Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-00581/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-00581-14/pdf.json

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

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No. C 13-00581 WHO (DMR)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SARA WELLENS, KELLY JENSEN,

JACQUELINE PENA, BERNICE

GIOVANNI, LARA HOLLINGER, and 

JENNIFER BENNIE

on behalf of themselves and all others

similarly situated,

Plaintiffs,

v.

 

DAIICHI SANKYO, INC. 

Defendant.

Case No. C 13-00581 WHO

ORDER: (1) PROVISIONALLY 

CERTIFYING SETTLEMENT 

CLASSES AND COLLECTIVE 

ACTION; (2) GRANTING

PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF 

CLASS ACTION

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT; (3) 

APPROVING CLASS NOTICE AND 

NOTICE PLAN; (4) SETTING 

SCHEDULE FOR FINAL 

APPROVAL

Upon consideration of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action 

Settlement, and upon the Court’s review of exhibits annexed to such motion, including the 

Settlement Agreement and exhibits thereto, the Court now FINDS, CONCLUDES and 

ORDERS as follows:

I. JURISDICTION

This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the litigation and over all parties to 

this litigation, including all members of the Settlement Class, as defined below.

II. CERTIFICATION OF SETTLEMENT CLASS AND EQUAL PROTECTION 

ACT COLLECTIVE ACTION

1. The proposed Settlement Classes are as follows: 

California Settlement Class: All female sales force employees who are or were 

employed in a sales representative and/or first level district manager role, including, 

without limitation, Sales Representative; Sales Representative I-V; Sales Specialist; 

Senior Sales Specialist; Senior Sales Professional; Cardiovascular (“CV”) Specialty 

Sales Representative; CV Specialty Sales Representative I-III; Senior CV Specialty 

Sales Representative; Senior CV Specialty Sales Professional; Hospital Representative; 

Hospital Representative I-3; Senior Hospital Sales Representative; Hospital Sales 

Specialist; and Primary Care, CV, and Hospital District Manager in DSI’s sales 

organization in California for at least one day between April 16, 2011 and October 16, 

2015.

Non-California Settlement Class: All female sales force employees who are or were 

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employed in a sales representative and/or first level district manager role, including, 

without limitation, Sales Representative; Sales Representative I-V; Sales Specialist; 

Senior Sales Specialist; Senior Sales Professional; Cardiovascular (“CV”) Specialty 

Sales Representative; CV Specialty Sales Representative I-III; Senior CV Specialty 

Sales Representative; Senior CV Specialty Sales Professional; Hospital Representative; 

Hospital Representative I-3; Senior Hospital Sales Representative; Hospital Sales 

Specialist; and Primary Care, CV, and Hospital District Manager in DSI’s sales 

organization in the United States for at least one day between April 16, 2011 and 

October 16, 2015.

2. Members of the Settlement Classes allege claims for gender discrimination brought 

under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e, et seq. (“Title VII”), the 

Equal Pay Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 206 et seq. (“The Equal Pay Act”) and, with respect to the 

California Settlement Class, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Cal. Gov’t Code 

§§12940 et seq.. 

3. For settlement purposes only, and without any effect whatsoever in the event that 

the settlement is not consummated, the Court FINDS and CONCLUDES that the Settlement 

Classes described above satisfy all of the requirements for certification under Rule 23(a) and 

Rule 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Because certification of the Settlement 

Classes is proposed in the context of a settlement, the Court need not inquire whether the case, 

if tried as a class action, would present intractable management problems. Accordingly, the 

Court preliminarily CERTIFIES these Settlement Classes under Rule 23(a) and (b)(3) of the 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

4. For settlement purposes only, and without any effect whatsoever in the event that 

the settlement is not consummated, the Court designates those Settlement Class Members who 

have returned Consent-to-join forms a certified collective action under the Equal Pay Act, 29

U.S. Code § 206, pursuant to 29 U.S. Code §216(b). The Court FINDS and CONCLUDES that 

such Settlement Class Members who have returned Consent-to-join forms are similarly situated. 

III. APPOINTMENT OF CLASS REPRESENTATIVES AND CLASS COUNSEL

1. For settlement purposes only, and without any effect whatsoever in the event that 

the settlement is not consummated, the Court finds that Class Representatives Sara Wellens, 

Kelly Jensen, Jacqueline Pena, Bernice Giovanni, Lara Hollinger,

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and Jennifer Bennie have claims typical of Class Members and are adequate representatives of 

Class Members. The Court appoints them to serve as Class Representatives.

2. For settlement purposes only, and without any effect whatsoever in the event that 

the settlement is not consummated, pursuant to Rule 23(g) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure, the Court appoints as Class Counsel, David Sanford, Esq., Felicia Medina, Esq. and 

Yonina Alexander, Esq. of SANFORD HEISLER KIMPEL, LLP to represent the Settlement 

Classes for purposes of the Settlement.

IV. PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

The Court has reviewed the terms of the Settlement Agreement and Plaintiffs’ 

description of the settlement in the Motion papers. The Court has also read and considered the 

declarations submitted by Plaintiffs in support of preliminary approval. Based on review of 

those papers, and the Court’s familiarity with this case, the Court concludes that the settlement 

and Settlement Agreement are the result of extensive, arm’s length negotiations between the 

Parties after they investigated the class claims and became familiar with the strengths and 

weakness of Plaintiffs’ case. The assistance of an experienced mediator in the settlement 

process confirms that the Settlement is non-collusive. Based on that review, and the Court’s 

familiarity with the issues in the case, the Court concludes that the proposed Settlement 

Agreement has no obvious defects and is within the range of possible settlement approval, such 

that notice to the Class is appropriate.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:

1. The Court PRELIMINARILY APPROVES the Settlement Agreement as being 

fair, reasonable and adequate, subject to the right of any Class Member to challenge the fairness, 

reasonableness or adequacy of the Settlement Agreement and to show cause, if any exists, why 

a final judgment dismissing this case and all released claims and awarding attorneys’ fees and 

expenses to Class Counsel, should not be entered following a Final Fairness Hearing. 

2. As of the date hereof, all discovery and other proceedings in this case are 

STAYED until further order of this Court, except as may be necessary to implement the 

Settlement Agreement.

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3. Based on the terms of the Settlement Agreement, each Class Member shall 

receive a monetary award from the “Core Component” under Section 5.1(i) of the Settlement 

Agreement. The calculation of each proportionate share will be based on the total Workweeks 

of all Proposed Class Members and the number of Workweeks worked by each Proposed Class 

Member, based on the applicable damages period as defined by the Settlement Agreement. 

4. Pursuant to CAFA, 28 U.S.C. § 1715, Defendant shall serve upon the appropriate 

State Official in which any Proposed Class Member resides, as determined by DSI’s records, a 

notice of the proposed Settlement in compliance with the requirements of CAFA, 28 U.S.C. 

§1715. 

5. Should the Settlement Agreement receive final approval, the Court will retain 

jurisdiction over this matter for purposes of resolving issues relating to administration, 

implementation, and enforcement of the Settlement Agreement for (2) years following the 

“Effective Date,” as defined in Section 3.1(r) of the Settlement Agreement. 

V. CONFIDENTIALITY AND EFFECT OF TERMINATION

1. If the settlement is terminated as provided in the Settlement Agreement, then, in 

such event, the Settlement Agreement, including any amendment(s) thereof, and this Order, 

shall be deemed null and void ab initio, of no further force or effect, and without prejudice to 

any party, and may not be introduced as evidence or referred to in any actions or proceedings by 

any person or entity, as set forth in the Settlement Agreement, and each party shall be restored 

to his, her, or its respective position as of the date and time immediately prior to the execution 

of the Settlement Agreement. 

2. All negotiations and information and materials pertaining in any way to the 

Settlement Agreement or the settlement of the Lawsuit will be inadmissible and remain 

confidential to the fullest extent permitted by law, as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.

VI. OTHER CASES ENJOINED

The Court orders that, pending Final Approval, each member of the Settlement Class 

who does not request exclusion is preliminarily enjoined from commencing, prosecuting or 

maintaining in any court other than this Court any claim, action or other proceeding that 

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challenges or seeks review of or relief from any order, judgment, act, decision or ruling of this 

Court in connection with this Settlement Agreement.

VII. APPROVAL OF THE FORM AND MANNER OF DISTRIBUTING CLASS 

NOTICE AND CLAIM FORM

1. The Parties have also submitted for this Court’s approval a proposed Class 

Notice, which the Court has carefully reviewed. The Court FINDS and CONCLUDES as 

follows: The Court hereby APPROVES the substance, form and manner of the Notice of 

Proposed Class Action Settlement (the “Notice”), attached as Exhibit A to this Order. The 

Parties are directed to mail the Notice to the Class pursuant to the Settlement Agreement 

following the entry of this Order. Because the Settlement Agreement does not contemplate 

mailing the Claim Form to the Class until after Final Approval, the Court defers ruling on the 

Claim Form until that time.

2. The Court finds and concludes that the proposed plan for distributing the Notice 

and Claim Form (“Notice Materials”) will provide the best notice practicable, satisfies the 

notice requirements of Rule 23(e), and satisfies all other legal and due process requirements.

VIII. PROCEDURE FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF THE SETTLEMENT 

1. Fairness Hearing

Based on the deadlines set forth in the Settlement Agreement, a Final Fairness Hearing 

shall take place on February 10, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the courtroom of the Honorable William 

H. Orrick at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Courtroom 

2, 17th floor, San Francisco Courthouse, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, 

to determine whether the proposed settlement of this action on the terms and conditions 

provided for in the Settlement Agreement is fair, reasonable, and adequate and should be finally 

approved by the Court pursuant to Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 

whether this action should be dismissed pursuant to the settlement.

2. Deadline to Request Exclusion from the Settlement

Class Members shall be bound by the judgments in this case unless such Class Members 

request exclusion from the Settlement Class in a timely and proper manner, as herein provided. 

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A Class Member requesting exclusion shall send a written request for exclusion by mail, 

postmarked within sixty (60) days after the postmark date of the Notice to the Claims 

Administrator, at the address designated in the Notice. A Class Member must sign the request 

for exclusion and state her name, address and telephone number in the request. The request for 

exclusion shall not be effective unless it provides the required information and is made within 

the time stated above, or the exclusion is otherwise accepted by the Court.

3. Deadline for Filing Objections to Settlement and Settlement Agreement

The Court will consider objections to the Settlement if such written objections are filed 

with the Clerk of the Court, United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 

450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, postmarked within sixty (60) days after 

the postmark date of the Notice. Class Members who fail to submit objections in the manner 

specified above shall be deemed to have waived any objections and shall be foreclosed from 

making any objection to the Settlement Agreement. 

4. Deadline for Submitting Claims Forms After Final Approval

Based on the terms of the Settlement Agreement, a Class Member shall be eligible to 

receive a monetary award from the “Claim Form Component” under Section 5.1(ii) of the 

Settlement Agreement if the Class Member submits a Claim Form to the Claims Administrator 

postmarked within (60) days after the Court grants final approval of the Settlement Agreement.

The postmark date of the submitted Claim Form shall be the exclusive means of determining 

whether a Claim Form is timely.

5. Deadline for Petition for Attorneys’ Fees

Class Counsel shall file with this Court their petition for an award of attorneys’ fees and 

reimbursement of expenses no later than fourteen (14) days before the Fairness Hearing. 

6. Deadline for Petition for Approval of Service Payments

Class Counsel shall file with this Court their petition for an award of service fees no 

later than fourteen (14) days before the Fairness Hearing. 

IX. NAMED PLAINTIFFS’ AND CLASS MEMBERS’ RELEASE

If, at the Fairness Hearing, this Court grants Final Approval to the Settlement and 

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Settlement Agreement, Named Plaintiffs and each individual Settlement Class Member who 

does not timely opt out will release claims, as set forth in the Settlement Agreement, by 

operation of this Court’s entry of the Judgment and Final Approval, regardless of whether she 

submits a Claim Form or receives any share of the Settlement Fund.

X. APPOINTMENT OF CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR

RUST CONSULTING, INC., One Market Plaza, Suite 1275, San Francisco, CA 94105 

is hereby appointed Claims Administrator and shall perform the duties set forth in the 

Settlement Agreement. 

IT IS SO ORDERED, this 16th day of October, 2015. 

______________________________________

HONORABLE WILLIAM H. ORRICK

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Case 3:13-cv-00581-WHO Document 181 Filed 10/16/15 Page 7 of 20
Exhibit A 

Case 3:13-cv-00581-WHO Document 181 Filed 10/16/15 Page 8 of 20
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THIS IS A NOTICE OF A PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT FROM THE 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SARA WELLENS, KELLY JENSEN, 

JACQUELINE PENA, BERNICE 

GIOVANNI, LARA HOLLINGER,

and JENNIFER BENNIE

on behalf of themselves and all others

similarly situated,

Plaintiff,

vs.

DAIICHI SANKYO, INC.,

Defendant.

Case No. C 13-00581 WHO

If you are a woman who is, or was, employed as a SALES REPRESENTATIVE or 

DISTRICT SALES MANAGER for DAIICHI SANKYO, INC. in the United States at any 

time from April 16, 2011 through October 16, 2015, A PROPOSED CLASS ACTION 

SETTLEMENT MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS.

Please read this Notice carefully. This Notice describes a proposed settlement (the “Settlement”) 

of a pending gender discrimination class action lawsuit and your rights under this Settlement, 

including your right to receive money from this Settlement. If you do not want to be part of this 

Settlement, this Notice details the steps you must take to be excluded from it.

Case 3:13-cv-00581-WHO Document 181 Filed 10/16/15 Page 9 of 20
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SUMMARY OF SETTLEMENT

On February 11, 2013, Plaintiffs Sara Wellens, Kelly Jensen, Jacqueline Pena, Bernice 

Giovanni, Lara Hollinger, and Jennifer Bennie filed a class action complaint against Daiichi 

Sankyo, Inc. (“DSI”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on 

behalf of themselves and all current and former DSI female sales representatives and first-level 

sales managers for gender discrimination in employment, including pay, promotion to District 

Manager and pregnancy discrimination. The Class Representatives litigated this gender 

discrimination case against DSI for over two years until the parties reached a final settlement 

agreement in August 2015.

The settlement makes available a Total Settlement Fund of $8,200,000, plus other 

benefits to the Class, as described in this Notice. As a former or current female sales force 

employee, you are eligible to participate in the settlement benefits.

DSI denies any liability or wrongdoing of any kind associated with the claims alleged in 

this lawsuit and this Settlement is in no way an admission by DSI that it engaged in any unlawful 

behavior.

The Court has preliminarily approved the Settlement. Before deciding whether to grant 

final approval to the Settlement, the Court wishes to inform you of the general terms of the 

Settlement, and what actions you need to take to participate in the benefits provided by the 

settlement. 

The Court will hold a Settlement Hearing to consider whether the Settlement is fair, 

reasonable, and adequate, and to decide whether to give final approval to this Settlement. The 

hearing will be held at 2:00 p.m. on February 10, 2016, in the courtroom of the Honorable 

William H. Orrick at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 

Courtroom 2, 17th floor, San Francisco Courthouse, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, 

CA 94102. If the Settlement is granted final approval by the Court after the Settlement Hearing, 

the Court’s judgment will be final and binding. You are not required to appear at the hearing. If 

you are a Class Member you will be represented by attorneys for the Class at no cost to you. 

If you wish to remain a Class Member and receive a share of the monetary relief, 

you do not have to do anything in response to this Notice.

If you wish to have an opportunity to receive an additional share of the monetary relief 

for your alleged promotion to District Manager discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and 

emotional distress damages, you will be required to complete and submit a Claim Form, 

including any supporting documentation and information, within 60 days after the date the Court

grants final approval of the Settlement (which will occur on or after February 10, 2016). A 

Claim Form will be mailed to you within 15 days after the date the Court grants final approval of 

the Settlement.

If you wish to opt-out and exclude yourself from the settlement or object to it, this 

Notice will describe the procedures to do so. 

For additional information, you may contact Class Counsel, as listed on page 11, or visit 

www.sanfordheisler.com.

Case 3:13-cv-00581-WHO Document 181 Filed 10/16/15 Page 10 of 20
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SUMMARY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS NOTICE

Purpose of this Notice ....................................................................................... 4

Background of this Gender Discrimination Lawsuit .................................................... 4

Class Definition—You are a Member of the Settlement Class ........................................ 5

Summary of Settlement Terms...............................................................................6

How Will the Total Settlement Fund Be Distributed? ..........................................6

How Will My Settlement Award Be Calculated? ............................................... 6

What Does DSI Have to Do Under the Settlement? ............................................ 7

What Are the Important Deadlines for this Settlement? ...................................... 8

Are There Tax Consequences for Any Money I Get? ...........................................9

Release of Claims............................................................................................. 9

What Claims Am I Releasing? ................................................................... 10

The Settlement Process and Final Approval Hearing .................................................. 10

The Lawyers Representing You and the Class ......................................................... 11

How Will the Lawyers Be Paid? ................................................................. 11

Service Payments to Lawsuit Participants .............................................................. 11

Getting More Information ..................................................................................12

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GENERAL INFORMATION

PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE

The purpose of this Notice is to inform you about this litigation, the certification of a 

class (the “Class”), the terms of a proposed settlement (the “Settlement”), and your rights in 

connection with a hearing to be held before the Court at 2:00 p.m. on February 10, 2016, to 

consider the fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy of the Settlement and related matters. This 

Notice also describes the steps to be taken by those who wish to be excluded from the Class and, 

for those who remain Class Members, your rights to receive a monetary award and the steps 

necessary to seek an additional share in the distribution of the Settlement Fund in the event the 

Settlement is approved by the Court.

BACKGROUND OF THIS GENDER DISCRIMINATION CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

On September 12, 2012, Jackie Pena, a former employee of DSI, filed a charge of 

discrimination against DSI with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 

(“EEOC”) and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. On February 11, 

2013, Plaintiffs Sara Wellens, Kelly Jensen, Jacqueline Pena, Bernice Giovanni, Lara Hollinger, 

and Jennifer Bennie (“Named Plaintiffs” or “Class Representatives”) filed a complaint with class 

action allegations against Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. (“DSI”) in the United States District Court for the 

Northern District of California. 

After the parties engaged in extensive litigation for more than two years, the parties 

agreed to a mediation to explore possible resolution of this matter. Under the supervision of a 

nationally known and experienced mediator, the parties engaged in settlement negotiations that 

resulted in the agreement to settle this action as reflected in this Notice of Class Action 

Settlement and the underlying Settlement Agreement. Because of the extensive discovery 

conducted between the parties during litigation and the mediation process, the parties were able 

to reliably assess the merits of their respective positions and to reach a fair and equitable 

agreement.

Based upon their investigation, Class Counsel and Named Plaintiffs have concluded that 

the terms of the proposed settlement are fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of the 

Class. In reaching this conclusion, Class Counsel has analyzed the benefits of the settlement and 

the risk of an unfavorable outcome, as well as the expense and length of continued proceedings 

necessary to prosecute this action. DSI has agreed to these settlement terms because it wishes to 

avoid further costly, disruptive, and time-consuming litigation, and desires to obtain complete 

and final settlement of the claims of the Named Plaintiffs and Class Members. DSI denies any 

liability or wrongdoing of any kind associated with the claims alleged in this lawsuit and this 

Settlement is in no way an admission by DSI that it engaged in any unlawful behavior.

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CLASS DEFINITION – YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE CLASS

You are a member of the Class affected by the Settlement if you fit within either of the 

following definitions:

California Settlement Class: All female sales force employees who are or were 

employed in a sales representative and/or first level district manager role, 

including, without limitation, Sales Representative; Sales Representative I-V; 

Sales Specialist; Senior Sales Specialist; Senior Sales Professional; 

Cardiovascular (“CV”) Specialty Sales Representative; CV Specialty Sales 

Representative I-III; Senior CV Specialty Sales Representative; Senior CV 

Specialty Sales Professional; Hospital Representative; Hospital Representative I3; Senior Hospital Sales Representative; Hospital Sales Specialist; and Primary 

Care, CV, and Hospital District Manager in DSI’s sales organization in 

California for at least one day between April 16, 2011 and October 16, 2015.

Non-California Settlement Class: All female sales force employees who are or 

were employed in a sales representative and/or first level district manager role, 

including, without limitation, Sales Representative; Sales Representative I-V; 

Sales Specialist; Senior Sales Specialist; Senior Sales Professional; 

Cardiovascular (“CV”) Specialty Sales Representative; CV Specialty Sales 

Representative I-III; Senior CV Specialty Sales Representative; Senior CV 

Specialty Sales Professional; Hospital Representative; Hospital Representative I3; Senior Hospital Sales Representative; Hospital Sales Specialist; and Primary 

Care, CV, and Hospital District Manager in DSI’s sales organization in the 

United States for at least one day between April 16, 2011 and October 16, 2015.

You have received this Notice because DSI’s records reflect that you fit one of the 

definitions outlined above, and therefore you are a Class Member in the proposed settlement of 

this lawsuit. Your rights may be affected by the legal proceedings in this action.

Case 3:13-cv-00581-WHO Document 181 Filed 10/16/15 Page 13 of 20
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SUMMARY OF SETTLEMENT TERMS 

How Will the Total Settlement Fund be Distributed?

DSI will pay a total of $8.2 million to settle and satisfy the gender discrimination claims 

in this case. DSI will set aside $200,000 in order to implement changes to its employment 

policies and practices. $4.6 million will be paid into an interest bearing Class Settlement Fund. 

The remaining $3.6 million will be used to reimburse costs and expenses of the litigation, pay 

Class Counsel’s fees as awarded by the Court, pay service payments to the Class Representatives 

and lawsuit participants, and pay for the administration of the settlement process.

How Will My Settlement Award Be Calculated?

The Class Settlement Fund of $4.6 million will be divided into two components:

1. Core Component: $3.7 million will be proportionately divided among all Named 

Plaintiffs and Class Members to compensate them for back pay related to the claims asserted in 

the case. All Proposed Class Members, including Named Plaintiffs, will receive a monetary 

award based on a proportionate share of the Core Component. The calculation of each 

proportionate share will be based on the total workweeks of all Class Members during the 

damages periods as defined in the Settlement Agreement and the number of workweeks worked 

by each Class Member during the damages period as defined in the Settlement Agreement. In 

order to be eligible for a Core Component monetary award, you do not need to do anything in 

response to this Notice. 

2. Claim Form Component: An additional $926,200 will be proportionately 

divided among Named Plaintiffs and Class Members, if eligible, who submit a timely and 

complete Claim Form for alleged gender, pregnancy, and caregiver discrimination related to 

denial of promotion to District Manager, harassment, retaliation or emotional distress damages. 

Within fifteen (15) days after the date the Court grants final approval of the Settlement, a Claim 

Form will be mailed to each Class Member. In order to be eligible for a Claim Form 

Component monetary award, you WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE the Claim Form 

and supply information related to your claims within sixty (60) days after the date the Court 

grants final approval of the Settlement. If you need assistance in completing your Claim Form, 

you can get free help by contacting Class Counsel, as listed on page 11.

Thereafter, an Independent Claim Expert shall review the Claim Forms and any evidence 

submitted in connection with the Claim Forms and allocate a certain number of points to 

Claimants. Following the finalization of the award of points to Claimants, the Independent 

Claim Expert shall total the points applicable to all eligible Class Members, total the number of 

Claims Forms received, determine each eligible Class Member’s proportionate share of the total 

points, and determine the individual monetary award amount based on her individual point total. 

No Class Member may receive an award under the Claim Form Component of the Agreement 

that is higher than the limitation on compensatory and punitive damages provided for by Title 

VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. (i.e., $300,000). 

Case 3:13-cv-00581-WHO Document 181 Filed 10/16/15 Page 14 of 20
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What Does DSI Have to Do Under the Settlement?

Under the Settlement Agreement, in addition to the payment of $8,200,000 discussed 

above, DSI has agreed to programmatic relief provisions whereby the company will retain an 

independent consultant to review its employment policies and practices with respect to the issues 

raised by this Lawsuit and look for possible enhancements to those policies and practices. 

Programmatic relief provisions include: 

1. DSI will provide all employees with a written or electronic communication of 

commitment to equal employment opportunities, together with copies or an electronic 

link to policies addressing non-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation. DSI 

will distribute policies (in hard copy or via an electronic link) that address 

nondiscrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation to all employees upon hire, 

promotion to a management position and to new managers during management training 

and annually. DSI will require all District Managers and above to undergo training in 

these policies upon hire and promotion, and every two years. 

2. DSI will retain an Independent HR Consultant to review its policies and practices to 

enhance said policies and practices. The topics the Independent HR Consultant will 

review concern Flexible Work Arrangements, Pregnancy & Maternity Leave, criteria in 

Promotions and Career Development, Performance Management, and breastfeeding 

accommodations. DSI will consider any recommendations made by the consultant and 

make good faith enhancements to procedures consistent with recommendations. 

3. DSI will post all District Manager positions with clear posting of the requirements and 

qualifications for the role. DSI will also confer with the consultant regarding (1) the 

amount of time the DM positions will remain posted; and (2) the role that candidates’ 

current managers play in the process of promotion from a sales representative to DM.

4. DSI will continue to support the Women’s Forum and continue to maintain the 

Company’s mentoring program. DSI will also provide Women’s Forum board members 

(or equivalent leadership) the opportunity to meet with the consultant for a minimum of 

two hours to discuss their experiences at the Company and provide input with respect to 

the areas for reform described herein.

5. DSI will also work with the Independent HR Consultant to develop a training module that 

will provide guidance to all employees on the appropriate way to treat new mothers 

returning to work, create a brief hand-out informing returning mothers of their rights and 

the appropriate procedure to follow if they feel those rights have been violated, 

investigate methods, such as software, to avoid overpayments to employees on maternity 

leave and other processes to seek repayment where such overpayments cannot be 

avoided, identify a resource in HR to whom questions regarding maternity leave policies 

Case 3:13-cv-00581-WHO Document 181 Filed 10/16/15 Page 15 of 20
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can be directed, and eliminate the merit increase offset proration for individuals who take 

medical leaves of absence. 

6. DSI will establish an Internal Compliance Panel of senior executives from HR and Legal 

to meet semiannually to review compliance with above requirements.

7. DSI, through its counsel, will provide a certification to Class Counsel every six (6) 

months for two years from October 16, 2015 detailing what programmatic changes were 

actually done.

What Are the Important Deadlines for this Settlement?

 To participate in the Core Component of the monetary relief portion of the settlement, 

you do not have to do anything. All Class Members are automatically entitled to a 

monetary payment.

 Claim Form Submission – Postmarked by 60 days after the date the Court grants 

final approval of the Settlement. To receive an individual monetary award from the 

Claim Form Component of the Settlement, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO

COMPLETE A CLAIM FORM AND PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OR 

INFORMATION SUPPORTING YOUR CLAIM. A copy of the Claim Form will be 

mailed to Class Members by 15 days after the date the Court grants final approval of the 

settlement. If you complete a Claim Form, then you will be eligible to receive an 

additional monetary award. In order to be eligible to receive such an award, you will be 

required to return your Claim Form and supporting documentation and information 

postmarked by 60 days after the date the Court grants final approval of the Settlement. If 

you need assistance in completing your Claim Form, you can get free help by contacting 

Class Counsel: Sanford Heisler Kimpel, LLP, 111 Sutter Street, Suite 975, San 

Francisco, CA 94104, Tel: (415) 795-2020, Fax: (415) 795-2021. 

 Exclusion – Postmarked by 60 days after the postmark date of this Notice. If you 

want to exclude yourself from the settlement (that is, not receive any money from the 

settlement, and not be bound by the settlement), you must mail an opt-out statement 

requesting exclusion, postmarked within 60 days after the postmark date of this Notice, to 

the Claims Administrator: Rust Consulting, Inc., One Market Plaza, Suite 1275, San 

Francisco, CA 94105. The postmark date of the mailing envelope shall be the exclusive 

means used to determine whether a request for exclusion (opt-out) has been timely 

submitted. The request for exclusion must be signed by the Class Member who seeks to 

opt out and must contain her name, address and telephone number. No opt-out request 

may be made on behalf of a group of Class Members. If you exclude yourself from this 

settlement, you will not be eligible to receive any money or be bound by this 

Settlement. 

 Objection – Postmarked by 60 days after the postmark date of this Notice. You can 

ask the Court to deny approval by filing an objection. You can’t ask the Court to order a 

larger settlement; the Court can only approve or deny the settlement. If the Court denies 

Case 3:13-cv-00581-WHO Document 181 Filed 10/16/15 Page 16 of 20
9

approval, no settlement payments will be sent out and the lawsuit will continue. If that is 

what you want to happen, you must object. 

You may object to the proposed settlement in writing. You may also appear at the Final 

Approval Hearing, either in person or through your own attorney. If you appear through 

your own attorney, you are responsible for paying that attorney. All written objections 

and supporting papers must (a) clearly identify the case name and number (Wellens et al., 

v. Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Case Number 3:13-cv-00581-WHO), (b) be submitted to the 

Court either by mailing them to the Class Action Clerk, United States District Court for 

the Northern District of California, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, 

or by filing them in person at any location of the United States District Court for the 

Northern District of California, and (c) be filed or postmarked on or before sixty (60)

days after the postmark date of this Notice.

Class Members who fail to make objections in the manner specified above shall be 

deemed to have waived any objections and shall be foreclosed from making any 

objection (whether by appeal or otherwise) to the Settlement Agreement. 

Are There Tax Consequences for Any Money I Get?

One-half (50%) of each Core Component payment will be deemed wages and reported to 

the appropriate tax authorities on a IRS Form W-2 issued to the Class Member with her taxpayer 

identification number, and shall be subject to deductions for applicable taxes and withholdings as 

required by federal, state, and local law. The other one-half (50%) of each payment will be 

deemed non-wage income such as interest and statutory penalties and reported as non-wage 

income to the appropriate tax authorities on an IRS Form 1099 issued to the Class Member.

One-fourth (25%) of each Claim Form Component payment will be deemed wages and 

reported to the appropriate tax authorities on a IRS Form W-2 issued to the Class Member with 

her taxpayer identification number, and shall be subject to deductions for applicable taxes and 

withholdings as required by federal, state, and local law. The other three-fourths (75%) of each 

Claim Form Component payment will be deemed non-wage income such as interest and 

statutory penalties, and reported as non-wage income to the appropriate tax authorities on an IRS 

Form 1099 issued to the Class Member.

Any Service Payments shall not be treated as lost wages, but instead shall be treated as 

compensable damages, including damages for emotional distress and will be subject to an IRS 

Form 1099.

Class Counsel are not tax advisors and cannot give you advice on any tax matters. You 

are responsible for your own taxes.

RELEASE OF CLAIMS

If the Court grants final approval of the settlement, then all Class Members who do not 

opt out will release employment claims against DSI set forth in this lawsuit up to the date of the 

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10

final settlement. When claims are “released” it means that a person covered by the release 

cannot sue DSI for the same claims that are covered by the lawsuit as set forth in the Class 

Action Complaint and the Settlement Agreement. The terms of release are set forth in Section

3.1(v) and Section 9 of the Settlement Agreement. You may obtain a copy of the Settlement 

Agreement by contacting Class Counsel, as listed on page 11, or you can view the Settlement 

Agreement in hard copy in the Office of the Clerk, United States District Court for the Northern 

District of California, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102.

What Claims Am I Releasing?

Unless you exclude yourself from the settlement, the released claims include, but are not 

limited to claims of alleged employment discrimination based on gender or sex and retaliation 

claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e, et seq. 

(“Title VII”); the California Fair Housing and Employment Act, California Government Code § 

12940 et seq. (“FEHA”); the California Business and Professions Code §§ 17200-17208; the 

California Equal Pay Act, California Labor Code § 1197.5 et seq. and any other federal, state, or 

local statutes, common law, or regulation relating to gender-based employment discrimination, 

sexual harassment or retaliation.

By cashing your individual monetary award check, you will also be deemed to join the

portion of this action brought under the Equal Pay Act of 1963, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d) (the “Equal 

Pay Act” or “EPA”) and will release claims of alleged gender discrimination under the EPA. If 

you do not cash your individual monetary award check, you will not release any EPA claims. 

However, unless you exclude yourself from the settlement, you will release the other claims 

affected by the settlement regardless of whether you cash your individual monetary award check. 

THE SETTLEMENT PROCESS AND FINAL APPROVAL HEARING

Every class action must be approved by the court that presided over the class action 

lawsuit. Thus far, the Court has only decided that the proposed settlement may be fair and, 

therefore, justifies the sending of this Notice of Class Action Settlement. A Final Approval

Hearing will be held at 2:00 p.m. on February 10, 2016, at the United States District Court for 

the Northern District of California, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. This 

date may change without further notice to the Class. You are advised to check the settlement 

website or the Court’s PACER site to confirm that the date has not been changed. You may, but 

are not required to attend this hearing. You may also enter an appearance in the case through 

your own attorney, if you so desire, which appearance must be filed with the Clerk’s office and 

served on the Claims Administrator and Class Counsel so that it is received at least fourteen (14)

days before the Final Approval Hearing in order for your attorney to be heard.

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THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU AND THE CLASS

As a Class Member, you are represented in this litigation by Class Counsel, as follows:

David Sanford, Esq. (Pro Hac Vice)

Felicia Medina, Esq.

Yonina Alexander, Esq.

Sanford Heisler Kimpel, LLP

111 Sutter Street, Suite 975

San Francisco, CA 94104

Phone: (415) 795-2020

Fax: (415) 795-2021

Unless you elect to exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will continue to be 

represented by Class Counsel in connection with implementation and monitoring of the 

Settlement throughout the two-year term of the Settlement at no cost to you. 

How Will the Lawyers Be Paid?

In connection with the Settlement, the Court will award Class Counsel reasonable 

attorneys’ fees and expenses out of the Total Settlement Fund. If you are a Class Member and 

receive an award from the Settlement Fund, you will not owe any fees or expenses to the lawyers 

who have represented you as part of the Class. The attorneys’ fees and expenses of Class 

Counsel, as awarded by the Court, will be paid only from the Total Settlement Fund and only if 

and after the Settlement has been approved by the Court.

As is routine in class action cases, Class Counsel will request an award of attorneys’ fees 

and expenses already incurred as well as the fees and expenses that will be incurred during the 

two-year term of the Settlement. These substantial fees and expenses have been incurred as 

Class Counsel have pursued these claims on behalf of Plaintiffs and the Class for three years 

without receiving any compensation for their services or reimbursement of their out-of-pocket 

litigation expenses. Class Counsel have undertaken significant risks in pursuing this matter. They 

have done so with the understanding that, if they obtained a recovery for the Class, their 

expenses would be reimbursed and they would receive fees from the fund recovered. 

Accordingly, Class Counsel will request that the Court award them $3,000,000 for attorneys’ 

fees and expenses.

SERVICE PAYMENTS TO LAWSUIT PARTICIPANTS

Class Counsel will apply for service payments of $25,000 each for the Class 

Representatives to compensate them for the time and effort they devoted to representing the 

Class in this case, including the time they spent consulting with Class Counsel about the case. 

Neither the size nor any conditions placed on the service payments undermine the adequacy of 

the class representatives. In addition, Class Counsel will apply for service payments of $1,000 

each for the Class Members who submitted a declaration in support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for 

Conditional Certification and $5,000 each for the Class Members who were deposed to 

Case 3:13-cv-00581-WHO Document 181 Filed 10/16/15 Page 19 of 20
12

compensate them for the time and effort they devoted to the case. These payments will come 

from the Total Settlement Fund.

GETTING MORE INFORMATION

If you have further questions or are still not sure whether you are included, you can get 

free help by contacting Class Counsel in this case at the contact numbers/address listed on page 

11. You may also contact the Claims Administrator as follows:

Claims Administrator 

Rust Consulting, Inc.

One Market Plaza, Suite 1275

San Francisco, CA 94105 

Phone: (612) 359-2000

Fax: (612) 359-2050

Website: www.rustconsulting.com

This notice summarizes the proposed settlement. For the precise terms and conditions of 

the settlement, please see the settlement agreement available at [Claims Administrator created 

website], by contacting Class Counsel at the numbers/address listed on page 11, by accessing the 

Court docket in this case through the Court’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records 

(PACER) system at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov, or by visiting the office of the Clerk of the 

Court for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, at 450 Golden 

Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94201, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, excluding Court holidays. This Notice, the motions for approval and for attorneys’ fees 

and any other important documents in the case are also available at www.sanfordheisler.com.

PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE THE COURT OR THE COURT CLERK’S OFFICE TO 

INQUIRE ABOUT THIS SETTLEMENT OR THE CLAIM PROCESS.

Dated: October 16, 2015 _________________________

The Honorable William H. Orrick

United States District Judge

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