Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_09-cv-05796/USCOURTS-cand-4_09-cv-05796-64/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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[Proposed] Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion re Attorneys’ Fees (C 09-05796 CW) 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

OAKLAND DIVISION 

TODD ASHKER, et al., 

Plaintiffs,

 v. 

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF 

CALIFORNIA, et al., 

Defendants.

C 09-05796 CW 

[PROPOSED] ORDER REGARDING 

PLAINTIFFS’ UNOPPOSED MOTION 

FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS, 

NOTICE TO CLASS MEMBERS, AND A 

SCHEDULING ORDER 

On September 1, 2015, the parties reached a Stipulation and Settlement Agreement 

(“Settlement Agreement”) to resolve this case regarding Defendants’ policies and practices 

related to gang management and their use of segregated housing, including the Security Housing 

Unit (SHU) at Pelican Bay State Prison. The Court granted final approval of the Settlement 

Agreement on January 26, 2016. (Dkt. No. 488). The Settlement Agreement provides 

entitlement to Plaintiffs’ counsel’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. (Dkt. No. 424-2, para. 

55). By this Order, the Court sets forth the notice and approval process concerning an agreement 

(“Fee Accord”) negotiated by the parties for payment of $4,550,0001

 to Plaintiffs for all 

attorneys’ fees and costs incurred during the four years of litigation leading to the date the 

Settlement Agreement was executed on September 1, 2015. 

 1

 The attorneys' fees in this case are based upon the lodestar method, representing a settled 

amount of 20,530.9 hours at the settled rate of $213 per hour, plus non-expert costs of 

$176,915.61.

Case 4:09-cv-05796-CW Document 579 Filed 07/01/16 Page 1 of 4
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[Proposed] Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion re Attorneys’ Fees (C 09-05796 CW) 

The Court has presided over the proceedings in the above-captioned action and has 

reviewed all the pleadings, records, and papers on file. The Court has reviewed the Unopposed 

Motion for Approval of Class Settlement Regarding Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, and has 

considered the parties’ arguments concerning the settlement of these fees and costs. 

Therefore, with good cause appearing, the Court hereby orders as follows: 

1. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(h), the Court approves the substance, form and 

manner of the Notice of Proposed Settlement of Attorneys’ Fees in Class Action 

Regarding SHU Confinement (“Class Notice”) as submitted by the parties. The Court 

finds that the Class Notice provides adequate notice concerning the parties’ Fee Accord, 

which, if approved, would settle Plaintiffs’ request for attorneys’ fees and costs through 

September 1, 2015. 

2. The Court finds that the proposed method of disseminating the Class Notice meets all due 

process and other legal requirements, and is the best notice practicable under the 

circumstances. 

3. Within three days of this Order, the parties are directed to prepare a final version of the 

Class Notice, incorporating the dates set forth in this Order. 

4. Within ten business days of the preparation of the final version of the Class Notice, CDCR 

is directed to post the Class Notice in English and Spanish in all housing units of all 

prisons housing prisoners who are or have been Ashker class members in such a manner as 

to make the notice visible to all prisoners. This will require notice to be posted in all 32 

male prison institutions. Within ten days of the preparation of the final version of the 

Class Notice, CDCR is also directed to place in the law library of every such prison a 

copy of this Order and a copy of Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion. Defendants must file and 

Case 4:09-cv-05796-CW Document 579 Filed 07/01/16 Page 2 of 4
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[Proposed] Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion re Attorneys’ Fees (C 09-05796 CW) 

serve on Plaintiffs’ counsel a declaration affirming that notice was timely published as 

required in this Order. 

5. Any member of the class can write to the Federal Court about whether the Fee Accord is 

unfair and should not be approved. The Court will consider written comments when 

deciding whether to approve the agreement. These comments MUST include at the top of 

the first page the case name – Ashker v. Governor of California – and Case No. 4:09-cv05796-CW. Comments must be received within four weeks of dissemination of the 

Notice and must be sent to the following address: Clerk of the Court, United States 

District Court, Northern District of California, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612. 

6. A written comment must contain the author’s full name and CDCR number, must include 

all objections and the reasons for them, must include any and all supporting papers, and 

must be signed by the class member. A class member who desires to comment but who 

fails to comply with the above objection procedure and timeline shall be deemed to have 

not objected and the objection shall not be heard or considered at the hearing.

7. At the conclusion of the notice period, the parties shall have ten days in which to file a 

response to the objections, if any, raised by class members, and for Plaintiffs to submit a 

proposed order for approval of the Fee Accord and Plaintiffs’ motion for attorneys’ fees 

and costs in compliance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23(h) and 52(a). The 

Motion is noticed for hearing fourteen days from the date the parties file any further 

briefing addressing class members’ objections, with the intention of holding that date for 

addressing objections and determining approval. The parties have agreed to forego a postnotice approval hearing, unless the Court determines that one is required. 

8. Payment shall be made within ten business days following entry of the Court’s order 

approving the Fee Accord.

Case 4:09-cv-05796-CW Document 579 Filed 07/01/16 Page 3 of 4
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[Proposed] Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion re Attorneys’ Fees (C 09-05796 CW) 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: __________, 2016 _______________________________________ 

 The Honorable Claudia Wilken 

 United States District Court Judge 

July 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORN

I

A

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Claudia Wilken

Case 4:09-cv-05796-CW Document 579 Filed 07/01/16 Page 4 of 4