Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_13-cv-05961/USCOURTS-cand-4_13-cv-05961-15/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal

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24158643v1 4:13-cv-05961-KAW

[PROPOSED] ORDER AMENDING IN PART SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

DON SPRINGMEYER

dspringmeyer@wrslawyers.com

BRADLEY S. SCHRAGER (Admitted Pro Hac Vice)

bschrager@wrslawyers.com

JUSTIN JONES (SBN 218217)

jjones@wrslawyers.com

WOLF, RIFKIN, SHAPIRO, SCHULMAN & RABKIN, LLP

3556 E. Russell Road, Second Floor

Las Vegas, Nevada 89120

Telephone: (702) 341-5200

Facsimile: (702) 341-5300

MATTHEW OSTER (SBN 190541)

moster@wrslawyers.com

ERIC LEVINRAD (SBN 169025)

elevinrad@wrslawyers.com

RICARDO ROZEN (SBN 279151)

rrozen@wrslawyers.com

WOLF, RIFKIN, SHAPIRO, SCHULMAN & RABKIN, LLP

11400 West Olympic Boulevard, 9th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90064-1582

Telephone: (310) 478-4100

Facsimile: (310) 479-1422

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, OAKLAND DIVISION

HOLLY GEHL; CHRIS ARMENTA; 

et al. each on behalf of 

himself/herself, and on behalf of all 

others similarly situated,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

T-BIRD RESTAURANT GROUP, 

INC., a California corporation; TBIRD NEVADA, LLC, a Nevada 

Limited Liability Company; and 

DOES 1 through 100, Inclusive,

Defendants.

Case No. 4:13-cv-05961-KAW

[Judge Kandis A. Westmore]

CLASS ACTION

[PROPOSED] ORDER AMENDING 

IN PART SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 

ORDER GRANTING 

PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF 

CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT 

Date: December 17, 2015

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Courtroom: 3

Complaint filed November 8, 2013

Case 4:13-cv-05961-KAW Document 147 Filed 12/21/15 Page 1 of 7
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[PROPOSED] ORDER AMENDING IN PART SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

This matter came on for hearing on December 17, 2015 at 11 a.m., in

Courtroom 3 of the above-captioned Court on the parties’ Joint Motion for 

Hearing on Data Issues re Class Action Settlement. 

The Court, having fully reviewed the Joint Motion and Joint Brief 

submitted by the parties, and having been advised of the adjustment to the 

settlement agreement which the parties negotiated, and the amendment to the 

Stipulation of Class Action Settlement, and having carefully analyzed the 

Amendment to the Stipulation of Settlement, THE COURT HEREBY MAKES 

THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS AND ORDERS: 

1. The Court finds on a preliminary basis that the Stipulation of 

Settlement filed in this action on July 14, 2015, as amended by the Amendment 

to the Stipulation of Settlement filed in this action on December 16, 2015, both 

of which are incorporated herein by this reference in full and made a part of this 

Order of Preliminary Approval, appears to be within the range of reasonableness 

of a settlement which could ultimately be given final approval by this Court. 

2. It further appears to the Court on a preliminary basis that: (a) the 

proposed Settlement amount, as amended, is fair and reasonable to the 

Settlement Class Members when balanced against the probable outcome of 

further litigation in relation to certification of the class, liability, damages issues 

and potential appeals; (b) significant investigation, formal and informal 

discovery, research, and litigation have been conducted such that counsel for the 

Parties at this time are able to reasonably evaluate their respective positions; (c) 

settlement at this time will avoid substantial costs, delay and risks that would be 

presented by the further prosecution of the litigation; and (d) the proposed 

Settlement, as amended, has been reached as the result of intensive, serious and 

non-collusive negotiations between the Parties facilitated by an experienced 

wage and hour mediator and by further good faith, arm’s length negotiations 

Case 4:13-cv-05961-KAW Document 147 Filed 12/21/15 Page 2 of 7
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[PROPOSED] ORDER AMENDING IN PART SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

between the parties regarding an amendment to the Settlement in light of certain 

newly discovered data which was brought to the Court’s attention.

3. Accordingly, good cause appearing, the court extends its previous 

Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement to the Settlement as amended, 

and as a part of said preliminary approval, the Court hereby accepts and 

incorporates the Stipulation of Settlement, as amended. 

4. The Court further finds that the proposed class notice, “Notice of 

Class Action Settlement” and “Claim Form” which are attached to this order as 

Exhibits “A” and “B”, respectively, fairly, plainly and adequately advises 

Settlement Class Members of (a) the pendency of the Class Action, (b) 

preliminary Court approval of the proposed Settlement; (c) the date of the Final 

Fairness / Approval Hearing; (d) the terms of the proposed Settlement and the 

benefits available to Settlement Class Members thereunder, (e) the right to make 

a claim for his or her proportional share of the settlement proceeds and 

procedure and deadline for doing so, (f) the amount he or she can expect to 

receive if they choose to participate in the Settlement; (g) the right to object to 

the settlement and procedure and deadline for doing so; (h) the right to request 

exclusion and procedure and deadline for doing so; and (i) the right to file 

documentation in support of or in opposition to, and to appear in connection 

with, said hearing. The Court further finds that the Notice and Claim Form 

clearly comport with all constitutional requirements, including those of due 

process.

5. Accordingly, good cause appearing, the Court hereby APPROVES 

the Notice of Class Action Settlement and the Claim Form.

6. The Court further finds that the mailing to the last known address of 

Settlement Class Members as specifically described within the Stipulation of 

Settlement, with measures taken for verification of an address and skip tracing 

Case 4:13-cv-05961-KAW Document 147 Filed 12/21/15 Page 3 of 7
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[PROPOSED] ORDER AMENDING IN PART SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

set forth therein, and, in the case of mailings returned as undeliverable with no 

such mailing resending such mailings to the current address listed with the 

National Change of Address Database or obtained as a result of skip-tracing, 

constitutes an effective method of notifying Settlement Class Members of their 

rights with respect to the class action and the settlement. Accordingly, it is 

hereby ORDERED that:

a. On or before December 28, 2015, Simpluris, Inc., the 

previously appointed Settlement Administrator (“Settlement 

Administrator”) shall mail the Notice of Settlement, the Claims Form, and 

the Exclusion Letter, attached as Exhibit “H” to this order, (collectively 

“Notice Packet”) via First-Class mail using the United States Postal 

Service (“U.S. Postal Service”) to the most recent address known for each 

Settlement Class Member, employing the procedures specified in the 

Court’s September 28, 2015 Order. 

b. The Settlement Administrator shall also set up and maintain a 

website containing: (1) the information about the Settlement set forth in 

Exhibit “C” to this order; (2) links to the following documents: (i) Notice 

of Class Action Settlement; (ii) Claim Form; (iii) Stipulation of 

Settlement; and (iv) this Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Class 

Action Settlement; (3) a link to an online version of the Claim Form 

containing the information set forth in Exhibit “D” to this order and which 

permits class members to complete and submit their claim forms to the 

Settlement Administrator online. 

c. Defendants shall post information about the proposed 

Settlement and claims process at the California Outback Restaurants in the 

form attached as Exhibit “F” to the Stipulation of Settlement, and will 

make generic request for claims forms available in the California Outback 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER AMENDING IN PART SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

Restaurants in the form attached as Exhibit “G” to the Stipulation of 

Settlement readily available to Settlement Class Members upon request at 

each of the California Outback restaurants.

d. On or before January 11, 2016, [31 days prior to the Claims 

deadline], Plaintiffs’ counsel shall file a motion for attorney’s fees, setting 

such motion for hearing on the same date and time as the Final Fairness / 

Approval Hearing.

e. On or before January 22, 2016, [20 days prior to the Claims 

deadline], the Settlement Administrator shall mail a postcard to all 

members of the Settlement Class, who have not by that date, returned a 

Claim Form, or a request to be excluded, of the deadline to submit a Claim 

Form.

f. On or before February 11, 2016, [45 days following initial 

mailing of the Class Notice], Claim Forms must be postmarked and 

returned to the Settlement Administrator.

g. On or before February 11, 2016, [45 days following initial 

mailing of the Class Notice], any Class Member who wishes to dispute or 

challenge the employment information upon which their payment is based, 

must be postmarked and returned to the Settlement Administrator. 

h. On or before February 11, 2016, [45 days following the 

initial mailing of the Class Notice] objections to the Settlement in the 

manner set forth in the Notice of Class Settlement must be postmarked and 

returned to the Settlement Administrator and also served on Counsel for 

the Parties. Class Members who have not timely filed and/or served 

written objections in the manner specified in the Notice of Class Action 

Settlement shall be deemed to have waived any objections, shall be 

Case 4:13-cv-05961-KAW Document 147 Filed 12/21/15 Page 5 of 7
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[PROPOSED] ORDER AMENDING IN PART SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

foreclosed from making any objection to the settlement, and shall not be 

heard at the Final Approval Hearing. 

i. On or before February 11, 2016 , [45 days following the 

initial mailing of the Class Notice], where a Class Member has submitted 

an objection submitted in accordance with the Notice of Class Settlement 

and the preceding paragraph, such a Class Member may also be heard at 

the Final Approval Hearing if they have provide written notice of their 

intention to appear at the Final Approval Hearing which is postmarked and 

returned to the Settlement Administrator and served on Counsel for the 

Parties. 

7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Final Fairness / Approval 

Hearing and the hearing on Plaintiffs’ Attorneys’ Motion for an Award of 

Attorneys’ Fees shall be held before the undersigned on April 7, 2016, at 11:00

a.m., in Courtroom 4 of the United States District Court for the Northern District of 

California, 1301 Clay Street, 3rd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612 to consider the 

fairness, adequacy and reasonableness of the proposed Settlement preliminarily 

approved by this Order of Preliminary Approval, and to consider the requests for 

the Class Representative’s Service Payments, Settlement Administration 

payment and for Class Counsel’s Attorneys’ fees and costs payments. All briefs 

and materials in support of an Order of Granting Final Approval and Entering 

Judgment shall be filed with this Court on or before March 2, 2016. 

/ / /

/ / /

/ / /

/ / /

/ / /

/ / /

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[PROPOSED] ORDER AMENDING IN PART SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court’s September 28, 2015 

Order granting Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement shall remain in 

full force and effect, except as expressly modified by this order. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 21, 2015

KANDIS A. WESTMORE

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:13-cv-05961-KAW Document 147 Filed 12/21/15 Page 7 of 7