Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01302/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01302-11/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

Final Judgment and Order Approving 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

FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER 

APPROVING CLASS ACTION 

SETTLEMENT

Case 1:13-cv-01302-BAM Document 65 Filed 06/06/16 Page 1 of 5
Novoa v. Charter Communications, LLC, Case No. 13-cv-01302-BAM

Final Judgment and Order Approving Class Action Settlement

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This matter came before the Court on June 3, 2016, for a hearing on Plaintiffs’ Motions for 

(1) Final Judgment and Order Approving Class Action Settlement; and for (2) Approval of 

Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, and Plaintiffs’ Enhancement Awards. Due and adequate notice having 

been given to Class Members as required by the Court’s March 4, 2016 Preliminary Approval 

Order (Dkt. No. 60), and the Court having considered all papers filed and proceedings in this 

action, 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 

therefor, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. This Order adopts and incorporates by reference the terms and conditions of the 

parties’ Stipulation of Class Action Settlement (“Settlement Agreement”) together with the 

definitions used herein.

2. This Court has jurisdiction over the claims of the members of the Class asserted in 

this proceeding, personal jurisdiction over the Plaintiffs and Defendant, and the members of the 

Class, as defined in the Settlement Agreement.

3. This Court previously conditionally certified the Class for settlement purposes. The 

Court hereby grants final certification approval, for settlement purposes to the Class, consisting 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.

4. Notice given to the class fully and accurately informed Class Members of all 

material elements of the proposed settlement and of their opportunity to exclude themselves from, 

object to, or comment on the settlement, and to appear at the final approval hearing. The notice 

was reasonable and the best notice practicable under the circumstances. Accordingly, this Court 

finds that the notice program described in the Settlement and completed by the Settlement 

Administrator complied fully with the requirements of due process, the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure, and all other applicable laws.

Case 1:13-cv-01302-BAM Document 65 Filed 06/06/16 Page 2 of 5
Novoa v. Charter Communications, LLC, Case No. 13-cv-01302-BAM

Final Judgment and Order Approving Class Action Settlement

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5. The Settlement Agreement is not an admission by Defendants or by any other 

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

Defendants or any other released party. Neither this Order, the Settlement 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 Defendants or any of the released parties.

6. All Class Members are bound by this Final Approval Order and by the terms of the 

parties’ Settlement Agreement, including releases provided for in the Settlement and this Final 

Approval Order. As of the effective date of Settlement, by operation of the entry of this Final 

Approval Order, each Class Member, including Plaintiffs, shall be deemed to have fully released, 

waived, relinquished and discharged, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all Released Claims 

that he or she may have against the Released Parties.

7. 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. 

8. 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 Plaintiffs’ 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. 

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

regarding the strength of the Plaintiffs’ 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 Plaintiffs’ counsel. The 

Court has also considered the absence of objection to the settlement. 

Case 1:13-cv-01302-BAM Document 65 Filed 06/06/16 Page 3 of 5
Novoa v. Charter Communications, LLC, Case No. 13-cv-01302-BAM

Final Judgment and Order Approving Class Action Settlement

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10. The Court hereby finds the Settlement Payments provided to Class Members under 

the terms of the Settlement to be fair and reasonable in light of all the circumstances. The Court, 

therefore, orders the calculations and payments to be made and administered in accordance with 

the terms of the Settlement Agreement.

11. The Court finds that the services provided by the Settlement Administrator were 

for the benefit of the Class, and the cost of $14,000 is fair, reasonable, and appropriate for 

reimbursement. The Court approves payment to CPT Group, Inc. for administration fees, which 

includes all costs and fees incurred to date, as well as estimated costs and fees involved in 

completing the administration of the Settlement. 

12. The Court confirms The Markham Law Firm, Kershaw Cook & Talley, Aequitas 

Law Group and United Employees Law Group as Class Counsel in this action. The Court finds 

that Class Counsel have the sufficient experience, knowledge, and skill to promote and safeguard 

the interests of the Class. The Court therefore finds that Plaintiffs’ counsel satisfy the professional 

and ethical obligations of Class Counsel. 

13. The Court further approves an award of attorneys’ fees of $130,000. The Court 

finds that this amount is supported by both the application of the percentage fee and the lodestarplus-multiplier methods for awarding reasonable attorneys’ fees. 

14. In the course of this litigation, Class Counsel incurred $17,504.90 in costs in the 

form of court filing fees, mediation fees, deposition transcripts, document copying fees, legal 

research charges, deposition travel expenses and delivery charges. The Court approves the 

reimbursement of Class Counsel’s costs in the amount of $17,504.90, pursuant to the terms of the 

Settlement Agreement. 

15. The Court finds that Luis Novoa, Michael Alvarez, Brian Belote-Dinford, and 

Trevor Grant are suitable representatives for the Settlement Class and are hereby appointed the 

Class Representatives. The Court finds that Class Representatives’ investment and commitment to 

the litigation and its outcome ensured adequate and zealous advocacy for the Settlement Class, and 

their interests are aligned with those of the Settlement Class.

Case 1:13-cv-01302-BAM Document 65 Filed 06/06/16 Page 4 of 5
Novoa v. Charter Communications, LLC, Case No. 13-cv-01302-BAM

Final Judgment and Order Approving Class Action Settlement

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16. The Court finds Service Awards in the amount of $5,000 to Plaintiff Novoa, and 

$2,500 to Plaintiff Alvarez, $2,500 to Plaintiff Belote-Dinford and $2,500 to Plaintiff Grant fair 

and reasonable compensation based upon the evidence presented regarding the services provided 

and risks incurred by Plaintiffs in assisting Class Counsel.1

17. Without affecting the finality of this Final Approval Order, the Court reserves 

continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over the parties to the Settlement, including Defendant and 

Class Members, to administer, supervise, construe and enforce the Settlement in accordance with 

its terms. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 6, 2016 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

 

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Pursuant to the settlement agreement, because the amount awarded by the Court is a lower amount, the 

difference will be allocated to the Net Fund Value of the settlement award. (Settlement Agreement, § 11(b)).

Case 1:13-cv-01302-BAM Document 65 Filed 06/06/16 Page 5 of 5