Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00427/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00427-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 29:185 Labor/Mgt. Relations (Contracts)

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JOINT STIPULATION TO MAINTAIN STAY 

AND CONTINUE STATUS CONFERENCE 

1:23-cv-00427-DJC-JDP 

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JONES DAY 

Koree B. Wooley, Bar No. 294489 

kbwooley@jonesday.com 

Cindi L. Ritchey, Bar No. 216899 

critchey@jonesday.com 

Jayce E. Gustafson, Bar No. 344961 

jgustafson@jonesday.com 

4655 Executive Drive, Suite 1500 

San Diego, California 92121.3134 

Telephone: +1.858.314.1200 

Facsimile: +1.844.345.3178 

Attorneys for Defendant 

SAPUTO DAIRY FOODS USA, LLC 

BLUMENTHAL NORDREHAUG BHOWMIK DE BLOUW LLP 

Norman B. Blumenthal, Bar No. 068687 

norm@bamlaw.com 

Kyle R. Nordrehaug, Bar No. 205975 

kyle@bamlawca.com 

Aparajit Bhowmik, Bar No. 248066 

aj@bamlawca.com 

Jeffrey S. Herman, Bar No. 280058 

jeffrey@bamlawca.com 

Sergio J. Puche, Bar No. 289437 

sergiojulian@bamlawca.com 

2255 Calle Clara 

La Jolla, California 92037 

Telephone: +1.858.551.1223 

Facsimile: +1.858.551.1232 

Attorneys for Plaintiff JUAN ROMERO 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JUAN ROMERO, individually, and on behalf 

of all others similarly situated, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

SAPUTO DAIRY FOODS USA, LLC, a 

Delaware limited liability corporation; and 

DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, 

Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-00427-DJC-JDP 

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT AND 

JOINT STIPULATION AND ORDER 

TO MAINTAIN STAY AND VACATE 

STATUS CONFERENCE AND ALL 

DEADLINES AND HEARINGS 

PENDING FINAL SETTLEMENT 

APPROVAL 

Complaint Filed: February 2, 2023 

 

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TO THE COURT, ALL PARTIES, AND THEIR ATTORNEYS OF RECORD: 

Defendant Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC (“Saputo” or “Defendant”) and Plaintiff Juan 

Romero (“Romero” or “Plaintiff”) (collectively, the “Parties”), by and through their respective 

attorneys of record, submit the following Notice of Settlement and Joint Stipulation and Proposed 

Order to Maintain the Stay And Vacate the Status Conference Pending Resolution of Final 

Settlement Approval. 

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT 

Please take notice that on September 19, 2023, the Parties attended mediation and reached 

an agreement in principle shortly thereafter for a settlement on a class-wide and representative 

action basis, subject to court approval. As set forth in detail below, the Parties intend to pursue 

approval of the settlement in a related action in Tulare County Superior Court. 

BACKGROUND

1. On May 31, 2023, the Court entered the Parties’ stipulation to stay all proceedings 

in this matter to allow the Parties to explore settlement through private mediation. (See ECF No. 

18.) 

2. On September 19, 2023, at private mediation, the Parties agreed to a settlement of 

this action and the following related actions (the “Global Settlement”): Psalms Martinez v. Saputo 

Dairy Foods USA, LLC, Case No. 1:22-cv-1624 -DJC-JDP (E.D. Cal.); Psalms Martinez v. 

Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC, Case No. VCU294960 (Tulare Cnty. Sup. Ct.) (“Martinez PAGA 

Action”); Vargas v. Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC, Case No. 1:22-cv-1645-DJC-JDP (E.D. 

Cal.); Romero v. Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC, Case No. VCU298775 (Tulare Cnty. Sup. Ct.) 

(collectively, the “Related Actions”). 

3. On September 26, 2023, Plaintiff filed a status report regarding mediation and 

request for a status conference. (See ECF No. 23.) 

4. On September 29, 2023, the court issued a minute order setting a status conference 

for January 11, 2024 at 1:30 PM. (See ECF No. 25.) 

5. Given the significant overlap in the claims asserted in the Related Actions, for the 

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sake of judicial economy, and pursuant to the terms of the Parties’ Memorandum of 

Understanding reached after the mediation, the Parties intend to pursue approval of the Global 

Settlement through the Martinez PAGA Action in Tulare County Superior Court. 

6. The Parties are in the process of preparing a long form settlement agreement and 

anticipate that a motion for preliminary settlement approval will be filed in the Martinez PAGA 

Action within the next 60 days. 

7. To facilitate the settlement approval process, the Parties hereby enter into the 

following stipulation, subject to court approval, to maintain the stay of the proceedings and vacate 

the status conference pending final approval of the Global Settlement. 

STIPULATION

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 

1. This action shall remain stayed pending final approval of the Global Settlement through 

the Martinez PAGA Action, Case No. VCU294960 (Tulare Cnty. Sup. Ct.). 

2. All deadlines, hearings, and conferences, including the January 11, 2024 status 

conference, are VACATED. 

3. The Parties will file a joint status report to apprise this Court of the date set for the hearing 

on the motion for final settlement approval in the Martinez PAGA Action within five 

court days after that hearing date is set. 

4. In the event the court does not grant final approval of the Global Settlement in the 

Martinez PAGA Action, the Parties shall return to status quo as existed before this action 

was stayed. 

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

Dated: November 17, 2023 JONES DAY 

By: /s/ Koree B. Wooley

Koree B. Wooley 

Cindi L. Ritchey 

Jayce E. Gustafson 

Attorneys for Defendant SAPUTO DAIRY 

FOODS USA, LLC 

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Dated: November 17, 2023 BLUMENTHAL NORDREHAUG 

BHOWMIK DE BLOUW, LLP 

By: /s/ Sergio Julian Puche (as authorized on 

11/14/23) 

Sergio Julian Puche 

Attorneys for Plaintiff JUAN ROMERO 

ORDER 

Having considered the Joint Stipulation between all Parties, and good cause appearing, 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 17, 2023 /s/ Daniel J. Calabretta 

 THE HONORABLE DANIEL J. CALABRETTA 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

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