Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_04-cv-01852/USCOURTS-casd-3_04-cv-01852-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 29:201 Fair Labor Standards Act

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 [Proposed] Order Granting Mtn. for Award of Atty’s Fees, Expenses, and Enhancements 04cv1852 JAH

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DREW TAKACS and RYAN FLYNN,

individually, and on behalf of all others similarly

situated, 

Plaintiffs,

vs.

A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC. 

Defendants.

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CASE NO. 04 CV 1852 JAH(NLS)

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR AN

AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S FEES, COSTS,

AND ENHANCEMENTS TO NAMED

PLAINTIFFS

Date: November 5, 2007

Time: 2:30 p.m.

Ctrm: 11

Hon. John A. Houston

Case 3:04-cv-01852-JAH-NLS Document 227 Filed 11/05/07 Page 1 of 3
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 [Proposed] Order Granting Mtn. for Award of Atty’s Fees, Expenses, and Enhancements 04cv1852 JAH -1-

On November 5, 2007, the Court heard (1) plaintiffs’ unopposed motion for final approval of

the class action settlement (“Settlement”), and (2) Class Counsel’s unopposed motion for an award of

attorney’s fees, litigation expenses, and enhancements to the named plaintiffs. Having granted final

approval to the class action settlement, with respect to the unopposed motion for an award of attorney’s

fees, litigation expenses, and enhancements to the named plaintiffs, after reviewing Class Counsel’s

briefs, and after hearing arguments of counsel, the Court finds and orders as follows: 

1. For the purposes of this Order, the Court adopts all defined terms as set forth in the

Stipulation of Class Action Settlement (“Stipulation”), previously filed with this Court on May 25, 2007,

Docket No. 210.

2. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this litigation and over all parties

and Class Members in this litigation.

3. Class Counsel have jointly moved for an award of attorney’s fees equal to $6,000,000,

or 28.17% of the $21.3 million overall recovery for the Class, which recovery consists of the

$20,000,000 fund established by the instant settlement, and $1.3 million paid by defendant to members

of the Class in December 2004, which payments the Court finds were made as a direct consequence of

the June 2004 filing of this lawsuit. Class Counsel also have moved jointly for an award of $93,914.51

in litigation expenses. The Court finds that Class Counsel have skillfully advanced novel and untested

legal theories on a contingent-fee basis over more than three years, and their efforts resulted in a

substantial payment to the Class. No Class Member has objected to Class Counsel’s request. The Court

also finds that certain factors warrant an upward departure from the Ninth Circuit’s 25% benchmark fee,

as requested by Class Counsel. These factors include: (a) the experience of Class Counsel in wage and

hour class action cases; (b) the outstanding result Class Counsel achieved in securing the overall

recovery for the Class; (c) the extremely high participation rate by the Class in the settlement, and the

correspondingly nominal number of opt-outs; (d) the nature of the novel and untested legal theories

advanced by Class Counsel to a successful conclusion; (e) the risks undertaken by Class Counsel by

taking this case and its novel and untested legal theories on a contingency-fee basis; (f) the substantial

amount and high quality of the work performed by Class Counsel in this matter, including extensive law

and motion and formal and informal discovery and investigation; and (g) the complete absence of any

Case 3:04-cv-01852-JAH-NLS Document 227 Filed 11/05/07 Page 2 of 3
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 [Proposed] Order Granting Mtn. for Award of Atty’s Fees, Expenses, and Enhancements 04cv1852 JAH -2-

objection to the requested attorney’s fees by the members of the Class. The Court finds further that

Class Counsel’s expenses were reasonably incurred in prosecuting this case on behalf of the Class.

Accordingly, the Court grants Class Counsel’s request for attorney’s fees and litigation expenses in its

entirety.

4. Plaintiffs have also moved for an award of enhancement payments of $25,000 to each

of the named plaintiffs and Class Representatives, Drew Takacs, Ryan Flynn, and Caitlin Manoogian,

to be paid from the settlement fund. The Court finds that these enhancement payments are reasonable

in light of the services the named plaintiffs performed on behalf of the Class and the risks they

undertook in bringing the lawsuit. No Class Member has objected to the proposed enhancement

payments. Accordingly, the Court grants plaintiffs’ request in its entirety.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: November 5, 2007

HON. JOHN A. HOUSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:04-cv-01852-JAH-NLS Document 227 Filed 11/05/07 Page 3 of 3