Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alsd-1_14-cv-00107/USCOURTS-alsd-1_14-cv-00107-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 15:1938 Fair Labor Standards Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

CORNELIUS SMITH, et al., )

 )

Plaintiffs, )

 )

v. ) CIVIL ACTION 14-0107-WS-B

 )

WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC., )

 )

Defendant. )

ORDER 

The defendant and plaintiff William Newton have filed a joint renewed 

motion for approval of settlement agreement. (Doc. 144). “When employees 

bring a private action for back wages under the FLSA, and present to the district 

court a proposed settlement, the district court may enter a stipulated judgment 

after scrutinizing the settlement for fairness.” Lynn’s Food Stores, Inc. v. United 

States, 679 F.2d 1350, 1353 (11th Cir. 1982). “[T]he rule of Lynn’s Food Stores

applies to settlements between former employees and employers” just as it does to 

agreements by current employees. Nall v. Mal-Motels, Inc., 723 F.3d 1304, 1307 

(11th Cir. 2013). 

The Court is unusually familiar with this case, as it has entered numerous 

rulings on the substantive motions presented by the parties, and the Court has no 

difficulty in concluding that the settlement is fair and reasonable. The Court also 

determines that the releases and confidentiality provisions satisfy the standards 

articulated by the Court in Crabtree v. Volkert, Inc., 2013 WL 593500 (S.D. Ala. 

2013). 

For the reasons set forth above, the joint motion for approval of settlement 

agreement is granted. The parties are ordered to submit, on or before

Case 1:14-cv-00107-WS-B Document 146 Filed 09/03/15 Page 1 of 2
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September 17, 2015, a proposed stipulated judgment in accordance with 

governing law.

DONE and ORDERED this 3rd day of September, 2015.

s/ WILLIAM H. STEELE

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00107-WS-B Document 146 Filed 09/03/15 Page 2 of 2