Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-02680/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-02680-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 29:0201fl FLSA: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

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15CV2680 BEN (JLB)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BOBBIE E. POLLAK,

Plaintiff,

v.

TRANSCEND SERVICES, INC.,

Defendant.

Case No.: 15CV2680 BEN (JLB)

ORDER GRANTING JOINT 

MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF 

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND 

RELEASE

[Docket No. 18]

The parties have filed a Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Agreement and 

Release. (Docket No. 18). Because Plaintiff’s action arises under the Fair Labor 

Standards Act (“FSLA”), the parties must obtain this Court’s approval of the settlement. 

On March 21, 2016, the Court ordered the parties to file a joint brief providing the Court

documentation and explanation in support of the requested attorney’s fees and costs and 

addressing Plaintiff’s range of possible recovery had she succeeded at trial in this matter. 

(Docket No. 20.) The parties timely filed the joint brief. (Docket No. 22.)

The Court has reviewed the parties Motion, Settlement Agreement, supplemental 

briefing and documentation of attorneys’ fees and costs and approves the parties’ 

settlement. 

Under the proposed settlement, Defendants agreed Plaintiff will receive $1,928.49 

for allegedly unpaid compensation; $1,927.49 in liquidated damages; and $1 is provided 

for a general release of all claims she may have against Transcend. The total amount 

Case 3:15-cv-02680-BEN-JLB Document 23 Filed 04/07/16 Page 1 of 2
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15CV2680 BEN (JLB)

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paid to Plaintiff is $3,856.98. The Parties believe these amounts reflect a fair and 

reasonable resolution of this dispute. The proposed settlement also provides Plaintiff’s 

counsel with $3,643.02 for attorneys’ fees and cost. Although the Court was initially 

concerned about the proportion of the settlement allocated to attorneys’ fees and costs, 

the documentation provided with the supplemental briefing supports the allocation. 

Specifically, the supplemental briefing reflects that a significant portion of that allocation 

is attributable to reasonable costs Plaintiff agreed to pay as part of the contingency fee 

agreement. Additionally, the attorneys’ fee award is in conformance with the 

contingency fee agreement and appropriate given the experience of counsel and hours 

expended on the case. 

The record before the Court reflects that the settlement was based, in part, on 

extensive discovery completed in an underlying decertified putative collective action, 

Cosentino v. Transcend Servs. Inc., Case No. 1:12-cv-3627 (N.D. Ill.). The parties have 

also exchanged documents and information specific to Plaintiff, including time records 

and Transcend’s policies for transcriptionists. The supplemental briefing addressing the 

strengths and weaknesses of Plaintiff’s case and her likelihood of recovery also support 

the reasonableness of the settlement. The Court finds the settlement is a fair and 

reasonable resolution of this action. 

The Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Agreement and Release is 

GRANTED and this action is DISMISSED with prejudice. At the parties’ request, the 

Court will retain jurisdiction over this matter for the purpose of enforcing the Settlement 

Agreement. The Clerk shall enter Judgment dismissing this action with prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 7, 2016

Case 3:15-cv-02680-BEN-JLB Document 23 Filed 04/07/16 Page 2 of 2