Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02005/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02005-14/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Labor/Mgmnt. Relations

---

Amended Order

Case No. 15-CV-02005 MMC

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA – SAN FRANCISCO

SANTIAGO RAYA on behalf of himself and 

all others similarly situated,

Plaintiffs,

v.

AMAZON.COM, LLC, a Delaware Limited 

Liability Company; GOLDEN STATE FC, 

LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company 

and, DOES 1 through 10, inclusive,

Defendants.

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

CASE NO. 15-CV-02005 MMC

CLASS ACTION

AMENDED ORDER GRANTING 

PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS 

ACTION SETTLEMENT, APPROVING

CLASS NOTICE AND CLAIM FORM, AND 

RE-SETTING FINAL FAIRNESS HEARING

Complaint filed: March 18, 2015

Trial date: None set

Case 3:15-cv-02005-MMC Document 85 Filed 09/27/16 Page 1 of 6
1

Amended Order

Case No. 15-CV-02005 MMC

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

The Court, having fully reviewed (1) the Motion for Order Granting Preliminary Approval 

of Class Action Settlement, (2) the supporting Points and Authorities, (3) the Declarations of Class 

Counsel Isam C. Khoury and Sahag Majarian II, (4) the Declaration of Plaintiff Santiago Raya, (5) 

the Amended Joint Stipulation of Settlement and Release (“Amended Stipulation of Settlement”),

Notice of Class Action Settlement, and Claim Form, each of which is attached hereto, and (6) the 

Proposed Amended Order Granting Preliminary Approval, and in recognition of the Court’s duty to 

make a preliminary determination as to the reasonableness of any proposed class action settlement 

and, if preliminarily determined to be reasonable, to ensure proper notice is provided to Class 

Members in accordance with due process requirements, and to conduct a Final Approval hearing as 

to the good faith, fairness, adequacy and reasonableness of any proposed settlement, HEREBY 

MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS AND ORDERS:

1. The Court finds, on a preliminary basis, that the Amended Stipulation of 

Settlement incorporated in full by this reference and made a part of this Amended Order Granting 

Preliminary Approval, is within the range of reasonableness of a settlement which could ultimately be 

given final approval by this Court. The Court notes that Defendants Amazon.com, LLC and Golden 

State FC, LLC (“Defendants”) have agreed to pay the Maximum Settlement Amount of $600,000 in 

full satisfaction of the claims as more specifically described in the Amended Stipulation of 

Settlement.

2. The Court also finds that, on a preliminary basis, the Settlement is fair and 

reasonable to Class Members when balanced against the probable outcome of further litigation 

relating to the class action certification, liability and damages issues, and potential appeals of rulings. 

The Court further finds that significant investigation, research, litigation and formal/informal 

discovery have been conducted such that Counsel for the Parties are able to reasonably evaluate their 

respective positions. The Court further finds that Settlement at this time will avoid substantial costs, 

delay and risks that would be presented by the further prosecution of the litigation, and that the 

proposed Settlement has been reached as the result of intensive, informed and non-collusive 

negotiations between the Parties. ACCORDINGLY, GOOD CAUSE APPEARING, THE MOTION 

FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IS HEREBY GRANTED. 

Case 3:15-cv-02005-MMC Document 85 Filed 09/27/16 Page 2 of 6
2

Amended Order

Case No. 15-CV-02005 MMC

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3. As a part of said preliminary approval, the Court hereby accepts and incorporates 

the Parties’ Amended Stipulation of Settlement and hereby conditionally certifies the following class

of persons, for settlement purposes only, pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in said 

Amended Stipulation of Settlement: 

All persons employed by Golden State FC, LLC in California, in a Warehouse 

Associate position, at any time during the period from March 18, 2014 through 

and including August 5, 2016.

4. The Court approves and appoints Plaintiff Santiago Raya as the Class 

Representative.

5. The Court approves and appoints Cohelan Khoury & Singer and the Law Offices 

of Sahag Majarian II as Class Counsel.

6. The Court approves and appoints Rust Consulting, Inc. as the Claims 

Administrator to administer the Settlement pursuant to the terms of the Amended Stipulation of 

Settlement. 

7. The Court finds that the Notice of Class Action Settlement (“Notice”) and the

Claim Form attached to this Order advise of the pendency of the Class Action, of the proposed 

Settlement, of the preliminary Court approval of the proposed Settlement, claim submission timing 

and procedures, objection timing and procedures, and of the Final Approval hearing date. The Court 

further finds that these documents fairly and adequately advise Class Members of the terms of the 

proposed Settlement and the rights and benefits available to Class Members thereunder, and of the 

Final Approval hearing and the right to file documentation in support of or in opposition to the 

Settlement and to appear in connection with said hearing. The Court further finds that the Notice and 

Claim Form clearly comport with all constitutional requirements including those of due process. 

ACCORDINGLY, GOOD CAUSE APPEARING, THE COURT HEREBY APPROVES (1) 

THE PROPOSED NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, AND (2) THE 

PROPOSED CLAIM FORM ATTACHED AS EXHIBITS HERETO;

8. The Court finds that the mailing to the present and last known address of the 

members of the above-named Class constitutes an effective method of notifying Class Members of 

Case 3:15-cv-02005-MMC Document 85 Filed 09/27/16 Page 3 of 6
3

Amended Order

Case No. 15-CV-02005 MMC

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

their rights with respect to the Class Action and Settlement. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS HEREBY 

ORDERED that:

A. No later than August 26, 2016, Defendant shall forward to the appointed Claims 

Administrator, Rust Consulting, Inc., the Class Data (formatted as a Microsoft Office Excel 

spreadsheet) which will include for each Class Member the following: (1) full name; (2) last known 

address and telephone number to the extent available in Defendant’s business records; (3) social 

security number; and (4) dates of employment;

B. No later than October 7, 2016, Rust Consulting, Inc., shall mail to each Class 

Member, by first class, postage pre-paid, the Notice of Class Action Settlement, Claim Form, and 

pre-printed, postage paid return envelope (collectively the “Notice Packet”); 

C. All mailings shall be made to the present and/or last known mailing address of 

the Class Members based on Defendant’s records, as well as addresses that may be updated and 

located by the Claims Administrator who will conduct standard address searches in cases of returned 

mail as set forth in the Amended Stipulation of Settlement. The Court finds and so orders that the 

mailing of the Notice Packet to Class Members as set forth in this paragraph is the best means 

practicable by which to reach Class Members and is reasonable and adequate pursuant to all 

constitutional and statutory requirements including all due process requirements; and

9. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

A. On or before December 6, 2016, Claims Forms must be postmarked and mailed 

to the Claims Administrator;

B. On or before December 6, 2016, Class Members who wish to challenge 

Defendant’s records, must submit a challenge in writing to the Claims Administrator;

C. On or before December 6, 2016, Class Members who wish to “opt-out” and 

exclude themselves from the Settlement must submit a written Request for Exclusion from the 

Settlement bearing a post-mark from a date on or before December 6, 2016. The Request for 

Exclusion must: (1) state the Class Member’s name, last four digits of Social Security Number, 

address and telephone number, (2) state that the Class Member requests exclusion from, or “opts out” 

of, the Settlement, (3) be dated, and (4) be signed by the Class Member. Requests for Exclusion must 

Case 3:15-cv-02005-MMC Document 85 Filed 09/27/16 Page 4 of 6
4

Amended Order

Case No. 15-CV-02005 MMC

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

be made individually and cannot be made on behalf of a group of employees or on behalf of other 

Class Members;

D. No later than December 6, 2016, all Class Member Objections to the Settlement 

must be filed with the District Court and served upon all counsel of record for the Parties;

E. No later than December 6, 2016, all Class Member Notices of Intent to Appear at 

the Final Approval Hearing must be filed with the District Court and served upon all counsel of 

record for the Parties; and

F. No later than January 6, 2017, the Parties shall file a response to any objections 

submitted by objecting Class Members.

10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Final Approval hearing shall be held 

before the undersigned at 9:00 a.m. on February 3, 2017, in the above-entitled Court to consider the 

fairness, adequacy and reasonableness of the proposed Settlement preliminarily approved by this 

Amended Order of Preliminary Approval, and to consider the application of Class Counsel for an 

award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses, Class Representative service 

enhancement to Plaintiff, and for the Claims Administration expenses incurred.

11. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any Party to this case, including Class 

Members, may appear at the Final Approval hearing in person or by counsel, and may be heard to the 

extent allowed by the Court, in support of or in opposition to the Court’s determination of the good 

faith, fairness, reasonableness and adequacy of the proposed Settlement, the requested attorneys’ fees 

and litigation expenses, class representative enhancement payment and claims administration 

payment, and any Order Granting Final Approval and Judgment regarding such Settlement; provided, 

however, that no person, except Class Counsel and Counsel for Defendant, shall be heard in 

opposition to such matters unless such person has first complied with the conditions for appearing at 

the Final Approval hearing, as set forth in the Amended Notice of Class Action Settlement which 

conditions are incorporated herein.

12. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all briefs in support of the proposed 

Settlement and the Final Approval hearing shall be served and filed with the Court on or before 

January 6, 2017. 

Case 3:15-cv-02005-MMC Document 85 Filed 09/27/16 Page 5 of 6
5

Amended Order

Case No. 15-CV-02005 MMC

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

DB1/ 89181115.1

13. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all briefs in support of Class Counsels’ 

requests for awards of attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, Class Representative service enhancement, 

and Claims Administration expenses shall be served and filed with the Court on or before November 

11, 2016. 

14. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if, for any reason, the Court does not execute 

and file an Order Granting Final Approval and Judgment, or if the Effective Final Settlement Date, as 

defined by the Amended Stipulation of Settlement, does not occur for any reason whatsoever, the 

Amended Stipulation of Settlement and the proposed Settlement subject of this Order and all 

evidence and proceedings had in connection therewith, shall be null and void and without prejudice to 

the status quo ante rights of the Parties to the litigation as more specifically set forth in the Amended 

Stipulation of Settlement.

15. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pending further order of this Court, all 

proceedings in this matter except those contemplated herein and in the Amended Stipulation of 

Settlement are stayed.

16. The Court expressly reserves the right to adjourn or continue the Final Approval 

hearing from time-to-time without further notice to the Class.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 27, 2016

The Honorable Maxine M. Chesney 

Judge of the United States District Court

For the Northern District of California,

San Francisco Division

Case 3:15-cv-02005-MMC Document 85 Filed 09/27/16 Page 6 of 6