Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_18-cv-00218/USCOURTS-ared-3_18-cv-00218-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 29:203 Equal Pay Act

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IN THE UNITED ST ATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

TINA McMECHEN 

and MADELEINE WATSON PLAINTIFFS 

v. No. 3:18-cv-218-DPM 

BLACKBOARD, INC. DEFENDANT 

ORDER 

1. The Court appreciates the thorough and candid joint report, 

NQ 30. There's now no need for the January 29th status conference. It's 

cancelled. The joint report makes plain what happened since the 

Court's December Order, NQ 2 7. Given all that had gone before, it 

would have been better if the parties and counsel had informed the 

Court-with the stipulation of dismissal and proposed approving 

Order- about their change in course. But, the second proposed 

settlement was not consummated, NQ 30 at 3-4, and their third 

proposed settlement is now a matter of public record. No useful 

purpose would be achieved by more ventilation of all this. 

2. The parties' third proposed settlement agreement, NQ 30 at 

8-41, is a fair, reasonable, and adequate resolution of their good-faith 

wage dispute. Lynn's Food Stores, Inc. v. United States, 679 F.2d 1350, 

1353-54 (11th Cir. 1982); see also Melgar v. OK Foods, 902 F.3d 775, 779 

(8th Cir. 2018). The public's interest in being able to follow and 

Case 3:18-cv-00218-DPM Document 31 Filed 01/27/20 Page 1 of 2
understand the Court's work, and in particular the Court's approval of 

the parties' deal, is furthered by the public filing of the key documents. 

The proposed attorney's fee was rooted in counsel's engagement letter; 

and there was full communication during negotiations. The fee is 

approved. Barbee v. Big River Steel, LLC, 927 F.3d 1024, 1027 n.1 

(8th Cir. 2019); Melgar, 902 F.3d at 779. 

3. The original motion to dismiss, NQ 24, is denied as moot. The 

renewed motion to approve and dismiss, which is embedded in the 

joint report, NQ 30, is granted. The Court will enter Judgment, retaining 

ju_risdiction for one year to enforce the parties' settlement. 

So Ordered. 

D.P. Marshall Jr. 

United States District Judge 

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Case 3:18-cv-00218-DPM Document 31 Filed 01/27/20 Page 2 of 2