Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-04312/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-04312-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JORGE BERMUDEZ, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

SERVICE EMPLOYEES 

INTERNATIONAL UNION, LOCAL 521, 

et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 18-cv-04312-VC 

QUESTIONS FOR PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL HEARING

The parties should be prepared to discuss the following issues at the preliminary approval 

hearing (although other issues may be discussed as well):

• Do the potential commonality and typicality problems identified on page 5 of the 

motion prevent certifying a class for settlement purposes? 

• The motion describes the predominant legal question in the case as whether the 

union’s conduct “violated the First Amendment” (p. 13), but the proposed class 

period appears to be based on the statute of limitations for the conversion and 

restitution claims (p. 7). Does this reflect a flaw in the composition of the class?

• Might union members who communicated an explicit intent to resign from the union 

have stronger claims than those who merely checked the “fair share fees” box on their 

forms? If so, should those class members who explicitly sought to resign be receiving 

a premium (a greater pro rata share of the fund)?

• Why was the potential total recovery for the class calculated using a list of “at least 

150 class members,” rather than all 183 class members?

• Does this case require notice to government officials under CAFA? See 28 U.S.C. 

Case 3:18-cv-04312-VC Document 114 Filed 01/07/20 Page 1 of 2
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§ 1715; Procedural Guidance for Class Action Settlements (N.D. Cal.).

• Should class members be notified of the proposed settlement by email in addition to 

regular mail?

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 7, 2020

______________________________________

VINCE CHHABRIA

United States District Judge

Case 3:18-cv-04312-VC Document 114 Filed 01/07/20 Page 2 of 2