Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-03770/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-03770-30/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 480
Nature of Suit: Consumer Credit
Cause of Action: 15:1692 Fair Debt Collection Act

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Final Approval Order No. 09-3770 CRB

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Ethan Preston (263295)

PRESTON LAW OFFICES

8245 North 85th Way

Scottsdale, Arizona 85258 

(480) 269-9540 (telephone)

(866-509-1197 (facsimile)

ep@eplaw.us

David C. Parisi (162248)

Suzanne Havens Beckman (188814)

PARISI & HAVENS LLP

15233 Valleyheart Drive

Sherman Oaks, California 91403

(818) 990-1299 (telephone)

(818) 501-7852 (facsimile)

dcparisi@parisihavens.com

shavens@parisihavens.com

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

TIMOTHY and JEANNE DuFOUR and 

KENNETH TANNER, individuals, on 

their own behalves and on behalf of all 

others similarly situated,

Plaintiffs,

v.

BE., LLC, DYNAMIC SHOWCASES, 

LLC, California limited liability 

companies, MONTEREY FINANCIAL 

SERVICES, INC., a California 

corporations, BE MARKETING 

LIMITED, a private limited company 

registered in England and Wales, ERIK 

DeSANDO, BARRY FALCK, JACOB 

STEINBECK, and DOES 1-100, inclusive,

Defendants.

No. 09-03770-CRB

Judge Charles R. Breyer

[PROPOSED] FINAL APPROVAL 

ORDER

Date: February 20, 2015

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Courtroom 6, 17th Floor

450 Golden Gate Avenue 

San Francisco, CA 94102

Case 3:09-cv-03770-CRB Document 254 Filed 02/23/15 Page 1 of 9
Preliminary Approval Order No. 09-3770 CRB

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FINAL APPROVAL ORDER

Plaintiffs Timothy and Jeanne DuFour, individually and on behalf of each of the 

Settlement Class Members (“Plaintiffs”) submitted to the Court a Motion for Final Approval of 

the Class Action Settlement seeking final approval of the Settlement Agreement and Release (the 

“Agreement”) entered into by and between Plaintiffs and Defendant Monterey Financial 

Services, Inc. (“Monterey”), a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Costs and an Incentive Fee to 

Plaintiff, and the exhibits attached thereto. Defendant does not oppose Plaintiffs’ Motions.

By Order dated November 5, 2014, the District Court entered an Order that preliminarily 

approved the Agreement and conditionally certified the Settlement Class for settlement purposes 

only (the “Preliminary Approval Order”). Due and adequate notice having been given to the 

Settlement Class in compliance with the procedures set forth in the Agreement and the 

Preliminary Approval Order, this 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, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED: 

1. This Final Approval Order incorporates by reference the definitions in the 

Agreement, and all terms used herein shall have the same meanings as set forth in the 

Agreement.

2. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and, for purposes of this 

settlement only, personal jurisdiction over all the Parties, including all Settlement Class 

Members. Venue is also proper before this Court

3. Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and consistent with 

Due Process, this Court hereby approves the Agreement and finds that the Settlement 

consideration is fair and that said Settlement is, in all respects, fair, just, reasonable and adequate 

to the Settlement Class Members, and the Parties are hereby directed to perform its terms.

4. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3), this Court hereby certifies 

the Settlement Class solely for purposes of effectuating this settlement.

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Case 3:09-cv-03770-CRB Document 254 Filed 02/23/15 Page 2 of 9
Final Approval Order No. 09-3770 CRB

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a. Consistent with the Agreement’s definitions, the Settlement Class is 

defined as follows:

Persons who entered into non-arbitrable contracts for services with 

Be., LLC and/or Monterey, examples of which contracts were 

identified in ECF Filing Nos. 187-6, 187-7, and 187-10, and who 

did not properly and timely opt out of the Settlement.

b. Individuals within the Settlement Class had the right to exclude 

themselves by way of the opt-out procedure set forth in the Preliminary 

Approval Order. Excluded from the Settlement Class are those persons 

who validly and timely requested exclusion from the Settlement Class by 

way of the opt-out procedure, as identified in Exhibit 1 hereto (the “OptOuts”). 

5. For purposes of this settlement only, this Court finds and concludes that: (a) the 

Settlement Class is so numerous that joinder of all individuals in the Settlement Class is 

impracticable; (b) there are questions of law and fact common to the Settlement Class which 

predominate over any individual questions; (c) Plaintiff’s claims are typical of the claims of the 

Settlement Class; (d) Plaintiff and Class Counsel have fairly and adequately represented and 

protected the interests of all individuals in the Settlement Class; and (e) a class action is superior 

to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy, considering: 

(i) the interests of the Settlement Class Members in individually controlling the prosecution of 

the separate actions; (ii) the extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy 

already commenced by Settlement Class Members; (iii) the desirability or undesirability of 

continuing the litigation of these claims in this particular forum; and (iv) the difficulties likely to 

be encountered in the management of this class action.

6. David C. Parisi of Parisi & Havens LLP and Ethan Preston of Preston Law 

Offices are confirmed as Class Counsel. Plaintiffs Timothy and Jeanne DuFour are confirmed as 

class representatives.

7. This Court finds that the notice provided to Settlement Class Members was the 

best notice practicable and fully satisfied the requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Case 3:09-cv-03770-CRB Document 254 Filed 02/23/15 Page 3 of 9
Final Approval Order No. 09-3770 CRB

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Procedure, Due Process, and any other applicable laws.

8. This Court has considered and hereby overrules all objections to the Settlement 

on their merits.

9. The Court orders Monterey to establish a Settlement Fund of $1,250,000 on the 

later of September 15, 2014 and (i) if no appeal has been filed, after forty-five (45) days have 

lapsed since entry of the Judgment, or (ii) if a timely appeal has been filed (including any appeal 

by an objecting Class Member or Plaintiffs/Class Counsel’s appeal from an award of fees and/or 

costs), after forty-five (45) days have lapsed since the appeal is finally resolved, with no 

possibility of further appellate or other review, resulting in final judicial approval of the 

Settlement. 

10. The Court orders Monterey to maintain such Settlement Fund until all money 

within the Settlement Fund is distributed (consistent with Paragraph 3.8 of the Agreement). The 

Court further orders that Monterey distribute the Settlement Fund (together with any interest 

accrued thereon subsequent to deposit) as follows: (i) first, to reimburse Class Counsel for costs; 

(ii) second, to pay Class Representatives’ incentive payment and Class Counsel’s fees; (iii) third, 

to pay Compensation to Settlement Class Members; and (iv) fourth, if amounts remain after 

payment of the above items, the remaining amount shall be paid in equal amounts to the cy pres 

recipients (a) The BizParentz Foundation, P.O. Box 2477, Rancho Cucamonga, California 

91729, and (b) New Haven Youth and Family Services, P.O. Box 1199, Vista, California, 92085-

1199 (or to other alternative cy pres beneficiaries agreed upon by the Parties and approved by the 

Court).

11. No later than twenty-one (21) days after entry of this Order, Monterey shall direct 

any credit reporting agencies to which Monterey or its agents, including Monterey Collection 

Services, has reported (or caused to be reported) any negative information about any any contract 

for services from Be LLC, to remove such information, except to the extent that such 

information indicates that every payment made by such person on such contract was complete 

and timely. Once this Order becomes final because either (i) no appeal has been filed and thirty 

(30) days have lapsed since entry of the Order, or (ii) if a timely appeal has been filed, the appeal 

Case 3:09-cv-03770-CRB Document 254 Filed 02/23/15 Page 4 of 9
Final Approval Order No. 09-3770 CRB

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is finally resolved, with no possibility of further appellate or other review, resulting in final 

judicial approval of the Settlement, Monterey shall not furnish (or cause to be furnished) any 

information about any contract for services from Be., LLC to a credit reporting agency, except to 

the extent that such information indicates that every payment made on such contract was 

complete and timely or causes information to be removed from a credit report.

12. This Court hereby dismisses with prejudice on the merits and without costs or 

attorneys’ fees (except as otherwise provided in the Agreement) the above-captioned action 

(subject to retention of jurisdiction to enforce the Settlement).

13. Monterey, and its employees, officers and directors, hereby releases Plaintiffs and 

Class Counsel from any claims of abuse of process, malicious prosecution or any other claims 

arising out of the institution, prosecution, assertion or resolution of this Action, including, but not

limited to, claims for attorneys’ fees, costs of suit, or sanctions of any kind.

14. Monterey, and its employees, officers and directors fully, finally and forever 

release all Settlement Class Member who entered into any contract with Be., LLC that was 

assigned to Monterey from all actual or potential claims, actions, causes of action, suits, 

counterclaims, cross claims, contentions, allegations, and assertions of wrongdoing, and any 

demands for any and all debts, obligations, liabilities, damages (whether actual, compensatory, 

treble, punitive, exemplary, statutory, or otherwise), attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses, restitution, 

disgorgement, injunctive relief, any other type of equitable, legal or statutory relief, any other 

benefits, or any penalties of any type whatever, whether known or unknown, suspected or 

unsuspected, contingent or non-contingent, or discovered or undiscovered, that concern any 

unpaid balance for such contract. Without limiting the foregoing, the foregoing release 

specifically extend to all claims and potential claims that Monterey, and its employees, officers 

and directors do not know or suspect to exist in their favor as of or prior to the date the 

Agreement becomes Final.

15. The Released Parties include Monterey, Defendant, together with its members, 

owners, shareholders, unit holders, predecessors, successors (including, without limitation, 

acquirers of all or substantially all of their assets, stock, units or other ownership interests) and 

Case 3:09-cv-03770-CRB Document 254 Filed 02/23/15 Page 5 of 9
Final Approval Order No. 09-3770 CRB

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assigns; the past, present, and future, direct and indirect, parents (including, but not limited to 

holding companies), subsidiaries and affiliates of any of the above; and the past, present and 

future principals, trustees, partners, insurers, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors, 

attorneys, members, owners, shareholders, unit holders, predecessors, successors, assigns, 

representatives, heirs, executors, and administrators of any of the above, except that the Released 

Parties shall not include any person previously named as a defendant, other than Monterey, in 

any complaint filed by Plaintiffs.

16. The Released Claims means any and all actual or potential claims, actions, causes 

of action, suits, counterclaims, cross claims, third party claims, contentions, allegations, and 

assertions of wrongdoing, and any demands for any and all debts, obligations, liabilities, 

damages (whether actual, compensatory, treble, punitive, exemplary, statutory, or otherwise), 

attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses, restitution, disgorgement, injunctive relief, any other type of 

equitable, legal or statutory relief, any other benefits, or any penalties of any type whatever, 

whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, contingent or non-contingent, or 

discovered or undiscovered, whether asserted in federal court, state court, arbitration or 

otherwise, and whether triable before a judge or jury or otherwise, including, without limitation, 

claims for restitution/unjust enrichment, rescission claim, and claims under the Unruh Act, or 

any other state, federal, or local law, statute, regulation or common law, that arise from 

Defendant receiving money from any Settlement Class Member under any Contract and/or 

collecting balances allegedly owed by Settlement Class Members under any Contract, except that 

Released Claims exclude claims for physical injury and/or emotional distress.

17. The Plaintiffs and each Settlement Class Member, their respective heirs, 

executors, administrators, representatives, agents, attorneys, partners, children, successors, 

predecessors-in-interest, assigns and all persons acting for or on their behalf, shall be deemed to 

have fully, finally and forever released the Released Parties from all Released Claims. Without 

limiting the foregoing, the Released Claims specifically extend to all claims and potential claims 

that Settlement Class Members do not know or suspect to exist in their favor as of or prior to the 

date the Agreement becomes Final.

Case 3:09-cv-03770-CRB Document 254 Filed 02/23/15 Page 6 of 9
Final Approval Order No. 09-3770 CRB

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18. The Parties, and all Settlement Class Members, agree that Paragraphs 12 to 16, 

inclusive, may constitute a waiver of California Civil Code section 1542 and any similar or 

comparable provisions, rights and benefits conferred by the law of any state or territory of the 

United States or any jurisdiction, and any principle of common law. California Civil Code

section 1542 provides:

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.

The Parties, and each Settlement Class Member are deemed to understand and acknowledge the 

significance of these waivers of California Civil Code Section 1542 and/or of any other 

applicable law relating to limitations on releases. In connection with such waivers and 

relinquishment, the Parties and each Settlement Class Member are deemed to acknowledge that 

they are aware that they may hereafter discover facts in addition to, or different from, those facts 

which they now know or believe to be true with respect to the subject matter of the Settlement, 

but that they release fully, finally and forever all Released Claims, and in furtherance of such 

intention, the release will remain in effect notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any such 

additional or different facts.

19. The Parties may file the Agreement and/or this Final Approval Order in any 

action that may be brought against them in order to support a defense or counterclaim based on 

principles of res judicata, collateral estoppel, release, good faith settlement, judgment bar, 

reduction, set-off or any other theory of claim preclusion or issue preclusion or similar defense or 

counterclaim.

20. Settlement Class Members, and any person or entity allegedly acting on behalf of 

Settlement Class Members, either directly, representatively or in any other capacity, are enjoined 

from commencing or prosecuting against any and all of the Released Parties any action or 

proceeding in any court or tribunal asserting any of the Released Claims, provided, however, that 

this injunction shall not apply to non-released claims of Opt-Outs.

21. This Court, having considered Class Counsel’s request for an award of attorneys’ 

Case 3:09-cv-03770-CRB Document 254 Filed 02/23/15 Page 7 of 9
Final Approval Order No. 09-3770 CRB

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fees and reimbursement of expenses, hereby grants the request and awards Class Counsel 

attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of expenses in the total amount of _________ . This amount 

was reasonable under a lodestar multiplier analysis and/or a common fund analysis in light of the 

circumstances of this case. Such amounts are to be paid to Class Counsel by Monterey (1) fortyfive (45) days after entry of this Order; or (2) if a timely appeal has been filed, forty-five (45) 

days after the appeal is finally resolved, with no possibility of further appellate or other review, 

resulting in final judicial resolution of Class Counsel’s application for fees and costs.

22. The award of attorneys’ fees to Class Counsel shall be allocated among Plaintiff’s 

counsel in a fashion that, in the opinion of Class Counsel, fairly compensates Plaintiff’s counsel 

for their respective contributions in the prosecution of this action. The Court has considered this 

award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of expenses separately from the merits of the 

settlement and the Court has considered and finds as follows:

a. Plaintiffs’ counsel have conducted the litigation and achieved the Settlement 

with skill, perseverance, and diligent advocacy on behalf of Plaintiffs and the 

Settlement Class as a whole.

b. The Actions involve complex factual and legal issues and, in the absence of 

Settlement, would involve further lengthy proceedings and uncertain 

resolution of such issues.

c. Had Settlement not been achieved, there would remain a significant risk that 

the Settlement Class may have recovered less or nothing from Defendant, and 

that any recovery would have been significantly delayed.

d. The amount of attorneys’ fees and reimbursable expenses awarded to 

Plaintiffs’ counsel is fair and reasonable, given the number of attorney hours 

expended to achieve the Settlement on behalf of Plaintiffs and the Settlement 

Class as a whole, and the estimated value of the settlement benefits obtained 

for the Settlement Class, and the amount awarded is consistent with awards 

for similar work in similar cases.

23. This Court, having considered Plaintiff’s request for an incentive fee, hereby 

$600,000

Case 3:09-cv-03770-CRB Document 254 Filed 02/23/15 Page 8 of 9
Final Approval Order No. 09-3770 CRB

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grants the request and awards Plaintiffs an incentive fee of _________.

24. Without affecting the finality of this Final Approval Order in any way, this Court 

retains continuing jurisdiction to implement the Agreement and to construe, enforce and 

administer the Agreement and the Settlement. Class Counsel are to continue in their role to 

oversee all aspects of the Agreement and Settlement. Upon notice to Class Counsel, Defendant 

may seek from this Court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a), such further orders or process as may 

be necessary to prevent or forestall the assertion of any of the Released Claims in any other 

forum, or as may be necessary to protect and effectuate the Settlement and this Final Approval 

Order.

25. If an appeal, writ proceeding or other challenge is filed as to this Final Approval 

Order, and if thereafter the Final Approval Order is not ultimately upheld, all orders entered, 

stipulations made and releases delivered in connection herewith, or in the Agreement or in 

connection therewith, shall be null and void to the extent provided by and in accordance with the 

Agreement. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED:______________________

Honorable Charles R. Breyer

United States District Court Judge

for the District of Northern California

$5,000 2/23/2015

Case 3:09-cv-03770-CRB Document 254 Filed 02/23/15 Page 9 of 9