Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_05-cv-00568/USCOURTS-ared-4_05-cv-00568-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

---

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

WESTERN DIVISION

SAMANTHA BLANKENSHIP and 

VALERIE WEST, on behalf of themselves and

On behalf of the other similarly situated former

Employees of Defendants PLAINTIFFS

VS. NO. 4:05CV00568 JMM

EASTERN OZARKS REGIONAL HEALTH

SYSTEMS, INC., COUNTRY MEDICAL SERVICES

OF ARKANSAS, INC., d/b/a EASTERN OZARKS

HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE, COUNTRY

HEALTH ASSOCIATES, INC., and MIDCARE, INC.

f/k/a COUNTRY HEALTH ASSOCIATES-SOUTH, INC., DEFENDANTS

 

ORDER AND FINAL APPROVAL 

OF COMPROMISE AND SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION

1. The Court has previously (i) granted preliminary approval of the

parties’ Stipulation of Settlement and (ii) approved the form and manner of notice of the

Settlement, and deadline for objections (the “Notice”) to all Class Members by order

dated February 24, 2006 (the “Order Approving Stipulation of Settlement and Scheduling

a Fairness Hearing Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 (e)”).

2. On April 20, 2006, Plaintiffs' Counsel filed a Declaration

concerning Class Members stating that in accordance with the Order Approving

Stipulation of Settlement and Scheduling a Fairness Hearing Pursuant to Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 23 (c) the Notice had been mailed by first class mail to each of the class

members addressed to their last known address and stating that one Class Member had

Case 4:05-cv-00568-JMM Document 36 Filed 06/08/06 Page 1 of 2
requested exclusion from the Class and one Class Member had objected to the settlement.

3. On May 22, 2006, Plaintiff’s Counsel filed a Response to the

Objection.

4. As provided in the Notice, on June 8, 2006, the Court held a final

hearing on the proposed Settlement, at which no objections were raised.

5. Having been apprised by counsel of the range of potential

outcomes and of the fact that the settlement avoided costs of further litigation, the Court

finds that the terms of the Settlement are fair and reasonable.

6. The Settlement is hereby approved and Defendants’ counsel is

authorized and directed to issue the payments required by paragraph 4 of the Stipulation

of Settlement.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 8th day of June, 2006

_________________________________

United States District Judge

Counsel for Plaintiffs

Stuart J. Miller (SJM 4276) 

René S. Roupinian (RSR-3884)

Lankenau & Miller, LLP

1775 Broadway, Suite 610

New York, NY 10019

(212) 581-5005

Counsel for Defendants

Brian Vandiver

Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus, P.C.

500 President Clinton Avenue, Suite 200

Little Rock, AR 72201

(501) 371-9999

Hank Bates (98063)

Steve Owings

Cauley Bowman Carney & Williams, PLC

P.O. Box 25438

Little Rock, Arkansas 72221-5438

(501) 312-8500

Case 4:05-cv-00568-JMM Document 36 Filed 06/08/06 Page 2 of 2