Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_05-cv-00585/USCOURTS-cand-4_05-cv-00585-11/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Fair Labor Standards

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[PROPOSED] ORDER PRELIMINARILY 

APPROVING PROPOSED SETTLEMENT 

AGREEMENT C-05-0585-CW

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JASMIN GERLACH, and REGGIE Case No. C-05-0585-CW 

PLACE, on behalf of themselves and those 

similarly situated, 

 Plaintiffs, 

vs. 

WELLS FARGO & CO., WELLS FARGO 

BANK, N.A., AND WELLS FARGO 

SERVICES COMPANY, 

 Defendants. 

ORDER GRANTING 

MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION 

SETTLEMENT AND CLASS 

CERTIFICATION

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., 

 Counterclaimant, 

vs. 

JASMIN GERLACH, 

 Counterdefendant. 

Case 4:05-cv-00585-CW Document 308 Filed 10/06/06 Page 1 of 7
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[PROPOSED] ORDER PRELIMINARILY 

APPROVING PROPOSED SETTLEMENT 

AGREEMENT C 05-0585 CW

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 WHEREAS, the motion of Plaintiffs Jasmin Gerlach and Reggie Place, for class 

certification, preliminary approval of settlement, approval of the form and manner of notice to the 

class, and other matters, having been filed on September 29, 2006, came under this Court’s 

consideration; 

WHEREAS, Plaintiffs have alleged claims against Defendants for violations of the 

Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), 

California’s Unfair Competition Law, Business and Professions Code Section 17200 et seq. 

(“UCL”), and California wage and hour laws, for failure to pay required overtime, failure to 

properly keep and maintain records, and failure to credit all overtime compensation earned or 

owing as Certified Compensation under the Wells Fargo Cash Balance Plan. 

WHEREAS, the Defendants expressly deny the allegations of wrongdoing and violations 

of law alleged in this action, and further deny liability whatsoever to Plaintiffs or to the Class 

Members; 

WHEREAS, the litigation has been ongoing, discovery has revealed additional issues, and 

the operative complaint is subject to amendment. 

WHEREAS, Class Counsel have engaged in extensive discussions and negotiations with 

Defendants and their counsel concerning a resolution of the issues raised in this action, including 

four separate one-day mediation sessions which were conducted under the auspices of the 

Honorable Edward A. Infante (Magistrate Judge, Retired); and 

WHEREAS, the parties have proposed a settlement of the action, the terms of which are 

embodied in the Joint Stipulation of Settlement attached hereto as Exhibit A (“Settlement 

Agreement”). 

Case 4:05-cv-00585-CW Document 308 Filed 10/06/06 Page 2 of 7
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[PROPOSED] ORDER PRELIMINARILY 

APPROVING PROPOSED SETTLEMENT 

AGREEMENT C 05-0585 CW

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IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 

1. To the extent defined in the Settlement Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A 

and incorporated herein by reference, the terms in this Order shall have the meanings set forth 

therein. 

2. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and Rule 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal 

Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court hereby certifies this action as a class action for purposes of 

settlement. The Classes are defined as follows: 

A. A Nationwide Opt-out Class (“Nationwide Class”) of persons who have worked as 

Wells Fargo Business Systems Consultants, Levels 2-6, and e-Business Systems 

Consultants, Levels 2-6, from February 9, 2002 to September 2, 2006 in states 

other than California: for violation of the FLSA, from February 9, 2002 to 

September 2, 2006. 

B. A California Opt-out Class (“California Class”) of persons who have worked as 

Wells Fargo Business Systems Consultants, Levels 2-6, and e-Business Systems 

Consultants, Levels 2-6, from August 29, 2001 to September 2, 2006 in California: 

for claims under California law for time worked in California, from August 29, 

2001 to September 2, 2006. 

3. Those classes are all sufficiently numerous that joinder is not practicable. The 

Nationwide Class has approximately 3277 members. The California Class has approximately 

1288 members. These numbers include 84 individuals who are in both Classes. 

4. There are questions of law and fact common to the members of the Nationwide 

Class and the California Class. The questions of law and fact common to the members of the 

Nationwide Class and the California Class include whether the employees are properly classified 

as exempt from overtime, whether Wells Fargo failed to pay overtime compensation, and whether 

Case 4:05-cv-00585-CW Document 308 Filed 10/06/06 Page 3 of 7
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[PROPOSED] ORDER PRELIMINARILY 

APPROVING PROPOSED SETTLEMENT 

AGREEMENT C 05-0585 CW

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Wells Fargo unlawfully failed to keep and furnish employees with records of hours worked. For 

settlement purposes, these common issues predominate over any individual issues. 

5. The claims of the Class Representative of the Nationwide Class and the California 

Class are typical of the claims of the members of those classes. The claims of the Nationwide and 

California Classes and the Class Representative arise out of the same facts and present the same 

legal theories because they all arise out of Wells Fargo’s policy of classifying the employees at 

issue as overtime-exempt, not paying them overtime compensation for overtime hours worked, 

and not keeping and maintaining records related to hours worked. 

6. The proposed Class Representative will fairly and adequately protect the interests 

of the Nationwide Class and the California Class. He has retained counsel who, collectively, 

have the experience and resources necessary to provide adequate representation of the classes and 

meet the requirements of Rule 23(g)(1). 

7. The Court hereby approves Reggie Place as representative of the Classes and 

appoints the law firms of Lewis, Feinberg, Renaker & Jackson, P.C., Rudy, Exelrod & Zieff, 

LLP, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, and Spiro, Moss, Barness, Harrison & Barge, 

LLP as Class Counsel. 

8. The Court hereby preliminarily approves a service payment in the amount of 

$15,000 to Class Representative Reggie Place and costs of administration payable to the Claims 

Administrator, estimated to be approximately $70,000. 

9. Subject to the receipt and consideration by the Court of any objections to or 

comments on the Settlement Agreement at the hearing described in Paragraph 14 of this Order, 

the Court finds the Settlement Agreement and all of its terms to be fair, just, equitable, and in the 

best interests of the members of the Class. The proposed Settlement falls within the range of 

possible Settlement approval, was negotiated at arms length, and is worthy of being presented to 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER PRELIMINARILY 

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AGREEMENT C 05-0585 CW

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the Class Members for their comments. The Court hereby preliminarily approves the Settlement 

under Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

10. By no later than November 5, 2006, the Claims Administrator shall cause to be 

mailed by first class mail the Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement and Settlement Hearing 

(the “Notice”) and the Opt-out Form in substantially the form attached as Exhibits B and C to the 

Joint Stipulation of Settlement attached as Exhibit A hereto, to the current or last known address 

of each Class Member. 

11. By no later than January 5, 2007, Class Counsel, shall serve and file a sworn 

statement by the Claims Administrator evidencing compliance with the provisions of Paragraph 

10 of this Order. 

12. The Notice to Class Members given in compliance with the provisions set forth in 

Paragraph 10 above is hereby found to be the best notice practicable under the circumstances, and 

constitutes due and sufficient notice, in full compliance with the requirements of Rule 23(3) of 

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Constitution of the United States, and any other 

applicable law. 

13. All reasonable costs incurred in identifying and notifying Class Members, as well 

as administering the Settlement, shall be paid as set forth in the Settlement Agreement. 

14. Pursuant to Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a hearing (the 

“Settlement Hearing”) shall be held before the undersigned at 10:00 a.m. on January 19, 2007 in 

Courtroom 2, United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Ronald V. 

Dellums Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612-5217 to determine the fairness, 

reasonableness, and adequacy of the proposed Settlement and whether it should be finally 

approved, and to consider the motion of Class Counsel for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses 

and the requested payment to Named Plaintiff Place. 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER PRELIMINARILY 

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AGREEMENT C 05-0585 CW

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15. No Class Member shall be heard in opposition to the proposed Settlement, or, if 

approved, the judgments and other orders to be entered thereon, to the requested award of 

attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, or to the requested payment to the Named Plaintiff, and no 

papers or briefs submitted by any such person shall be accepted or considered by the Court 

unless, on or before December 5, 2006, such person has filed with the Clerk of the Court and 

served upon counsel for all parties a written statement that indicates the specific basis for such 

person’s objections, along with any supporting documentation. 

16. On or before December 15, 2006, Class Counsel shall file with the Court and serve 

on all parties their motion for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, and all papers in support 

thereof. 

17. On or before December 15, 2006, Plaintiff shall file a motion for Final Approval 

of Settlement and Dismissal of Action. 

18. Any Class Member who has met the requirements of paragraph 15 herein, or his or 

her representative, may appear at the Settlement Hearing in person or by telephone, and be heard 

to the extent allowed by the Court in support of, or in opposition to, the fairness, reasonableness 

and adequacy of the proposed Settlement, the requested award of attorneys’ fees, costs, and 

expenses, and the requested payment to Named Plaintiff Place. Any Class Member who does not 

make his or her objections as required by Paragraph 15 herein shall be deemed to have waived 

such objection and shall forever be foreclosed from making any objection to the fairness, 

reasonableness, and adequacy of the proposed Settlement, the requested award of attorneys’ fees 

and costs, and the requested payment to Named Plaintiff Place unless otherwise ordered by the 

Court. 

19. The Court expressly reserves its right to continue the Settlement Hearing from 

time to time without further direct notice to the Class. 

Case 4:05-cv-00585-CW Document 308 Filed 10/06/06 Page 6 of 7
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[PROPOSED] ORDER PRELIMINARILY 

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AGREEMENT C 05-0585 CW

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IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: October 6, 2006 ____________________________ 

 Claudia Wilken 

 United States District Court Judge 

Case 4:05-cv-00585-CW Document 308 Filed 10/06/06 Page 7 of 7