Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_20-cv-00475/USCOURTS-ared-4_20-cv-00475-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 29:201 Denial of Overtime Compensation

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

CENTRAL DIVISION

THOMAS CLARK, individually and 

on behalf of all others similarly situated PLAINTIFF

v. Case No. 4:20-cv-00475-KGB

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY 

COMPANY DEFENDANT

ORDER

Before the Court is the status of the case. On November 28, 2023, the Court entered an 

order directing the parties to file their dismissal documents or a joint status report by December 

14, 2023, and, if the parties were unable to reach an agreement on costs and fees, to file a Joint 

Motion for Approval of Liability Settlement by December 14, 2023, and any motion for attorneys’ 

fees by January 15, 2024 (Dkt. No. 72). The parties submitted a joint status report on December 

14, 2023 (Dkt. No. 73). In this joint status report, the parties represented that they drafted a 

settlement agreement and were in the process of editing it (Id., ¶ 3). The parties further represented

that they needed more time to edit the agreement, fully execute it, and to finalize dismissal 

documents (Id., ¶ 4). Therefore, the parties stated that they anticipated filing dismissal documents 

or another joint status report by January 14, 2024 (Id., at 5).

On January 16, 2024, plaintiff Thomas Clark, individually and on behalf of all others 

similarly situated, filed a motion for costs and attorneys’ fees (Dkt. No. 74). Mr. Clark represents 

in support of his motion for costs and attorneys’ fees that his attorneys’ efforts “resulted in a 

settlement between the parties that reserved the issue of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs for 

this Court.” (Dkt. No. 75, at 1). 

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No representation has been made to this Court regarding the final language of the parties’ 

settlement agreement. The Court notes that Mr. Clark brought this lawsuit under the Fair Labor 

Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. (“FLSA”), and the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act, Ark. 

Code Ann. § 11-4-201 et seq. (“AMWA”) (Dkt. No. 10, ¶¶ 1–2). The Court further notes that 

settlement agreements resolving FLSA claims are typically subject to court approval. See Younger 

v. Ctrs. for Youth & Families, Inc., 2017 WL 1652561, at *1 (E.D. Ark. Apr. 27, 2017); 29 U.S.C. 

§ 216(b).

The Court directs the parties to file their dismissal documents and finalized settlement 

agreement, or a joint status report, by January 31, 2024. The Court notes that the trial date for this 

matter is set on January 22, 2024 (Dkt. No. 64, ¶ 1). The Court removes this matter from the trial 

calendar. The Court’s stay on all unexpired pretrial deadlines remains in effect.

It is so ordered this 17th day of January, 2024.

____________________________________

Kristine G. Baker

United States Chief District Judge

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