Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01858/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01858-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 29:201 Fair Labor Standards Act

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PAUL MEOLA, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

AXA FINANCIAL, INC., et al.,

Defendants

AND RELATED CASES

 /

No. C 06-04291 JSW

(Consolidated with 07-1858, 

07-2777, and 07-4368)

ORDER REQUIRING

SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING ON

MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT

OF LEAD COUNSEL

On October 5, 2007, Plaintiff Paul Meola filed a motion for the appointment of lead

counsel in this case, and in the consolidated cases as set forth in the caption. That motion is set

for hearing on November 30, 2007. 

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(g)(2), a “court may designate interim

counsel to act on behalf of the putative class before determining whether to certify the action as

a class action.” When appointing interim class counsel, a court must find that the applicant is

adequate under Rule 23(g)(1)(B) and (C). Rule 23(g)(1)(B), in turn, requires that “[a]n attorney

appointed to serve as class counsel must fairly and adequately represent the interests of the

class.” Rule 23(g)(1)(C), requires that:

(i) the court must consider:

• the work counsel has done in identifying or investigating potential

claims in the action,

• counsel’s experience in handling class actions, other complex

litigation, and claims of the type asserted in the action,

• counsel’s knowledge of the applicable law, and

• the resources counsel will commit to representing the class;

(ii) may consider any other matter pertinent to counsel’s ability to fairly

and adequately represent the interests of the class; 

Case 3:07-cv-01858-JSW Document 27 Filed 11/07/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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(iii) may direct potential class counsel to provide information on any

subject pertinent to the appointment and to propose terms for attorney fees

and nontaxable costs; and

(iv) may make further orders in connection with the appointment.

Although Plaintiffs’ motion addresses counsel’s experience with class actions, including

class actions involving the issues raised by this case, it does not fully address the factors this

Court must consider under Rule 23(g)(1)(B)(I). In addition, the Court requests additional

information from Plaintiffs about their experience with cases raising claims like those raised in

this case. Therefore, Plaintiffs are HEREBY ORDERED to submit a supplemental brief that

addresses these issues by no later than November 16, 2007. 

The Court shall file this Order in each of the consolidated cases. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 7, 2007 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:07-cv-01858-JSW Document 27 Filed 11/07/07 Page 2 of 2