Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-06073/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-06073-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal - Employment Discrimination

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[PROPOSED] ORDER RE: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

C 07-06073-JL

DB2/20841955.2

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SHAMEIKA MOODY, as an individual 

and on behalf of others similarly situated,

Plaintiff,

vs.

CHARMING SHOPPES OF 

DELAWARE, INC., a corporation ; 

LANE BRYANT, INC., a corporation; 

CHARMING SHOPPES, INC., a 

corporation, and DOES 1 through 20, 

inclusive,

Defendants.

Case No. C 07-06073 JL

[PROPOSED] ORDER (1) PRELIMINARILY 

APPROVING PROPOSED CLASS ACTION 

SETTLEMENT, (2) CONDITIONALLY 

CERTIFYING SETTLEMENT CLASS, (3) 

DIRECTING MAILING OF NOTICE AND 

CLAIM FORM TO THE CLASS, AND (4) 

SETTING SCHEDULE FOR FINAL APPROVAL 

PROCESS AND FINAL APPROVAL HEARING

Judge: Hon. James Larson

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[PROPOSED] ORDER RE: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

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Based upon the December 18, 2009 Report and Recommendation (Docket #112) issued 

by this Court and the February 24, 2010 Order Adopting Report and Recommendation (Docket 

#116) issued by the Honorable Judge Patel of this Court regarding the motion by Plaintiff 

Shameika Moody (“Plaintiff”), on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, for 

preliminary approval of the Stipulation and Agreement to Settle Class Action and Limited 

Release (“Agreement” or “Settlement”), and good cause appearing therefore, the Court ORDERS 

as follows:

1. The Court incorporates the findings and opinions set forth in the December 18, 

2009 Report and Recommendation (Docket #112) and February 24, 2010 Order Adopting Report 

and Recommendation (Docket #116).

2. All defined terms contained herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the 

Agreement executed by the Parties.

3. For settlement purposes only, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a) 

and 23(b)(3), the Court conditionally certifies the following Settlement Class:

All current and former non-exempt employees of Defendants Lane 

Bryant, Inc. and Charming Shoppes of Delaware, Inc. 

(“Defendants”) and other subsidiaries/affiliates of Charming 

Shoppes, Inc. (including but not limited to Catherines of California, 

Inc., Catherines Woman Delaware, Inc., Fashion Bug Retail 

Companies, Inc., Charming Shoppes Outlet Stores, LLC, Lane 

Bryant Outlet 4237/Petite Sophisticate Outlet, Inc., Lane Bryant 

Outlet 4324/Petite Sophisticate Outlet, Inc, Crosstown Traders) 

who were employed in a position classified as non-exempt at a 

retail store in the State of California between the dates October 11, 

2003 through August 20, 2008.

4. The Court conditionally finds that, for the purposes of approving this Settlement 

only, the proposed Class meets the requirements for certification of a settlement class under Rule 

23(a) and 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, in that: (a) the proposed Class is 

ascertainable and so numerous (more than 12,000 persons) that joinder of all members is 

impracticable; (b) there are questions of law or fact common to the proposed Class regarding 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER RE: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

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whether Defendants had certain policies that violated California wage and hour laws; (c) the 

claims of Plaintiff are typical of the claims of other members of the proposed Class; (d) Plaintiff

and her counsel will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the proposed Class; and (e) 

there are certain questions of law or fact germane to the Settlement Class and a settlement class 

action is superior to other available methods for an efficient resolution of this controversy.

5. If the Settlement does not become final for any reason, the fact that the Parties 

were willing to stipulate to class certification as part of the Settlement shall have no bearing on, 

and will not be admissible in connection with, the issue of whether a class in this action should be 

certified in a non-settlement context. The Court’s findings are for purposes of conditionally

certifying a Settlement Class and will not have any claim or issue or evidentiary preclusion or 

estoppel effect in any other action against the Released Parties, or in this Litigation if the 

Settlement is not finally approved. 

6. The Court appoints, for settlement purposes only, Plaintiff Shameika Moody as 

Class Representative.

7. The Court appoints, for settlement purposes only, the Law Offices of Peter M. 

Hart; Law Offices of Kenneth H. Yoon; Diversity Law Group, A Professional Corporation; and 

the Law Office of Eric Honig as Class Counsel. The Court finds that collectively Plaintiff’s 

counsel have extensive experience and expertise in prosecuting wage and hour class actions.

8. The Court finds on a preliminary basis that the proposed Settlement described in 

the Agreement (including the monetary provisions, the plan of allocation, the release of claims, 

the proposed award of attorneys’ fees and costs and the Class Representative’s Enhancement)

falls within the “range of reasonableness” and therefore grants preliminary approval of the 

Settlement. Based on a review of the papers submitted by the Parties, the Court finds that the

Settlement is the result of extensive arms-length negotiations conducted after Class Counsel had 

adequately investigated the claims and became familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of 

those claims. The assistance of an experienced mediator in the settlement process supports the 

Court’s conclusion that the Settlement is non-collusive.

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[PROPOSED] ORDER RE: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

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9. The Court finds and concludes that the Class Notice and Claim Form and the 

procedure set forth in the Agreement for providing notice to the Class will provide the best notice 

practicable, satisfies the notice requirements of Rule 23(e), adequately advises Class Members of 

their rights under this Settlement, and therefore meet the requirements of due process.

a. Class Notice: The Class Notice fairly, plainly, accurately, and reasonably 

informs Class Members of: (1) appropriate information about the nature of this Litigation, the 

definition of the Class, the identity of Class Counsel, and the essential terms of the Settlement, 

including the plan of allocation; (2) appropriate information about Plaintiff’s and Class Counsel’s 

forthcoming applications for the Class Representative Enhancement and the Class Counsel

attorneys’ fees and costs award; (3) appropriate information about how to claim a share of the 

proceeds under the Settlement, and about Class Members’ right to appear through counsel if they

desire; (4) appropriate information about how to object to the Settlement or submit an Opt-Out 

Request, if a Class Member wishes to do so; and (5) appropriate instructions as to how to obtain 

additional information regarding this Litigation and the Settlement. The proposed plan for 

mailing the Class Notice and the Claim Form by first class mail to the Class Members’ last

known addresses is an appropriate method, reasonably designed to reach all individuals who 

would be bound by the Settlement. The Administrator will distribute the Class Notice and the 

Claim Form to all Class Members by first class mail to their last known addresses, after seeking 

updated addresses from the U.S. Postal Service for the Class Members who are former 

employees. If the Class Notices are returned as undeliverable, the Administrator will make 

reasonable efforts to obtain updated addresses through a skip tracing process. There is no

alternative method of distribution that would be practical and reasonably likely to notify Class 

Members who may not receive notice pursuant to the proposed distribution plan. The proposed 

Class Notice and notice plan are the best practicable notice under the facts and circumstances of 

this case.

b. Claim Form: The proposed Claim Form allows Class Members a full and 

fair opportunity to submit a claim for proceeds under the Settlement. The Claim Form fairly, 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER RE: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

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accurately, and reasonably informs Class Members that the failure to complete and submit a 

Claim Form, in the manner and time specified, will constitute a waiver of any right to obtain any

share of the proceeds under the Settlement.

The Class Notice and Claim Form and the manner of distributing the Class Notice and 

Claim Form to the Class are approved.

10. The Parties are ordered to carry out and proceed with the Settlement according to 

the terms of the Settlement. 

11. The Parties’ proposed Settlement is deemed filed as of the date of this Order for 

purposes of providing notice to the appropriate state and federal officials pursuant to the Class 

Action Fairness Act (“CAFA”), 23 U.S.C. section 1715. 

12. The Court appoints Rust Consulting, Inc. as the Administrator. Promptly

following the entry of this Order, the Administrator will prepare final versions of the Class 

Notice and Claim Form, incorporating into them the relevant dates and deadlines set forth in this 

order.

13. Within fifteen (15) business days after the entry of this Preliminary Approval 

Order, Defendants shall provide the Administrator with a list of each Class Member, setting forth 

in separate columns in Excel format, or some other format mutually agreed upon by Defendants 

and the Administrator, (i) the name, Social Security Number and last known mailing address of 

the Class Member, (ii) whether, during the Class Period, the Class Member earned nondiscretionary incentive pay during one or more Pay Period(s) in which the Class Member worked 

overtime and, if so, the amount of non-discretionary incentive pay earned, (iii) the number of Pay

Periods during the Class Period during which the Class Member worked on a full-time basis in a 

non-exempt retail store position in California, (iv) the number of Pay Periods during the Class 

Period during which the Class Member worked on a part-time basis in a non-exempt retail store 

position in California, (v) whether the Class Member is a former or current employee, and (vi) 

the start and end dates of the period(s) in the Class Period during which the Class Member 

worked in a non-exempt retail store position in California. The Administrator shall maintain this

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[PROPOSED] ORDER RE: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

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information as private and confidential and shall not disclose such data to any persons or entities 

other than Defendants, or Plaintiff’s counsel to the extent such information is needed to respond 

to any inquiry from a Class Member or a disputed claim. 

14. Within ten (10) business days after receipt of the class information from 

Defendants, the Administrator, after conducting a search using the U.S. Postal Service National 

Change of Address database to validate or update the addresses of the former employee Class 

Members, shall send the Class Notice and Claim Form to all Class Members via first class U.S. 

Mail. 

15. The Administrator is directed to mail the Class Notice and Claim Form in the 

manner provided in the Agreement and take all other actions in furtherance of claims 

administration as specified in the Agreement.

16. Class Members who wish to receive a Claim Amount must complete and return a 

timely Claim Form to the Administrator in the manner provided in the Agreement. The Claims 

Period Deadline for submitting a Claim Form is sixty (60) calendar days after the Class Notices 

and Claim Forms are mailed to the Class Members by the Administrator, as evidenced by the 

postmark. 

17. Class Members who wish to exclude themselves from the Settlement must sign 

and submit an Opt-Out Request in the manner provided in the Agreement. The deadline for 

submitting an Opt-Out Request is the Claims Period Deadline. Any member of the Class who 

requests exclusion from the Settlement will not be entitled to any share of the Settlement and will 

not be bound by the Settlement Agreement or have any right to object, appeal or comment 

thereon. Class Members who fail to submit a valid and timely Opt-Out Request shall be bound 

by all terms of the Agreement, regardless of whether they otherwise have requested exclusion 

from the Settlement.

18. Class Members who submit both an Opt-Out Request and a Claim Form shall be 

sent a cure letter by the Administrator requesting clarification of the Class Member’s intent. The 

letter will state that unless the Class Member clarifies by the Claims Period Deadline that he or 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER RE: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

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she intends to opt out, the Class Member will be deemed to be an Eligible Class Member.

19. A Class Member may dispute any of the information on the Claim Form by 

completing the dispute portion of the Claim Form and providing the completed form together 

with any supporting information or documentation to the Administrator by the Claims Period 

Deadline. Defendants and Class Counsel shall attempt in good faith to resolve any such dispute. 

The Administrator shall have the authority, based on information provided by Defendants and 

information provided by the actual or claimed Class Member, to issue a final non-appealable 

decision with regard to any dispute that cannot be resolved by Defendants and Class Counsel.

20. Any Class Member who does not Opt-Out but who wishes to object to the

Settlement or otherwise to be heard concerning the Agreement may object by filing written 

objections with the Court and mailing a copy of his or her objections to Class Counsel via firstclass mail. To be considered timely, the objections must be filed and mailed no later than the 

Claims Period Deadline. The objections must include any supporting papers and arguments. 

Any Class Member who fails to file and serve a timely written objection shall be barred from 

making any statement objecting to the Settlement, including at said hearing, and shall forever 

waive his or her objection, except by special permission of the Court. Either of the Parties may

file a responsive document to any objection no later than five (5) court days before the Final 

Approval and Fairness Hearing. 

21. Defendants shall have the right to terminate the Settlement in the event that prior 

to the Final Approval and Fairness Hearing more than 10% of Class Members who otherwise 

would be Eligible Class Members have filed proper and timely Opt-Out Requests. Defendants 

shall provide Notice of Termination in writing and at their own expense by first-class United 

States mail to Class Counsel and each Eligible Class Member no later than ten (10) calendar days 

after receipt by Defense Counsel of the complete list from the Administrator identifying all OptOuts. If Defendants elect to terminate the Settlement, they shall not be responsible for paying 

any of Plaintiff’s attorney’s fees and costs, but shall be responsible for any and all costs of the 

Administrator incurred. In the event the Settlement is terminated, this order shall be rendered 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER RE: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

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null and void and shall be vacated, and the Parties shall revert to their respective positions as 

before entering into the Settlement.

22. The Court will conduct a Final Approval and Fairness Hearing on Wednesday, 

July 21, 2010, at the time of 9:30 a.m., to determine: (1) whether the proposed Settlement is fair,

reasonable, and adequate and should be finally approved by the Court, including consideration of 

any timely filed objections; (2) the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs to award to Class 

Counsel; and (3) the amount of Enhancement to award to the Class Representative.

23. Plaintiff’s motion for final approval of the settlement, and Class Counsel’s motion 

for awards of attorneys’ fees and costs, and shall be filed no later than twenty-one (21) days prior 

to the date of the Final Approval and Fairness Hearing. Any opposition(s) to such motions shall 

be filed no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the Final Approval and Fairness Hearing. Any

reply briefs in support of such motions shall be filed no later than seven (7) days prior to the 

Final Approval and Fairness Hearing. 

24. To the extent permitted by law, pending final determination as to whether the 

Settlement contained in the Agreement should be approved, the Class Representative and all 

Class Members who do not Opt Out of the Settlement, whether directly, representatively, or in 

any other capacity, whether or not such persons have appeared in this Litigation, shall not

institute or prosecute any claims or actions against the Released Parties (Lane Bryant, Inc., 

Charming Shoppes of Delaware, Inc., Charming Shoppes, Inc., and each of their past, present, 

and/or former, direct and/or indirect, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, and related 

companies, and their shareholders, officers, directors, employees, agents, servants, 

representatives, attorneys, insurers, partners, investors, administrators, employee benefit plans, 

predecessors, successors, and assigns (including any and all such entities which operated retail 

stores in California at any time during the class period, including but not limited to Catherines of 

California, Inc., Catherines Woman Delaware, Inc., Fashion Bug Retail Companies, Inc., 

Charming Shoppes Outlet Stores, LLC, Lane Bryant Outlet 4237/Petite Sophisticate Outlet, Inc., 

Lane Bryant Outlet 4324/Petite Sophisticate Outlet, Inc, Crosstown Traders, and any of their 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER RE: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT 

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past, present, and/or former, direct and/or indirect, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, and 

related companies, and their shareholders, officers, directors, employees, agents, servants, 

representatives, attorneys, insurers, partners, investors, administrators, employee benefit plans, 

predecessors, successors, and assigns)), which fall within the definition of the Released Claims in 

the Agreement, and any pending actions against the Released Parties, whether in court,

arbitration or pending before any state or federal governmental administrative agency, are stayed 

on an interim basis as to any claims which fall within the definition of the Released Claims, and 

all such pending actions will be bound by the Final Judgment, absent submission of a valid and 

timely Opt-Out Request, in which case the individual opting out may pursue his or her individual 

claims, but not class or representative claims, that fall within the definition of the Released 

Claims.

25. In the event the Settlement is not finally approved, or otherwise does not become 

effective in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, this order shall be rendered null and 

void and shall be vacated, and the Parties shall revert to their respective positions as of before 

entering into the Agreement. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated _____________________, 2010 _______________________________

Hon. James Larson

United States Magistrate Judge

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