Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-04050/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-04050-12/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition For Removal--Other Contract

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SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, NINTH FLOOR

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

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[Proposed] Order

Scott Edward Cole, Esq. (S.B. #160744)

Matthew R. Bainer, Esq. (S.B. #220972)

SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

1970 Broadway, Ninth Floor

Oakland, California 94612

Telephone: (510) 891-9800

Facsimile: (510) 891-7030

web: www.scalaw.com

Attorneys for Representative Plaintiff

and the Plaintiff Class 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

TIMOTHY RUMBERGER,

individually, and on behalf of all others

similarly situated,

Plaintiff,

vs.

SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS CO.,

L.P., and DOES 1 through 25, inclusive,

Defendants. 

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Case No.: C O5 4050 JSW 

CLASS ACTION

[PROPOSED] ORDER

PRELIMINARILY APPROVING CLASS

ACTION SETTLEMENT;

PROVISIONALLY CERTIFYING

SETTLEMENT CLASS; APPROVING

NOTICE TO CLASS, CLAIM FORM, AND

FORM OF ELECTION NOT TO

PARTICIPATE IN SETTLEMENT; AND

SETTING A HEARING FOR FINAL

APPROVAL OF THE SETTLEMENT

Date: September 7, 2007

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Dept: Courtroom 2, 17th Floor 

Judge: Hon. Jeffrey S. White 

WHEREAS, the Court has been advised that the parties to this action, through their counsel,

have agreed, subject to Court approval following the Settlement Class and hearing, to settle this

action upon the terms and condition set forth in the Stipulation of Settlement (“Stipulation”), filed

herewith;

WHEREAS, the Named Plaintiff has indicated his approval as set forth in the Stipulation;

NOW, THEREFORE, based upon the Stipulation and all of the files, records, and proceedings

herein, and it appearing to the Court, upon preliminary examination, that the settlement set forth in

the Stipulation is fair, adequate, and reasonable, and that a hearing should and will be held after

Case 3:05-cv-04050-JSW Document 71 Filed 10/10/07 Page 1 of 7
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, NINTH FLOOR

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

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[Proposed] Order

notice to the Settlement Class to confirm that the Stipulation and settlement therein are fair, adequate

and reasonable, and to determine whether a Judgement and Dismissal with Prejudice should be

entered in this action based upon the Stipulation:

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. This Order Preliminarily Approving Class Certification and Settlement, Notice of Pendency

and Proposed Settlement of Class Action, and Setting Hearing Date for Final Approval of Settlement

(“Preliminary Settlement Order”) hereby incorporates by reference the definition in the Stipulation,

and all terms used herein shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Stipulation.

2. Pursuant to FRCP Rule 23, this Court preliminarily approves the settlement as set forth in

the Stipulation, and finds that: (1) the settlement is fair, adequate and reasonable as to the Settlement

Class and Defendant, and is the product of good faith, arm’s length negotiations between the parties;

and (2) the settlement as set forth in the Stipulation is consistent with public policy, and fully

complies with the applicable provisions of law. Accordingly, the parties to the Stipulation are hereby

directed to consummate and perform its terms. 

3. Notice shall be provided to Class Members in the following manner only: Within ten (10)

days after entry by the Court of its Preliminary Approval Order, Class Counsel shall establish a link

on Class Counsel’s website to the Class Notice and Claim Statement. Sprint Communications Co.

L.P. shall publish the Summary Notice in the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Tribune, San Francisco

Chronicle, and the Sacramento Bee within thirty (30) days after entry by the Court of its Preliminary

Approval Order. Such Class Notice shall be in the form attached to the Stipulation of Settlement as

Exhibit “A” of the Cole Declaration. The Defendant shall provide class counsel with an affidavit or

declaration attesting that the Notice has been published no later than ten (10) days before the

Fairness Hearing. Not later than ten (10) days before the Fairness Hearing, Class Counsel shall

provide Defendant with an affidavit or a declaration attesting that a link has been established on

Class Counsel’s website.

4. Defendant’s consent to the Stipulation, and the settlement provided for therein, may not be

used or construed as an admission of liability or wrongdoing by Defendant, nor is this Preliminary

Approval Order a finding of the validity of any claims in the Action or of any wrongdoing by

twenty (20)

Case 3:05-cv-04050-JSW Document 71 Filed 10/10/07 Page 2 of 7
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, NINTH FLOOR

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

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[Proposed] Order

Defendant. Neither this Preliminary Approval Order, the Stipulation, nor any document referred to

herein, nor any action taken to carry out the Stipulation, and any negotiations or proceedings related

thereto, shall not, in any event, be construed as, or deemed to be, evidence of an admission or

concession by Defendant, and shall not be offered or received in evidence in any action or

proceeding against any party hereto in any court, administrative agency, or other tribunal for any

purpose whatsoever other than to enforce the provisions of the Stipulation and/or any judgement

entered pursuant thereto, or in any related agreement or release; except that the Stipulation may be

filed and used in this Action, or in any subsequent action against Defendant, to support a stay of

such subsequent action, or to establish a defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, release, good

faith settlement, judgment bar, or reduction, or any other theory of claim or issue preclusion or

similar defense.

5. For purposes of the Stipulation and the proceedings herein, the Court orders that a settlement

class, defined in the Stipulation as “all California residents who purchased a Sprint Prepaid Calling

Card (“Prepaid Card”) in the State of California between August 24, 2001 and the date of this Order,

who paid a U.S. Payphone surcharge in excess of that printed on the Prepaid Card or Cards which

he or she purchased during the class period, and who properly complete and return a Claim

Statement in a timely manner,” is hereby certified; that Named Plaintiff Timothy Rumberger, is the

representative plaintiff for the Settlement Class; and that his counsel of record, Scott Edward Cole

and Matthew R. Bainer, of Scott Cole & Associates, APC, 1970 Broadway, Ninth Floor, Oakland,

California 94612 are appointed as Class Counsel for the Settlement Class. The certification of the

Settlement Class shall be binding only with respect to the settlement, the Stipulation, and this

Preliminary Approval Order. In the event that final approval of the Settlement as set forth in the

stipulation does occur, then the Stipulation shall be null and void, and shall be deemed terminated,

unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Settling Parties.

6. The Court further:

a. Approves the form of Class Notice substantially in the form of Exhibit “B” to the

Declaration of Scott Edward Cole (“Cole Decl.”), the Summary Notice in the form of Exhibit “C”

to the Cole Decl., and the Claim Statement substantially in the form of Exhibit “D” to the Cole Decl,

Case 3:05-cv-04050-JSW Document 71 Filed 10/10/07 Page 3 of 7
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, NINTH FLOOR

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

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[Proposed] Order

for publication;

b. Requires that all Settlement Class Members who wish to participate in the settlement

provided for in the Stipulation complete, sign, and timely submit a Claim Statement to the Claims

Administrator, pursuant to and in compliance with the instructions contained in the Class Notice;

c. Requires that all Settlement Class Members who wish to be excluded from the settlement

provided for in the Stipulation sign, and timely submit, a Request for Exclusion, pursuant to and in

compliance with the instructions contained in the Class Notice;

d. Requires that Class Counsel will submit an application for an Incentive Award to the

Representative Plaintiff in the Action; 

e. Orders that, pending final determination of whether the settlement contained in the

Stipulation should be approved, neither the Named Plaintiff, nor any Settlement Class Member,

shall, directly, representatively, or in any other capacity, commence or prosecute this Action, or any

other proceeding, in any court, tribunal or administrative forum, asserting any of the Released

Claims against the Released Parties, and that all discovery and other pre-trial proceedings in this

action, except as may be necessary to implement the Stipulation of Settlement, are stayed.

7. A hearing (the “Final Fairness Hearing”) shall be held on _______________, 2007, in

Courtroom 2 of this Court, to determine whether the proposed settlement of this action is fair,

adequate and reasonable, and should be approved. Named Plaintiff’s papers in support of the

proposed settlement, and any application for award of attorney’s fees, costs and expenses to Class

Counsel, and any application for Incentive Award to Named Plaintiff, shall be filed with the Court

on or before _______________, 2007. The Final Approval Hearing described in this paragraph may

be rescheduled, postponed, adjourned, transferred, or continued as soon as practicable following,

the Preliminary Approval Hearing, the Court shall enter Judgment in accordance with the Stipulation

of Settlement that will adjudicate the rights of all Settlement Class Members, including the Named

Plaintiff, should the proposed settlement be approved.

8. Any Settlement Class Member who desires to be excluded from the Settlement Class must

submit a Request for Exclusion from the Settlement sixty (60) days after publication of the Notice.

All such persons who properly and timely file a Request for Exclusion shall not be Class

January 25, 2008 at 9:00 December 21 by no later than December 31, 2007.

Case 3:05-cv-04050-JSW Document 71 Filed 10/10/07 Page 4 of 7
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, NINTH FLOOR

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

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[Proposed] Order

Participants, and shall have no rights with respect to the settlement and no interest in the settlement

proceeds, and shall have no standing to object to the proposed settlement.

9. Any member of the Settlement Class who has not opted-out of the settlement and who

objects to the approval of the proposed Settlement may appear at the Fairness Hearing, in person or

through counsel, to show cause why the proposed settlement class should not be approved as fair,

adequate and reasonable, after following the procedures set forth in Section VIII of the Class Notice

and paragraph 10 below.

10. The Court shall not hear objections to the proposed settlement, nor consider any papers or

briefs submitted in support of said objections, unless, on or before the Final Date for Submission of

Claim Statements, those Settlement Class Members (other than Non-Participating Class Members)

who have such objections have filed with the Clerk of the Court, and served on counsel for the

parties by mail or other lawful means, a written statement objecting to the Class Settlement,

containing the factual and/or legal grounds for such objection and notice of intention to appear and

object at the Fairness Hearing. Non-Participating Class Members shall not have standing to object

to Class Settlement. Any Settlement Class member who does not make his/her objection to the

settlement in the manner and within the time provided in paragraph 11 below, and the Class Notice

shall be deemed to have waived any such objection, and may not later raise any objection at the

Final Approval Hearing, or by appeal, collateral attack, or otherwise.

11. Unless otherwise modified by the Court, the dates for performance are as follows:

a.. The Class Notice, Claim Statement, and Request for Exclusion Form shall be shall be

available as a link on the Class Counsel’s Website no later than 10 days before Fairness Hearing.

b. Sprint Communications Co. L.P. shall publish a Summary Notice in the Los Angeles

Times, San Diego Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Sacramento Bee no later than 30 days

after Preliminary Approval. 

c. Sprint Communications Co. L.P. shall provide class counsel with an affidavit or a 

declaration attesting that the Notice has been published pursuant to ¶5.3 of the Settlement

Agreement no later than 10 days before Fairness Hearing.

d. Class Counsel shall to provide Defendant with an affidavit or a declaration attesting

20 after the Court's entry of its Preliminary Approval Order.

Case 3:05-cv-04050-JSW Document 71 Filed 10/10/07 Page 5 of 7
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, NINTH FLOOR

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

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[Proposed] Order

that 

a link has established on Class Counsel’s website pursuant to ¶5.1 of the Settlement Agreement no

later than 10 days before Fairness Hearing.

e. All Settlement Class Members who wish to submit request to be excluded from the 

Settlement shall do so no later than 60 days after the date of initial publication.

f. All Settlement Class Members who wish to submit written objections to the Settlement

shall file and serve said objections no later than 60 days after the date of initial publication.

g. Sprint Communications Co. L.P. shall provide class counsel with Forty-Five Thousand

dollars ($45,000) for attorneys’ fees and costs no later than the first business day following 30 days

after Final Approval. 

h. Sprint Communications Co. L.P. shall provide Representative Plaintiff with Five

Thousand dollars ($5,000) for an enhancement award no later than the first business day following

30 days after Final Approval.

i. All Settlement Class Members who wish to participate in the Class Settlement must

complete and submit a signed Claim Statement to the Claims Administrator no later than 60 days

after the date of initial publication.

j. All Settlement Class Member who file timely but defective Claim Statements shall

submit a corrected Claim Statement within 15 days of Claims Administrator providing notice of

deficiency.

k. Claims Administrator shall commence distribution of no more than One-HundredTwenty-Five dollars ($125,000) in $5 prepaid phone cards no later than 15 days after the deadline

to cure claim elapses and/or Claim Deadline, whichever is last to occur. 

l. Sprint Communications Co. L.P. shall complete distribution of no more than OneHundred-Twenty-Five dollars ($125,000) in $5 prepaid phone cards no later than the first business

day following 120 days after Final Approval. 

m. A Final Approval Hearing shall be held on _______________, 2007, in Courtroom 2 of

this Court.

If approved by the Court, If approved by the Court, by no later than December 31, 2007. by no later than December 31, 2007. by no later than December 31, 2007. January 25, 2008 at 9:00 

a.m.

Case 3:05-cv-04050-JSW Document 71 Filed 10/10/07 Page 6 of 7
SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE WORLD SAVINGS TOWER

1970 BROADWAY, NINTH FLOOR

OAKLAND, CA 94612

TEL: (510) 891-9800

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[Proposed] Order

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: , 2007 

The Honorable Jeffrey S. White

October 10

Case 3:05-cv-04050-JSW Document 71 Filed 10/10/07 Page 7 of 7