Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-01420/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-01420-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-(Citizenship)

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ORDERGRANTING MOTION FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

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Robert J. Drexler, Jr. (SBN 119119) 

Robert.Drexler@capstonelawyers.com 

Bevin Allen Pike (SBN 221936) 

Bevin.Pike@capstonelawyers.com 

Jonathan Lee (SBN 267146) 

Jonathan.Lee@capstonelawyers.com 

Capstone Law APC 

1840 Century Park East, Suite 450 

Los Angeles, California 90067 

Telephone: (310) 556-4811 

Facsimile: (310) 943-0396 

Attorneys for Plaintiff Franchesca Ford 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA – SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION 

FRANCHESCA FORD, individually, 

and on behalf of other members of the 

general public similarly situated, 

 Plaintiff, 

 vs. 

CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC., a 

Kansas corporation; and DOES 1 

through 10, inclusive, 

 Defendants. 

Case No. 3:14-cv-01420-RS

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING THE 

MOTION FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF 

CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT 

Date: August 11, 2016 

Time: 1:30 p.m. 

Place: Courtroom 3 

Case 3:14-cv-01420-RS Document 64 Filed 11/18/16 Page 1 of 5
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ORDERGRANTING MOTION FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

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ORDER

This matter came before the Court on August 11, 2016 for a hearing on the 

Motion for Final Approval of Class Action Settlement. Due and adequate notice having 

been given to Class Members as required by the Court’s March 28, 2016 Preliminary 

Approval Order, and the Court having considered all papers filed and proceedings 

herein, and having received no objections to the settlement, and determining that the 

settlement is fair, adequate and reasonable, and otherwise being fully informed and good 

cause appearing therefore, it is hereby ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

1. For the reasons set forth in the Preliminary Approval Order and in the 

transcript of the proceedings of the Preliminary Approval hearing, which are adopted 

and incorporated herein by reference, this Court finds that the requirements of Rule 23 

have been satisfied. 

2. This Order hereby adopts and incorporates by reference the terms and 

conditions of the Amended Joint Stipulation of Class Action Settlement and Release 

(“Settlement Agreement”), together with the definitions used therein. 

3. The Court finds that it has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action 

and over all parties to the action, including all members of the Settlement Class. 

4. The Notice of Class Action Settlement (“Class Notice”) fully and 

accurately informed Class Members of all material elements of the proposed settlement 

and of their opportunity to opt out or object; was the best notice practicable under the 

circumstances; was valid, due, and sufficient notice to all Class Members; and complied 

with the laws of the United States of America and due process. The Class Notice fairly 

and adequately described the settlement and provided Class Members with adequate 

instructions and a variety of means to obtain additional information. 

5. Class Members were given a full opportunity to participate in the Final 

Approval hearing, and all Class Members and other persons wishing to be heard have 

been heard. Accordingly, the Court determines that all Class Members who did not 

timely and properly opt out of the settlement are bound by this Order. 

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6. The Court has considered all relevant factors for determining the fairness 

of the settlement and has concluded that all such factors weigh in favor of granting final 

approval. In particular, the Court finds that the settlement was reached following 

meaningful discovery and investigation conducted by Class Counsel; that the settlement 

is the result of serious, informed, adversarial, and arm’s-length negotiations between the 

Parties; and that the terms of the settlement are in all respects fair, adequate, and 

reasonable. 

7. In so finding, the Court has considered all evidence presented, including 

evidence regarding the strength of Plaintiff’s case; the risk, expense, and complexity of 

the claims presented; the likely duration of further litigation; the amount offered in 

settlement; the extent of investigation and discovery completed; and the experience and 

views of counsel. The Parties has provided the Court with sufficient information about 

the nature and magnitude of the claims being settled, as well as the impediments to 

recovery, to make an independent assessment of the reasonableness of the terms to 

which the Parties have agreed. 

8. Accordingly, the Court hereby approves the settlement as set forth in the 

Settlement Agreement and expressly finds that the settlement is, in all respects, fair, 

reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of the entire Settlement Class and hereby 

directs implementation of all remaining terms, conditions, and provisions of the 

Settlement Agreement. The Court also finds that settlement now will avoid additional 

and potentially substantial litigation costs, as well as delay and risks if the Parties were to 

continue to litigate the case. Additionally, after considering the monetary recovery 

provided by the settlement in light of the challenges posed by continued litigation, the 

Court concludes that the settlement provides Class Members with fair and adequate 

relief.

9. The Settlement Agreement is not an admission by Defendant or by any 

other released party, nor is this Order a finding of the validity of any allegations or of any 

wrongdoing by Defendant or any other released party. Neither this Order, the Settlement 

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Agreement, nor any document referred to herein, nor any action taken to carry out the 

Settlement Agreement, may be construed as, or may be used as, an admission of any 

fault, wrongdoing, omission, concession, or liability whatsoever by or against Defendant 

or any of the other released parties. 

10. Final approval shall be with respect to: All current and former hourly 

employees employed by Defendant in California in non-exempt positions at any time 

from January 27, 2010 through March 24, 2016. 

11. Plaintiff Franchesca Ford is a suitable representative and is hereby 

appointed the representative for the Settlement Class. The Court finds that Plaintiff’s 

investment and commitment to the litigation and its outcome ensured adequate and 

zealous advocacy for the Settlement Class, and that her interests are aligned with those 

of the Settlement Class. 

12. The Court finds that the attorneys at Capstone Law APC have the requisite 

qualifications, experience, and skill to protect and advance the interests of the Settlement 

Class. The Court therefore finds that Capstone Law APC satisfies the professional and 

ethical obligations attendant to the position of Class Counsel, and hereby appoints 

Capstone Law APC as counsel for the Settlement Class. 

13. The settlement of civil penalties under PAGA in the amount of $5,000 is 

hereby approved. Seventy-Five Percent (75%), or $3,750, shall be paid to the California 

Labor and Workforce Development Agency. The remaining Twenty-Five Percent 

(25%), or $1,250, will be allocated to participating Class Members. 

14. The Court approves claims administration expenses in the amount of 

$69,043.

15. Defendant shall pay Class Members pursuant to the procedure described in 

the Settlement Agreement. Defendant shall have no further liability for costs, expenses, 

interest, attorneys’ fees, or for any other charge, expense, or liability, except as provided 

in the Settlement Agreement. 

16. All Class Members were given a full and fair opportunity to participate in 

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the Approval Hearing, and all members of the Settlement Class wishing to be heard have 

been heard. Members of the Settlement Class also have had a full and fair opportunity to 

exclude themselves from the proposed settlement and the class. Accordingly, the terms 

of the Settlement Agreement and of the Court’s Order shall be forever binding on all 

Class Members who did not timely and properly opt out of the settlement. These Class 

Members have released and forever discharged the Defendant for any and all Released 

Claims. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: 

 Hon. Richard Seeborg 

 United States District Judge 

11/18/2016

Case 3:14-cv-01420-RS Document 64 Filed 11/18/16 Page 5 of 5