Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-01841/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-01841-1/pdf.json

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

---

SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, SUITE 950

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 1 -

[Proposed] Order Re: Final Approval of Class Action Settlement and Final Judgment Thereon

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBIN J. TUCKER, individually, and

on behalf of all others similarly situated,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

CASUAL MALE RETAIL GROUP,

INC., and DOES 1 through 100,

inclusive,

Defendants.

 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No.: C 04-1841 SBA

CLASS ACTION

ORDER RE: FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS

ACTION SETTLEMENT AND FINAL

JUDGMENT THEREON

Date: February 7, 2006

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Judge: Hon. Saundra B. Armstrong

This Court preliminarily approved the parties’ Stipulation of Class Action Settlement

(“Stipulation”) in its Order dated November 1, 2005. (“Preliminary Approval Order”). In

accordance with the Order, Class members have been given notice of the terms of the Stipulation

and an opportunity to object to it or comment on it. Having reviewed and considered the proposed

Stipulation, the papers filed by the parties supporting the Settlement and the papers submitted in

support of the Preliminary Approval Order and the Motion for Final Approval, the Court hereby

grants final approval of the Settlement.

Case 4:04-cv-01841-SBA Document 63 Filed 02/09/06 Page 1 of 5
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, SUITE 950

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 2 -

[Proposed] Order Re: Final Approval of Class Action Settlement and Final Judgment Thereon

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Representative Plaintiff Robin J. Tucker (“Representative Plaintiff”) has alleged in the

above-captioned action that Defendant Casual Male improperly classified FLSA Class Members as

overtime exempt and failed to pay overtime as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act and

improperly classified California Class Members as overtime exempt and failed to pay overtime,

failed to provide meal and rest breaks, and failed to keep accurate wage records in violation of the

California Labor Code, the California Wage Orders and the California Business and Professions

Code. Casual Male denies these claims and in no way admits or concedes that it has, in any manner,

violated any of the foregoing laws.

Plaintiff Robin J. Tucker has moved this Court for final approval of the Stipulation of Class

Action Settlement. This Court, having fully received and considered Plaintiff’s Notice of Motion,

Motion, Memorandum of Points and Authorities, Declarations in support of the motion, the

Stipulation of Settlement, and the briefing preceding the Preliminary Approval Order, HEREBY

ORDERS and MAKES DETERMINATIONS as follows:

FINAL APPROVAL OF NOTICE PROGRAM

On November 15, 2005, the form of Notice approved by the Court was mailed to Class

members via first class mail pursuant to the Court’s Preliminary Approval Order. The Notice

informed Class members of the terms of the Settlement, their opportunity to file claims, to opt out

of the Settlement, to file written objections, and/or to appear in person or by counsel at the Fairness

Hearing. Adequate periods of time were provided for each of these procedures.

The Court finds that these procedures afforded protections to Class members and provide the

basis for the Court to make an informed decision on approval of the Settlement based on the

responses of Class members. The Court finds that the Notice provided in this case was the best

notice practicable, and satisfied the requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and

constitutional Due Process.

Case 4:04-cv-01841-SBA Document 63 Filed 02/09/06 Page 2 of 5
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, SUITE 950

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 3 -

[Proposed] Order Re: Final Approval of Class Action Settlement and Final Judgment Thereon

FINAL APPROVAL OF THE STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT

The Court has reviewed the Stipulation of Class Action Settlement and finds that the

Settlement amount is fair, reasonable and adequate, particularly when balanced against the probable

outcome of further litigation relating to liability and damages issues. The Court further finds that

extensive and costly investigation and research have been conducted such that counsel for the parties

are able to reasonably evaluate their respective positions. The Court also finds that Settlement at

this time will avoid additional substantial costs which have already been incurred by both parties,

as well as avoid the delay and risks that would be presented by the further prosecution of the

litigation. Moreover, the Court finds that the Settlement has been reached as the result of intensive,

serious and non-collusive arms-length negotiations.

Accordingly, the Court finally approves the Stipulation of Class Action Settlement between

Plaintiff and Defendant as fair, reasonable and adequate and directs the parties and Claims

Administrator to further cooperate to implement the terms of the Settlement Agreement.

DISMISSAL AND RELEASE

In accordance with the terms of the Stipulation of Class Action Settlement, this action shall

be dismissed on the merits and with prejudice. The Stipulation provides that:

Each SETTLEMENT CLASS MEMBER (of the California

Class and the FLSA Class) shall be deemed to have released CM and

its parent entities, subsidiaries, affiliates, and joint ventures, and each

of their respective present and former officers, directors, controlling

stockholders, agents, employees, insurers, co-insurers, reinsurers,

attorneys, accountants, auditors, advisors, representatives, pension

and welfare benefit plans, plan fiduciaries, administrators, trustees,

general and limited partners, predecessors, successors, and assigns

from all other causes, claims, actions, suits or demands, whether

under law or in equity, under each and every COVERED CLAIM

that was asserted or that could have been asserted in the Amended

Complaint relating to the SETTLEMENT CLASS MEMBERS’

exempt classification. These released Claims specifically include any

and all Claims, actions or causes of action for overtime wages and

meal and rest periods and penalties or damages related thereto under

state and federal law, including the California Labor Code and the

Fair Labor Standards Act, record keeping violations and violations

for filing to provide semi-monthly itemized statements under state

and federal law, waiting time penalties pursuant to California Labor

Code section 203 and federal law, unfair business practices pursuant

to California Business and Professions Code section 17200, et seq.,

Case 4:04-cv-01841-SBA Document 63 Filed 02/09/06 Page 3 of 5
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, SUITE 950

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 4 -

[Proposed] Order Re: Final Approval of Class Action Settlement and Final Judgment Thereon

statutory or common law rights to attorney’s fees and costs, including

those pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act and California Labor

Code section 1194, et seq., violation or breach of any other state or

federal statute, rule and/or regulation, and similar causes of action,

including but not limited to any claim for punitive and/or exemplary

damages, based on, arising from, or relating to overtime wages, meal

periods and/or rest breaks as CM employees during or before the

claim period.

Without affecting the finality of this Final Order and Judgment, the Court reserves

continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over parties to the Stipulation of Class Action Settlement,

including Casual Male and Class Members, to administer, supervise, construe and enforce the

Settlement Agreement in accordance with its terms for the mutual benefit of the parties. The Court

also retains jurisdiction over Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs and the Class

Representative’s enhancement award. The parties agree that a United States District Court

Magistrate Judge will be empowered to resolve any disputes which may arise between the parties

pertaining to this Settlement. The Court, in the interests of justice, expressly directs the Clerk

of the Court to enter this Final Order and Judgment, and hereby decrees that, upon entry, it

be deemed a final judgment. The Court further directs the clerk to enter dismissal of this

action ten days following entry of this Order and Judgment.

///

///

///

///

///

///

///

///

///

///

///

Case 4:04-cv-01841-SBA Document 63 Filed 02/09/06 Page 4 of 5
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, SUITE 950

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 5 -

[Proposed] Order Re: Final Approval of Class Action Settlement and Final Judgment Thereon

AWARD OF ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS, ENHANCEMENT AWARD

 AND CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION FEES

Good cause appearing, the Court hereby awards attorneys’ fees of $287,500, plus costs in

the amount of $14,101.01 to Class Counsel. The Court also approves and awards an enhancement

payment of $10,000 to the Class Representative and costs of administration of $35,469 to Rust

Consulting, Inc. Such awards shall be paid from the $1,000,000 Settlement fund created on behalf

of the California Class and shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the Stipulation of

Settlement. 

IT IS SO ORDERED, this 9th day of February, 2006.

 

Honorable Saundra B. Armstrong

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 4:04-cv-01841-SBA Document 63 Filed 02/09/06 Page 5 of 5