Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-00429/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-00429-1/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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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Leah A. Bilyeu, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Discover Financial Services, Inc., 

Defendant. 

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No. CIV 06-429-PHX-SMM

ORDER

Pending before the Court is Defendant Discover Financial Services, Inc.'s

("Discover") Motion for Approval of Settlement Agreement and Release. (Dkt. 26). 

DISCUSSION

Under the Family Medical and Leave Act, "employees cannot waive, nor may

employers induce employees to waive, their rights under the FMLA." 29 C.F.R. §

825.220(d). The Ninth Circuit has not addressed the issue of whether a settlement agreement

and release of claims reached in an FMLA case requires court approval. However, as

Discover indicates, the Fourth Circuit interpreted the plain meaning of the FMLA as

requiring Department of Labor or court approval before waiving employee rights under the

FMLA. Taylor v. Progress Energy, Inc., 415 F.3d 364, 368 (4th Cir. 2005). Thus, in light of

the Fourth Circuit's holding in Taylor, Discover requests the Court to approve the parties'

settlement agreement.

According to Discover, the parties have agreed upon a settlement agreement and

release of all the claims asserted by Plaintiff and the settlement "is a fair and reasonable

Case 2:06-cv-00429-SMM Document 27 Filed 04/02/07 Page 1 of 2
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resolution of the claims asserted by Plaintiff." (Dkt. 7 at 9). Plaintiff, who received notice

of Discover's Discover's Motion for Approval of Settlement Agreement and Release on

March 2, 2007, has not opposed the motion. Accordingly, the Court will grant Discover's

motion.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, 

IT IS ORDERED that Discover Financial Services, Inc.'s Motion for Approval of

Settlement Agreement and Release (Dkt. 26) is GRANTED. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court will conduct a Status Hearing in this

matter on Monday, June 4, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Stephen M.

McNamee in Courtroom 605 at 401 West Washington Street in Phoenix, Arizona.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties have 30 days from the date of this

Order by which to file a stipulated dismissal, and that if such a dismissal is timely filed, the

Status Hearing will be vacated.

DATED this 30th day of March, 2007.

Case 2:06-cv-00429-SMM Document 27 Filed 04/02/07 Page 2 of 2