Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alsd-1_05-cv-00456/USCOURTS-alsd-1_05-cv-00456-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000 Job Discrimination (Race)

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1The complaint names Alabama Shipyard, Inc. as a second defendant. (Doc. 1). The parties

now agree that Alabama Shipyard is a division of Atlantic Marine, Inc. and not a separate legal entity

subject to suit. (Doc. 18, ¶ 1). Accordingly, Alabama Shipyard, Inc. is dismissed as a defendant. 

The style of this case henceforth shall list only Atlantic Marine, Inc. as a defendant.

2See, e.g., Firestone v. Gallegos, 1999 WL 143859 at *2 n.2 (10th Cir. 1999)(“The majority

rule holds that Rule 23(e) [as it existed prior to 2003] applies prior to class certification.”).

3Accord Aikens v. Deluxe Financial Services, Inc., 2005 WL 1041351 at *4 (D. Kan.

2005)(“The plain language of Rule 23 indicates that the court has no duty or jurisdiction to approve a

settlement in a case where a class is not certified.”); Daniels v. Bursey, 2004 WL 2358291 at *1

(N.D. Ill. 2004)(“Rule 23(e)(1)(A), as amended in 2003, makes it clear that the Rule’s requirement of

court approval applies only to settlements ‘of the claims, issues, or defenses of a certified

class.”)(emphasis in original); see also Weiss v. Regal Collections, 385 F.3d 337, 349 n.21 (3rd Cir.

2004)(assuming without deciding that Rule 23(e)(1)(A) obviates court approval before a class is

certified).

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

EARL APKINS, SR., et al., )

 )

Plaintiffs, )

 )

v. ) CIVIL ACTION 05-0456-WS-B

 )

ATLANTIC MARINE, INC., )

 )

Defendant.1 )

ORDER

 This matter is before the Court on the parties’ joint motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ class

claims. (Doc. 18). The parties’ motion is based on the belief that “Plaintiffs may not voluntarily dismiss

their class allegations without the approval of the Court.” (Id., ¶ 3). While Court approval may once

have been necessary,2 the recent amendments to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 require only that

“[t]he court must approve any settlement, voluntary dismissal, or compromise of the claims, issues, or

defenses of a certified class.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e)(1)(A) (emphasis added).3 

Nevertheless, as the parties request it, their motion to dismiss is granted. All class claims and

Case 1:05-cv-00456-WS-B Document 19 Filed 10/27/05 Page 1 of 2
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allegations contained in the complaint are dismissed without prejudice. 

 

DONE and ORDERED this 27th day of October, 2005.

s/ WILLIAM H. STEELE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00456-WS-B Document 19 Filed 10/27/05 Page 2 of 2