Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-02524/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-02524-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Employment Discrimination

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[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIM. APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT No. C 06-2524-SBA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA- OAKLAND DIVISION

ELAINE TIFFANY, and SHANNON

WHITEHEAD, individually, and on behalf

of all others similarly situated, 

Plaintiffs ,

vs.

HOMETOWN BUFFET, INC., and DOES 1

through 50, inclusive, 

Defendants.

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CASE NO. C-06-2524 SBA

ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT 

Hon. Saundra B. Armstrong

Case 4:06-cv-02524-SBA Document 71 Filed 09/12/07 Page 1 of 3
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[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIM. APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT No. C 06-2524-SBA

The Court has before it the unopposed motion by plaintiffs Elaine Tiffany and Shannon

Whitehead (the “Plaintiffs”) for preliminary approval of a proposed class action settlement with

defendants Hometown Buffet, Inc. and OCB Restaurant Company, LLC (collectively “Hometown

Buffet”). The Court hereby finds and orders as follows:

1. The Court finds on a preliminary basis that the settlement memorialized in the Stipulation

of Class Action Settlement (“Stipulation”), filed with the Court, falls within the range of reasonableness

and therefore meets the requirements for preliminary approval.

2. The Court conditionally certifies for settlement purposes only the following class

(“Settlement Class”): “All individuals who were employed in a company-owned Hometown Buffet, Inc.

and/or OCB Restaurant Company, LLC restaurant in California between November 22, 2000 and the

date of this Order, in any of the following salaried positions below the level of General Manager:

Service Manager, Assistant Service Manager, Kitchen Manager, Assistant Kitchen Manager, and/or

Food Bar Manager.” 

3. The Court finds, for settlement purposes only, that the Settlement Class meets the

requirements for certification under Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a) and 23(b)(3) in that: (1) the Settlement Class,

which consists of approximately 700 members, is so numerous that joinder is impracticable; (2) there

are questions of law and fact that are in common to all Settlement Class members, which common

questions predominate over individual issues; (3) Plaintiffs’ claims are typical of those of the Settlement

Class members; (4) Plaintiffs and their counsel will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the

Settlement Class; and (5) a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient

adjudication of the controversy.

4. The Court appoints, for settlement purposes only, plaintiffs Elaine Tiffany and Shannon

Whitehead as Class Representatives.

5. The Court appoints, for settlement purposes only, the law firm of Dostart Clapp Gordon

& Coveney, LLP as Class Counsel for the Settlement Class. 

6. The Court appoints Rust Consulting as the Claims Administrator.

7. The parties are ordered to carry out the settlement according to the terms of the

Stipulation.

Case 4:06-cv-02524-SBA Document 71 Filed 09/12/07 Page 2 of 3
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[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PRELIM. APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT No. C 06-2524-SBA

8. The Final Approval Hearing is set for January 15, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 9/12/07 

HON. SAUNDRA B. ARMSTRONG

United States District Judge

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

Dated: August 1, 2007 DOSTART CLAPP GORDON & COVENEY, LLP

s/ J. Kirk Donnelly J. KIRK DONNELLY

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

Dated: August 2, 2007 LITTLER MENDELSON APC

s/ Rod M. Fliegel ROD M. FLIEGEL

Attorneys for Defendants

Case 4:06-cv-02524-SBA Document 71 Filed 09/12/07 Page 3 of 3