Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02410/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02410-1/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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1 07cv2410

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VINCENT BOVA, an individual; on behalf of

himself, and on behalf of all persons similarly

situated,

Plaintiff,

v.

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., solely

and exclusively as successor to

WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK and Does

1 to 10,

Defendants. 

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Civil No. 07cv2410 AJB (JMA)

ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY

APPROVAL OF CLASS AND

COLLECTIVE ACTION SETTLEMENT

[Doc. No. 92]

The Court has heard a motion by Plaintiff VINCENT BOVA ("Plaintiff" or "Class Representative") for

preliminary approval of a proposed class and collective action settlement. Defendant JPMORGAN

CHASE BANK, N.A., as acquirer of certain assets and liabilities of WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK

("WMB") from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), acting as receiver (hereinafter,

"Defendant") filed a Notice of Non-Opposition to the motion. The Court has considered the Joint

Stipulation and Settlement Agreement ("Stipulation") and the proposed Notice Regarding Pendency of

Class Action ("Class Notice") and attached exhibits, and the submissions of counsel, and hereby finds

and orders as follows:

1. The Court finds that the settlement memorialized in the Stipulation filed with the Court falls

within the "range of reasonableness" and therefore approves the settlement on a preliminary basis.

Case 3:07-cv-02410-AJB-JMA Document 95 Filed 04/29/11 Page 1 of 3
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2 07cv2410

2. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3), the Court conditionally certifies, for settlement purposes

only, the following class ("Class"): All individuals who were employed by Washington Mutual Bank's

Home Loans or Home Loans and Insurance Services group as Wholesale Underwriters or Senior

Wholesale Underwriters in the State of California between December 26, 2003 and September 30, 2008,

who did not sign a severance agreement, and who have not had their claims adjudicated in another

forum. 

3. Pursuant to 29 U.S.C., section 216(b), the Court further conditionally certifies, for settlement

purposes only, the following collective action ("Collective Action"): All individuals who were

employed by Washington Mutual Bank's Home Loans or Home Loans and Insurance Services group as

Wholesale Underwriters or Senior Wholesale Underwriters in the State of California between December

26, 2004 and September 30, 2008, who did not sign a severance agreement, and who have not had their

claims adjudicated in another forum.

4. This Order, which conditionally certifies a class and collective action for settlement purposes

only, shall not be cited in any matter for the purpose of seeking class or collective action certification or

class or collective action notice.

5. The Court appoints, for settlement purposes only, Vincent Bova as the representative for both the

Class and the Collective Action. 

6. The Court appoints, for settlement purposes only, the law firm of Blumenthal, Nordrehaug, and

Bhowmik as Class Counsel. 

7. The Court appoints Gilardi and Company as the Claims Administrator for both the Class and the

Collective Action.

8. Plaintiff shall have leave to file the Fifth Amended Complaint in the form attached to the

Stipulation as Exhibit 3.

9. The Court has reviewed the methodology for the allocation of settlement proceeds, and finds

such methodology to be fair and reasonable, and thus approves such allocation on a preliminary basis. 

The Court further approves the issuance of notice in the form proposed by counsel, entitled Notice to

Class Members Regarding Pendency of a Class and Collective Action and Notice of Hearing on

Proposed Settlement.

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K:\COMMON\BATTAGLI\DJ CASES\Even Numbers - Erin's Cases\Bova\07cv2410.Bova.Order.Prelim.App.wpd 3 07cv2410

10. The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on the fairness and adequacy of the proposed

Settlement, the plan of distribution, Class Counsel's request for attorneys' fees and costs, the administrative costs, and the enhanced awards to the Class Representative on October 14, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. in

Courtroom 12 of the United States District Court, Southern District of California, located at 940 Front

Street, San Diego, CA 92101. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 29, 2011

Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia

U.S. District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-02410-AJB-JMA Document 95 Filed 04/29/11 Page 3 of 3