods were not provided.

6 70. Pursuant to Labor Code section 204, 218.6 and 226.7, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and

7 Truck Driver Rest Period Sub-Class members, seek to recover unpaid premium wages, mterest thereon,

8 and costs of suit.

9 71. Pursuant to Labor Code section 1194, Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5, the

10 substantial benefit doctrine, and/or the common fund doctrine, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and Truck

11 Driver Rest Period Sub-CIass members, seek to recover reasonable attorneys' fees.

12 THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF

13 FAILURE TO PAY HOURLY AND OVERTIME WAGES

14 (Lab. Code §§ 223, 510, 1194, 1197 and 1198)

15 (Plaintiff and Truck Driver Class)

16 72. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs oflhe Complaint as if fully alleged herein.

17 73. At all relevant times, Plaintiff and Truck Driver Class members are or have been non18 exempt employees of Defendants entitled to the full protections of the Labor Code and the applicable

19 Wage Order.

2 0 74. Section 2 of the applicable Wage Order defmes "hours worked" as "the time during which

21 an employee is subject to the control of the employer, and includes all fhe time the employee is suffered or

2 2 permitted to work, whether or not required to do so."

23 75. Section 4 of the applicable Wage Order requires an employer to pay non-exempt

2 4 employees at least the minimum wage set forth therein for all hours worked, which consist of all hours that

25 an employer has actual or constmctive knowledge that employees are working.

2 6 76. Labor Code section 1194 invalidates any agreement between an employer and an

2 7 employee to work for less than the minimum or overtime wage required under the applicable Wage Order.

2 8 77. Labor Code section 1194.2 entitles non-exempt employees to recover liquidated damages

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 12 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht, Inc., et al.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 53 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 15 of 26

1 in amounts equal to the amounts ofimpaid minimum wages and interest thereon in addition to the

2 underlying unpaid minimum wages and interest thereon.

3 78. Labor Code section 1197 makes it unlawful for an employer to pay an employee less than

4 the minimum wage required under the applicable Wage Order for all hours worked during a payroll

5 period.

6 79. Labor Code section 1197. 1 provides that it is unlawful for any employer or any other

7 person acting either individually or as an ofGcer, agent or employee of another person, to pay an

8 employee, or cause an employee to be paid, less than the applicable minimum wage.

9 80. Labor Code section 1198 makes it unlawful for employers to employ employees under

10 conditions that violate the applicable Wage Order.

11 81. Labor Code section 204 requires employers to pay non-exempt employees their earned

12 wages for the normal work period at least twice during each calendar month on days the employer

13 designates in advance and to pay non-exempt employees their earned wages for labor performed in excess

14 of the normal work period by no later than the next regular payday.

15 82. Labor Code section 223 makes it unlawful for employers to pay tfaeir employees lower

16 wages than required by contract or statute while purportmg to pay them legal wages.

17 83. Labor Code section 510 and Section 3 of the applicable Wage Order require employees to

18 pay non-exempt employees overtime wages of no less than one and one-half times their respective regular

19 rates of pay for all hours worked in excess of eight hours in one workday, all hours worked in excess of

2 0 forty hours in one workweek, and/or for the first eight hours worked on the seventh consecutive day of one

21 workweek.

22 84. Labor Code section 510 and Section 3 of the applicable Wage Order also require

2 3 employers to pay non-exempt employees overtime wages of no less than two times their respective regular

24 rates of pay for all hours worked in excess of twelve hours in one workday and for all hours worked in

2 5 excess of eight hours on a seventh consecutive workday during the workweek.

26 85. Plaintiff is informed and believes that, at all relevant times. Defendants have applied

2 7 centrally devised policies and practices to her and Truck Driver Class members with respect to working

2 8 conditions and compensation arrangements.

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 1 3 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht. Inc., et al.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 54 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 16 of 26

1 86. At all relevant times, Defendants failed to pay hourly wages to Plaintiff and Truck Driver

2 Class members for all time worked, including but not limited to, overtime hours at statutory and/or agreed

3 rates.

4 87. At all relevant times during the applicable limitations period. Defendants maintained a

5 policy or practice of automatically deducting one-halfhour from Plamtiffs timecard on every workday for

6 a meal period, regardless of whether or not Plaintiff was provided with a meal period.

7 88. Plaintiff is informed and believes that, at all relevant times during the applicable limitations

8 period. Defendants maintained a policy or practice of automatically deducting one-half hour from Truck

9 Driver Class members' timecard on every workday for a meal period, regardless of whether or not Truck

10 Driver Class members were provided with a meal period.

11 89. As a result of Defendants' policy or practice of automatically deducting one-halfhour from

12 employees' timecards for every workday for a meal period, Plaintiff and Truck Driver Class members

13 were required to perfonn off-the-clock work that Defendants either knew or should have known they were

14 working.

15 90. At all relevant times. Defendants failed to pay hourly wages to Plaintiff for all time

16 worked, including but not limited to, overtime wages at statutory and/or agreed rates by suffering or

17 permitting her to work during unpaid meal periods and/or failing to properly pay Plaintiff* for all overtime

18 hours worked.

19 91. Plaintiff is informed and believes that, at all relevant times during the applicable lunitations

2 0 period. Defendants maintained a policy or practice of not paying hourly wages to Truck Driver Class

21 members for all time worked, including but not lunited to, minimum wage and/or overtime hours at

2 2 statutory and/or agreed rates by suffering or pemiitting them to work during unpaid meal periods.

2 3 92. Plaintiff is mformed and believes that, at all relevant times during the applicable limitations

24 period. Defendants maintained a policy or practice of not paying hourly wages to Truck Driver Class

2 5 members for all time worked, including but not limited to, minimum wage and/or overtune hours at

2 6 statutory and/or agreed rates by suffering or pennitting them to work during on-duty meal periods.

27 93. During the relevant tune period. Defendants failed to pay Plamtiff and Truck Driver

2 8 Class members all earned wages every pay period at the correct rates, including minimum wage and/or

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 14 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht. Inc., et al.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 55 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 17 of 26

1 overtime rates, because Defendants directed, pennitted or otherwise encouraged Plaintiff and Truck

2 Driver Class members to perform off-the-clock work.

3 94. As a result of Defendants' unlawful conduct, Plaintiff and Truck Driver Class members

4 have suffered damages in an amount, subject to proof, to the extent they were not paid the full amount of

5 wages earned during each pay period durmg the applicable limitations period, including overtime wages.

6 95. Pursuant to Labor Code sections 204, 218. 6, 223, 510, 1194 and 1 194.2, Plaintiff, on

7 behalf of himself and Truck Driver Class members, seek to recover unpaid sti-aight time and overtime

8 wages, interest thereon and costs of suit.

9 96. Pursuant to Labor Code section 1194, Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5, the

10 substantial benefit doctrine, and/or the common fund doctrine, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and Truck

11 Driver Class members, seek to recover reasonable attorneys' fees.

12 FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

13 FAILURE TO INDEMNIFY

14 (Lab. Code § 2802)

15 (Plaintiff and Truck Driver Expense Reimbursement Sub-Class)

16 97. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs of the Complaint as if fully alleged herem.

17 98. Labor Code section 2802(a) states:

18 "An employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or

losses incurred by the employee m direct consequence of the discharge of his or her

19 duties, or of his or her obedience to Ifae directions of the employer, even though

unlawful, unless the employee, at the time of obeying the dkections, believed them to

20 be unlawful."

21 99. At all relevant times during the applicable limitations period. Plaintiff and the Truck

2 2 Driver Expense Reimbursement Sub-Class members incurred necessary business related expenses and

23 costs, including but not limited to, regular use of personal cellphone during the course of business.

24 100. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereupon alleges that the reunbursement paid by

2 5 Defendants was insufficient to indemnify Plaintiff and Truck Driver Expense Reimbursement Sub2 6 Class members for all necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.

27 101. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that the reimbursement paid by

2 8 Defendants was insufficient to indemnify Truck Driver Expense Reimbursement Sub-Class members

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 15 Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., etal.

SECOND AMENDED COMPIAENT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 56 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 18 of 26

1 for all necessary business expenses incurred in the discharge offheu- duties.

2 102. Plaintiff is informed and believes that, during the applicable limitations period, Defendants

3 maintained a policy or practice of not reimbursing Plaintiff and Truck Driver Expense Reimbursement

4 Sub-CIass members for all necessary business expenses.

5 103. Accordingly, Plaintiff and Truck Driver Expense Reimbursement Sub-CIass members

6 are entitled to restitution for all unpaid amounts due and owing to within four years of the date of the filing

7 of the Complaint and until the date of entry of judgment.

8 104. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself, and Truck Driver Expense Reimbursement Sub-CIass

9 members, seek interest thereon and costs pursuant to Labor Code section 218.6, and reasonable attorneys'

10 fees pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5.

11 FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

12 FAILURE TO PROVIDE ACCURATE WRITTEN WAGE STATEMENTS

13 (Lab. Code § 226)

14 (Plaintiff and Truck Driver Wage Statement Penalties Sub-Class)

15 105. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs of the Complaint as if fully alleged herein.

16 106. Labor Code section 226(a) states:

17 "An employer, semimonfhly or at the time of each payment of wages, shall furnish to

his or her employee, either as a detachable part of the check, draft, or voucher paying

18 the employee's wages, or separately if wages are paid by personal check or cash, an

accurate itemized statement in writing showing (1) gross wages earned, (2) total hours

19 worked by the employee, except as provided in subdivision (j), (3) the number ofpiecerate units earned and any applicable piece rate if the employee is paid on a piece-rate

2 0 basis, (4) all deductions, provided that all deductions made on written orders of the

employee may be aggregated and shown as one item, (5) net wages earned, (6) the

21 inclusive dates of the period for which the employee is paid, (7) the name of the

employee and only the last four digits of his or her social security number or an

2 2 employee identification number other than a social security number, (8) the name and

address of the legal entity that is the employer and, if the employer is a farm labor

2 3 contractor, as defmed in subdivision (b) of Section 1682, the name and address of the

legal entity that secured the services of the employer, and (9) all applicable hourly rates

24 in effect during the pay period and the corresponding number of hours worked at each

hourly rate by the employee and, beginning July 1, 2013, ifthe eniployer is a temporary

2 5 services employer as defined in Section 201.3, the rate of pay and the total hours

worked for each teniporary services assignment. The deductions made from payment

2 6 of wages shall be recorded in ink or other indelible form, properly dated, showing the

month, day, and year, and a copy of the statement and the record of the deductions shall

27 be kept on file by the employer for at least three years at the place of employment or at

a centi-al location within the State of California. For purposes of this subdivision,

2 8 'copy' includes a duplicate of the itemized statement provided to an employee or a

Case No.: 3:17.cv-07272.YGR Page 16

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAWT

Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., et al.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 57 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 19 of 26

1

2

3

computer-generated record that accurately shows all of the infonnation required by this

subdivision."

107. Plaintiff is infonned and believes that, at all relevant times during the applicable limitations

4 period. Defendants have failed to provide Truck Driver Wage Statement Penalties Sub-Class members

5 with written wage statements as described above.

6 108. Plaintiff is informed and believes that Defendants' failure to provide her and Truck

7 Driver Wage Statement Penalties Sub-Class members with accurate written wage statements were

8 intentional in that Defendants have the ability to provide them with accurate wage statements but have

9 intentionally provided them with written wage statements that Defendants have known do not comply with

10 Labor Code section 226(a).

11 109. Plaintiff and Truck Driver Wage Statement Penalties Sub-CIass members have suffered

12 injuries, m that Defendants have violated their legal rights to receive accurate wage statements and have

13 misled them about their actual rates of pay and wages earned. In addition, inaccurate mfonnation on their

14 wage statements have prevented immediate challenges to Defendants' unlawful pay practices, has required

15 discovery and mathematical computations to determine the amount of wages owed, has caused difficulty

16 and expense m attemptmg to reconstmct time and pay records, and/or has led to the submission of

17 inaccurate information about wages and deductions to federal and state government agencies.

18 110. Pursuant to Labor Code section 226(e), Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and Truck Driver

19 Wage Statement Penalties Sub-Class members, seek the greater of actual damages or $50.00 for the

2 0 initial pay period in which a violation of Labor Code section 226(a) occurred, and $ 100.00 for each

21 subsequent pay period in which a violation of Labor Code section 226(a) occurred, not to exceed an

2 2 aggregate penalty of $4000.00 per class member, as well as awards of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.

2 3 SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

24 FAILURE TO TIMELY PAY ALL FINAL WAGES

25 (Lab. Code §§ 201-203)

26 (Plaintiff, Truck Driver Waiting Time Penalties Sub-CIass and Waiting Time Penalties

27 Class)

28 111. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs of the Complaint as if fully alleged herein.

CaseNo.:3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 17 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht. Inc., et al.

SECOND AMEIWED COMPLAENT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 58 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 20 of 26

1 112. At all relevant times, Plaintiff and Truck Driver Waiting Time Penalties Sub-Class and

2 Waiting Time Penalties Class members have been entitled, upon the end of their employment with

3 Defendants, to timely payment of all wages earned and unpaid before termination or resignation.

4 113. At all relevant times, pursuant to Labor Code section 201, employees who have been

5 discharged have been entitled to payment of all final wages immediately upon termination.

6 114. At all relevant times, pursuant to Labor Code section 202, employees who have resigned

7 after giving at least seventy-two (72) hours notice of resignation have been entitled to payment of all fmal

8 wages at the time of resignation.

9 115. At all relevant times, pursuant to Labor Code section 202, employees who have resigned

10 after giving less than seventy-two (72) hours notice of resignation have been entitled to payment of all

11 final wages within seventy-two (72) hours of giving notice of resignation.

12 116. During the applicable limitations period. Defendants failed to pay Plamtiff all of her final

13 wages in accordance with the Labor Code by failing to timely pay her all of her fmal wages.

14 117. Plaintiff is informed and believes that, at all relevant time during the applicable limitations

15 period. Defendants have failed to timely pay Truck Driver Waiting Time Penalties Sub-Class and

16 Waiting Tiine Penalties Class members all of their fmal wages in accordance with the Labor Code.

17 118. Plaintiff is informed and believes that, at all relevant times during the applicable limitations

18 period. Defendants have maintained a policy or practice of paying Truck Driver Waiting Time Penalties

19 Sub-Class and Waiting Time Penalties Class members their final wages without regard to the

2 0 requirements of Labor Code sections 201 or 202 by failing to timely pay them all final wages.

21 119. Plaintiff is infonned and believes and thereupon alleges that Defendants' failure to timely

2 2 pay all final wages to her and Truck Driver Waiting Time Penalties Sub-CIass and Waiting Time

2 3 Penalties Class members have been willful in that Defendants have the ability to pay final wages in

24 accordance with Labor Code sections 201 and/or 202 but have intentionally adopted policies or practices

2 5 that are incompatible with those requirements.

26 120. Pursuant to Labor Code sections 203 and 218.6, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and Truck

2 7 Driver Waiting Time Penalties Sub-Class and Waiting Time Penalties Class members, seek waiting

2 8 time penalties from the dates that their final wages have first become due until paid, up to a maximum of

CaseNo.:3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 18 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht, Inc., et al.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 59 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Documents? Filed 08/16/18 Page 21 of 26

1 thirty days, and interest thereon.

2 121. Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1021. 5, the substantial benefit doctrine and/or

3 the common fund doctiine, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and Truck Driver Waiting Time Penalties

4 Sub-Class and Waiting Time Penalties Class members, seek awards of reasonable attorneys' fees and

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

costs.

SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

UNFAIR COMPETITION

(Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200 et seq.)

(Plaintiff and UCL Class)

122. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs of the Complaint as if fully alleged herein.

123. Business and Professions Code section 17200 defines "unfair competition" to mclude any

12 unlawful business practice.

13 124. Business and Professions Code section 17203-17204 allow a person who has lost money or

14 property as a result of unfair competition to bring a class action to recover money or property that may

15 have been acquired from similarly situated persons by means of unfair competition.

16 125. California law requires employers to pay hourly, non-exempt employees for all hours they

17 are pemiitted or suffered to work, including hours that the employer knows or reasonable should know

18 that employees have worked.

19 126. Plaintiff and the UCL Class members re-alleges and incorporates the FIRST, SECOND,

2 0 TfflRD and FOURTH Claims for Relief herein.

21 127. Plaintiff lost money or property as a result of the aforementioned unfair competition.

22 128. Defendants have or may have acquired money by means of unfair competition.

23 129. Plaintiff is mfonned and believes and thereupon alleges that by committing the Labor

24 Code violations described in this Complamt, Defendants violated Labor Code sections 215, 216, 225,

25 226.6, 354, 408, 553, 1175, 1199 and 2802, which make it a misdemeanor to commit the Labor Code

2 6 violations alleged herein.

27 130. Defendants have committed criminal conduct through their policies and practices of, inter

2 8 alia, failing to comport with their affirmative obligations as an employer to provide non-exempt

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 19 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht, Inc., et al.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAENT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 60 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 22 of 26

1 employees with uninten-upted, duty-free meal periods of at least thuly minutes for each work period of

2 five or more hours, failing to provide rest periods of at least ten minutes to non-exempt employees for

3 every four hours worked or major fraction thereof, failing to pay non-exempt employees for all hours

4 worked, and by failing to reimburse them for all expenses mcurred in the discharge of their duties to

5 Defendants.

6 131. At all relevant times, Plaintiff and UCL Class members have been non-exempt employees

7 and entitled to the full protections of both the Labor Code and the applicable Wage Order.

8 132, Defendants' unlawful conduct as alleged in this Complaint amounts to and constitutes

9 unfair competition withm the meaning ofBusmess and Professions Code section 17200 et seq. Business

10 and Professions Code sections 17200 et seq. protects against unfair competition and allows a person who

11 has suffered an injury-in-fact and has lost money or property as a result of an unfak, unlawful or

12 fraudulent business practice to seek restifaition on her own behalf and on behalf of similarly situated

13 persons in a class action proceeding.

14 133. As a result of Defendants' violations of the Labor Code during the applicable limitations

15 period, Plaintiff has suffered an injury-in-fact and has lost money or property m the fonn of earned wages.

16 Specifically, Plaintiff has lost money or property as a result of Defendants' conduct.

17 134. Plaintiff is informed and believes that other similarly situated persons have been subject to

18 the same unlawful policies or practices of Defendants.

19 135. Due to the unfair and unlawful business practices in violation of the Labor Code,

2 0 Defendants have gained a competitive advantage over other comparable companies doing business in the

21 State of California that comply with their legal obligations.

22 136. California's Unfair Competition Law ("UCL") pennits civil recovery and injunctive for

2 3 "any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice, " including if a practice or act violates or is

24 considered unlawful under any other state or federal law.

25 137. Accordingly, pursuant to Bus. & Prof. Code sections 17200 and 17203, Plaintiffs request

26 the issuance of temporary, preliminary and pennanent injunctive relief enjoining Defendants, and each of

2 7 them, and their agents and employees, from further violations of the Labor Code and applicable Industrial

2 8 Welfare Commission Wage Orders; and upon a fmal hearing seek an order permanently enjoming

CaseNo. :3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 20 Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht. Inc.. et al.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAWT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 61 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 23 of 26

1 Defendants, and each of them, and their respective agents and employees, from further violations of the

2 Labor Code and applicable Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders.

3 138. Pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 1 7203, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself

4 and UCL Class members, seek declaratory relief and restitution of all monies rightfully belonging to them

5 that Defendants did not pay them or otherwise retained by meaiis of its unlawful and unfair business

6 practices.

7 139. Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5, the substantial benefit doctrine and/or

8 the common fund doctrine, PlamtifF and UCL Class members are entitled to recover reasonable attorneys'

9 fees in connection with their unfair competition claims.

10 EIGHTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

11 CIVIL PENALTIES

12 (Lab. Code §§ 2698 et seq.)

13 140. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs of the Complaint as if fully alleged herein.

14 141. Diiring the applicable limitations period, Defendants have violated Labor Code sections

15 201, 202, 203, 204, 223, 226(a), 226. 7, 227. 3, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1198 and 2802.

16 142. Labor Code sections 2699(a) and (g) authorize an aggrieved employee, on behalf of hersel

17 and other current and former employees, to bring a representative civil action to recover civil penalties

18 pursuant to the procedures set forth m Labor Code section 2699.3 that may, but need not, be brought or

19 maintamed as a class action.

20 143. Plaintiff, a fonner employee against who Defendants committed one or more of the alleged

21 Labor Code violations during the applicable limitations period, is an aggrieved employee within the

2 2 meaning of Labor Code section 2699(c).

2 3 144. Plaintiff has complied with the procedures for bringing suit specified in Labor Code

24 section 2699. 3.

25 145. Pursuant to Labor Code sections 2699(a) and (f), Plaintiff seeks the following civil

2 6 penalties for Defendants' violations of Labor Code sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 223, 226(a), 226.7, 227.3,

27 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1198 and 2802:

28 (a) For violations of Labor Code sections 201, 202, 203, 212, 226. 7, 227. 3, 1194, 1198

CaseNo. :3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 21 Emetohv. FedexFrei ht, Inc., etal.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAENT

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 62 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 24 of 26

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

and 2802, $100 for each employee per pay period for each initial violation and

$200 for each employee per pay period for each subsequent violation (penalties set

by Labor Code section 2699(f)(2));

(b) For violations of Labor Code section 203, a penalty in an amount not exceeding

thirty days pay as waiting time (penalties set by Labor Code section 256);

(c) For violations of Labor Code section 204, $ 1 00 for each employee for each initial

violation that was neither willful nor intentional, $200 for each employee, plus

25% of the amount unlawfully withheld from each employee, for each initial

violation that was either willful or mtentional, and $200 for each employee, plus

25% of the amount unlawfully withheld from each employee, for each subsequent

violation, regardless of whether the subsequent violation was either willful or

intentional (penalties set by Labor Code section 210);

(d) For violations of Labor Code section 223, $100 for each employee for each initial

violation that was neither willful nor intentional, $200 for each employee, plus

25% of the amount unlawfully withheld from each employee, for each initial

violation that was either willful or intentional, and $200 for each employee, plus

25% of the amount unlawfully withheld from each employee, for each subsequent

violation, regardless of whether the subsequent violation was either willful or

intentional (penalties set by Labor Code section 225.5);

(e) For violations of Labor Code section 226(a), if this action is deemed to be an initial

citation, $250 for each employee for each violation. Alternatively, if an mitial

citation or its equivalent occurred before the filing of this action, $1,000 for each

eniployee for each violation (penalties set by Labor Code section 226.3);

(f) For violation of Labor Code sections 510 and 512, $50 for each employee for each

initial pay period for which the employee was underpaid, and $100 for each

employee for each subsequent pay period for which the employee was underpaid

(penalties set by Labor Code section 558);

(g) For violations of Labor Code section 1197, $100 for each aggrieved employee for

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 22

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAEST

Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., etal.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 63 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 25 of 26

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

each initial violation of Labor Code section 1197 that was intentional, and $250 for

each aggrieved employee per pay period for each subsequent violation of Labor

Code section 1197, regardless of whether the initial violation was intentional

(penalties set by Labor Code section 1197. 1);

(h) Pursuant to Labor Code section 2699(g), Plamtiff seeks award of reasonable

attorneys' fees and costs in connection with her clauns for civil penalties.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself, all others similarly situated, and the general

public, prays for relief and judgment against Defendants as follows:

1. An order that the action be certified as a class action;

2. An order that Plamtiffbe appointed class representative;

3. An order that counsel for Plaintiff be appomted class counsel;

4. Unpaid wages;

5. Actual damages;

6. Liquidated damages;

7. Restitution;

8. Declaratory relief;

9. Pre-judgment interest;

10. Statutory penalties;

11. Civil penalties;

12. Costs of suit;

13. Reasonable attorneys' fees; and

14, Such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.

Case No.: 3:17-CV-07272-YGR Page 23

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAWT

Emetoh v. Fedex Frei ht, Inc., et al.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 64 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 37 Filed 08/16/18 Page 26 of 26

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff, on behalf of hunself, all other similarly situated, and the general public, hereby

demands a jury trial on all issues so triable.

Dated: July 24, 2018,

Respectfully submitted,

SETAREHLA GROUP

By:

Shaun Setareh

H. Scott Leviant

Attorneys for Plaintiff

Case No.: 3:17-cv-07272-YGR Page 24

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Emetoh v. FedexFrei ht. Inc., etal.

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 65 of 84
EXHIBIT B

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 66 of 84
QUESTIONS? Call ___________ 

Postmark Deadline: __________, 2019 

Page 1 of 3 

DATA DISPUTE FORM 

Theodore A. Emetoh v. FedEx Freight, Inc., 

United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

Your Estimated Claim Amount is <<EST. CLAIM AMOUNT>>

The purpose of this form is to confirm the information the Settlement Administrator has on file for you. IF 

YOU DO NOT DISPUTE THE BELOW INFORMATION, NO RESPONSE OR FURTHER ACTION IS 

REQUIRED BY YOU. Your payment under the Settlement will be calculated using the below information. 

If you feel that any of the information listed below is incorrect, you must provide all of the requested 

information, including attaching supporting documentation, and return this Data Dispute Form postmarked no later 

than <<DATA DISPUTE DEADLINE>>, to: 

Settlement Administrator 

<<ADDRESS>> 

<<CITY, STATE ZIP>>

 

If you miss the deadline, your Claim Amount will be calculated using the below information. 

A. PLEASE VERIFY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS: 

 Name/Address Corrections (if any): 

«First1» «Last1» 

«c/o» 

«Address1» «Address2» 

«City»,«ST» «ZIP» «Country» 

B. EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION: 

FedEx Freight, Inc.’s (“Defendant”) records indicate that you were employed as a driver by Defendant and 

worked in California during the period from November 14, 2013 through December 1, 2019, excluding weeks that 

you performed no driving duties at all during the Sunday to Saturday workweek. This is the relevant time period 

which is being compromised in this action, except that for Road Drivers, the settlement class period for all but the 

cell phone reimbursement claim begins on January 1, 2016 through December 1, 2019 (“Class Period”). 

Defendant’s records show the following: 

Number of Workweeks of employment as a driver during Class Period 

in California 

 Road/Apprentice Drivers from 01/01/2016 to <<12/01/19 or date of preliminary 

approval, whichever is later>> for disputed wages. 

 Road/Apprentice Drivers from 11/14/2013 to <<12/01/19 or date of preliminary 

approval, whichever is later>>for disputed business expense reimbursement 

 City/Apprentice Drivers from 11/14/2013 to <<12/01/19 or date of preliminary 

approval, whichever is later>> for both disputed wages and disputed business 

expenses

<<NUMBER OF WORK WEEKS >> 

Number of Workweeks of employment as a driver during PAGA 

Period from 11/09/2016 to <<12/01/19 or date of preliminary 

approval, whichever is later>>

<<NUMBER OF WORK WEEKS >> 

Six additional Workweeks due to separation during the Class Period in 

California

<<ZERO OR SIX WORK WEEKS >> 

If you disagree with the above information, please provide here the number of workweeks you believe is 

accurate and attach documentation in support of this information. (Please Note: Failure to provide documentation 

may result in rejection.) 

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 67 of 84
QUESTIONS? Call ___________ 

Postmark Deadline: __________, 2019 

Page 2 of 3 

C. YOUR ESTIMATED CLAIM AMOUNT: <<EST. CLAIM AMOUNT >>

Your estimated Claim Amount is listed at the top of this Data Dispute Form and is based on the 

information in Section B above. This estimated amount is calculated based on the Net Settlement Amount as 

described in the Joint Stipulation of Settlement and Release. 

D. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, RELEASE, AND DECLARATION UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY: 

I have received the Class Notice and submit this Data Dispute Form under the terms of the proposed 

Settlement described. I acknowledge I am giving up the Released Claims against the Releasees as described in the 

Class Notice and summarized below. I understand the full terms of the proposed Settlement are on file with the 

Court. 

By participating in the settlement, I agree to provide the following release of claims to FedEx and the 

Released Parties: 

Upon full and final payment by Defendant of the Gross Settlement Amount consistent with Section 

6.11 of the First Amended Joint Stipulation of Settlement and Release I agree to fully, finally, and 

forever released the Released Parties from all Released Claims, as defined in Sections 1.8, 1.34 and 

1.35 of the Agreement. I understand I shall be permanently enjoined and forever barred from 

prosecuting any and all Released Claims against the Released Parties. 

I understand that “Released Parties” means FedEx Freight, Inc., Defendant, its past or present 

parents, subsidiaries, and officers, directors, shareholders, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, 

legal representatives, successors, assigns, and predecessors in interest, affiliates, related entities, 

third-party staffing agencies, and any individual or entity which could be jointly liable with FedEx 

Freight, Inc. 

I understand that “Released Claims” means any and all claims contained in the Second Amended 

Complaint (Complaint) and any additional wage and hour claims that could have been brought by 

the Plaintiff and the Class Members based on the facts alleged in said Complaint, for the Class 

Period as defined in Section 1.6 of the Agreement through the Preliminary Approval Date. 

I understand “Released Claims” includes any and all claims for relief, whether suspected or 

unsuspected, which I have had, now have, or may discover in the future against the Released 

Parties or any of them for any or all claims alleged in the Complaint or which could have been 

alleged in the Complaint based on the allegations, facts, matters, transactions or occurrences 

alleged therein, and shall specifically include without limiting the generality thereof: claims for 

missed and/or unpaid meal periods and/or rest periods; failure to reimburse business expenses; 

failure to pay all wages owed (including without limitation, regular wages, the regular rate of pay, 

minimum wage, overtime pay, double time pay, premium pay or otherwise properly calculate 

overtime or the regular rate of pay, failure to pay employees for all hours worked, and/or off-theclock claims); failure to properly pay all wages upon termination; any claim for failure to keep 

and/or maintain accurate records; unlawful deductions; failure to timely pay wages owed; claims 

for failure to provide accurate, itemized wage statements; waiting time penalties; and claims for 

PAGA penalties and/or unfair competition claims based on the foregoing. The Release of the 

foregoing claims extends to all theories of relief regardless of whether the claim is, was, or could 

have been alleged as separate claims, causes of action, lawsuits or based on other theories of relief, 

whether under California law, federal law, state law or common law (including, without limitation, 

as violations of the California Labor Code, the California Wage Orders, applicable regulations, 

California’s Business and Professions Code section 17200 or under California’s Private Attorneys 

General Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act). “Released Claims” includes all types of relief 

available for the above-referenced claims, including, without limitation, any claims for damages, 

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 68 of 84
QUESTIONS? Call ___________ 

Postmark Deadline: __________, 2019 

Page 3 of 3 

restitution, losses, penalties, fines, liens, attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses, debts, interest, injunctive 

relief, declaratory relief, or liquidated damages. 

I understand “Released Claims” also includes an express waiver of all benefits under section 1542 

of the California Civil Code as to the Released Claims only, as well as under any other federal or 

state statutes or common law principles of similar effect. Section 1542 provides as follows:

A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE 

CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER 

FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN 

BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER 

SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR. 

I understand the Section 1542 waiver releases all claims, known or unknown, within the definition 

of Released Claims, irrespective of the factual or legal basis for such claims. I have been informed 

in the Notice of Settlement and will be deemed to understand that Section 1542 gives me the right 

not to release existing claims of which I am not now aware, unless I voluntarily choose to waive 

this right. Having been so informed, I will be deemed to have voluntarily waive the rights 

described in Section 1542, and elected to assume all risks for claims that now exist in their favor, 

known or unknown, that fall within the scope of the Released Claims. The Final Judgment shall 

operate to preclude me from asserting any Released Claims in the future. 

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America and the State of 

California that the information I provided above is true. 

_____________________________ 

Dated Signature 

Full Name (Print): 

Last Four Social Security Number: XXX -XX - ___ ___ ___ ___ 

(Failure to sign and fill in each of the above information will result in the rejection of your dispute.)

Email Address (for confirmation of receipt of this Data Dispute Form): 

4847-8339-6518.2 057116.1023

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 69 of 84
Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 70 of 84
NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION AND PROPOSED SETTLEMENT

UNITED STATE DISTRICT COURT, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OAKLAND DIVISION

Theodore A. Emetoh v. FedEx Freight, Inc., Case No. 4:17-CV-07272-YGR

If you worked as a non-exempt, hourly-paid Road Driver, City Driver, or Driver

Apprentice for FedEx Freight, Inc., in California, you could get a payment from

a class action settlement.

The United States District Court authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

This document describes your rights with respect to the Emetoh class action. Please read it carefully. The details of

the action and settlement are described below, but the relevant points are as follows:

A settlement of a class action lawsuit for $3,250,000.00, will provide about $2,020,875.00 to pay claims by California

Road Drivers, City Drivers, or Driver Apprentices employed by FedEx Freight, Inc., ("FedEx") from November 14,

2013 through «December 1, 2019 or date of preliminary approval, whichever is later», except that for Road Drivers,

the settlement class period for all but the cell phone reimbursement claim begins on January 1, 2016;

The settlement resolves a lawsuit in which a Road Driver claimed that FedEx failed to pay all wages owed, failed to

reimburse for business expenses, and failed to provide meal and rest periods to him and others similarly situated;

FedEx denied all liability and vigorously defended its practices as lawful;

The parties agreed that the settlement was reasonable to avoid the costs and risks associated with continuing the

lawsuit;

The settlement pays money to Road Drivers, City Drivers, or Driver Apprentices like you and releases FedEx from

liability;

Court-appointed lawyers for the Road Drivers, City Drivers, or Driver Apprentices will ask the Court for up to

$1,082,250. 00 from the settlement as fees (33-1/3% of the total settlement amount), and up to $20, 000 for expenses for

investigating the facts, litigating the case and negotiating the settlement;

The two sides disagree on whether or not Plaintiff could have prevailed at trial and, if so, how much money could have

been won;

The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether the settlement is fair and whether to approve the settlement.

Payments will be made if the Court approves the settlement and after appeals are resolved. Please be patient.

Your legal rights are affected whether you act, or do not act. These rights and options-and the deadlines to exercise

them-are explained in this notice.

Do NOTHING

EXCLUDE YOURSELF (OPT OUT)

OBJECT

GO TO A HEARING

L GAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT

You will be a part of the settlement and be bound by its terms. You will

receive payment.

You may elect to opt out of the Settlement and not be bound by it. If you

do so, you will get no payment, but you may be able to bring a lawsuit

against FedEx. Your statement must be postmarked or fax stamped on or

before , 2020.

Write to the Court about why you do not like the settlement.

Ask to speak in Court about the famiess of the settlement.

NOTICE

PAGE 1 OF 8

Ql'ESTKWS? CAU. «TPA TO INSERT»

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 71 of 84
HIS NOTICE CONr

BASIC INFORMATION...................... ...... ... ...... .. PAGES

1. Why did I get this notice package?

2. What is this lawsuit about?

3. Why is this a class action?

4. Why is there a settlement?

WHO IS IN THE SETTLEMENT. ......... ..... ........ ........ PAGE4

5. How do I know if I am part of the settlement?

6. Are there exceptions to being included?

7. 1 am still not siire if I am included.

THE SETTLEMENT BENEFITS-WHAT YOU GET ......... ..... PAGE 4

8. What does the settlement provide?

9. How much will my payment be?

HOWYOUGETAPAYMENT.............. ................... ........ PAGES

10. How can I get a payment?

11. When would I get my payment?

12. What am I giving up to get a payment or stay in the Class? PAGE 6

EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENT........... ...... PAGE 6

13. How do I get out of the settlement?

14. If I do not exclude myself, can I sue FedEx for the same thing later?

15. If I exclude myself, can I get money from this settlement?

THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU......... ........................... PAGE 6

16. Do I have a lawyer in the case?

17. How will the lawyers be paid? PAGE 7

OBJECTING TO THE SETTLEMENT. ...... .............. .......... PAGE 7

18. How do I tell the Court that I do not like the settlement?

19. What is the difference between objecting and excluding?

THE COURT'S FAIRNESS HEARING.......................................... PAGE 7

20. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the settlement?

21. Do I have to come to the hearing? PAGE 8

22. May I speak at the hearing?

IFYOUDONOTHING.......................... ............. ....... PAGE 8

23. What happens if I do nothing at all?

GETTWG MORE INFORMATION.................. ......... ........ .. PAGE 8

24. Are there more details about the settlement?

NOTICE

PAGE 2 OF 8

QIIESTIONS? CALL «TPA TO INSERT»

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 72 of 84
BASIC ENFORMATION

W1iv did 11

The records ofFedEx Freight, Inc., ("FedEx") indicate you worked as a Road Driver, City Driver, or Driver Apprentice in

California between November 14, 2013 and «December 1, 2019 or date of preliminary approval, whichever is later».

You were sent this notice because you have a right to know about a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit, and

about all of your options before the Court decides whether to finally approve the settlement. If the Court approves it and

after any objections and appeals are resolved, an administrator appointed by the Court will make the payments that the

settlement allows.

This package explains the lawsuit, the settlement, your legal rights, what benefits are available, who is eligible for them,

and how to get them.

The Court in charge of the case is the United States District Court, Northern District of California, Oakland Division and

the case is known as Theodore A. Emetoh, et al. (Plaintiff) vs. FedEx Freight, Inc. (Defendant). The person who sued is

called Plaintiff, and the company he sued, FedEx, is called Defendant.

2 What his lawsuit about?

This lawsuit was initiated in 2017, by a Road Driver from the Mira Loma service center. It has been litigated for over two

years in both state and federal court. The driver who brought the suit claimed that FedEx failed to pay all wages owed and

failed to reimburse business expenses to him and to other California Road Drivers, City Drivers, or Driver Apprentices,

including pay for missed meal and rest periods and pay for other work time as well as reimbursement for use of his

personal cellular phone. The lawsuit also claimed FedEx failed to timely and fully pay final wages due at termination, and

failed to furnish accurate itemized wage statements.

FedEx denied that it did anything wrong. FedEx contended that it properly paid all wages owed, properly provided meal

and rest periods, provided lawful itemized wage statements, properly paid all wages upon termination of employment, and

properly provided reimbursement for business expenses. FedEx contended that none of the claims alleged by Plaintiff had

merit. FedEx believes that it would have succeeded in Court.

In a class action, one or more people called Class Representatives (in this case, Theodore A. Emetoh), sue on behalf of

people who have similar claims. All these people comprise a Class and are referred to as Class Members. One court

resolves the issues for all Class Members, except for those who exclude themselves from the Class.

'ettlem

In order to avoid the costs and risks associated with trial, the parties agreed to resolve the case through settlement. The

Court did not decide in favor of the Road Drivers, City Drivers, and Driver Apprentices or in favor of FedEx. There has

been no finding that FedEx did anything wrong, and there has been no trial. Rather, the Class Representative and the

attorneys think the settlement is best for all Class Members and the Court has agreed.

The Court has given its preliminary approval to the settlement, and confirms that Theodore A. Emetoh is the Class

Representative and attorneys Shaun Setareh, William Pao, and Alex Mclntosh of Setareh Law Group, are the attorneys for

the Class Members (the "Class Counsel").

NOTICE

PACK 3 01< 8

QCESTIONS? C\L1. «TPA TO INSERT»

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 73 of 84
WHO IS IN THE SETTLEMENT

To see if you will get money from this settlement, you first have to decide if you are a Class Member.

OW 0 w if n art of th

The Judge decided that everyone who fits this description is a Class Member:

"All persons who have worked for Defendant as non-exempt, hourly-paid Road Drivers, City Drivers, or

Driver Apprentices in California at any time between November 14, 2013 through the date of Preliminary

Approval, except that for Road Drivers, the settlement class period for all but the cell phone reimbursement

claim begins on January 1, 2016."

This means that if you worked as a regular Road Driver, City Driver, or Driver Apprentice in California between the dates

listed (the "Class Period"), you are a Class Member. If you were on leave of absence during the Class Period, or if you

were domiciled outside of California during any or all of the Class Period, you are not a Class Member during that time.

luded

Yes. If you are a Class Member, you have the option of excluding yourself as stated in Section 13 below. If you do

nothing, you will be a Class Member.

not ure am included.

If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can call the Claims Adminisfa-ator at «ESTSERT» or Class Counsel

at «FNSERT» for more information.

THE SETTLEMENT BENEFITS-WHAT YOU GET

FedEx has agreed to pay up to $3,250,000.00 to settle this lawsuit. Out of the settlement fund, the Class Representative

Emetoh will ask for additional compensation for his service as a Class Representative ($7,500). Class Counsel will ask for

$1,082,250.00 for attorneys' fees (33-1/3% of the total settlement amount), and up to $20,000 for costs, and the Claims

Administrator will ask for up to $35, 000 for administering the settlement. Of the total amount, $1 12, 500 of the settlement

will be paid under the Private Attorneys General Act ("PAGA"), of which $84,375 will be paid to the State of California

Labor and Workforce Development Agency The money remaining in the settlement fund, up to approximately

$2,020, 875. 00 (the "Net Settlement Amount") will be available for distribution, based on the number of weeks they

worked during the Class Period. Included in the Net Settlement Amount is $28, 125 of the PAGA payment that will be paid

to Class Members who were employed on or afiter November 9, 2016.

1 p'

Your share of the fund will depend on the total number of Class Members minus those who request exclusion ("Qualified

Claimants") and how many weeks you worked as a Road Driver, City Driver, or Driver Apprentice during the Class

Period. Here's how it works:

If the settlement is approved as proposed, Qualified Claimants will share in up to $2,020,875.00 of the settlement amount,

divided on & pro rata basis depending on the length of their employment during the Class Period, and based on the number

of such drivers. Based upon the information provided by Defendant, the Claims Administrator will calculate the total

number of compensable workweeks worked by the Qualified Claimants during the Class Period. The funds payable to the

NOTICE

PAGE 4 OF 8

Ql'ESTIONS? CAU. «TPA TO INSERT»

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 74 of 84
Qualified Claimants will be divided pro rata, based upon workweeks worked during the Class Period, using the following

parameters:

a. Qualified Claimants who worked as Road/Apprentice Drivers (from 01/01/2016 to «12/01/19 or date of

preliminary approval, whichever is later») and City/Apprentice Drivers (from 11/14/2013 to «12/01/19

or date of preliminary approval, whichever is later») will share in 20% of the Net Settlement Amount

allocated for payment of disputed wages, or about $398, 550. 00.

b. Qualified Claimants who worked as Road/Apprentice Drivers (from 11/14/2013 to «12/01/19 or date of

preliminary approval, whichever is later») and City/Apprentice Drivers (11/14/2013 to «12/01/19 or

date of preliminary approval, whichever is later») will share in 80% of the Net Settlement Amount

allocated for disputed business expense reimbursement. Labor Code §226, penalties, and interest, or about

$1,594,200.00.

c. Class Members who worked from 11/9/16 to «12/01/19 or date of preliminary approval, whichever is

later») will share the PAGA Payment of $28, 125. 00.

d. The total Workweeks for all Class Members in the Class Period plus additional Workweeks allocated for

separated employees shall be divided into the Net Settlement Amount to calculate the agreed upon

payment per Workweek (the "Workweek Rate").

e. Each Qualified Claimant will be assigned Workweek(s), which means each week (Sunday through

Saturday) during which Class Members were employed, but excluding weeks during which the Class

Member performed no driving duties based upon Defendant's records,

i. There are no partial or fractional Workweeks. Thus, if a Class Member performed driving duties

during any part of a Sunday through Saturday week, that week shall count as a Workweek.

f. Each Qualified Claimant who separated from Defendant during the class period at least once will receive

an allotment of six additional Workweeks.

If there is any dispute about weeks worked, FedEx records control, unless the Class Member can provide persuasive

documentary evidence to the conta-ary, as determined by the Claims Adminisb-ator. The number of weeks that FedEx's

records show that you worked in each position during the Class Period is listed on your Data Dispute Form. You may

have worked more than the dates shown, but the only time that is relevant to this settlement is the time period between

November 2013 and «December 2019 or date of preliminary approval, whichever is later».

Your Claim amount will be partially paid as wages, for which you will receive an IRS Form W-2, and partially paid as

expenses, interest and penalties, for which you will receive an IRS Form 1099. You are responsible for paying your taxes

on any amount you receive. This Notice is not tax advice and you should consult your tax advisor. Checks will be valid

for 90 days. The proceeds of any uncashed checks will be paid to the State of California pursuant to California's Unclaimed

Property law in the name of the Class Member.

HOW YOU GET A PAYMENT

If you do nothing, you will automatically participate in the Settlement and receive a Settlement Payment based on the

information in the enclosed individualized Data Dispute Form. If any information provided on that Form is incorrect, you

can and should make corrections on the attached Form and provide that information to the Settlement Administrator

named below in this Notice. You may also get a Data Dispute Form by calling the Claims Administrator at «INSERT>>.

Read the instructions carefully and fill out the form, sign it, and mail it postmarked no later than «INSERT». Late

claims will not be considered, absent good cause.

NOTICE

PAGE 5 OF 8

Ql'ESTIONS? CALl. «TPA TO INSERT»

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 75 of 84
If you are a Class Member and do not exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will be bound by all of the

provisions of the Settlement, including a full release of claims that will prevent you from separately suing or bringing

claims against FedEx, its employees or any other related persons or entities for the matters being settled in this Action, as

described in more detail below.

The Court will hold a hearing on «FNSERT», to decide whether to approve the settlement. If the Court approves the

settlement after that, there may be appeals. It is always uncertain when these appeals can be resolved, and resolving them

can take time, perhaps more than a year. To check on the progress of the settlement, call the Claims Administrator at

«rNSERT>>, or contact Class Counsel. Please be patient.

latam g p to t a ay nt or tay in th ass?

Unless you exclude yourself, you are part of the Class. This means that you cannot sue FedEx, nor can you continue to

sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against FedEx about the legal issues in or related to this case. It also means that all of

the Court's orders will apply to you and legally bind you. If you do nothing or sign the Data Dispute Form, you agree to

the "Release" on the Data Dispute Form and as further outlined in full in the Settlement, which describes exactly the legal

claims that you give up if you do not exclude yourself.

EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENT

If you do not want a payment from this settlement, but you want to keep the right to sue or continue to sue FedEx on your

own about the legal issues in this case (except as to the PAGA remedies), then you must take steps to get out of this case.

This is called excluding yourself- or is sometimes referred to as "opting out" of the settlement Class.

To exclude yourself from the settlement, you must send a letter by mail saying simply that you want to be excluded from

the Emetoh, et al., vs. FedEx Freight, Inc., case. No special language is required. Be sure to include your name, address,

telephone number, and print and sign your name. You must mail your exclusion request to the Settlement Claims

Administrator at the address below, posbnarked no later than «INSERT>> to:

Emetoh, et al. v. FedEx Freight, Inc. Claims Adminisb-ator

c/o «INSERT>>

If you ask to be excluded, you will not get any settlement payment, and you cannot object to the settlement. You will not

be legally bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit. You may be able to sue (or continue to sue) FedEx in the future.

However, you will receive a PAGA Payment and will be bound by the PAGA judgment.

NOTE: Class Members need not exclude themselves from the Agreement to submit a Data Dispute Form. If a Class

Member timely submits both a Data Dispute Form and a request for exclusion, the Data Dispute Form shall control,

and the request for exclusion shall be null and void.

thin

No. Unless you follow the procedure to exclude yourself, you give up any right to sue FedEx for the claims that this

settlement resolves. If you have a pending lawsuit or claims against FedEx, you are advised to speak to your lawyer in

that case immediately. You must exclude yourself from this Class to continue your own lawsuit if it involves the same or

related issues. Remember, the exclusion deadline is «INSERT>>.

NOTIC'E

PAGE 6 OF 8

Ql'ESTIONS? CAI.I. «TPA TO INSERT»

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 76 of 84
If] ludem elf, t mone from thi ettlement?

No. If you exclude yourself, ou will not receive an mone

this settlement if you do not exclude yourself form its terms.

as art of this Settlement as you can only get money from

THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU

haveala-m n hiscas

The Court has appointed Shaun Setareh, William Pao, and Alex Mclntosh of Setareh Law Group located in Beverly Hills,

California to represent you and other Class Members. These lawyers are called Class Counsel. You will not be charged

for these lawyers, although they will be compensated from the Settlement Fund as discussed in Section 8 and 17. If you

want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

la

Class counsel will ask the Court to approve payment of up to $1,082,250 to them for attorneys' fees (33-1/3% of the total

settlement), and up to $20,000 for costs. The fees will pay Class Counsel for investigating the facts, litigating the case and

negotiating and finalizing the settlement. These amounts will not reduce the approximately $2,020,875 available for Class

Members. FedEx has agreed not to oppose these fees and expenses. In the event the Court approves a lesser amount of

fees or costs, those amounts will become part of the pool the class will share.

OBJECTING TO THE SETTLEMENT

You can tell the Court that ou do not a ee with the settlement or some art of it.

If you are a Class Member, you can object to the settlement if you do not like it. You can give reasons why you think the

Court should not approve the settlement and the Court will consider your views. To object, and to have the Court hear

your views, you must send a letter saying that you object to the Emetoh, et al., v. FedEx Freight, Inc. settlement. You can

ask the Court to deny approval by filing an objection. You can't ask the Court to order a different settlement; the Court can

only approve or reject the settlement. If the Court denies approval, no settlement payments will be sent out and the lawsuit

will continue. If that is what you want to happen, you must object.

Any objection to the proposed settlement must be in writing. If you file a timely written objection, you may, but are not

required to, appear at the Final Approval Hearing, either in person or through your own attorney. If you appear through

your own attorney, you are responsible for hiring and paying that attorney. All written objections and any supporting

papers must be sent to the Settlement Administrator at «ADDRESS» «CITY, STATE ZIP» via U. S. Mail and

postmarked no later than «insert date».

Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, your printed and signed name, and the legal and factual reasons

you object to the settlement.

Objecting is simply telling the Court that you do not like something about the settlement. You can object only if you

stay in the Class, and even if you object you are entitled to a portion of the settlement.

Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no

basis to object because the case no longer affects you. You will receive no money under the settlement if you exclude

NOTICE

PAGE 7 OF 8

QliES) IONS? CAI. L «TPA TO 1^7SERT»

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 77 of 84
yourself.

THE COURT'S FAIRNESS HEARING

The Court will hold a hearing to decide whether to approve the settlement. You may attend and you may ask to speak, but

you do not have to. You may only speak at the hearing if you follow the instructions below.

The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing at «LNSERT» on «INSERT», at the United States District Court, Northern

District of California, Oakland Division, 1301 Clay Street, Suite 400S, Oakland, CA 94612 in Courtroom 1 on the 4th

Floor. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are

objections and they have been properly lodged, the Court will consider them. The Judge will listen to people who have

asked to speak at the hearing. At or after the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the settlement.

inng

No. Class Counsel will answer questions the Judge may have. But, you are welcome to come at your own expense. If you

send an objection, you do not have to come to Court to talk about it. As long as you mailed your written objection on

time, the Court will consider it. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but it is not required.

You may ask the Court for permission to speak at the Fairness Hearing. To do so, you must send a letter saying that it is

your "Notice of Intention to Appear" in the Emetoh, et al., vs. FedEx Freight, Inc., settlement. Be sure to include your

name, address, telephone number, and your printed and signed name. Your Notice of Intention to Appear must be

postmarked no later than «INSERT», and be sent to the Settlement Administrator at the address listed in question 18

and the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Oakland Division,

1301 Clay Street, Suite 400 S, Oakland, CA 94612. You cannot speak at the hearing if you excluded yourself, and you

will not be able to speak unless you timely file a Notice of Intention to Appear

IF YOU DO NOTHING

If you do nothing, you will receive money from this settlement and release FedEx from the claims in this lawsuit as

outlined above in this notice. Unless you exclude yourself, you will not be able to start a lawsuit, continue with a lawsuit,

or be part of any other lawsuit against FedEx about the legal issues in this case ever again.

GETTING MORE INFORMATION

This notice summarizes the proposed settlement. For the precise terms and conditions of the settlement, please see the

settlement agreement available at www. .corn, or by contacting Class Counsel Setareh Law Group, at 315

South Beverly Drive, Suite 315, Beverly Hills, California 90212, telephone (310) 888-7771, by accessing the Court

docket in this case, for a fee, through the Court's Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at

https://ecf. cand. uscourts. gov, or by visiting the office of the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court for the

Northern District of California, United States Disfa-ict Court, Northern District, Oakland Division, Ronald V. Dellums

Federal Building & United States Courthouse, 1301 Clay Street, Suite 400 S, Oakland, CA 94612, between 9:00 a.m. and

4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays and ask to view the Court file in Theodore A. Emetoh, et

al. (Plaintiff) vs. FedEx Freight, Inc., (Defendant), Case No. : 3:17-cv-07272-YGR.

NOTICE

PARE 8 OF 8

QUESTIONS? CALL«TPA TO )NSERT»

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 78 of 84
PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE THE COURT OR THE COURT CLERK'S OFFICE TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS

SETTLEMENT OR THE CLAIM PROCESS.

Date: «INSERT>>

This Notice has been approved by the Judge of the United States District Court.

NOTICE

PAGE 9 01-8

Ql'ESl IONS? CALL «TPA TO INSERT»

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 79 of 84
EXHIBIT D

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 80 of 84
[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Shaun Setareh (SBN 204514) 

 shaun@setarehlaw.com 

William M. Pao (SBN 219846) 

 william@setarehlaw.com 

Alexandra R. McIntosh (SBN 320904) 

 alex@setarehlaw.com 

SETAREH LAW GROUP 

315 South Beverly Drive, Suite 315 

Beverly Hills, California 90212 

Telephone (310) 888-7771 

Facsimile (310) 888-0109 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

THEODORE A. EMETOH 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

OAKLAND DIVISION 

THEODORE A. EMETOH, on behalf of 

himself, all others similarly situated, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

FEDEX FREIGHT, INC., an Arkansas 

corporation; and DOES 1 through 50, 

inclusive, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 3:17-cv-07272-YGR 

Assigned For All Purposes To The Honorable 

Yvonne G. Rogers, Courtroom 8 

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING 

PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS 

ACTION SETTLEMENT 

Date: TBD 

Time: TBD 

Place: Courtroom 8 

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 81 of 84
1

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

[PROPOSED] ORDER 

Plaintiff THEODORE A. EMETOH (“Plaintiff”) Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class 

Action Settlement came on regularly for hearing before the Honorable Yvonne G. Rogers. 

After full consideration of all the materials filed in support of the Motion, and GOOD 

CAUSE APPEARING THEREFROM, the Court makes the following findings and orders: 

1. The Court GRANTS preliminary approval of the Settlement pursuant to Fed. R. Civ.

Proc. 23 based upon the terms set forth in the Settlement Agreements (“Settlements”

or “Settlement Agreements”) attached to the Declaration of Shaun Setareh.

2. The Settlement as proposed appear to be fair and reasonable and to provide

significant benefit to the Settlement Classes.

3. The Settlement was reached through good faith and arm’s length negotiation with the

assistance of an experienced mediator.

4. Named Plaintiff THEODORE A. EMETOH is a suitable class representative and is

appointed as the Class Representative for the Settlement Class.

5. Named Plaintiff’s counsel, Shaun Setareh and William M. Pao of the Setareh Law

Group, is experienced in matters of this nature and is appointed as Class Counsel for

the Settlement Class.

6. The proposed Settlement Class defined in the Settlement is provisionally certified for

purposes of the settlement only.

7. The notice provision in the Settlement is constitutionally sound because individual

notices will be mailed to all class members whose identities are known to the parties,

and such notice is the best notice practicable. The proposed Notice of Class Action

Settlement (Declaration of Shaun Setareh, Exh. __) is sufficient to inform Class

Members of the terms of the Settlement, their rights under the Settlement, their rights

to object to the Settlement, their rights to dispute their number of workweeks, and

their rights to elect not to participate in the Settlement; the processes for doing so;

and the date and location of the final approval hearing, and are therefore approved.

/// 

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 82 of 84
2

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

8. A Final Approval Hearing on the question of whether the proposed Settlement,

attorneys’ fees and costs to Class Counsel, payment to the Labor & Workforce

Development Agency, and the Named Plaintiffs’ enhancement awards should be

finally approved as fair, reasonable, and adequate as to the members of the Class is

scheduled in Courtroom 8 of this Court on ______________________ at

___________________.

9. The Court approves, as to form and content, the Notice of Class Action Settlement,

in substantially the form attached to the Declaration of Shaun Setareh as Exhibit __.

The Court approves the procedure for Settlement Class members to participate in, to

opt out of, and to object to, the Settlement as set forth in the Class Notice.

10. The Court directs the mailing of the Class Notice Packet to all Settlement Class

members by First-Class Mail.

11. To facilitate administration of the Settlement pending final approval, the Court

hereby enjoins Plaintiffs and all Settlement Class members from filing or prosecuting

any claims, suits or administrative proceedings (including filing claims with the

Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the California Department of Industrial

Relations) regarding claims released by the Settlements unless and until such

Settlement Class members have filed valid written requests for exclusion with the

Settlement Administrator and the time for filing claims with the Settlement

Administrator has elapsed.

12. The Court orders the following Implementation Schedule for further proceedings:

a. Deadline for Defendants to submit Settlement Class Member contact

information to Settlement Administrator:______________ [30 days after

preliminary approval].

b. Deadline for Settlement Administrator to mail the Class Notice Packet to

Settlement Class Members: ______________[40 days after preliminary

approval].

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 83 of 84
3

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

c. Deadline for Settlement Class Members to postmark Requests for Exclusion,

Objection to settlement and disputes regarding the number of workweeks:

_________________ [45 days after mailing of Class Notice Packet]

d. Deadline for Class Counsel to file Motion for Final Approval of Class Action

Settlements: _________________ [30 days before the Final Fairness and

Approval Hearing]

e. Final Fairness and Approval Hearing: _________________ at

_____________.

13. The Court retains jurisdiction over the parties to enforce the terms of the judgment.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: December ___, 2019

Honorable Yvonne G. Rogers 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 4:17-cv-07272-YGR Document 77 Filed 02/14/20 Page 84 of 84