Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01084/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01084-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 28:1332nr Diversity-Notice of Removal

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALFONSO LITTLE, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

GATE GOURMET, INC.,

Defendant.

Case No.: 3:16-cv-01084-L-AGS

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ 

MOTION [Doc. 70] FOR 

PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF 

CLASS AND COLLECTIVE 

ACTION SETTLEMENT

In this putative class action, Alfonso Little and Shantel Gates (collectively 

“Plaintiffs”) allege that Defendant Gate Gourmet, Inc. (“Defendant”) violated provisions 

of the California Labor Code, the California Business and Professions Code, and the Fair 

Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) by failing to pay all owed straight time and overtime 

wages, failing to provide rest and meal periods or compensatory premium payments, and 

by failing to provide adequate pay stubs, pay upon termination of employment, and 

reimbursement of business expenses. (FAC [Doc. 67].) Following a full day mediation 

session, the parties have reached a settlement agreement. (See Joint Stipulation of 

Settlement and Release [Doc. 70-3].) Plaintiff now moves for preliminary approval of 

the proposed class settlement, the terms of which are set forth in the Joint Stipulation of 

Settlement and Release. Defendants do not oppose the requested relief. (NonOpposition [Doc. 72].) 

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Having read and considered Plaintiff's Motion, including the Joint Stipulation of 

Settlement and Release and other attached exhibits, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s 

Motion as follows: 

1. The Court grants preliminary approval of the settlement of this action, based 

upon the terms set forth in the Joint Stipulation of Settlement and Release on file herein. 

The settlement appears to be fair, reasonable, and adequate as contemplated by Federal 

Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e)(2). 

2. The Court finds that this Action meets the class certification requirements of 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23(a) and (b)(3). Accordingly, and solely for the 

purposes of the proposed settlement, the Class is provisionally certified as follows: “all 

persons who are, have been, or will be employed by Defendant in a non-exempt position 

in California at any time during the period of March 30, 2012 through the date of 

Preliminary Approval.” It shall be an opt-out class. 

3. The Court confirms CPT Group, Inc. as the claims administrator.

4. Having found the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(g) 

met, the Court appoints William Turley, David Mara, Jill Vecchi, Kevin T. Barnes, 

Gregg Lander, and Emil Davtyan as Class Counsel, solely for the purposes of the 

proposed settlement. 

5. The Court confirms Alfonzo Little and Shantel Gates as the Class 

Representatives, solely for the purposes of the proposed settlement.

6. The Court approves, as to form and content, the (a) Joint Stipulation Of 

Settlement And Release (Doc. 70-3); and (b) Notice of Class And Collective Action 

Settlement (Doc. 70-4). This approval is conditional on adoption of the dates listed in 

paragraph 7 below. 

7. The Court orders the following schedule of dates for further proceedings:

a. First Mailing of Notice, etc., to the Class: October 30, 2017

b. Deadline to postmark Objections and /or Opt-Out: December 14, 2017

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c. Filing date for Briefs For Attorney’s Fees Request 

and Request for Reimbursement of Costs:

November 27, 2017

d. Filing date for Plaintiff’s motion for final 

Approval of Class Settlement:

e. The Final Fairness Hearing and Approval Hearing, 

and the Hearing on the Request of Class Counsel for 

Approval of Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses:

January 29. 2018

February 12, 2018 at 11am.

8. The Court finds that the distribution of the Notice of Class And Collective 

Action Settlement in the manner and form set forth in the Joint Stipulation Of Settlement 

And Release and this Order satisfies due process requirements and the requirements of 

Rule 23(c)(2) and (e)(1), is the best notice practicable under the circumstances, and shall 

constitute due and sufficient notice to all Class Members.

9. The Court reserves the right to adjourn or continue the date of the Fairness 

Hearing and all dates provided for in the Settlement without further notice to Class 

Members, and retains jurisdiction to consider all further applications arising out of or 

connected with the proposed Settlement.

10. Plaintiffs motion for final approval of the settlement must include the 

required and customary filings. In addition, the motion papers shall include (1) an 

affidavit evidencing Defendant’s compliance with the Class Action Fairness Act notice 

requirement under 28 U.S.C. § 1715, including responses from any government officials 

to the notice; and (2) the claims administrator’s affidavit regarding compliance with its 

duties under the settlement and this Order, a copy of the notice sent to the class, a report 

on the number of class members to whom Notice was sent, the number of undelivered 

notices, efforts to locate correct addresses for undelivered notices after the first mailing, 

number of notices sent to the updated addresses in a second mailing, the number of such 

notices returned undelivered, the number of class members to whom payment will be 

made, and the average class member payment. 

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11. As of the date this Order is signed, all dates and deadlines associated with 

the Action shall be stayed, other than those related to the administration of the 

Settlement. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 25, 2017

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