Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-03027/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-03027-12/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 15:1692 Fair Debt Collection Act

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Paul Arons, State Bar #84970 

LAW OFFICE OF PAUL ARONS 

685 Spring Street, #104 

Friday Harbor, WA 98250 

Tel: (360) 378-6496 

Fax: (360) 378-6498 

lopa@rockisland.com 

Ronald Wilcox, State Bar #176601 

LAW OFFICE OF RONALD WILCOX 

2160 The Alameda, 1st Flr., Suite F 

San Jose, CA 95126 

Tel: (408) 296-0400 

Fax: (408) 296-0486 

O. Randolph Bragg, IL. Bar #06221983 

HORWITZ, HORWITZ & ASSOCIATES 

25 East Washington, Suite 900 

Chicago, IL 60602 

(312) 372-8822 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

0FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SAN JOSE DIVISION 

SUSANNE PALMER, on behalf of herself 

and others similarly situated, 

 Plaintiffs, 

 

vs. 

FAR WEST COLLECTION SERVICES, 

INC., 

 Defendant. 

CIV. NO. 5:C04 03027 RMW 

CLASS ACTION 

ORDER APPROVING CLASS NOTICE 

AND PRELIMINARILY APPROVING 

CLASS SETTLEMENT PURSUANT TO 

FED.R.CIV.P. 23(e) 

Date: 

Time: 9:00 a.m. 

Courtroom 6 

 Plaintiff’s Counsel has filed with this Court and served on all parties of 

record in this action a Notice of Joint Motion and Motion for Entry of Order Preliminarily 

Approving Settlement, which includes, or incorporates: (1) Notice of Proposed Class 

E-Filed 4/19/08

Case 5:04-cv-03027-RMW Document 169 Filed 04/19/08 Page 1 of 6
Action Settlement ["Class Notice"], a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A.; (2) a 

Stipulation of Settlement ["Stipulation"]; (3) a Plan of Distribution; (4) a (Proposed) 

Order Approving Class Notice and Preliminarily Approving Stipulation of Settlement; 

and, (5) a proposed Final Judgment. These documents are available for inspection. 

This Court has considered the arguments of counsel, the documents 

described above, including the Stipulation of Settlement filed by the parties, and all of 

the other pleadings, papers and files in this action. 

 Good cause appearing therefore, IT IS ORDERED, 

 1. Plaintiffs' Counsel shall continue to act on behalf of the members of 

the Class, including the class representative, and is authorized to perform with respect 

to all acts or consents required by or which may be given by them pursuant to the 

Stipulation of Settlement ["Stipulation"], or such other acts which are reasonably 

necessary to consummate the Settlement. All acts or consents required by or which 

may be given by Plaintiffs' Counsel shall be effective only if done or given in writing by 

Plaintiffs' Counsel. 

 2. The definitions set forth in the Stipulation of Settlement and Plan of 

Distribution are incorporated into this order by this reference as though set forth in full. 

 3. The Court preliminarily approves the Stipulation as being fair, 

adequate and reasonable to the Class, subject to the right of any Notice Class 

Member to challenge the adequacy of any of the terms of the Stipulation, and to show 

cause, if any exists, why a judgment dismissing the Action against Far West Collection 

Services, Inc. ["Far West"], based on the Stipulation should not be entered at the 

Settlement Hearing ordered in this notice, after due and adequate notice to Notice 

Class Members has been given in conformity with this order. 

 4. This Court orders that any funds deposited into the Trust Account 

pursuant to the Stipulation of Settlement and Plan of Distribution shall be deemed to 

Case 5:04-cv-03027-RMW Document 169 Filed 04/19/08 Page 2 of 6
be in the custody of the District Court until such time as such funds, or any portion of 

such funds, shall be disbursed in accordance with the Stipulation. 

 5. This Court approves the Class Notice as revised and submitted at Docket

No. 166 as fairly summarizing the Stipulation of Settlement and Plan of Distribution. 

 6. The Plan of Distribution filed in conjunction with the Stipulation 

provides the method which shall be used in compiling the names and addresses of 

members of the Notice Class. 

 7. Within 90 days after entry of this Order, Plaintiffs' Counsel or their 

agents shall mail the Class Notice, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this order, to 

each Notice Class member identified by Far West’s data, previously produced to 

plaintiff’s counsel by Far West. 

8. Plaintiff’s' counsel shall take or cause to be taken such steps as are 

reasonable to identify current addresses for Notice Class members, including without 

limitation use of the National Change of Address ["NCOA"] system. 

 9. Plaintiffs' Counsel, or their agent, shall furnish, upon request of any 

potential Notice Class Member, copies of the Settlement Notice and shall respond to 

all reasonable inquiries from Notice Class Members, and shall pay from the Settlement 

Fund the reasonable costs and expenses of notifying Notice Class Members of the 

proposed settlement. 

 10. Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this 

Court finds and concludes that by following the procedure set forth in this Order and 

the Plan of Distribution filed in conjunction with the Stipulation, the parties will have 

made reasonable efforts in attempting to identify the names and addresses of 

individual Notice Class members. This Court further finds that the form and manner of 

giving notice by mail required by this order is the best notice to all members of the 

Notice Class who can be identified through reasonable effort. The notice procedure 

provides due and sufficient notice of these proceedings and of the matters described 

Case 5:04-cv-03027-RMW Document 169 Filed 04/19/08 Page 3 of 6
in the Class Notice, including the proposed Settlement set forth in the Stipulation, to all 

persons entitled to such notice. The notice procedure satisfies the requirements 

of Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the requirements of due 

process. 

 11. Any Class Member may enter an appearance through counsel of 

such member's own choosing and at such member's own expense. Any Class 

Member who does not enter an appearance will be represented by Plaintiffs' Counsel. 

12. A Class Member who has properly and timely filed a request for 

exclusion will be excluded from the Notice Class by the Court and will be free to 

pursue any rights he or she may have to monetary relief, but will not participate in the 

proposed Settlement. Any Class Member who has not properly or timely filed a 

request for exclusion is included in the Class and upon any approval of the Stipulation 

will be bound by it and any judgment rendered on it. 

13. On August 8, 2008, at 9:00 a.m., or as soon 

thereafter as the matter may be heard, in Courtroom 6 of the United States District 

Courthouse, located at 280 South First Street, San Jose, California, a hearing will be 

held to determine whether this Court should finally approve the fairness, 

reasonableness and adequacy of the terms and conditions of the Settlement set forth 

in the Stipulation, and enter judgment thereon. The Court will also determine whether 

the Settlement was entered into in good faith under applicable law. 

 14. Any Class Member may appear personally or by counsel at the 

Fairness Hearing and may object or express the Class Member's views regarding the 

Settlement set forth in the Stipulation. To be heard at the hearing a Class Member 

must file a statement of intention to appear at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing. 

Any Class Member may also present evidence and file briefs or other papers that may 

be proper and relevant to the issues to be heard and determined by this Court. To be 

considered by the District Court, any such papers must be filed with the Clerk of the 

Case 5:04-cv-03027-RMW Document 169 Filed 04/19/08 Page 4 of 6
Court, United States District Court, Northern District of California, 280 South First 

Street, San Jose, California, at least ten (10) days before the date set for the 

hearing. The Class Member must also mail a copy of any written opposition or 

statement of his or her intention to appear to each of the following: 

PAUL ARONS 

LAW OFFICES OF PAUL ARONS 

685 Spring Street, #104 

Friday Harbor, WA 98250 

Andrew Steinheimer 

Ellis, Coleman, Poirier, La Voie & 

Steinheimer, LLP 

555 University Avenue, Suite 200 

Sacramento, CA 95825 

15. Prior to the date fixed by this Court for the hearing, Plaintiffs' 

Counsel shall cause to be filed with the Clerk of the Court affidavits or declarations of 

the person or persons under whose general direction the mailing of the Class Notice 

shall have been prepared and made, showing that such mailing has been made in 

accordance with this Order. 

16. Upon the Effective Date and full performance of all monetary 

obligations by Far West set forth in the Stipulation, plaintiff Suzanne Palmer, and Class 

Members shall be deemed to have given Far West full and final releases of all claims 

asserted or that could have been asserted in this Action, whether known or unknown, 

arising out of the facts and circumstances surrounding Far West's actions in seeking to 

collect on the checks at issue. 

 17. The Fairness Hearing from time to time without further notice to the 

Class may be continued or adjourned by order of this Court, without further notice to 

the Class, except notice shall be provided to any class member who has filed a timely 

objection. 

 18. Without affecting the finality of the judgment to be entered, this Court 

shall retain jurisdiction over: (a) implementation and enforcement of the Settlement; 

(b) disposition of the Settlement Fund to Notice Class Members; (c) hearing and 

determining Plaintiffs' Counsel's application for attorneys' fees, costs, interest and 

Case 5:04-cv-03027-RMW Document 169 Filed 04/19/08 Page 5 of 6
expenses; (d) the Action until the final judgment contemplated in this order has 

become effective and each and every act agreed to be performed by the parties shall 

have been performed pursuant to the Stipulation. 

 19. Any exhibits attached to this order are incorporated by this reference 

as though set forth in full. 

20. This Order is entered only for the purposes of settlement. If for any 

reason the Stipulation is terminated, this Order and the Stipulation shall be terminated 

pursuant to the terms of the Stipulation, and the parties shall be deemed to have 

reverted to their respective status and positions in the Action as of December 3, 2007. 

Any judgment rendered in connection with the Stipulation of Settlement shall be 

vacated nunc pro tunc. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: _______4/17/08__________ ____________________________ 

 Hon. Ronald M. Whyte 

 U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 

 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

Case 5:04-cv-03027-RMW Document 169 Filed 04/19/08 Page 6 of 6