Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-03579/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-03579-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 29:206 Collect Unpaid Wages

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Case No. 3:15-CV-03579-JD

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL AND JUDGMENT 

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Diane L. Webb (SBN 197851) 

Carole Vigne (SBN 251829) 

LEGAL AID SOCIETY- EMPLOYMENT LAW CENTER 

180 Montgomery Street, Suite 600 

San Francisco, CA 94104 

Telephone: (415) 864-8848 

Facsimile: (415) 593-0096 

Email: dwebb@las-elc.org

 cvigne@las-elc.org

Aaron D. Kaufmann (SBN 148580) 

David P. Pogrel (SBN 203787) 

Giselle Olmedo (SBN 294750) 

LEONARD CARDER LLP 

1330 Broadway, Suite 1450 

Oakland, CA 94612 

Telephone: (510) 272-0169 

Fax: (510) 272-0174 

Email: akaufmann@leonardcarder.com

 dpogrel@leonardcarder.com 

 golmedo@leonardcarder.com 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs and the Proposed Class

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

ANED LOPEZ and CRISTIAN ALAS, on 

Behalf of Themselves and Others Similarly 

Situated,

Plaintiffs,

v.

P.W. STEPHENS ENVIRONMENTAL, INC., a 

Delaware Corporation, and DOES 1-10 

inclusive,

Defendants.

Case No.: 3:15-CV-03579-JD

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING 

FINAL APPROVAL AND JUDGMENT

Date: December 8, 2016

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Ctrm: 11, 19th Floor

Before: Hon. James Donato

Case 3:15-cv-03579-JD Document 82 Filed 01/27/17 Page 1 of 8
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[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL AND JUDGMENT 

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Plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval of Class and Collective Action Settlement (“Final 

Approval Motion”), which seeks an order granting final approval of Plaintiffs’ settlement 

agreement and release with Defendant P.W. Stephens Environmental, Inc. (“Defendant”) came 

on regularly for hearing before this Court on December 8, 2016. Plaintiffs were represented by 

Carole Vigne, Esq., of the Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center and Arron D. 

Kaufmann, Esq., of the law firm Leonard Carder, LLP and Defendant was represented by John 

E. Latten, Esq., of the law firm Fisher & Phillips LLP. The Court having considered all the 

papers and the arguments made with respect to the Final Approval Motion, the settlement 

agreement, and having previously certified a settlement class by minute order and subsequent 

written order dated July 27, 2016 and August 10, 2016, respectively, hereby finds and orders as 

follows: 

IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT: 

1. This Order incorporates by reference the definitions contained in the Stipulation 

and Class Action Settlement Agreement (“Agreement”) attached as Exhibit 4 to the Declaration 

of Carole Vigne in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class and 

Collective Action Settlement [Dkt No. 64-5], and the subsequently filed Amendment to 

Stipulation and Class Action Settlement Agreement [Dkt. No. 67-1] (jointly, the “Agreement” or 

“Settlement”) and all terms used in this Order shall have the same meaning as set forth in the 

Agreement. 

2. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this Lawsuit and all matters 

relating thereto, and over all parties to the Lawsuit. 

3. The Court confirms as final its preliminary certification in the August 10, 2016 

Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Class and Collective Action Settlement (“August 10, 

2016 Order”), as that term is defined in and by the terms of the Agreement. 

4. The Court finds, for purpose of approving this Settlement only, that the Class 

satisfies the applicable standards under Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 23, and, in particular, the Court finds: 

(a) the members of the Class are ascertainable and so numerous that joinder of all members is 

impracticable; (b) there are questions of law or fact common to the Class, and there is a wellCase 3:15-cv-03579-JD Document 82 Filed 01/27/17 Page 2 of 8
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defined community of interest among members of the Class with respect to the subject matter of 

the Lawsuit; (c) the claims of the Class Representatives are typical of the claims of the other 

members of the Class; (d) the Class Representatives have fairly and adequately protected the 

interests of the Class; (e) a class action is superior to other available methods for an efficient 

adjudication of this controversy; and (f) the counsel of record for the Class Representatives, i.e., 

Class Counsel, are qualified to serve as class counsel. 

5. The Court confirms as final the appointment of Aned Lopez and Cristian Alas as 

Class Representatives. 

6. The Court confirms as final the appointment of Plaintiffs’ counsel, Leonard 

Carder, LLP and Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center as Class Counsel. 

7. The Court finds that the distribution of Class Notice Packages as provided for in 

the August 10, 2016 Order constituted the best notice practicable under the circumstances to all 

persons within the definitions of the Class, and fully met the requirements of due process under 

the United States Constitution with respect to those Class Members to whom Notice was mailed. 

Based on evidence and other material submitted in conjunction with the Settlement, the actual 

notices to Class Members were adequate and provided the best notice practicable under the 

circumstances. Notice to the Class was provided by U.S. Mail in accordance with the Court’s 

Orders granting preliminary approval of the class action settlement. [Dkt. Nos. 69 and 75] The 

Notice: (a) fully and accurately informed Class Members about the Lawsuit and the settlement 

and the Agreement; (b) provided sufficient information so that the Class Members were able to 

decide whether to accept the benefits offered , opt out and pursue their own remedies, or object 

to the proposed settlement; (c) provided procedures for Class embers to file written objections to 

the proposed Settlement, to appear at the hearing, and to state objections to the proposed 

Settlement; and (d) provided the time, date and place of the final fairness hearing. 

8. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e), this Court grants final approval to the 

Agreement and the Settlement set forth therein, and orders the parties to implement, and comply 

with, its terms. The Court finds that the Agreement and the Settlement set forth therein is fair, 

reasonable, and adequate in all respects, and that it is binding on all members of the Class. The 

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Court specifically finds that this Settlement affords substantial monetary and non-monetary relief 

to the Class, and is rationally related to the strength of Plaintiffs’ claims given the risk, expense, 

complexity, and duration of further litigation. The Court also finds that the Agreement is the 

result of arm’s-length negotiations between experienced counsel representing the interests of the 

Class and Defendant, after thorough factual and legal investigation. The Court further finds that 

the response of the Class to the Settlement supports final approval, in that no Class member has 

objected to or opted out from the proposed Settlement. 

9. The Court finds that the Release Amount and other relief made available to the 

Class under the Agreement constitute fair value given in exchange for the Releases set forth in 

the Agreement and that the mechanisms and procdures by which payments are to be calculated 

and made to Class Members are fair, reasonable, and adequate. Release Amount payments shall 

be made according to those allocations and pursuant to the procedure set forth in the Agreement 

and this Order. 

10. The Court appoints the California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. as cy pres

beneficiary as provided in the Agreement. The Court finds the California Rural Legal 

Assistance, Inc. meets the test under Dennis v. Kellogg Co., 697 F.3d 858, 865 (9th Cir. 2013),

and that “there [is] a driving nexus between the plaintiff class and the cy pres beneficiaries.” 

11. The Released Parties for purposes of this Agreement include P.W. Stephens and 

all of its former or present parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, owners, partners, related 

organizations, predecessors or successors, agents, officers, directors, agents, employees and 

attorneys thereof. 

12. Class Members’ Release of Non-FLSA Claims: 

 On the Date of Finality, the Plaintiffs and each Class Member who has not validly opted 

out shall be bound by this Agreement. In exchange for the consideration recited in this 

Agreement, each such Class Member and each Plaintiff, on behalf of themselves, and on behalf 

of all who claim by and through them, or in their stead, do hereby and forever release, acquit and 

discharge, and covenant not to sue any of the Released Parties from all causes of action, claims, 

liens, demands, damages, penalties, fines, wages, liquidated damages, restitutionary amounts, 

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attorneys' fees and costs, punitive damages, controversies and liabilities which were or could 

have been raised based on the facts, conduct, and/or omissions alleged in the operative 

Complaint, including but not limited to claims for: unpaid wages, including minimum wages, 

regular wages, overtime and double time wages; wages at promised rate of pay under California 

state law; liquidated damages under California state law; missed meal breaks; meal breaks 

premiums; reporting time pay; failure to reimburse business expenses waiting time penalties; 

failure to maintain accurate records, failure to provide accurate wage statements; PAGA 

penalties; and claims under the California Unfair Competition Law, Bus. & Prof. Code §17200 et 

seq., and predicated on the foregoing wage and hour violations as well as on any FLSA 

violation, during the Release Period. 

13. Release of FLSA Claims: 

 Each FLSA Collective Action Member who cashes a Settlement Check has effectively 

"Opted-In" to this action pursuant to the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., thereby agreeing to 

become a party to the Action and this Agreement and bound by this Agreement. Thus, each 

FLSA Collective Action Member, on behalf of themselves, and on behalf of all who claim by 

and through them, or in their stead, do hereby and forever release, acquit and discharge, and 

covenant not to sue the Released Parties from all causes of action, claims, liens, demands, 

damages, penalties, fines, wages, liquidated damages, restitutionary amounts, attorneys' fees and 

costs, punitive damages, controversies and liabilities which were alleged in the Lawsuit, 

including claims for (1) failure to pay minimum wage under the federal FLSA and (2) 

underpayment of overtime under the federal FLSA, during the Release Period against any 

Released Party based on and related to the facts alleged in the Complaint (referred to collectively 

as the "FLSA Released Claims"). The Settlement Checks shall contain simple FLSA opt-in and 

release language which can be easily understood by all Class Members, but no broader than the 

release described herein. 

14. General Release By Named Plaintiffs Only: 

In addition to the releases made by the Plaintiffs and Class Members set forth in 

Paragraphs X(B)-(C) of the Agreement and in consideration for the Service Awards, Plaintiffs, 

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as of the Date of Finality, in their individual capacities for themselves, their heirs, executors, 

administrators, successors and assigns and with respect to their individual claims only, agree to 

release the Released Parties from all claims, demands, rights, liabilities and causes of action of 

every nature and description whatsoever, known or unknown, asserted or that might have been 

asserted, whether in tort, contract, or for violation of any state or federal statute, rule or 

regulation arising out of, relating to, or in connection with their employment by and termination 

from Released Parties and any act or omission by or on the part of any of the Released Parties 

committed or omitted prior to the Date of Finality (the “General Release”). This total release 

includes, but is not limited to, all claims arising directly or indirectly from Plaintiffs’ 

employment with Released Parties and the termination of that employment; claims or demands 

related to wages, bonuses, vacation pay, benefits and expense reimbursements pursuant to any 

federal, state or local law or cause of action, including, but not limited to, breach of contract, 

breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, infliction of emotional harm, 

wrongful discharge, violation of public policy, defamation and impairment of economic 

opportunity; violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor 

Code, the California Constitution; and any claims for violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and any 

private attorney general action under the California Business & Professions Code §17200. 

The General Release includes any unknown claims that Plaintiffs do not know or suspect 

to exist in their favor at the time of the General Release, which, if known by them, might have 

affected their settlement with, and release of, the Released Parties or might have affected their 

decision not to object to this Settlement or the General Release. With respect to the General 

Release, Plaintiffs stipulate and agree that, upon the Date of Finality, they shall be deemed to 

have, and by operation of the Court’s Final Approval Order, shall have, expressly waived and 

relinquished, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the provisions, rights and benefits of Section 

1542 of the California Civil Code, or any other similar provision under federal or state law, 

which provides: 

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A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor 

does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time 

of executing the release, which if known by him or her must 

have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor. 

15. Plaintiffs may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those they 

now know or believe to be true with respect to the subject matter of the General Release, but 

upon the Date of Finality, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of this Final Approval 

Order, shall have, fully, finally, and forever settled and released any and all of the claims 

released pursuant to the General Release whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, 

contingent or non-contingent, which now exist, or heretofore have existed upon any theory of 

law or equity now existing or coming into existence in the future, including, but not limited to, 

conduct that is negligent, intentional, with or without malice, or a breach of any duty, law or 

rule, without regard to the subsequent discovery or existence of such different or additional facts. 

Notwithstanding the above, the scope of the General Release provided to Released Parties by 

Plaintiffs does include any claims for disability, workers compensation, or unemployment 

benefits, or any claims that cannot be released as a matter of law. This action is finally certified 

as a class action for settlement purposes only against Defendant on behalf of the Class as defined 

in the Agreement. 

16. The Agreement submitted by the Parties is finally approved as fair, reasonable 

and in the best interests of the Class, and the parties are directed to consummate the Agreement 

in accordance with its terms. 

17. The Lawsuit shall be deemed dismissed with prejudice within 7 days after the 

Date of Finality as part of the consideration for this Settlement, with the sole exception that the 

FLSA Claims of Class Members who are not also FLSA Collective Action Members are 

dismissed without prejudice. 

18. Without affecting the finality of this judgment, the Court reserves exclusive and 

continuing jurisdiction over this Settlement for the purposes of supervising the implementation, 

enforcement, construction, administration and interpretation of the Agreement and this 

Judgment. 

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19. Pursuant to a separate Court Order, Defendant shall pay an incentive award to 

each Class Representative as well as Class Counsel’s attorneys’ fees and costs

IT IS SO ORDERED

. 

Dated: -DQXDU\, 201

 

JAMES DONATO

United States District Judge

 

 

 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORN

I

A

APPROVED

Judge James Donato

Case 3:15-cv-03579-JD Document 82 Filed 01/27/17 Page 8 of 8