Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00330/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00330-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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-1- 11CV0330 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MEDALIA RODRIGUEZ and

JUAN ALCALA, on behalf of 

themselves and on behalf of all 

others similarly situated, 

Plaintiffs, 

vs. 

WESTERN MESQUITE MINES, 

INC., a Nevada Corporation; NEW 

GOLD, INC., a Canadian 

Corporation; and DOES 1 

THROUGH 150, Inclusive, 

Defendants. 

CASE NO. 11CV0330 MMA (POR)

ORDER: 

(1) CONDITIONALLY 

CERTIFYING SETTLEMENT 

CLASS; 

(2) PRELIMINARILY APPROVING 

PROPOSED SETTLEMENT; 

(3) APPOINTING CLASS 

REPRESENTATIVES, CLASS 

COUNSEL, AND SETTLEMENT 

ADMINISTRATOR; 

(4) APPROVING FORMS OF 

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS 

ACTION SETTLEMENT, 

NOTICE OF INDIVIDUAL 

WEEKS WORKED, AND 

REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION; 

AND, 

(5) SETTING HEARING FOR FINAL 

APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

 

 [DOC. NO. 23] 

Case 3:11-cv-00330-MMA-POR Document 25 Filed 11/15/11 Page 1 of 6
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-2- 11CV0330 

Plaintiffs Medalia Rodriguez and Juan Alcala (“Plaintiffs”), on behalf of 

themselves and others similarly situated, and Defendants Western Mesquite 

Mines, Inc., New Gold, Inc. and Does 1-150 (collectively, “Defendants”) have 

filed a joint motion for conditional certification of a settlement class in this action, 

preliminary approval of the parties’ proposed settlement, approval of the Notice of 

Proposed Class Action Settlement, the Notice of Individual Weeks Worked, and 

the Request for Exclusion, and the setting of a date for the hearing on final 

approval of the settlement. 

The Court having read and considered the papers on the motion, good cause 

appearing therefore, 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 

1. The Court GRANTS preliminary approval of the settlement based 

upon the terms set forth in the parties Stipulation of Settlement and Release 

(“Settlement Agreement”) filed herewith. The settlement appears to be fair, 

adequate, and reasonable to the class; 

2. The settlement falls within the range of reasonableness, appears to be 

the product of arm’s-length and informed negotiations, appears to be presumptively 

valid, subject only to any objections that may be raised at the final hearing, and 

appears intended to treat all Class Members fairly; 

3. The Court approves, as to form and content, the Notice of Proposed 

Class Action Settlement, attached as Exhibit 1 to the Settlement Stipulation, the 

Notice of Individual Weeks Worked, attached as Exhibit 2 to the Settlement 

Stipulation, and the Request for Exclusion form, attached as Exhibit 3 to the 

Settlement Stipulation; 

4. The Court directs the mailing of the Notice of Proposed Class Action 

Settlement, Notice of Individual Weeks Worked, and the Request for Exclusion by 

Case 3:11-cv-00330-MMA-POR Document 25 Filed 11/15/11 Page 2 of 6
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-3- 11CV0330 

first class mail to the class members in accordance with the schedule set forth 

below. The Court finds that the dates selected for the mailing and distribution of 

those documents, as set forth herein, meet the requirements of due process and 

provide the best notice practicable under the circumstances and shall constitute due 

and sufficient notice to all persons entitled thereto; 

5. It is ordered that the settlement class is preliminarily certified for 

settlement purposes only, which class is described as: “All current and former nonexempt employees of Defendant Western Mesquite Mine, Inc., in Brawley, 

California, between February 16, 2011 and the date of preliminary approval”. In 

preliminarily certifying the class for settlement purposes, the Court finds that all of 

the requirements for class certification as set forth in Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 23 are satisfied based upon the allegations of the complaint and the 

evidence provided to the Court, subject to further consideration at the Final 

Approval Hearing after distribution of notice to the members of the Settlement 

Class as set forth below. In the event the proposed settlement is not consummated 

for any reason, the conditional certification set forth in this paragraph shall be of no 

further force or effect; 

6. The Court confirms Philip A. Downey, Anthony N. Luti and Dennis P. 

Wilson, have fairly and adequately represented the interests of the Settlement Class, 

will continue to do so and therefore pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

23(g)(1), are hereby appointed class counsel for purposes of representing the 

Settlement Class conditionally certified in this Order. The Court GRANTS 

preliminary approval to an award of attorneys’ fees to class counsel in an amount 

not to exceed $437,500, plus costs not to exceed $30,000, both of which to be set 

on motion; 

7. The Court confirms Medalia Rodriguez and Juan Alcala have fairly 

and adequately represented the interests of the Settlement Class, will continue to do 

so and therefore pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a)(4), are hereby 

Case 3:11-cv-00330-MMA-POR Document 25 Filed 11/15/11 Page 3 of 6
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appointed as the class representatives. The Court GRANTS preliminary approval 

to a proposed service payment to them of $5,000 each, which amount is to be set on 

motion; 

8. The Court confirms CPT Group as the settlement administrator and 

grants preliminary approval of the reasonable costs of administration payable to 

CPT Group in an amount not to exceed $20,000; and, 

9. The Court GRANTS preliminary approval of the Public Attorneys 

General Act payment of $3,750 to the Labor Work Force Development Agency. 

10. The Court orders the following schedule for the specified 

actions/further proceedings: 

EVENT TIMING 

Last day for Defendants to provide to 

Settlement Administrator a database of all 

Settlement Class Members, including names, 

last known addresses, social security 

numbers, and individual work weeks 

Within 21 days after entry of 

Court’s Order granting preliminary 

approval of Settlement 

Last day for Settlement Administrator to mail 

Notices to Settlement Class Members 

Within 21 days after Settlement 

Administrator’s receipt of database 

Last day for Settlement Class Members to 

submit Request for Exclusion form 

Within 30 days after mailing of 

class Notice 

Last day for Settlement Administrator to 

provide to Defendants’ counsel and Class 

Counsel copies of all Request for Exclusion 

forms, and a W-9 Form 

No later than 10 days after the last 

day for Settlement Class Members 

to Request for Exclusion forms 

(within 10 days of receipt) 

Last day for filing and service of moving 

papers in support of final Settlement approval 

At least 30 days after last day for 

Settlement Class Members to 

submit Request for Exclusion 

Case 3:11-cv-00330-MMA-POR Document 25 Filed 11/15/11 Page 4 of 6
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EVENT TIMING 

and request for attorneys’ fees and costs forms and at least 21 days before 

the Final Settlement hearing 

Last day for Class Counsel to provide the Court 

with a declaration by the Settlement 

Administrator specifying the due diligence 

undertaken with regard to the mailing of the 

Notice 

At least 10 days prior to the final 

Settlement approval hearing 

Final Settlement approval hearing January 30, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.

Last day for Defendants to make payment to 

Settlement Administrator for individual 

settlements, court-approved attorney’s fees 

and costs, service payments to Plaintiffs, 

LWDA payment and Settlement 

Administrator’s fees 

21 days after entry of Court Order 

granting final Settlement approval, 

or, if there is any objection to the 

settlement, within 21 days after 

expiration of the time to file 

appeals or the resolution of any 

appeals filed, unless Defendants 

request and Class Counsel agrees 

to additional time, which 

agreement will not be unreasonably 

withheld 

Last day for Settlement Administrator to mail 

payments to individual Settlement Class 

Members 

No later than 14 calendar days after 

receipt of the funds from 

Defendants 

Dismissal of action with prejudice Upon filing of proof that timely 

claims have been paid 

11. A final hearing will be held on January 30 2012, at 3:00 p.m., in 

Courtroom 5, 940 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92101, to determine whether the 

Settlement should be granted final approval as fair, reasonable, and adequate as to 

Case 3:11-cv-00330-MMA-POR Document 25 Filed 11/15/11 Page 5 of 6
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the Class Members. The Court will hear all evidence and argument necessary to 

evaluate the Settlement, and will consider the request of Plaintiffs for Class 

Representative Service payments to each of them, and Class Counsel’s request for 

the Class Counsel Fees Payments and Class Counsel Litigation Expenses Payments. 

Class Members and their counsel may support or oppose the Settlement and the 

motion for awards of the Class Representative Payments, the Class Counsel Fees 

Payments, and the Class Counsel Litigation Expenses Payments, if they so desire, 

as set forth in the Class Notice. 

12. The Court reserves the right to continue the date of the final approval 

hearing without further notice to Class Members. The Court retains jurisdiction to 

consider all further applications arising out of or in connection with the Settlement. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: November 15, 2011. 

Hon. Michael M. Anello 

United States District Judge 

Case 3:11-cv-00330-MMA-POR Document 25 Filed 11/15/11 Page 6 of 6