Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-00281/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-00281-24/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1391 Personal Injury

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Case No. C04-0281-JSW 

LEGAL_US_W # 53154404.5

JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL OF 

PLAINTIFF ROBERT HARRIS’ CLAIMS AND 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

NANCY L. ABELL (SB# 88785) nancyabell@paulhastings.com 

MARK W. ATKINSON (SB# 60472) markatkinson@paulhastings.com

ELENA R. BACA (SB# 160564) elenabaca@paulhastings.com

HEATHER A. MORGAN (SB# 177425) heathermorgan@paulhastings.com 

JOSEPH W. DENG (SB# 179320) josephdeng@paulhastings.com 

PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP 

515 South Flower Street 

Twenty-Fifth Floor 

Los Angeles, CA 90071-2228 

Telephone: (213) 683-6000 

Facsimile: (213) 627-0705 

Attorneys for Defendant 

CINTAS CORPORATION 

Plaintiffs’ Counsel Listed on Next Page 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION 

ROBERT RAMIREZ, ROBERT 

HARRIS, LUIS POCASANGRE 

CARDOZA, JOSE SALCEDO, A. 

SHAPPELLE THOMPSON, 

CORETTA SILVERS (formerly 

VICK), SANDRA EVANS, BLANCA 

NELLY AVALOS, JAMES MORGAN 

and ANTHONY JONES, on behalf of 

themselves and all others similarly 

situated,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

CINTAS CORPORATION, 

Defendant.

CASE NO. C04-0281-JSW 

[RELATED TO CASE NO. C05-03145-JSW] 

JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL 

OF PLAINTIFF ROBERT HARRIS’ 

CLAIMS AND [PROPOSED] ORDER 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT 

OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, 

Plaintiff/Intervenor.

Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 183-1 Filed 01/11/2006 Page 1 of 8 Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 184 Filed 01/12/06 Page 1 of 8
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Case No. C04-0281-JSW 

LEGAL_US_W # 53154404.5

JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL OF 

PLAINTIFF ROBERT HARRIS’ CLAIMS AND 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

MORRIS J. BALLER (SB# 048928) 

ROBERTA L. STEELE (SB# 188198)

NINA RABIN (SB# 229403) 

GOLDSTEIN, DEMCHAK, BALLER, 

 BORGEN & DARDARIAN 

300 Lakeside Dr., Suite 1000

Oakland, CA 94612

Telephone: (510) 763-9800

Facsimile: (510) 835-1417 

PAUL STRAUSS (SB# 153937) 

ROBERT S. LIBMAN (SB# 139283)

NANCY MALDONADO 

MINER, BARNHILL & GALLAND 

14 W. Erie Street 

Chicago, IL 60610

Telephone: (312) 751-1170

Facsimile: (312) 751-0438 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs ROBERT RAMIREZ, et al. 

Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 183-1 Filed 01/11/2006 Page 2 of 8 Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 184 Filed 01/12/06 Page 2 of 8
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Case No. C04-0281-JSW 

LEGAL_US_W # 53154404.5

-3-

JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL OF 

PLAINTIFF ROBERT HARRIS’ CLAIMS AND 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

RECITALS

WHEREAS, on August 3, 2005, Plaintiff Robert Harris (“Harris”) filed his 

Fourth Amended Complaint (“FAC”) asserting claims on behalf of himself and as a 

putative class representative for certain present and former employees of Defendant 

Cintas Corporation (“Cintas”); 

WHEREAS, in the FAC, Harris individually asserted claims under the Civil 

Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. §1981, as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991 

(“Section 1981”), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e, et

seq., as amended (“Title VII”), specifically contending that Cintas refused to hire him as a 

driver (“SSR”), refused to promote him to the position of SSR, and terminated him 

because of his race (African American) (FAC ¶ 9); 

WHEREAS, in the FAC, Harris sought to assert claims as a class 

representative for African Americans who allegedly were discriminated against in hiring 

to SSR position in Cintas’ Rental Division in violation of Section 1981 and Title VII 

(FAC ¶¶ 33-40, 48(b)); 

WHEREAS, Harris intends to dismiss both his individual and class claims 

and therefore cannot serve as a class representative for any form of relief sought on behalf 

of the putative class described in paragraph 48(b) of the FAC;

WHEREAS, Harris has agreed to dismiss with prejudice his individual and 

class claims against Cintas in exchange for Cintas’ waiver of its right to recover costs 

against Harris pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d); 

Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 183-1 Filed 01/11/2006 Page 3 of 8 Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 184 Filed 01/12/06 Page 3 of 8
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Case No. C04-0281-JSW 

LEGAL_US_W # 53154404.5

-4-

JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL OF 

PLAINTIFF ROBERT HARRIS’ CLAIMS AND 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

WHEREAS, the parties have agreed that Plaintiffs’ counsel will not include 

any attorneys’ fees or costs incurred as part of maintaining Harris’ individual claims (or 

the class claims Harris has asserted if there is no adequate class representative to represent 

the putative class described in paragraph 48(b) of the FAC), should they later apply for an 

award of attorneys’ fees or costs in this litigation. However, if Plaintiffs or Plaintiffs’ 

counsel apply for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs, this stipulation will not preclude 

them from arguing that some portion of the time and costs spent on the class claims 

asserted by Harris should be allocated to a claim on which plaintiffs prevailed (including a 

claim of discrimination in hiring for the SSR job, if plaintiffs prevail on that claim); 

nothing in this stipulation will preclude Defendant from asserting any legal arguments in 

opposition to such an allocation; and nothing in this stipulation will preclude the Court 

from ruling that such an allocation should or should not be made; and 

WHEREAS, the parties have agreed that, notwithstanding the stipulated 

dismissal of Harris’ claims, if a class of Cintas employees is certified and Harris falls 

within the definition of any such class, Harris may participate and receive any benefit to 

which he would be entitled as a member of the class, if any. 

Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 183-1 Filed 01/11/2006 Page 4 of 8 Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 184 Filed 01/12/06 Page 4 of 8
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Case No. C04-0281-JSW 

LEGAL_US_W # 53154404.5

-5-

JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL OF 

PLAINTIFF ROBERT HARRIS’ CLAIMS AND 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

STIPULATION

THE PARTIES, BY AND THROUGH THEIR COUNSEL, HEREBY 

STIPULATE AS FOLLOWS: 

1. Plaintiff Robert Harris withdraws as a named, representative plaintiff 

and dismisses with prejudice his class claims for the putative class of African American 

non-exempt employees in Cintas’ Rental Division who contend they were denied hiring to 

driver (“SSR”) positions in violation of Section 1981 and Title VII;

2. Plaintiff Robert Harris dismisses with prejudice his individual claims 

for discriminatory hiring, failure to promote, and termination in violation of Section 1981 

and Title VII; 

3. Plaintiffs’ counsel will not include any attorneys’ fees or costs 

incurred as part of maintaining Harris’ individual claims (or the class claims Harris has 

asserted if there is no adequate class representative to represent the putative class 

described in paragraph 48(b) of the FAC), should they later apply for an award of 

attorneys’ fees or costs in this litigation. However, if Plaintiffs or Plaintiffs’ counsel 

apply for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs, this stipulation will not preclude them 

from arguing that some portion of the time and costs spent on the class claims asserted by 

Harris should be allocated to a claim on which plaintiffs prevailed (including a claim of 

discrimination in hiring for the SSR job, if plaintiffs prevail on that claim); nothing in this 

stipulation will preclude Defendant from asserting any legal arguments in opposition to 

such an allocation; and nothing in this stipulation will preclude the Court from ruling that 

such an allocation should or should not be made; and 

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Case No. C04-0281-JSW 

LEGAL_US_W # 53154404.5

-6-

JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL OF 

PLAINTIFF ROBERT HARRIS’ CLAIMS AND 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

4. Cintas waives its right to recover costs against Plaintiff Robert Harris 

after the dismissal of his individual and putative class claims as permitted by Federal Rule 

of Civil Procedure 43(d). 

DATED: January 10, 2006 Respectfully submitted, 

By: /s/ Paul Strauss 

 PAUL STRAUSS 

Paul Strauss 

Robert S. Libman

Nancy Maldonado 

MINER, BARNHILL & GALLAND 

14 W. Erie Street 

Chicago, IL 60610

Phone: (312) 751-1170

Fax: (312) 751-0438 

Morris J. Baller 

Roberta L. Steele

Nina Rabin 

GOLDSTEIN, DEMCHAK, BALLER, BORGEN &

DARDARIAN 

300 Lakeside Drive, Suite 1000 

Oakland, CA 94611

Phone: (510) 763-9800

Fax: (510) 835-1417 

Counsel for Plaintiffs Robert Ramirez, et al. 

DATED: January 10, 2006 

By: /s/ Nancy L. Abell 

 NANCY L. ABELL 

Nancy L. Abell 

Mark W. Atkinson

Elena R. Baca 

Heather A. Morgan

Joseph W. Deng 

PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP 

515 South Flower Street, 25th Floor 

Los Angeles, CA 90071-2228 

Phone: (213) 683-6000 

Fax: (213) 627-0705 

Counsel for Defendant Cintas Corporation 

Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 183-1 Filed 01/11/2006 Page 6 of 8 Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 184 Filed 01/12/06 Page 6 of 8
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Case No. C04-0281-JSW 

LEGAL_US_W # 53154404.5

-7-

JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL OF 

PLAINTIFF ROBERT HARRIS’ CLAIMS AND 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

ORDER

BASED ON THE PARTIES’ STIPULATION AND GOOD CAUSE 

APPEARING THEREFORE, this Court finds that Plaintiff Robert Harris may not 

represent the alleged class of African Americans who contend that they were 

discriminated against in hiring to driver (“SSR”) positions in Cintas’ Rental Division in 

violation of Section 1981 and Title VII, as set forth in the Fourth Amended Complaint at 

paragraphs 33-40 and 48(b); on this basis the Court DISMISSES WITH PREJUDICE 

Plaintiff Robert Harris’ claims on behalf of this alleged class. 

This Court DISMISSES WITH PREJUDICE Plaintiff Robert Harris’ 

individual claims that Cintas has violated Section 1981 and Title VII by allegedly refusing 

to hire him as an SSR, refusing promote him to an SSR position, and terminating him 

because of his race (African American).

The Court also finds that Plaintiffs’ counsel is not entitled to recover any 

amount in attorneys’ fees and costs attributable to pursuing Harris’ individual claims 

herein (or the class claims Harris has asserted if there is no adequate class representative 

to represent the putative class described in paragraph 48(b) of the FAC). 

The parties have agreed that Plaintiffs’ counsel will not include any 

attorneys’ fees or costs incurred as part of maintaining Harris’ individual claims (or the 

class claims Harris has asserted if there is no adequate class representative to represent the 

putative class described in paragraph 48(b) of the FAC), should they later apply for an 

award of attorneys’ fees or costs in this litigation. However, if Plaintiffs or Plaintiffs’ 

counsel apply for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs, this Order will not preclude them 

from arguing that some portion of the time and costs spent on the class claims asserted by 

Harris should be allocated to a claim on which plaintiffs prevailed (including a claim of 

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Case No. C04-0281-JSW 

LEGAL_US_W # 53154404.5

-8-

JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL OF 

PLAINTIFF ROBERT HARRIS’ CLAIMS AND 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

discrimination in hiring for the SSR job, if plaintiffs prevail on that claim); and nothing in 

this Order will preclude Defendant from asserting any legal arguments in opposition to 

such an allocation. 

Finally, Cintas may not recover costs against Plaintiff Robert Harris. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: ____________, 2006 ______

 HONORABLE JEFFREY S. WHITE 

United States District Judge 

Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 183-1 Filed 01/11/2006 Page 8 of 8

January 12

Case 3:04-cv-00281-JSW Document 184 Filed 01/12/06 Page 8 of 8