Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-03651/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-03651-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Fair Labor Standards

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BENJAMIN G OWEN, individually and

on behalf of other individuals

similarly situated,

Plaintiff,

v

E*TRADE FINANCIAL CORP, et al,

Defendants. /

No C 05-3651 VRW

ORDER

Benjamin Owen, class representative in this putative

class action, has filed a notice of voluntary dismissal pursuant to

FRCP 41(a)(1). Doc #9.

Pursuant to FRCP 23(e)(1)(A), voluntary dismissal of a

class action requires the court’s approval. Further, FRCP

23(e)(1)(C) provides that if voluntary dismissal of a class action 

would bind absent class members or otherwise prejudice their

ability to pursue claims individually, the court may approve the

settlement “only after a hearing and on finding that” the voluntary

Case 3:05-cv-03651-VRW Document 10 Filed 03/07/06 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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dismissal is “fair, reasonable, and adequate.” To this end, FRCP

23(e)(2) provides that parties seeking approval of a voluntary

dismissal “must file a statement identifying any agreement made in

connection with the proposed” voluntary dismissal.” If the

voluntary dismissal is made in connection with a settlement, class

members who would be bound by those terms must be provided with an

opportunity to object to the terms of that settlement. FRCP

23(e)(4)(A). And in any event, notice of the dismissal of this

action might be necessary to protect class members who are not

pursuing individual claims due to the pendency of this action. 

Plaintiff’s filing utterly fails to meet the requirements

or facilitate the procedural protections of FRCP 23(e). The court

reminds the parties that class members will not be bound by any

settlement the parties may have reached unless and until the court

has approved voluntary dismissal of this action. 

Plaintiff is ORDERED to submit an application, not to

exceed twenty pages, supporting his request for the court’s

approval of voluntary dismissal of this action on or before March

31, 2006. The application shall identify any agreement made in

connection with the proposed voluntary dismissal and explain why

the agreement, including any plan of allocation and award of fees

from a common fund generated by the settlement, is in the best

interests of the putative class. If no such agreement exists, 

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Case 3:05-cv-03651-VRW Document 10 Filed 03/07/06 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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plaintiff shall explain how potential prejudice to class members

who may have relied on the pendency of this action can be avoided,

through notice to the putative class or otherwise. 

SO ORDERED.

 

VAUGHN R WALKER

United States District Chief Judge

Case 3:05-cv-03651-VRW Document 10 Filed 03/07/06 Page 3 of 3