Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_17-cv-02229/USCOURTS-cand-3_17-cv-02229-0/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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28 STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION AS FLSA COLLECTIVE 

ACTION 

Harold Jones et al. v. CertifiedSafety, Inc., Case No. 3:17-cv-2229-RS 

CAROLYN H. COTTRELL, Bar No. 166977 

DAVID C. LEIMBACH, Bar No. 265409 

SCHNEIDER WALLACE COTTRELL

KONECKY WOTKYNS LLP 

2000 Powell Street, Suite 1400 

Emeryville, CA 94608 

Telephone: 415.421.7100 

Fax No.: 415.421.7105 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs, the Class and Collective 

MICHELLE B. HEVERLY, Bar No. 178660 

ANGELA RAFOTH, Bar No. 241966 

LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C. 

333 Bush Street, 34th Floor 

San Francisco, CA 94104 

Telephone: 415.433.1940 

Fax No.: 415.399.8490 

JAMES M. CLEARY, Texas Bar No. 00783838 

MARTIN, DISIERE, JEFFERSON & WISDOM, LLP 

808 Travis, 20th Floor 

Houston, TX 77002 

Telephone: 713.632.1775 

Fax No.: 713.222.0101 

Pro Hac Vice

Attorneys for Defendant 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

HAROLD JONES and GENEA KNIGHT, 

individually and on behalf of all others 

similarly situated, 

Plaintiff, 

v.

CERTIFIEDSAFETY, INC., 

Defendant.

Case No. 3:17-cv-2229-RS

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER 

FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION OF 

COLLECTIVE 

Complaint Filed: April 21, 2017 

Case 3:17-cv-02229-EMC Document 48 Filed 10/24/17 Page 1 of 7
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28 2.

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION AS FLSA COLLECTIVE ACTION 

Harold Jones et al. v. CertifiedSafety, Inc., Case No. 3:17-cv-2229-RS 

Plaintiffs Harold Jones and Genea Knight (“Plaintiffs”) and Defendant 

CertifiedSafety, Inc. (“Defendant”) (Plaintiffs and Defendant are collectively referred to as the 

“Parties”), by and through their attorneys of record, hereby stipulate as follows: 

1. Plaintiff Jones initiated this action on April 21, 2017 and, in addition to claims under 

California state wage and hour laws, alleged Defendant violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 

U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq. (“FLSA”), and asserted these claims on behalf of a national Collective (ECF 1). 

The proposed Collective is defined as follows: 

All current and former hourly, non-exempt safety attendants and foremen of

CertifiedSafety, Inc., in the United States, during the time period October 1, 2014 

until the resolution of this action. 

2. Plaintiff Jones alleged that Defendant has violated the FLSA with respect to Plaintiff 

and the Collective by, inter alia, failing to compensate Plaintiff and the Collective for all hours worked 

and, with respect to such hours, failing to pay the legally mandated overtime premium for such work 

and/or minimum wage; 

3. On June 26, 2017, Plaintiff Jones amended his pleading to add an additional 

representative Plaintiff, Genea Knight, who asserted the same claims under the FLSA on behalf of a 

proposed national Collective, and also asserted claims under Washington state law on behalf of a 

Washington State Class (ECF 23);

4. Plaintiffs request that the Court authorize mailing of the proposed Notice of Collective 

Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form, attached as Exhibits A and B to the Declaration of Carolyn 

H. Cottrell, to all persons within the proposed Collective who have been employed by Defendant in 

the United States at any time after October 1, 2014. 

5. Given the threshold required for conditional certification under Section 216(b) of the 

FLSA, to facilitate mediation and/or other alternative dispute resolution, and to promote efficiency 

and conserve resources among the Parties’ and the Court, the Parties have agreed to stipulate to the 

Court’s entry of an order conditionally certifying a nationwide FLSA Collective; 

6. The decision by Defendant not to oppose the conditional certification of the FLSA 

Case 3:17-cv-02229-EMC Document 48 Filed 10/24/17 Page 2 of 7
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28 3.

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION AS FLSA COLLECTIVE ACTION 

Harold Jones et al. v. CertifiedSafety, Inc., Case No. 3:17-cv-2229-RS 

collective action does not constitute an admission that the named Plaintiffs meet the conditions 

necessary for certification of a FLSA collective action, or that Defendant is liable in any way under 

the FLSA in regards to Plaintiffs or any prospective class members. Defendant retains the right to 

move to decertify the Collective action and/or oppose any request by Plaintiffs for final certification 

of this Collective action. Further, the Parties explicitly agree that Defendant’s consent to this 

Stipulation is without prejudice to any and all arguments Defendant may make in opposition to any 

motion for certification of any class or subclass under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, and that the 

FLSA conditional certification contemplated herein shall have no bearing on any proceedings related 

to certification under Rule 23; 

7. Within 14 days of this Order, Defendant shall provide to Plaintiffs’ a third-party 

administrator a computer-readable data file containing the names, job titles, last known mailing 

addresses, email addresses telephone numbers, both home and cellular, and social security numbers of 

all persons within the Collective description herein (“File”). The administrator shall be instructed to 

send the agreed-upon Notice to the listed individuals as set forth below:

All current and former hourly, non-exempt Safety Attendants and Safety Foreman, of 

CertifiedSafety, Inc., in the United States, during the time period October 1, 2014 until 

the resolution of this action.

8. Plaintiffs will select a third-party notice administrator (“Notice Administrator”) to mail 

the proposed Notice of Collective Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form to all persons identified 

in Defendant’s list within seven (7) days of the of this Order. Plaintiffs shall pay the costs of the 

administrator, subject to claiming the costs as a reimbursable litigation expense. The Notice of 

Collective Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form shall be sent by the Notice Administrator via first 

class mail within seven (7) days of receipt of the list of Defendant’s eligible current and former 

employees, or as soon thereafter as practicable. For those employees who Defendant provides an 

email address for, the Notice Administrator shall email the Notice of Collective Action Lawsuit and 

Opt-In Consent Form to those email addresses within seven (7) days of receipt of the list of 

Defendant’s eligible current and former employees, or as soon thereafter as practicable. 

Case 3:17-cv-02229-EMC Document 48 Filed 10/24/17 Page 3 of 7
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28 4.

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION AS FLSA COLLECTIVE ACTION 

Harold Jones et al. v. CertifiedSafety, Inc., Case No. 3:17-cv-2229-RS 

9. Eligible persons shall have sixty (60) days from the date on which the Notice of 

Collective Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form is sent via first class mail (the “Opt-In Deadline”) 

in which to postmark or return their Opt-In Consent Form for receipt by the Notice Administrator. 

After the Notice of Collective Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form has been sent to the class 

members, the Notice Administrator may send one reminder postcard (content and format of which to 

be agreed between the parties) to any class member who has not opted into this case. The Notice 

Administrator may also communicate with any Class member who contacts the Notice Administrator 

for additional information about this litigation. The Notice Administrator shall not provide the File to 

counsel for Plaintiffs. 

10. The Notice Administrator shall provide the Opt-In Consent Forms to Plaintiffs’ 

Counsel upon receipt of the Opt In Consent Form. Plaintiffs’ Counsel will file received Opt-In Consent 

Forms with the Court as soon as practicable.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED: 

That this action be conditionally certified as a FLSA collective action, pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 

§§ 201 et seq. 

Dated: October 23, 2017 

/s/ James M. Clearly, Jr. 

MICHELLE HEVERLY 

ANGELA RAFOTH 

LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C. 

JAMES M. CLEARY, JR. 

MARTIN, DISIERE, JEFFERSON & 

WISDOM, LLC 

Attorneys for Defendant 

CERTIFIEDSAFETY, INC. 

+

Case 3:17-cv-02229-EMC Document 48 Filed 10/24/17 Page 4 of 7
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28 5.

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION AS FLSA COLLECTIVE ACTION 

Harold Jones et al. v. CertifiedSafety, Inc., Case No. 3:17-cv-2229-RS 

Dated: October 23, 2017 

/s/ Carolyn H. Cottrell

CAROLYN H. COTTRELL 

DAVID C. LEIMBACH 

SCHNEIDER WALLACE COTTRELL

KONECKY WOTKYNS LLP 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

HAROLD JONES 

[PROPOSED] ORDER 

Plaintiffs Harold Jones and Genea Knight (“Plaintiffs”) and Defendant 

CertifiedSafety, Inc. (“Defendant”) (Plaintiffs and Defendant are collectively referred to as the 

“Parties”), have stipulated to conditionally certify as a FLSA collective action, pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 

§§ 201 et seq., the following Collective: 

All current and former hourly, non-exempt Safety Attendants and Safety Foreman, of 

CertifiedSafety, Inc., in the United States, during the time period October 1, 2014 until 

the resolution of this action.

Plaintiffs allege that Defendant has violated the FLSA with respect to Plaintiffs and the 

Collective by, inter alia, failing to compensate Plaintiff and the Collective for all hours worked and, 

with respect to such hours, failing to pay the legally mandated overtime premium for such work and/or 

minimum wage. 

 Having considered the parties’ Stipulation, the allegations in Plaintiffs’ First Amended 

Complaint, and given the low threshold for conditional certification under Section 216(b) of the FLSA, 

see Ramirez v. Ghilotti Bros. Inc., 941 F. Supp. 2d 1197, 1203 (N.D. Cal. 2013), Plaintiffs have met 

the lenient standard at this stage of the case to provide substantial allegations that they are “similarly 

situated” under the FLSA to the proposed Collective members. 

The decision by Defendant not to oppose the conditional certification of the FLSA collective 

action does not constitute an admission that the named Plaintiffs meet the conditions necessary for 

Case 3:17-cv-02229-EMC Document 48 Filed 10/24/17 Page 5 of 7
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28 6.

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION AS FLSA COLLECTIVE ACTION 

Harold Jones et al. v. CertifiedSafety, Inc., Case No. 3:17-cv-2229-RS 

certification of a FLSA collective action. Defendant retains the right to move to decertify the 

Collective action and/or oppose any request by Plaintiffs for final certification of this Collective action. 

However, at this time, the Court has determined Plaintiffs’ allegations are sufficient to provide 

Defendant’s other non-exempt employees notice of the litigation and an opportunity to opt-in to the 

action to pursue their FLSA claims. 

Therefore, Plaintiffs’ Motion for Conditional Certification and to Facilitate Notice under 29 

U.S.C. § 216(b) is GRANTED as follows: 

1. Within fourteen (14) days of this Order, Defendant shall provide to Plaintiffs’ third-party 

administrator a computer-readable data file (“File”) containing the names, job titles, last known 

mailing addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, both home and cellular, and social 

security numbers of all persons within the following definition: 

All current and former hourly, non-exempt Safety Attendants and Safety 

Foreman, of CertifiedSafety, Inc., in the United States, during the time period 

October 1, 2014 until the resolution of this action. Defendant shall provide this 

information for any person who has been employed by Defendant as provided 

by the above definition. 

2. The Proposed Notice and Opt-In Form, attached to the parties’ Stipulation as Exhibits A and 

B to the Declaration of Carolyn H. Cottrell, are approved.

3. Within seven (7) days of the date of this Order, Plaintiffs will select a third-party notice 

administrator (“Notice Administrator”) to mail and email the proposed Notice of Collective 

Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form to all persons identified in Defendant’s list. 

Plaintiffs shall pay the costs of the administrator, subject to claiming the costs as a reimbursable 

litigation expense. The Notice of Collective Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form shall 

be sent by the Notice Administrator via first class mail within seven (7) days of receipt of the 

list of Defendant’s eligible current and former employees, or as soon thereafter as practicable.

For those employees who Defendant provides an email address for, the Notice Administrator 

shall email the Notice of Collective Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form to those email 

addresses within seven (7) days of receipt of the list of Defendant’s eligible current and former 

employees, or as soon thereafter as practicable.

Case 3:17-cv-02229-EMC Document 48 Filed 10/24/17 Page 6 of 7
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28 7.

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION AS FLSA COLLECTIVE ACTION 

Harold Jones et al. v. CertifiedSafety, Inc., Case No. 3:17-cv-2229-RS 

4. Eligible persons shall be given sixty (60) days from the date on which the Notice of Collective 

Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form is sent via first class mail in which to postmark or 

return their Opt-In Consent Form for receipt by the Notice Administrator. After the Notice of 

Collective Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form has been sent to the class members, the 

Notice Administrator will send one reminder postcard (content and format of which to be 

agreed between the parties) to putative collective action members to confirm receipt of the 

Notice of Collective Action Lawsuit and Opt-In Consent Form. The Notice Administrator may 

also communicate with any Class member who contacts the Notice Administrator for 

additional information about this litigation. The Notice Administrator shall not provide the File 

to counsel for Plaintiffs. 

5. The Notice Administrator shall provide the Opt-In Consent Forms to Plaintiffs’ Counsel upon 

receipt of the Opt In Consent Form. Plaintiffs’ Counsel will file received Opt-In Consent Forms 

with the Court as soon as practicable.

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated:__________________________ _______________________________________ 

 HON. RICHARD SEEBORG 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Firmwide:149904539.1 093427.1001

DRAFT 9/6/17

10/24/17

Case 3:17-cv-02229-EMC Document 48 Filed 10/24/17 Page 7 of 7