Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00310/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00310-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

---

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- 

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION [PROPOSED] 

Daniel Schaffer vs. County of Alameda, et al.; USDC-Nor. Dist. #C06-0310 MMC 

MARK E. MERIN, ESQ (SBN 043849) 

LAW OFFICE OF MARK E. MERIN 

2001 P Street, Suite 100 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

Telephone: (916) 443-6911 

Facsimile: (916) 447-8336 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

GREGORY J. ROCKWELL, ESQ. (SBN 67305) 

BOORNAZIAN, JENSEN & GARTHE 

A Professional Corporation 

555 12th Street, Suite 1800 

P. O. Box 12925 

Oakland, CA 94604-2925 

Telephone: (510) 834-4350 

Facsimile: (510) 839-1897 

Attorneys for Defendants 

COUNTY OF ALAMEDA, ALAMEDA 

COUNTY SHERIFF CHARLES C. PLUMMER 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

DANIEL SCHAFFER, on behalf of himself 

and all those similarly situated; 

 Plaintiffs, 

vs.

COUNTY OF ALAMEDA, ALAMEDA 

COUNTY SHERIFF CHARLES C. 

PLUMMER, IN HIS INDIVIDUAL AND 

OFFICIAL CAPACITIES, ALAMEDA 

COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES DOES 1 

THROUGH 50, AND ROES 1 THROUGH 

20, INCLUSIVE, 

 Defendants. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No.: C 06 0310 MMC 

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF 

CLASS ACTION 

Date: June 15, 2007 

Time: 9:00 a.m. 

Courtroom: 7 

District Judge: Hon. Maxine M. Chesney

 WHEREAS, plaintiff DANIEL SCHAFFER, on behalf of himself and all persons similarly 

situated, by and through his attorney, Mark E. Merin of the Law Office of Mark E. Merin, and 

defendants, COUNTY OF ALAMEDA and ALAMEDA COUNTY SHERIFF CHARLES C. 

Case 3:06-cv-00310-MMC Document 44 Filed 06/20/07 Page 1 of 8
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- 

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION [PROPOSED] 

Daniel Schaffer vs. County of Alameda, et al.; USDC-Nor. Dist. #C06-0310 MMC 

PLUMMER, by and through their counsel, Gregory J. Rockwell of the law firm Boornazian, 

Jensen & Garthe, have entered into an Amended Stipulation of Settlement intending to resolve all 

claims raised in this class action pending in this Court; 

 WHEREAS, the Amended Stipulation of Settlement, together with the supporting 

materials, sets forth the terms and conditions for a proposed settlement and dismissal with 

prejudice of the pending above-captioned class action against all defendants; 

 WHEREAS, the Court has before it and has reviewed the parties’ Stipulated Motion for 

Preliminary Approval of Settlement of Class Action together with the Amended Stipulation of 

Settlement and supporting materials; and 

 WHEREAS, the Court is satisfied that the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended 

Stipulation of Settlement were the result of good faith, arms’ length settlement negotiations 

between competent and experienced counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants, after mediation 

before the Honorable Raul Ramirez (Retired); 

 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS: 

I. PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

1. The terms of the Amended Stipulation of Settlement are hereby preliminarily approved, 

subject to further consideration thereof at the Fairness Hearing provided for below.

The Court finds that the settlement is sufficiently within the range of reasonableness 

and that notice of the proposed settlement should be given as provided in this Order.

2. The Court further finds that plaintiff DANIEL SCHAFFER is an adequate class 

representative for the settlement class. 

3. The Court further finds that plaintiffs’ counsel Mark E. Merin of the Law Office of 

Mark E. Merin is adequate class counsel. 

Case 3:06-cv-00310-MMC Document 44 Filed 06/20/07 Page 2 of 8
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- 

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION [PROPOSED] 

Daniel Schaffer vs. County of Alameda, et al.; USDC-Nor. Dist. #C06-0310 MMC 

4. The Court approves the Notice of Proposed Settlement of Class Action Strip Search 

Case attached hereto as Exhibit A and further approves the method by which notice is 

proposed to be given. 

5. If, pursuant to the terms of the Amended Stipulation of Settlement, the settlement is not 

consummated, the preliminary approval of the Amended Stipulation of Settlement shall 

be void and the parties shall have reserved all of the rights to continue with any 

litigation or further mediation or settlement discussions. 

6. The Bar Date, as defined in paragraph 2 of the Amended Stipulation of Settlement shall 

be October 11, 2007.

II. NOTICE TO SETTLEMENT CLASS MEMBERS, APPROVAL OF CLASS 

 COUNSEL, AND EMPLOYMENT OF CLASS CLAIM ADMINISTRATOR 

7. Counsel for the class (“class counsel”) is as follows: 

 Mark E. Merin, Esq. 

 Law Office of Mark E. Merin 

 2001 P Street, Suite 100 

 Sacramento, CA 95814 

 (916) 443-6911 - Telephone 

 (916) 447-8336 - Facsimile 

8. Counsel for defendants are as follows: 

 Gregory J. Rockwell, Esq. 

Boornazian, Jensen & Garthe 

A Professional Corporation 

555 12th Street, Suite 1800 

P. O. Box 12925 

Oakland, CA 94604-2925 

Telephone: (510) 834-4350 

Facsimile: (510) 839-1897 

9. Class Claims Administrator is as follows: 

 Gilardi and Company, LLC 

 P.O. Box 1110 

 Corte Madera, CA 94976-1110 

 (415) 461-0410 - Telephone 

 (800) Toll Free Number to be arranged. 

 (415) 461-0412 - Facsimile 

Case 3:06-cv-00310-MMC Document 44 Filed 06/20/07 Page 3 of 8
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- 

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION [PROPOSED] 

Daniel Schaffer vs. County of Alameda, et al.; USDC-Nor. Dist. #C06-0310 MMC 

10. Beginning no later than 30 days from the date of this Order, counsel for the parties 

acting with the Class Claims Administrator shall cause to be disseminated the Notice 

and Claim Form, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B, in the 

manner set forth in paragraphs 66 through 68 of the Stipulation of Settlement. Such 

summary notice as the parties agree will be published in accordance with the Amended 

Stipulation of Settlement. Class members will have up to and including October 11, 

2007, in which to object to this settlement or file claims. Prior to the Fairness Hearing, 

the Claims Administrator shall file and serve a sworn statement attesting to compliance 

with the provisions of this paragraph. 

11. The notice to be provided as set forth in the Amended Stipulation of Settlement is 

hereby found to be the best means practicable of providing notice under the 

circumstances and, when completed, shall constitute due and sufficient notice of the 

proposed settlement and of the Fairness Hearing to all persons and entities affected by 

and/or entitled to participate in the settlement, in full compliance with applicable 

statutes and Constitution of the state of California, due process, the Constitution of the 

United States and all other applicable laws. The notices are accurate, objective, 

informative and provide class members with all of the necessary information to make 

an informed decision regarding their participation in the settlement and its fairness. 

12. Counsel for the respective parties are authorized to retain Gilardi and Company, LLC, 

P.O. Box 1110, Corte Madera, CA 94976-1110, as Class Claims Administrator in 

accordance with the Amended Stipulation of Settlement and this Order. 

Case 3:06-cv-00310-MMC Document 44 Filed 06/20/07 Page 4 of 8
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- 

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION [PROPOSED] 

Daniel Schaffer vs. County of Alameda, et al.; USDC-Nor. Dist. #C06-0310 MMC 

III. REQUESTS FOR EXCLUSION FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS 

13. Any member of the Settlement Class who wishes to be excluded (“Opt Out”) from the 

Settlement Class must send a written request for exclusion to the Court at the address 

indicated in the Notice, postmarked on or before the Bar Date. The request for 

exclusion shall fully comply with the requirements set forth in the Amended Stipulation 

of Settlement. Members of the Settlement Class may not exclude themselves by filing 

requests for exclusions as a group or class, but must, in each instance, individually and 

personally execute a request for exclusion and timely transmit it to the Court. 

14. Any member of the Settlement Class who does not properly and timely request 

exclusion from the Settlement Class shall be bound by all of the terms and provisions 

of the Amended Stipulation of Settlement, including but not limited to the releases, 

waivers, and covenants described in the Amended Stipulation of Settlement, whether or 

not such person objected to the settlement and whether or not such person made a claim 

under the terms of the Amended Stipulation of Settlement. 

IV. THE FAIRNESS HEARING

15. A hearing on final approval, the “Fairness Hearing,” is hereby scheduled to be held 

before this Court on November 16, 2007, at 9:00 a.m., to consider the fairness, 

reasonableness, and adequacy of the proposed settlement, the dismissal with prejudice 

of this class action complaint with respect to the released parties herein, and the entry 

of final judgment in the class action. Class counsels’ application for an award of 

attorneys’ fees and costs shall be heard at the time of the Fairness Hearing. The motion 

for final approval and class counsels’ application for an award of attorneys’ fees and 

costs shall be filed no later than November 2, 2007.

Case 3:06-cv-00310-MMC Document 44 Filed 06/20/07 Page 5 of 8
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 -6- 

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION [PROPOSED] 

Daniel Schaffer vs. County of Alameda, et al.; USDC-Nor. Dist. #C06-0310 MMC 

16. The date and time of the Fairness Hearing shall be set forth in the Notice, but the 

Fairness Hearing shall be subject to adjournment by the Court without further notice to 

the members of the settlement class other than that which may be issued by the Court. 

17. Any person who does not elect to be excluded from the settlement class may, but need 

not, enter an appearance through his or her own attorney. Settlement class members 

who do not enter an appearance through their own attorneys will be represented by 

class counsel. 

18. Any person who does not elect to be excluded from the settlement class may, but need 

not, submit comments or objections to the proposed settlement. Any class member 

may object to the proposed settlement, entry of the final order and judgment approving 

the settlement, and class counsels’ application for fees and expenses by filing and 

serving a written objection. 

19. Any class member making the objection (an “objector”) must sign the objection 

personally. Any objection must state why the objector objects to the proposed 

settlement and provide the basis to support such position. If an objector intends to 

appear personally at the Fairness Hearing, the objector must include with the objection 

a notice of the objector’s intent to appear at the hearing.

20. Objections, along with any notice of intent to appear, must be filed with the Court no 

later than October 11, 2007. If counsel is appearing on behalf of more than one class 

member, counsel must identify each such class member and each class member must 

have complied with the requirements of this order. The documents must be filed with 

the clerk of the Court at the following address: United States District Court, Northern 

District of California, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 16th Floor, San Francisco, California

94102.

Case 3:06-cv-00310-MMC Document 44 Filed 06/20/07 Page 6 of 8
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 -7- 

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION [PROPOSED] 

Daniel Schaffer vs. County of Alameda, et al.; USDC-Nor. Dist. #C06-0310 MMC 

21. Objections, along with any notice of intent to appear, must also be mailed to class 

counsel and counsel for defendants at the addresses listed below: 

 Counsel for the class (“class counsel”) is as follows: 

 Mark E. Merin, Esq. 

 Law Office of Mark E. Merin 

 2001 P Street, Suite 100 

 Sacramento, CA 95814 

 (916) 443-6911 - Telephone 

 (916) 447-8336 - Facsimile 

Counsel for defendants are as follows: 

 Gregory J. Rockwell, Esq. 

Boornazian, Jensen & Garthe 

A Professional Corporation 

555 12th Street, Suite 1800 

P. O. Box 12925 

Oakland, CA 94604-2925 

Telephone: (510) 834-4350 

Facsimile: (510) 839-1897 

22. Only class members who have filed and served valid and timely notices of objection 

shall be entitled to be heard at the Fairness Hearing. Any class member who does not 

timely file and serve an objection in writing to the settlement, entry of final order and 

judgment, or to class counsels’ application for fees and expenses, in accordance with 

the procedure set forth in the class notice and mandated in the order, shall be deemed to 

have waived any such objection by appeal, collateral attack, or otherwise.

23. Persons wishing to be heard at the Fairness Hearing are required to file written 

comments or objections and indicate in their written comments or objections their 

intention to appear at the Fairness Hearing. Settlement class members need not appear 

at the hearing or take any other action to indicate their approval.

24. All members of the settlement class who do not personally and timely request to be 

excluded from the class are enjoined from proceeding against the defendants until such 

time as the Court renders a final decision regarding approval of the settlement and, if 

Case 3:06-cv-00310-MMC Document 44 Filed 06/20/07 Page 7 of 8
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 -8- 

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION [PROPOSED] 

Daniel Schaffer vs. County of Alameda, et al.; USDC-Nor. Dist. #C06-0310 MMC 

the settlement is approved, enters final judgment as provided in the Amended 

Stipulation of Settlement. 

V. OTHER PROVISIONS

25. Upon approval of the settlement provided for in the Amended Stipulation of 

Settlement, each and every term and provision thereof shall be deemed incorporated 

herein as if expressly set forth and shall have the force and effect of an order of this 

Court.

26. The Honorable Raul Ramirez, United States District Court Judge, retired, is hereby 

appointed to serve as Special Master to review and resolve certain disputes which may 

arise pursuant to the terms of the Amended Stipulation of Settlement. 

27. All reasonable costs incurred in notifying members of the settlement class as well as 

administering the Amended Stipulation of Settlement shall be paid as set forth in the 

Amended Stipulation of Settlement. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: June 20, 2007

 

 HON. MAXINE M. CHESNEY 

 JUDGE OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

Case 3:06-cv-00310-MMC Document 44 Filed 06/20/07 Page 8 of 8