Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alsd-1_14-cv-00107/USCOURTS-alsd-1_14-cv-00107-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 15:1938 Fair Labor Standards Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

CORNELIUS SMITH, et al., )

 )

Plaintiffs, )

 )

v. ) CIVIL ACTION 14-0107-WS-B

 )

WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC., )

 )

Defendant. )

ORDER 

The defendant and eleven plaintiffs have filed a joint motion for approval 

of settlement agreement. (Doc. 143). “When employees bring a private action for 

back wages under the FLSA, and present to the district court a proposed 

settlement, the district court may enter a stipulated judgment after scrutinizing the 

settlement for fairness.” Lynn’s Food Stores, Inc. v. United States, 679 F.2d 1350, 

1353 (11th Cir. 1982). “[T]he rule of Lynn’s Food Stores applies to settlements 

between former employees and employers” just as it does to agreements by current 

employees. Nall v. Mal-Motels, Inc., 723 F.3d 1304, 1307 (11th Cir. 2013). 

The Court is unusually familiar with this case, as it has entered numerous 

rulings on the substantive motions presented by the parties, and the Court has no 

difficulty in concluding that the settlement is fair and reasonable. The Court also 

determines that the releases and confidentiality provisions satisfy the standards 

articulated by the Court in Crabtree v. Volkert, Inc., 2013 WL 593500 (S.D. Ala. 

2013). 

For the reasons set forth above, the joint motion for approval of settlement 

agreement is granted. The parties are ordered to submit, on or before

Case 1:14-cv-00107-WS-B Document 145 Filed 09/03/15 Page 1 of 2
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September 17, 2015, a proposed stipulated judgment in accordance with 

governing law.

DONE and ORDERED this 3rd day of September, 2015.

s/ WILLIAM H. STEELE

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00107-WS-B Document 145 Filed 09/03/15 Page 2 of 2