Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-02634/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-02634-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 29:206 Collect Unpaid Wages

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09cv2634

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CAMERON COOK, RENA KASTRIS,

MYRNA RAMIREZ, individually and on

behalf of all other current and former

similarly situated employees of Tiffany

and Company,

Plaintiffs,

v.

TIFFANY AND COMPANY,

Defendant.

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Civil No. 09cv2634 L (JMA)

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR

FINAL APPROVAL OF

SETTLEMENT [doc. #43];

GRANTING MOTION FOR

ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS

[doc. #44] and DIRECTING ENTRY

OF JUDGMENT

This matter having come before the Court for hearing pursuant to the Order dated April

25, 20117, for approval of the settlement of the Action set forth in the Stipulation and Settlement

Agreement of Claims (“Stipulation” or “Settlement”), and the Court having considered all papers

filed and proceedings had herein and otherwise being fully informed of the premises and good

cause appearing therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 

1. All terms used herein shall have the same meaning as defined in the Stipulation.

2. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Action and over all Parties to the

Action, including the Named Plaintiffs, the Five California Classes, and Tiffany. 

3. The Court finds that the Settlement has been reached as a result of intensive, serious and

non-collusive arms-length negotiations. The Court further finds that the Parties have conducted

Case 3:09-cv-02634-L-JMA Document 51 Filed 09/19/11 Page 1 of 7
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extensive and costly investigation and research and counsel for the Parties are able to reasonably

evaluate their respective positions. The Court also finds that Settlement at this time will avoid

additional substantial costs, as well as avoid the delay and risks that would be presented by the

further prosecution of the Action.

4. The Court finds that distribution of the Notice directed to the Putative Class

Members as set forth in the Stipulation and the other matters set forth therein have been

completed in conformity with the Preliminary Approval Order, including individual notice by

first class mail to all Putative Class Members who could be identified through reasonable effort. 

The Court finds the Notice sent to all Putative Class Members provided due and adequate notice

of the proceedings and of the matters set forth therein, including the proposed settlement set

forth in the Stipulation, to all persons entitled to such Notice, and the Notice fully satisfied the

requirements of due process. Seven Hundred Eighty Four (784) Putative Class Members made

claims under the Settlement. Nine (9) Putative Class Members opted out of either the California

Commission Chargeback Damages Class, the California Commission Overtime Damages Class

and/or the California Paid Time Off-Eligible Damages Class and no Putative Class Members

objected to the Settlement. 

5. This Court hereby approves the Settlement set forth in the Stipulation and finds

that the Settlement is, in all respects, fair, adequate and reasonable and directs the Parties to

effectuate the Settlement according to its terms. The Court has reviewed the settlement awards

and the Tiffany Gift Cards that are being granted as part of the Settlement and recognizes the

significant value of the settlement awards and Tiffany Gift Cards to the California Commission

Chargeback Damages Class, California Commission Overtime Damages Class, and the

California Paid Time Off-Eligible Damages Class, as applicable. The Court also has reviewed

the prospective relief being ordered as part of the resolution of the claims for injunctive relief

and recognizes the significant value that the California Commissioned Employee Prospective

Relief Mandatory Class and the California Paid Time Off-Eligible Prospective Relief Mandatory

Class will derive from this prospective relief. The Court finds the resolution of the Action to be

fair, adequate and reasonable. 

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6. For purposes of this Final Judgment and for settlement only, the Court hereby

certifies the California Commission Chargeback Damages Settlement Class, California

Commission Overtime Damages Settlement Class, and the California Paid Time Off-Eligible

Damages Settlement Class. 

7. For the purposes of this Final Judgment and for settlement only, the Court hereby

certifies the California Commissioned Employee Prospective Relief Mandatory Class and the

California Paid Time Off-Eligible Prospective Relief Mandatory Class. These are mandatory,

no-opt out classes.

8. The Court hereby appoints the Named Plaintiffs as class representatives for the

California Commission Chargeback Damages Settlement Class, the California Commission

Overtime Damages Settlement Class, the California Commissioned Employee Prospective Relief

Mandatory Class, the California Paid Time Off-Eligible Damages Settlement Class, and the

California Paid Time Off-Eligible Prospective Relief Mandatory Class in conjunction with the

Claims applicable to each of these classes through ten (10) days after the District Court enters an

order granting preliminary approval of the settlement of the Claims.

9. The Court hereby orders the Claims Administrator to distribute the monetary

settlement awards and/or Tiffany Gift Cards to California Commission Chargeback Damages

Participating Settlement Class Members, California Commission Overtime Damages

Participating Settlement Class Members, and California Paid Time Off-Eligible Damages

Participating Settlement Class Members in accordance with the provisions of the Settlement.

10. The Court hereby appoints Class Counsel as counsel for the California

Commission Chargeback Damages Settlement Class, the California Commission Overtime

Damages Settlement Class, the California Commissioned Employee Prospective Relief

Mandatory Class, the California Paid Time Off-Eligible Damages Settlement Class, and the

California Paid Time Off-Eligible Prospective Relief Mandatory Class in conjunction with the

Claims applicable to each of these classes through ten (10) days after the District Court enters an

order granting preliminary approval of the Settlement.

11. The Court finds that the revised commission plan proposed by Tiffany and

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attached hereto as Exhibit A is fully compliant with existing California law, including California

Labor Code §§ 221, 224, 226, and 201-202, the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders,

and California Business & Professions Code § 17200 et seq. The Court further finds that, unless

there is a material change in the law applicable to the revised commission plan, the California

Commissioned Employee Prospective Relief Mandatory Class will be bound by the terms of the

plan in conjunction with their work for Tiffany in California. In addition, the Court expects that

current and future employees of Tiffany in California paid pursuant to the revised commission

plan will be barred from arguing the commission plan is unlawful under California wage laws

unless there is a material change in the law applicable to the plan. 

12. The Court finds that the revised paid time off policy proposed by the Parties and

attached hereto as Exhibit B is fully compliant with existing California law, including California

Labor Code § 227.3 and California Business & Professions Code § 17200 et seq. The Court

further finds that, unless there is a material change in the law applicable to the California revised

paid time off policy, the California Paid Time Off-Eligible Prospective Relief Mandatory Class

will be bound by the terms of the revised paid time off policy plan in conjunction with their

work for Tiffany in California. In addition, the Court expects that current and future employees

of Tiffany in California who accrue and are credited paid time off pursuant to the revised paid

time off policy will be barred from arguing revised paid time off policy is unlawful under

California wage laws unless there is a material change in the law applicable to the plan. 

13. As of the Effective Date, the Released Commission Chargeback Claims of each

and every California Commission Chargeback Damages Settlement Class Member shall be

deemed to be conclusively released as against the Released Parties, including for any injunctive

relief. All California Commission Chargeback Damages Settlement Class Members as of the

Effective Date are hereby forever barred and enjoined from prosecuting Released Commission

Chargeback Claims against the Released Parties.

14. As of the Effective Date, the Released Paid Time Off Claims of each and every

California Paid Time Off-Eligible Damages Settlement Class Member are and shall be deemed

to be conclusively released as against the Released Parties, including for any injunctive relief. 

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All California Paid Time Off-Eligible Damages Settlement Class Members as of the Effective

Date are hereby forever barred and enjoined from prosecuting Released Paid Time Off Claims

against the Released Parties.

15. As of the Effective Date, the Released Commission Overtime Claims of each and

every California Commission Overtime Damages Settlement Class Member are and shall be

deemed to be conclusively released as against the Released Parties, including for any injunctive

relief. All California Commission Overtime Damages Settlement Class Members as of the

Effective Date are hereby forever barred and enjoined from prosecuting Released Commission

Overtime Claims against the Released Parties.

16. The Court hereby awards attorneys’ fees (“Fees Award”) in the amount of

$1,029,270.00, and costs (“Costs Award”) in the amount of $20,000.00 to Class Counsel. The

Fees Award and Costs Award fully satisfy all fees and costs incurred by Class Counsel that

represented the Named Plaintiffs in the prosecution and settlement of the Action. No other

attorneys or law firms shall be entitled to any award of attorneys’ fees or costs from Tiffany in

any way connected with this Action. Any separate appeal from the portion of this Final

Judgment as to the Fees Award or Cost Award shall not operate to terminate or cancel the

Stipulation or otherwise affect the finality of this Final Judgment. The Court hereby orders the

Claims Administrator to distribute the Fees Award and Costs Award to Class Counsel in

accordance with the provisions of the Settlement.

17. The Court hereby approves a Service Award to the three Named Plaintiffs in the

amounts as follows: $7,000 to Cameron Cook, $7,500 to Rena Kastris, and $7,500 Myrna

Ramirez. The Court hereby orders the Claims Administrator to distribute the Service Awards to

the three Named Plaintiffs in accordance with the provisions of the Settlement.

18. The Court hereby approves claims administration fees to the Claims Administrator

in an amount of $26,000. 

19. The Court hereby orders the Claims Administrator to distribute the monetary

settlement awards and/or Tiffany Gift Cards to the California Commission Chargeback Damages

Participating Settlement Class Members, the California Commission Overtime Damages

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Participating Settlement Class Members, and the California Paid Time Off-Eligible Damages

Participating Settlement Class Members in accordance with the provisions of the Settlement.

20. After administration of the Settlement has been completed in accordance with the

Stipulation and all amounts calculated, and in no event later than 180 days after the Effective

Date, Tiffany shall file a report with this Court certifying compliance with the terms of the

Settlement.

21. The Stipulation and Settlement are not an admission by Tiffany or any of the other

Released Parties, nor is this Judgment a finding, of the validity of any claims in the Action or of

any wrongdoing by Tiffany or any of the other Released Parties. Neither this Final Judgment,

the Stipulation, nor any document referred to herein, nor any action taken to carry out the

Stipulation is, may be construed as, or may be used as an admission by or against Tiffany or any

of the other Released Parties of any fault, wrongdoing or liability whatsoever. The entering into

or carrying out of the Stipulation, and any negotiations or proceedings related thereto, shall not

in any event be construed as, or deemed to be evidence of, an admission or concession with

regard to the denials or defenses by Tiffany or any of the other Released Parties and shall not be

offered in evidence against Tiffany or any of the Released Parties in any action or proceeding in

any court, administrative agency or other tribunal for any purpose whatsoever other than to

enforce the provisions of this Final Judgment, the Stipulation, or any related agreement or

release. Notwithstanding these restrictions, any of the Released Parties may file in the Action or

in any other proceeding this Final Judgment, the Stipulation, or any other papers and records on

file in the Action as evidence of the Settlement and to support a defense of res judicata, collateral

estoppel, release, waiver or other theory of claim preclusion, issue preclusion or similar defense

as to the Released Commission Claims and the Released Paid Time Off Claims.

22. Without affecting the finality of this Final Judgment in any way, this Court hereby

retains continuing jurisdiction over the interpretation, implementation and enforcement of the

Settlement and all orders and judgments entered in connection therewith.

23. If the Settlement does not become final and effective in accordance with the terms

of the Stipulation, resulting in the return and/or retention of the Settlement Fund to Tiffany

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consistent with the terms of the Settlement, then this Judgment and all orders entered in

connection herewith, including the order certifying the California Commission Chargeback

Damages Class, the California Commission Overtime Class, the California Commissioned

Employee Prospective Relief Mandatory Class, the California Paid Time Off-Eligible Damages

Class, and the California Paid Time Off-Eligible Prospective Relief Mandatory Class, shall be

rendered null and void and shall be vacated.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED directing the Clerk of the Court to enter judgment in

accordance with this Order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 19, 2011

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

COPY TO: 

HON. JAN M. ADLER

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ALL PARTIES/COUNSEL

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