Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03622/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03622-64/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MERCY AMBAT, et al.,

 

 Plaintiffs, 

vs.

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN 

FRANCISCO,

 Defendant.

__________________________________

AND CONSOLIDATED ACTIONS 

Consolidated Case No. CV 07-03622 SI

ORDER FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE 

HONORABLE JAMES MCBRIDE AS

SPECIAL MASTER TO ALLOCATE AND 

ORDER DISTRIBUTION OF SETTLEMENT 

FUNDS AMONGST PLAINTIFFS AND 

COMPENSATION FOR SPECIAL MASTER

SERVICES

Dkt. No. 418

BACKGROUND

1. This matter was originally filed in this Court on July 13, 2007, with two additional cases 

filed and joined thereafter. 

2. In order to resolve this matter, twenty individual plaintiffs agreed to a joint settlement 

fund of $175,000 for their harms and losses pursuant to a written Settlement Agreement. Said

Settlement Agreement stipulated to the appointment of a referee/Special Master, the Honorable James 

McBride, a retired judge of the San Francisco Superior Court, who successfully conducted the mediation 

in this case. 

3. These twenty individual plaintiffs now seek an order of this Court for the appointment of 

the Honorable James McBride as referee/Special Master to allocate and distribute the settlement funds 

of $175,000 amongst all of the plaintiffs, as previously agreed to by plaintiffs in the Settlement 

Agreement each signed in this matter. See Dkt. 418 at 18-44.

4. Counsel has represented to this Court that each of the twenty individual plaintiffs

received notice of the underlying mediation, and many chose to appear, participate, and negotiate on 

behalf of plaintiffs as a group.

5. Counsel has represented to this Court that each of the twenty individual plaintiffs

received notice of this “Plaintiffs’ Application For Appointment Of The Honorable James McBride As 

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Referee/Special Master To Allocate And Distribute Settlement Funds Amongst Plaintiffs And Order” by 

email and/or by U.S. Mail with the opportunity to appear and contest this ruling. 

6. Counsel has represented to this Court that the Settlement Agreement set out a specific 

procedure for each of the plaintiffs to make a presentation to Judge McBride as to the individual harms 

each suffered in relation to this case. Counsel further represented to this Court that only those plaintiffs

claiming an extraordinary award need file an application for such relief with Judge McBride.

DISCUSSION

7. The application here is made for the appointment of Judge McBride as a Special Master 

pursuant to the stipulation of the parties. Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(a)(1)(A). It is done specifically as discussed 

and agreed to by the Plaintiff’s Committee at the underlying mediation, and as agreed to in writing by all 

plaintiffs. The Court finds that by this application plaintiffs have complied with the requirements of Rule 

53 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

8. The Court finds that the a resolution of the allocation between plaintiffs can most 

efficiently and economically be done by the appointment of a Special Master and that Judge McBride 

has a unique insight into the claims and defenses, as well as the facts of this case. 

9. The court finds that Judge McBride is qualified as a Special Master for the purpose the 

distribution of the $175,000 in settlement proceeds, and that Judge McBride has demonstrated all the 

necessary qualifications for said position. The Court does not observe grounds for the disqualification 

of Judge McBride. Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(a)(2).

10. The parties have stipulated that all claims will settle jointly from the amount of $175,000.

11. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Judge McBride shall offer each plaintiff the 

opportunity to present information and testimony under penalty of perjury specific to his or her claim for 

an extraordinary award of damages due to special harms suffered by that plaintiff. Plaintiffs have 30 

days to submit their claim forms and affidavits. Judge McBride shall consider each of the claims of 

harm in relation to the overall amount available, and prepare and make a final determination of the 

allocation of the settlement amount among the plaintiffs, with final distribution from the “Attorney Trust 

Account for Lawrence D. Murray” to be made in accordance with that determination. 

12. The testimony of the plaintiffs will be in the form of declarations under penalty of 

perjury, without live testimony, in order to keep the expense to a minimum. Live testimony shall be 

permitted only where the Special Master feels the need for live testimony to understand the submission 

of a particular plaintiff.

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13. Once plaintiffs have had 30 days to submit their claim forms and affidavits, in order to 

reduce the expense and delay, Judge McBride shall dutifully and with all deliberate speed assemble and 

submit to this Court a Report of the Special Master for Allocation of Settlement Funds of $175,000, as 

required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(e). Judge McBride shall in his report to this Court 

explain the basis for the allocation of the settlement funds. Judge McBride shall promptly serve a copy 

of said report on each party. Fed R. Civ. P. 53(e). Judge McBride shall preserve the claim forms and 

affidavits submitted and attach them as one joint exhibit to his report to this Court. Fed. R. Civ. R. 

53(b)(2)(C).

14. Judge McBride will not communicate with the court on an ex parte basis unless that 

becomes necessary and only with notice of such communication to all attorneys for all parties. Fed. R. 

Civ. P. 53(b)(2)(B).

15. Upon issuance of any order related to the proceeding, Judge McBride shall file the order 

with the Court and promptly serve a copy on each party. The clerk must enter the order on the docket. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(d).

16. Judge McBride’s fees are calculated pursuant to his usual hourly rate, see dkt. 418 at 12, 

and shall be paid from the attorney’s fees set forth in paragraph 1(B) of the Settlement Agreement 

subject to approval by the Court. See Dkt. 418 at 19; Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(g).

17. The decision of Judge McBride as to the allocation of the settlement proceeds to the 

plaintiffs, as well as the fees to be paid to Judge McBride, are subject to final approval by this Court. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(f).

18. Upon this Court’s final approval, Lawrence D. Murray will pay from the “Attorney Trust 

Account for Lawrence D. Murray” the amounts stated in Judge McBride’s report.

CONCLUSION

19. The motion seeking appointment of Judge McBride as a Special Master is granted by 

consent of the parties pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(a)(1)(A). The Court is mindful of 

the need to avoid unreasonable expense or delay in the distribution of the settlement funds and finds that 

this order is entered in fairness to the parties. Fed. R. Civ. P. Rule 53(a)(3).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 28, 2016 ________________________________________

HON. SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

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