Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-02375/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-02375-12/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Mariela Aguilar Velazquez
Plaintiff
Ally Bank
Defendant
Roney Edler Barroso Da Silva
Plaintiff

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Thomas A. Saenz (Cal. Bar No. 159430)

Luis L. Lozada (Cal. Bar No. 344357)

MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE 

AND EDUCATIONAL FUND

634 South Spring Street, 11th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90014

Telephone: (213) 629-2512

Facsimile: (213) 629-0266

Email: tsaenz@maldef.org

llozada@maldef.org

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

and the Proposed Class

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SACRAMENTO DIVISION

MARIELA AGUILAR VELAZQUEZ, an 

individual, and RONEY EDLER 

BARROSO DA SILVA, an individual, on 

behalf of themselves and all others similarly 

situated,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

ALLY BANK,

Defendant.

Case No.: 2:21-cv-02375-MCE-DB

FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF 

DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE

Judge: Morrison C. England, Jr.

Hearing Date: October 19, 2023

Hearing Time: 10:00 a.m.

Courtroom: 7, 14th floor

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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER 

OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE CASE NO. 2:21-CV-02375-MCE-DB

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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE

This matter came before the Court for hearing based on the Order of this Court dated May 

26, 2023 [dkt. 47], on the application of Plaintiffs for approval of the Settlement set forth in the 

Amended Settlement Agreement dated April 28, 2023 (the “Agreement”) [dkt. 46-1]. On May 26, 

2023, this Court granted preliminary approval to the proposed class action settlement set forth in 

the Agreement between Plaintiffs Mariela Aguilar Velazquez and Roney Edler Barroso da Silva 

(together, the “Class Representatives”), individually and as class representatives on behalf of the 

Class, and Defendant Ally Bank (collectively, the “Parties”). This Court also preliminarily 

certified the Class for settlement purposes, approved the procedure for giving Class Notice to the 

members of the Class, and set a Final Approval Hearing to take place on October 19, 2023. The 

Court finds that due and adequate notice was given to the Settlement Class as required in the 

Court’s preliminary approval order [dkt. 47].

The Court has reviewed the papers filed in support of the Unopposed Motion for Final 

Approval, including the Agreement and attached exhibits, memoranda and arguments submitted 

on behalf of the Settlement Class, and supporting declarations.

On October 19, 2023, this Court held a Final Approval Hearing to consider: (1) whether 

the terms and conditions of the Agreement are fair, reasonable, and adequate; (2) whether judgment 

should be entered dismissing the Settlement Class Members’ Released Claims on the merits and 

with prejudice; (3) whether and in what amount to award attorneys’ fees and costs to Class 

Counsel; and (4) any award to the Class Representatives for their representation of the Class. 

Based on the papers filed with the Court and the presentations made to the Court by the 

Parties at the Final Approval Hearing, the Court has determined that the Agreement is fair, 

adequate, and reasonable, and in the best interest of the Settlement Class.

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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER 

OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE CASE NO. 2:21-CV-02375-MCE-DB

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IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT:

1. Definitions. This Judgment incorporates by reference the definitions in the 

Agreement, and all capitalized terms used, but not defined here, shall have the same meanings as 

in the Agreement. 

2. Jurisdiction and Venue. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject-matter of the 

Action and over all parties to the Action, including all members of the Class, and venue in this 

Court is proper. 

3. No Merits Determination. By entering this Order, the Court does not make any 

determination as to the merits of this case.

4. Settlement Class. Under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this 

Court finally certifies this Action as a class action, with the Class defined as to the collective group 

of all persons making up the California Class and the National Class, defined as follows:

• “California Class” means those persons who applied for a checking or savings 

account with Ally between December 20, 2019 and May 26, 2023, resided in 

California at the time of the application, possessed a valid Social Security 

Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number at the time of the 

application, and were not permitted to open or be added to an Ally checking or 

savings account because they were not U.S. permanent residents.

• “National Class” means those persons who applied for a checking or savings 

account with Ally between December 20, 2017 and May 26, 2023, resided in 

the U.S. but outside of California possessed a valid SSN or ITIN at the time of 

the application, and were not permitted to open or be added to an Ally checking 

or savings account because they were not U.S. permanent residents.

The Court finds, for settlement purposes only, that class certification under Fed. R. Civ. P. 

23(b)(3) is appropriate in that, in the settlement context: (a) the members of the Class are so 

numerous that joinder of all Class Members in the class action is impracticable; (b) there are 

questions of law and fact common to the Class which predominate over any individual question; 

(c) the claims of the Class Representatives are typical of the claims of the Class; (d) the Class 

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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER 

OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE CASE NO. 2:21-CV-02375-MCE-DB

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Representatives will fairly and adequately represent and protect the interests of the Class Members 

because their interests are co-extensive with those of the Class Members, and they have retained 

experienced counsel to represent them and the Class Members; and (e) a class action is superior to 

other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy.

5. Designation of Class Representatives and Class Counsel. The Court confirms 

the prior appointments of Plaintiffs Mariela Aguilar Velazquez and Roney Edler Barroso da Silva 

as Class Representatives for the California Class and the National Class, and the counsel of record 

representing the Class Representatives in the Action as Class Counsel.

6. Settlement Approval. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, this Court 

approves the Settlement set forth in the Agreement and finds that the Settlement is, in all respects, 

fair, reasonable, and adequate to the Parties. The Court further finds that the Settlement set forth 

in the Agreement is the result of good faith, arms-length negotiations between experienced counsel 

representing the interests of the Parties. Accordingly, the Settlement embodied in the Agreement 

is finally approved in all respects, there is no just reason for delay, and the Parties are directed to

perform its terms.

7. Dismissal with Prejudice. Final Judgment is entered with respect to the Released 

Claims of all Settlement Class Members, and the Released Claims in the Action are dismissed in 

their entirety with prejudice and without costs. All claims in the Action are dismissed, and the 

case shall be closed under Paragraph 22 of this Order. 

8. Releases. The releases as set forth in Section 10 of the Agreement together with 

the definitions in Sections 1.1-1.53 relating to are expressly incorporated here in all respects and 

made effective by operation of this Judgment. The Court approves the release provisions as 

contained and incorporated in Section 10 of the Agreement, including but not limited to the 

definitions of Released Claims, Releasors, Releasees, and Unknown claims. The Releasors shall 

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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER 

OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE CASE NO. 2:21-CV-02375-MCE-DB

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be deemed to have, and by operation of the Judgment shall have, fully, finally and forever released, 

relinquished and discharged all Released Claims (including Unknown Claims) against the 

Releasees.

9. Permanent Injunction. The Releasors, including the Class Representatives and 

all Settlement Class Members, and anyone claiming through or on behalf of any of them, are 

forever barred and enjoined from filing, commencing, prosecuting, intervening in, or participating

in (as class members or otherwise) any action in any jurisdiction for the Released Claims. The 

Releasors further are forever barred and enjoined from organizing Settlement Class Members, or 

soliciting the participation of Settlement Class Members, or persons who would otherwise fall 

within the definition of Settlement Class Members but who have requested to be excluded from 

the Settlement Classes, in a separate class for purposes of pursing any action (including by seeking 

to amend a pending complaint or counterclaim to include class allegations, or seeking class 

certification in a pending action in any jurisdiction based on or relating to any of the Released 

Claims).

10. Approval of Class Notice. The form and means of disseminating the ClassNotice 

as provided for in the Order Preliminarily Approving Settlement and Providing for Notice 

constituted the best notice practicable under the circumstances, including individual notice to all 

Members of the Classes who could be identified through reasonable effort. The Notice provided 

the best notice practicable under the circumstances of the proceedings and the matters set forth 

here, including the proposed Settlement set forth in the Agreement, to all persons entitled to 

such notice, and the Notice fully satisfied the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 

and complied with all laws, including, but not limited to, the Due Process Clause of the United 

States Constitution.

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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER 

OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE CASE NO. 2:21-CV-02375-MCE-DB

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11. Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. Plaintiffs and Class Counsel have moved for an award

of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $60,000. The Court has considered this application

separately from Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion for Final Approval. The Court finds that an

award of $60,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs is fair and reasonable, and the Court approves of 

Class Counsel attorneys’ fees and costs in this amount.

12. Class Representative Incentive Awards. The Court further finds that incentive 

awards for Plaintiffs Mariela Aguilar Velazquez and Roney Edler Barroso da Silva in the amount

of $3,000 each is fair and reasonable, and the Court approves of the incentive awards in this 

amount. The Court directs the Settlement Administrator to disburse this award to Plaintiffs 

Aguilar and Barroso as provided in the Agreement.

13. Use of Order. Neither this Order, the fact that a settlement was reached and filed, 

the Agreement, nor any related negotiations, statements or proceedings shall be construed as, 

offered as, admitted as, received as, used as, or deemed to be an admission or concession of liability 

or wrongdoing whatsoever or breach of any duty on the part of Ally Bank. This Order is not a 

finding of the validity or invalidity of any of the claims asserted or defenses raised in the Action. 

In no event shall this Order, the fact that a settlement was reached, the Agreement, or any of its 

provisions or any negotiations, statements, or proceedings relating to it in any way be used, offered, 

admitted, or referred to in the Action, in any other action, or in any judicial, administrative, 

regulatory, arbitration, or other proceeding, by any person or entity, except by the Parties and only 

the Parties in a proceeding to enforce the Agreement.

14. Continuing Jurisdiction. Without affecting the finality of this Judgment in any 

way, this Court retains continuing jurisdiction over the administration, consummation, 

enforcement, and interpretation of the Agreement, the Final Judgment, and for any other necessary 

purpose, including to ensure compliance with the Protective Order.

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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER 

OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE CASE NO. 2:21-CV-02375-MCE-DB

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15. Termination of Settlement. In the event that the Settlement does not become 

effective in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, or the Agreement is terminated, the

Parties shall be restored to their respective positions in the Action prior to the execution of the

Agreement, the certification of the Settlement Classes shall be automatically vacated, and this 

Judgment shall be rendered null and void (except paragraph 13 of this Order shall remain in effect) 

to the extent provided by and in accordance with the Agreement and shall be vacated and, in such

event, all orders entered and releases delivered in connection with shall be null and void to the 

extent provided by and in accordance with the Agreement.

16. Implementation of the Agreement. The Parties are authorized to implement the 

terms of the Agreement.

17. Claim Review and Deficiency Process. The Settlement Administrator shall 

validate each Claim Form and additional documentation, if requested, as directed in Section

5 of the Agreement. Full compliance with the requirements of the terms of the Agreement and

the Claim Form shall be necessary for the submission of a Verified Claim. The Settlement 

Administrator shall have the authority to determine whether the submission of a Claim Form is

complete and timely. The Settlement Administrator’s determinations in this regard shall be final

and non-appealable. Any Settlement Class Member whose claim is rejected shall be barred from 

receiving payment under the Settlement for that Claim but shall in all other respects be bound by

the terms of the Agreement and by this Order.

18. Reasonable Extensions. Without further order of this Court, the Parties may agree 

to reasonable extensions of time to carry out any of the provisions of the Agreement.

19. Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) Notice. Ally Bank has provided notification 

through the settlement administrator to all appropriate federal and state officials regarding the 

Settlement as required by 28 U.S.C. § 1715.

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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER 

OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE CASE NO. 2:21-CV-02375-MCE-DB

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20. Class Notice List. No later than thirty (30) days after the Effective Date (as defined 

in the Agreement under Section 7.6), the Settlement Administrator shall file with this Court, under 

seal based on the Protective Order entered in this litigation (in order to protect the names,

addresses, and other personal information of Class Members), a list of the names and addresses of 

all Members of the Class to whom the Class Notice was sent.

21. Entry of Final Judgment. There is no just reason for delay in the entry of this 

Order and Final Judgment, and immediate entry by the Clerk of the Court is directed.

22. Action Closed. In sum, Plaintiffs’ unopposed Motion for Final Approval of Class 

Settlement (ECF No. 52) and Motion for Attorney Fees, Costs, and Service Awards (ECF No. 48) 

are each GRANTED. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close the Action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 19, 2023

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