Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02321/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02321-14/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 05:704 Labor Litigation

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KELLY CARROLL, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-02321-EMC 

ORDER GRANTING CARROLL’S 

MOTION TO APPOINT LEAD 

COUNSEL; DENYING LAYOG’S 

MOTION TO APPOINT LEAD 

PLAINTIFF AND LEAD COUNSEL; 

AND VACATING HEARING ON 

MOTIONS

Docket No. 133-34

Currently pending before the Court are competing motions for appointment of lead 

counsel. Having considering the motions, the Court hereby rules as follows.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(g)(3) provides that a “court may designate interim 

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

class action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g)(3). Where there are competing requests for appointment as 

lead counsel, a court considers, e.g., 

(i) the work counsel has done in identifying or investigating 

potential claims in the action;

(ii) counsel’s experience in handling class actions, other 

complex litigation, and the types of claims asserted in the 

action;

(iii) counsel’s knowledge of the applicable law; and

(iv) the resources that counsel will commit to representing the 

class;

Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g)(1)(A). A court also considers “any other matter pertinent to counsel’s ability 

to fairly and adequately represent the interests of the class.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g)(1)(B).

Taking into consideration the submissions made by counsel for Ms. Carroll and counsel for 

Case 3:15-cv-02321-EMC Document 135 Filed 10/19/16 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

Ms. Layog, the Court finds that both counsel are competent and could litigate the case (factors (ii) 

through (iv) above). Although it is not pleased with the jabs each side has taken against the other 

and the inability on both sides to work cooperatively, both sets of counsel are experienced in 

handling class actions and with wage-and-hour cases in particular. Both are knowledgeable of the 

applicable law and have demonstrated an ability to marshal resources to litigate this kind of class 

action.

Factor (i), however, weighs most heavily in favor of Ms. Carroll’s counsel. Carroll was 

filed approximately a year before Layog, and Ms. Carroll’s counsel has actively litigated Carroll

for almost a year and a half, including 12(b)(6) motion practice and discovery disputes. Matters 

herein have progressed as meaningful discovery is underway. The Court also notes that, while 

Ms. Layog’s counsel is currently litigating a case against Wells Fargo in state court, and has been 

for quite some time, that case is focused on platform-side employees only, and counsel did not 

initiate a case to include the service side until Layog was filed approximately a year after Carroll.

To the extent Ms. Layog’s counsel has raised concerns about Ms. Carroll’s ability to be a 

lead plaintiff, the Court is not convinced that her former status as a supervisor1necessarily puts 

her into a conflict with other members of the putative class. Moreover, Ms. Carroll’s counsel

intends to add another plaintiff to the case, i.e., Mr. Ponce.

2

 While Ms. Layog’s counsel argues 

that there may be problems with Mr. Ponce, such as the statute of limitations, again, the Court is 

not convinced, as Mr. Ponce would appear to benefit from tolling under American Pipe. See Am. 

Pipe & Constr. Co. v. Utah, 414 U.S. 538, 554 (1974) (stating that “the rule most consistent with 

federal class action procedure must be that the commencement of a class action suspends the 

applicable statute of limitations as to all asserted members of the class who would have been 

parties had the suit been permitted to continue as a class action”); Anderson v. Michaels Stores, 

Inc., No. 14-56726, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 13056, at *2 (9th Cir. July 15, 2016) (noting that 

 

1 Ms. Carroll is no longer employed by Wells Fargo and thus any conflict resulting from her 

holding a supervisory position appears minimal, if any. 

2

The Court has already indicated that its strong inclination would be to allow Mr. Ponce to enter 

the case, particularly as there is no obvious prejudice to Defendants under Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 15.

Case 3:15-cv-02321-EMC Document 135 Filed 10/19/16 Page 2 of 3
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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

“California law controls in assessing whether tolling should be allowed during the pendency of 

both class actions[;] California has adopted the American Pipe tolling doctrine, and has allowed a 

second class action to proceed after holding that the statute of limitation tolled during the first 

class action”).

Accordingly, based on the totality of the circumstances, the Court deems it proper to 

appoint Ms. Carroll’s counsel as lead interim counsel in these consolidated actions. Ms. Carroll’s 

counsel and Wells Fargo shall meet and confer to reach agreement on a schedule for the filing of a 

consolidated amended complaint and a response thereto. The parties shall also discuss, during 

their meet and confer, a schedule for class certification. 

The hearing to resolve the motions for appointment, previously set for October 27, 2016, is 

hereby VACATED.

This order disposes of Dockets Nos. 133 and 134. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 19, 2016

______________________________________

EDWARD M. CHEN

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-cv-02321-EMC Document 135 Filed 10/19/16 Page 3 of 3