Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01302/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01302-10/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Michael Alvarez
Plaintiff
Brian Belote-Dinford
Plaintiff
Charter Communications, LLC
Defendant
Trevor Grant
Plaintiff
Luis Novoa
Plaintiff

Document Text:

Novoa v. Charter Communications, LLC, Case No. 13-cv-01302-BAM

Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LUIS NOVOA, MICHAEL ALVAREZ, BRIAN 

BELOTE-DINFORD, and TREVOR GRANT, 

individually, and on behalf of other members of 

the general public similarly situated, 

Plaintiffs,

vs.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, LLC, a 

Delaware limited liability company; and DOES 1 

through 100, inclusive,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:13-cv-01302-BAM

CLASS ACTION

Hon. Barbara A. McAuliffe

Action Filed: 07/05/2013

Action Removed: 08/16/2013

ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY 

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION 

SETTLEMENT 

Date: February 19, 2016

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Courtroom: 8

Trial Date: None Set

Having considered the Stipulation of Class Settlement and Release (“Settlement 

Agreement” or “Settlement”) and all of the legal authorities and documents submitted in support 

thereof, the argument of counsel at the February 19, 2016 hearing on Preliminary Approval of 

Class Action, and the entire record, and GOOD CAUSE appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED

that the Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement is GRANTED, subject to the 

following findings and orders:

1. This Order incorporates by reference the definitions in the Settlement Agreement, 

and all terms defined therein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.

2. The Settlement Class shall be certified for settlement purposes only and shall consist 

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Novoa v. Charter Communications, LLC, Case No. 13-cv-01302-BAM

Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement

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of all individuals who worked for Charter Communications, LLC in California, who received a 

paycheck at any time between July 5, 2012 and March 24, 2013 for performing work in the field, 

including as Broadband Technicians, Broadband Installers, Installation Technicians, Repair 

Technicians, Service Technicians, System Technicians, Field Auditors, or Quality Assurance 

Inspectors.

3. The settlement set forth in the Settlement Agreement, entered into among the parties 

and their counsel, is preliminarily approved as it appears to be proper, to fall within the range of 

reasonableness, to be the product of arm’s-length and informed negotiations, to treat all Settlement 

Class Members fairly, and to be presumptively valid, subject to any objections that may be raised 

at the Final Approval hearing.

4. The Court preliminarily approves the Gross Fund Value of $390,000 (inclusive of 

payments to Class Members, attorneys’ fees and costs, settlement administration Costs, and the 

Class Representative Enhancement Awards).

5. The Court approves, as to form and content, the Notice of Pendency of Class Action 

(the “Notice”), as revised and filed on March 1, 2016 (Doc. 51).

6. The Court directs the mailing, by First-Class U.S. mail, of the Notice to Class 

Members in accordance with the schedule set forth below. The Court finds that the method 

selected for communicating the class action Settlement to Settlement Class Members is the best 

notice practicable under the circumstances, constitutes due and sufficient notice to all persons 

entitled to notice, and thereby satisfies due process.

7. The Court appoints David R. Markham of The Markham Law Firm, Stuart C. Talley 

of Kershaw Cook & Talley, and Joseph Cho of Aequitas Law Group as Class Counsel. The Court 

finds that Class Counsel have demonstrable experience litigating, certifying, and settling wage and 

hour class actions, and will serve as adequate counsel for the Settlement Class Members. 

8. The Court preliminarily approves and appoints Plaintiffs Luis Novoa, Michael 

Alvarez, Brian Belote-Dinford, and Trevor Grant as Class Representatives. 

9. The Court preliminarily approves and appoints CPT Group, Inc. as the Claims 

Administrator.

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Novoa v. Charter Communications, LLC, Case No. 13-cv-01302-BAM

Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement

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10. If, for any reason, the Settlement Agreement is not finally approved or does not 

become effective, this Order Granting Preliminary Approval shall be deemed vacated and shall 

have no force or effect whatsoever, and the Action shall proceed as if no settlement had been 

attempted.

11. The following dates shall govern for the purposes of this Settlement.

Schedule for Execution of Settlement

No more than ten (10) business days after 

the Court grants Preliminary Approval.

Last day for Defendant to provide Class Data List

to Claims Administrator.

No more than ten (10) business days after 

receipt of Class Data List by Claims

Administrator

Last day for Claims Administrator to mail and 

email Notice to Class Members.

No more than forty-five (45) days after 

mailing of Notice

Last day for requests for exclusion, and notice of 

objection to be submitted to Claims Administrator.

May 26, 2016 Last day for Class Counsel to file Plaintiffs’ 

Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs and Class 

Representatives’ Enhancement Awards.

May 26, 2016 Last day for Class Counsel to file Plaintiffs’ 

Motion for Final Approval of Class Action 

Settlement.

June 3, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Hearing on Plaintiff’s Motion for Final Approval 

of Class Action Settlement and Plaintiff’s Motion 

for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs and Class 

Representatives’ Enhancement Awards.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 4, 2016 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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