Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-05378/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-05378-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Fraud

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 This disposition is not designated for publication and may not be cited. 1

Case No. C 07-5378

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S EX PARTE APPLICATION TO CONTINUE HEARING

(JFLC1)

**E-Filed 6/16/2008**

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

LINDSEY ABRAMS, individually and on behalf

of a class of similarly situated individual,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

FACEBOOK, INC. A Delaware corporation,

 Defendant.

Case Number C 07-5378

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S 1

EX PARTE APPLICATION TO

CONTINUE HEARING

[re: docket no. 10]

On October 22, 2007, Plaintiff Lindsay Abrams (“Abrams”) filed a putative class action

against Defendant Facebook, Inc. (“Facebook”). On January 23, 2008, the parties filed a

Stipulated Entry of Judgment of Dismissal with Prejudice and General Release (“Stipulated

Settlement”). The Stipulated Settlement provides the following with respect to attorneys’ fees:

The parties agree that plaintiff’s counsel is entitled to a reasonable award of

attorneys’ fees and expenses in an amount to be determined by the Court. 

Facebook agrees that any such determination by the Court will be based not solely

on the relief obtained for the plaintiff, but also on the benefits conveyed more

generally through this settlement. Facebook further agrees that plaintiff shall be

entitled to reasonable, limited discovery on this issue, including information

relating to (a) the number of text messages Facebook sends out on a daily basis,

Case 5:07-cv-05378-JF Document 14 Filed 06/16/08 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

Case No. C 07-5378

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S EX PARTE APPLICATION TO CONTINUE HEARING

(JFLC1)

(b) the number of text messages sent to previously recycled numbers, and (c) the

steps Facebook did or did not previously take to ensure that text messages were

not sent to people who did not want them. The parties have agreed that plaintiff’s

counsel shall submit to the Court in the Action an application in support of an

award to plaintiff’s counsel via written submissions and briefs and orally at the

hearing on such application. The parties state further that it is their collective

intention to expedite the process of conducting the foregoing evidentiary hearing

and enabling the necessary judicial determinations. Facebook agrees not to appeal

the District Court’s final Order with respect to such application and to pay any

amounts awarded thereby within thirty (30) calendar days of the entry of the final

order thereon.

Stipulated Settlement ¶ 6. 

Facebook now seeks to continue the evidentiary hearing scheduled for July 11, 2008, to

September 19, 2008, so that it may conduct limited discovery into the subject matters raised by

Abrams’s fee application. Specifically, Facebook argues that without the ability to review

counsel’s billing records and depose the experts whose opinions have been proffered, it cannot

mount an effective challenge to Abrams’s fee request of $5 million. Abrams contends that

Facebook is not entitled to such discovery because the Stipulated Settlement provides only for

discovery by Abrams. However, the discovery referenced in the Stipulated Settlement concerns

the merits of Abrams’s claim. Nothing in the Stipulated Settlement precludes Facebook from

conducting discovery with respect to Abrams’s application for attorneys’ fees; indeed the

Stipulated Settlement contemplates that Facebook may challenge the application. Accordingly,

the Court will continue the hearing and grant Facebook the limited discovery it seeks.

IV. ORDER

Good cause therefor appearing, IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 16, 2008.

 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

Case 5:07-cv-05378-JF Document 14 Filed 06/16/08 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

Case No. C 07-5378

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S EX PARTE APPLICATION TO CONTINUE HEARING

(JFLC1)

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Alan Himmelfarb consumerlaw1@earthlink.net

Ethan Mark Preston ep@eplaw.us

Myles P. Guire myles@blimlaw.com

Michael Graham Rhodes rhodesmg@cooley.com

Case 5:07-cv-05378-JF Document 14 Filed 06/16/08 Page 3 of 3