Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_18-cv-01503/USCOURTS-cand-4_18-cv-01503-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Emmanuel Benjamin
Plaintiff
Edgardo Dones
Plaintiff
PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc.
Defendant
Romeo Vite
Plaintiff

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Arlo Garcia Uriarte, SBN 231764

Un Kei Wu, SBN 270058

Ernesto Sanchez, SBN 278006

Daniel P. Iannitelli, SBN 203388

LIBERATION LAW GROUP, P.C.

2760 Mission Street

San Francisco, CA 94110

Telephone: (415) 695-1000

Facsimile: (415) 695-1006

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

Edgardo Dones

Romeo Vite

Emmanuel Berjamin

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OAKLAND DIVISION

Edgardo Dones, Romeo Vite, Emmanuel 

Berjamin, on behalf of themselves, others 

similarly situated, and general public, 

Plaintiffs,

v.

Primeflight Aviation Services, Inc., and 

DOES 1-25,

Defendants.

Case No. 4:18-cv-01503-YGR

CLASS ACTION

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING

FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION 

SETTLEMENT AND MOTION FOR 

ATTORNEY’S FEES, COSTS, AND 

PLAINTIFFS’ ENHANCEMENT

Hearing Date: September 10, 2019

Time: 2:00 PM

Courtroom: 1

Action filed: October 30, 2017

Date of Removal: March 8, 2018

Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

* as modified by the Court *

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 1 of 37
ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FEES, COSTS, & ENHANCEMENT

Dones v. PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc., Case No. 4:1-cv-01503-YGR

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I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones, Romeo Vite, and Emmanuel Berjamin filed this action on

October 30, 2017, asserting claims for: (1) unpaid wages; (2) failure to pay overtime 

compensation; (3) failure to provide meal period compensation; (4) failure to provide rest 

period compensation (5) waiting time penalties; (6) failure to furnish accurate wage statements; 

and (7) unfair competition (Cal. Bus. Prof. Code §§ 17200 et seq.) Defendant removed the 

action to federal court on March 8, 2018, pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, 28 

U.S.C. § 1332(d).

In September 2018, the Parties engaged in a mediation session with Mark Peters of 

Duckworth & Peters, LLP. At the mediation, the Parties came to terms on the major elements of 

this Settlement (attached hereto as Exhibit 1), which only involves Defendant’s non-exempt, 

hourly employees who did not enter into arbitration agreements with Defendant. Those 

employees who did sign arbitration agreements will not be impacted by the Settlement; they 

will retain their potential claims and the right to pursue them individually. Plaintiff Romeo Vite 

is one of these employees who entered into an arbitration agreement with Defendant; he has 

agreed to a separate, individual settlement. The Court granted preliminary approval of the 

Settlement on April 12, 2019. 

As part of preliminary approval, the Court conditionally certified, for settlement 

purposes only, the following Rule 23(b)(3) Class:

Settlement Class

All current and former hourly or non-exempt employees of 

Defendant Primeflight Aviation Services, Inc. who worked in 

the State of California at any time from four years preceding 

the date of filing of this action through April 12, 2019, and who 

did not enter into an arbitration agreement with Defendant.

Following the Court’s order granting the motion for preliminary approval, the approved 

Settlement Administrator, CPT Group, Inc., provided a Court-approved Notice of Class Action 

Settlement to members of the Class, who were given an opportunity to opt out or object to the 

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 2 of 37
ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FEES, COSTS, & ENHANCEMENT

Dones v. PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc., Case No. 4:1-cv-01503-YGR

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settlement over a sixty-day period. Now before the court is Plaintiffs’ Motion for Final 

Approval of Class Action Settlement.

II. DISCUSSION

A. TERMS OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

The Maximum Settlement Amount is $444,000. This amount is non-reversionary and 

there was no claims requirement. Defendant will fund the settlement with two separate 

payments; the first payment shall be made no later than ten (10) business days after the Court 

signs this Final Approval Order and Final Judgment. The second payment shall be made no later 

than sixty (60) calendar days after the first payment is made.

The Net Settlement Amount is the Maximum Settlement Amount minus the following:

• $133,200 in attorney’s fees (30% of the entire fund) for Class Counsel, Arlo 

Uriarte of Liberation Law Group, P.C.; 

• $4,735.01 in accrued litigation costs for Class Counsel;

• $9,000 in settlement administration costs for CPT Group, Inc. 

• Enhancement Awards for Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones and Emmanuel Berjamin in 

the amounts of $6,000 each ($12,000 total); and 

• Employee and employer payroll taxes.

The Net Settlement Amount will be distributed in a specific manner, as set forth herein:

• Payment will be made to all Class Members because there are no opt outs;

• Using the Class Data, as identified in the Parties’ Stipulation of Class Action 

Settlement and Release of Claims, the Settlement Administrator will calculate 

the total Compensable Workweeks for all Class Members. The respective 

Compensable Workweeks for each Class Member will be divided by the total 

Compensable Workweeks for all Settlement Class Members, resulting in the 

Payment Ratio for each Settlement Class Member. Each Class Member’s 

Payment Ratio will then be multiplied by the Net Settlement Amount to calculate 

each Class Member’s Individual Settlement Payment.

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 3 of 37
ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FEES, COSTS, & ENHANCEMENT

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• Individual Settlement Payment checks issued to Settlement Class Members shall 

remain valid and negotiable for one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days from 

the date of their issuance. In the event that an Individual Settlement Payment

check has not been negotiated within one hundred and eighty (180) calendar 

days, the check shall be voided and funds associated with such voided checks 

plus any accrued interest that has not otherwise been distributed, shall be 

awarded to the Court approved cy pres beneficiary, Instituto Laboral de la Raza.

• For tax purposes, Individual Settlement Payments shall be allocated and treated 

as follows: (i) twenty percent (20%) as wages (reported on IRS Form W-2); (ii) 

forty percent (40%) as penalties (reported on IRS Form 1099) and (iii) forty 

percent (40%) as interest (reported on IRS Form 1099). Prior to issuance of 

payment to Settlement Class Members, each Individual Settlement Payment shall 

be reduced for the employee’s share of taxes and withholding with respect to the 

wage-portion of the Individual Settlement Payment.

Settlement Class Members will be subject to the following release:

• Members who do not opt out will release Defendant (and related entities) 

(“Released Parties”) from all causes of action that were alleged or reasonably 

could have been alleged in the operative complaint based on the facts, legal 

theories, or causes of action contained therein, including but not limited to all 

associated claims for: (a) unpaid regular and overtime wages; (b) failure to 

provide proper meal periods, and to properly provide premium pay in lieu 

thereof; (c) failure to provide proper rest breaks, and to properly provide 

premium pay in lieu thereof; (d) waiting time penalties for untimely final pay; (e) 

improper and/or inaccurate wage statements; (f) unfair business practices based 

on the afore-referenced claims and as alleged in the Complaint; (g) the aggrieved 

employee portion (25%) as to any civil penalties under the Labor Code Private 

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 4 of 37
ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FEES, COSTS, & ENHANCEMENT

Dones v. PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc., Case No. 4:1-cv-01503-YGR

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Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) based on the afore-referenced claims; (h) any 

other claims or penalties under the wage and hour laws pleaded in the Action 

based on the afore-referenced claims and as alleged in the Complaint; and (i) all 

damages, penalties, interest and other amounts recoverable under the aforereferenced claims under said causes of action under California and federal law, to 

the extent permissible, as to the facts alleged in the Action, including the 

applicable Wage Orders as to the facts alleged in the Complaint.

B. ANALYSIS OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

1. Standards for Final Fairness Determination

In a class action lawsuit, the Court undertakes the responsibility to assess the fairness 

and adequacy of a proposed class action settlement, balancing the following factors: (1) the 

strength of the plaintiffs’ case; (2) the risk, expense, complexity, and likely duration of further 

litigation; (3) the risk of maintain class action status throughout the trial; (4) the amount offered 

in settlement; (5) the extent of discovery completed and the stage of the proceedings; (6) the 

experiences and views of counsel; (7) the presence of a governmental participant; and (8) the 

reaction of the class members to the proposed settlement. See Churchill Vill., L.L.C. v. GE, 361 

F.3d 566, 576-77 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing Hanlon v. Chrysler Corp., 150 F.3d 1011, 1025 (9th 

Cir. 1998)). “In addition, although ‘strong judicial policy ... favors settlements,’ [citation] the 

settlement may not be the product of collusion among the negotiating parties. Churchill, 361 

F.3d at 577.

2. Is the settlement fair, reasonable and adequate?

a. Strength of Plaintiffs' case. Class Counsel has offered evidence on both the strength 

and weaknesses of the remaining claims. 

b. Risk, expense, complexity and likely duration of further litigation. Given the nature of 

the class claims, the case is likely to be expensive and lengthy to try. Procedural hurdles (e.g., 

motion practice and appeals) are also likely to prolong the litigation as well as any recovery by 

the class members.

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 5 of 37
ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FEES, COSTS, & ENHANCEMENT

Dones v. PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc., Case No. 4:1-cv-01503-YGR

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c. Risk of maintaining class action status through, trial. Even if a class is certified, there 

is always a risk of decertification.

d. Amount offered in settlement. As indicated above, Defendant agreed to settle for a 

non-reversionary gross settlement of $444,000. Class Counsel explained how the settlement 

amounts were arrived at and how they break down as to the claims asserted and released 

through the settlement agreement. 

e. Extent of discovery completed and stage of the proceedings. The case was settled precertification. While the Parties did not engage in formal discovery, Defendant shared extensive 

information with Plaintiffs, per Plaintiffs’ informal discovery requests, so that the Parties could 

be well informed for mediation.

f. Experience and views of counsel. The settlement was negotiated and endorsed by 

Class Counsel who is experienced in class action litigation, including wage and hour cases.

g. Presence of a governmental participant. There is no governmental participant.

h. Reaction of the class members to the proposed settlement.

• Number of class members: 341

• Number of notices successfully mailed: 333

• Number of undeliverable notices: 8

• Number of opt-outs: 0

• Number of objections: 0

• Number of participating class members: 341

The above information was provided by the Settlement Administrator, CPT Group, Inc. 

CONCLUSION: The settlement can be deemed fair, reasonable, and adequate.

B. ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS

Class Counsel requests $133,200 for attorney’s fees and $4,735.01 for accrued litigation

costs. The fee request represents 30% of the cash portion of the gross settlement amount. While 

the Ninth Circuit has established a “benchmark” that fees should equal 25% of the settlement 

(see Powers v. Eichen, 229 F.3d 1249, 1256 (9th Cir. 2000), courts may diverge from the 

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 6 of 37
ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FEES, COSTS, & ENHANCEMENT

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benchmark based on a variety of factors, including the results obtained, risk undertaken by 

counsel, complexity of the issues, length of the professional relationship, the market rate, and 

awards in similar cases. Vizcaino v. Microsoft Corp., 290 F.3d 1043, 1048-50 (9th Cir. 2002). 

Here, Class Counsel has offered evidence justifying an award of 30% of the gross settlement 

amount. In particular, Class Counsel vigorously investigated and prosecuted this case and 

achieved a favorable result for the class. Further, the amounts at issue are not so high, which 

makes a case such as this one more risky and less attractive for plaintiff’s counsel. The 

multiplier is l.06 of Class Counsel’s lodestar. In addition, the notice expressly advised class 

members of the fee request. 

As for costs, Class Counsel requests $4,735.01. The reimbursement sought by Class 

Counsel is less than the $10,000 authorized by the Stipulation of Class Action Settlement and 

Release of Claims (“Agreement”.) Resultantly, an additional $5,264.99 will be distributed prorata to the class. Costs incurred by Class Counsel include costs for filing fees, mediation, 

copies, and other miscellaneous costs. The Court finds the fee and costs requests reasonable, 

appropriate, and fair, and they are therefore granted.

C. CY PRES DESIGNATION

The Court finds Instituto Laboral de La Raza, a nonprofit advocacy and workers' 

resource center in San Francisco, CA, to be an appropriate and worthy cy pres because it will

allow unclaimed sums to be distributed, to the extent possible, in a manner designed either to

further the purposes of the underlying causes of action or to promote justice for all Californians.

See, In re Microsoft I-V Cases, 135 Cal. App. 4th 706, 722, (2006). The cy pres will only 

receive settlement funds if Class Members fail to cash their checks after their individual 

payments are distributed per the Stipulation of Class Action Settlement and Release of Claims.

D. ENHANCEMENT AWARDS TO CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

An enhancement award to a named class representative must be supported by evidence 

that quantifies time and effort expended by each individual, using relevant factors that include 

“the actions the plaintiff has taken to protect the interests of the class, the degree to which the 

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 7 of 37
ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FEES, COSTS, & ENHANCEMENT

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class has benefitted from those actions, . . . [and] the amount of time and effort the plaintiff 

expended in pursuing the litigation.” Staton v. Boeing Co. ̧327 F.3d 938, 977 (9th Cir. 2003). 

“Such awards are discretionary . . . and are intended to compensate class representatives for 

work done on behalf of the class, to make up for financial or reputational risk undertaken in 

bringing the action, and, sometimes, to recognize their willingness to act as a private attorney 

general.” Rodriguez v. West Publ’g Corp., 563 F.3d 948, 958-59 (9th Cir. 2009) (citation

omitted). The Ninth Circuit has “noted that in some cases incentive awards may be proper but 

[has] cautioned that awarding them should not become routine practice.” Radcliffe v. Experian 

Info. Sol., 715 F.3d 1157, 1163 (9th Cir. 2013).

Here, Plaintiffs Dones and Berjamin (“Plaintiffs”) request enhancement awards of 

$6,000 each, for a total of $12,000. Plaintiffs assisted counsel by remaining engaged in the 

litigation by consistently asking questions about the case and meeting with Class Counsel at his 

offices to strategize and continue developing their allegations. Class Counsel instructed 

Plaintiffs to seek out their co-workers in an effort to try and gather declarations; Plaintiffs 

eagerly did this and helped secure declarations. Plaintiffs attended mediation with Class 

Counsel and helped secure the Settlement.

In light of the above as well as the benefits obtained on behalf of the Settlement Class, 

the requested awards appear to be a reasonable inducement for Plaintiffs’ participation in this 

case. The requested enhancement awards are approved.

E. SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATION COSTS

The Agreement provided for a maximum of $10,000 in settlement administrator costs. 

Here, the Settlement Administrator, CPT Group, Inc. requests $9,000 which is the amount 

estimated at the time of preliminary approval. Given the tasks performed (and still to be 

performed), and given the size of the class, this amount appears to be reasonable. This amount 

was also disclosed to class members and deemed unobjectionable.

III. CONCLUSION AND ORDER

FOR GOOD CAUSE HAVING BEEN SHOWN, the Court hereby GRANTS the 

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 8 of 37
ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FEES, COSTS, & ENHANCEMENT

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Motion for Final Approval of Class Action Settlement and the Motion for Attorney’s Fees, 

Costs, and Plaintiffs’ Enhancement as follows:

(1) Class certification for purposes of settlement is confirmed;

(2) The Court finds the Settlement fair, reasonable and adequate;

(3) $133,200 in attorney’s fees (30% of the Maximum Settlement Amount) for Class

Counsel, Arlo Uriarte of Liberation Law Group, P.C.; 

(4) 4,735.01 in accrued litigation costs for Class Counsel;

(5) $9,000 in settlement administration costs for CPT Group, Inc.;

(6) Enhancement awards for Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones and Emmanuel Berjamin in the

amounts of $6,000 each ($12,000 total);

(7) Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement, this Court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce

the terms of the Settlement for a period of one year.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: _____________________ _____________________________________

Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

JUDGE FOR THE U.S.D.C., NORTHERN 

DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

September 16, 2019

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 9 of 37
EXHIBIT 1

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Case No. 4:18-cv-01503-YGR

STIPULATION OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS 

Arlo García Uriarte, SBN 231764 

LIBERATION LAW GROUP, P.C. 

2760 Mission Street 

San Francisco, CA 94110 

Telephone: (415) 695-1000 

Facsimile: (415) 695-1006 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

Edgardo Dones 

Emmanuel Berjamin 

Romeo Vite 

GREGORY C. CHENG, CA Bar No. 226865 

gregory.cheng@ogletree.com 

CAROLYN B. HALL, CA Bar No. 212311 

carolyn.hall@ogletree.com 

OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK & STEWART, P.C. 

Steuart Tower, Suite 1300 One Market Plaza 

San Francisco, CA 94105 

Telephone: 415.442.4810 

Facsimile: 415.442.4870 

Attorneys for Defendant 

PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

OAKLAND DIVISION

Edgardo Dones, Romeo Vite, Emmanuel 

Benjamin, on behalf of themselves, others 

similarly situated, and general public, 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

Primeflight Aviation Services, Inc., and 

DOES 1-25, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 4:18-cv-01503-YGR

STIPULATION OF CLASS ACTION 

SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE OF 

CLAIMS

Complaint filed: October 30, 2017 

Date of Removal: March 8, 2018 

Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers 

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 11 of 37
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1 Case No. 4:18-cv-01503-YGR

STIPULATION OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS 

This Stipulation of Class Action Settlement and Release of Claims (“Agreement” or 

“Settlement Agreement”) is entered into between Named Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones and Emmanuel 

Berjamin (and on behalf of themselves and the Settlement Class, as defined below), and defendant 

PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc. Named Plaintiffs and Defendant (collectively, the “Parties”) 

enter into this Agreement to effect a full and final settlement and dismissal of all claims brought 

against Defendant in Edgardo Dones, et al. v. PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc., United States 

District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. Case No. 4:18-cv-01503-YGR. 

I. DEFINITIONS 

A. “Action” means Edgardo Dones, et al. v. PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc., filed 

on October 30, 2017, in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of San Francisco, 

and assigned Case Number CGC-17-562193, removed on March 8, 2018 to the United States 

District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. Case No. 4:18-cv-01503-YGR, 

pending before the Honorable District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. 

B. “Agreement” or “Settlement Agreement” means this Stipulation of Class Action and 

Release of Claims. 

C. “Class” or “Class Members” means all current and former hourly or non-exempt 

employees who were employed by Defendant in the State of California during the Covered Period 

and who did not enter into a valid agreement to arbitrate claims with Defendant. There are 

approximately 341 individuals that comprise the Class. 

D. “Class Counsel” means Arlo García Uriarte of Liberation Law Group, P.C. 

E. “Class Counsel Award” means such award of fees and costs and expenses as the 

Court may authorize to be paid to Class Counsel for the services they have rendered and will 

render to Plaintiffs and the Class in the Action. The Class Counsel Award will not exceed 30% of 

the Maximum Settlement Amount, which is One Hundred Thirty-Three Thousand Two Hundred 

Dollars ($133,200.000), plus Class Counsel’s actual costs and expenses as supported by 

declaration. 

F. “Class Data” means information regarding Class Members that Defendant will in 

good faith compile from its records and provide to the Settlement Administrator. It shall be 

Case 4:18-cv-01503-YGR Document 50 Filed 09/16/19 Page 12 of 37
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2 Case No. 4:18-cv-01503-YGR

STIPULATION OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS 

formatted as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and shall include: each Class Member’s (1) full name; 

(2) employee number; (3) last known address; (4) last known home telephone number; (5) Social 

Security number; and (6) start dates and end dates of employment with Defendant. 

G. “Class Representatives” means Named Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones and Emmanuel 

Berjamin. Named Plaintiff Romeo Vite entered into an enforceable valid agreement to arbitrate his 

claims with Defendant and thus is not a Class Member. 

H. “Class Representatives Service Awards” means the amount that the Court authorizes 

to be paid to Named Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones and Emmanuel Berjamin, in addition to their 

Individual Settlement Payments, in recognition of their efforts and risks in assisting with the 

prosecution of the Action and in exchange for executing a General Release of Defendant. 

I. “Compensable Workweeks” means the number of workweeks during which Class 

Members worked for Defendant during the Covered Period. Using the Class Data, the Settlement 

Administrator will calculate the number of Compensable Workweeks by calculating the number of 

days each Class Member was employed during the Covered Period, dividing by seven (7), and 

rounding up to the nearest whole number. 

J. “Complaint” means the Complaint filed by Named Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones, 

Emmanuel Berjamin and Romeo Vite on October 30, 2017 in this Action, 

K. “Court” means the United States District Court for the Northern District of 

California. 

L. “Covered Period” means the period from October 30, 2013 through the date upon 

which the Court grants Named Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action 

Settlement. 

M. “Defendant” means PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc., an Ohio corporation. 

N. “Defendant’s Counsel” means Gregory C. Cheng and Carolyn B. Hall of Ogletree, 

Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. 

O. “Effective Date” means: (i) if any timely objections are filed, the date of expiration 

of the time to file appeals regarding an Order granting final approval, or the resolution of any such 

appeals in a way that does not alter the terms of the settlement; or (ii) if no timely objections are 

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3 Case No. 4:18-cv-01503-YGR

STIPULATION OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS 

filed, the date upon which the Court enters the Final Approval Order and Judgment. 

P. “Employer-side Payroll Taxes” means the employer’s portion of FICA, FUTA, and 

all other state and federal payroll taxes, which shall be paid out of the Maximum Settlement 

Amount. 

Q. “Final Approval” means that the Final Approval Order and Judgment have been 

entered by the Court. 

R. “Final Approval Hearing” means the hearing on the Motion for Final Approval of 

the Settlement. 

S. “Final Approval Order and Judgment” means the Order and Judgment Granting 

Final Approval of the Class Settlement, which shall be submitted with the Motion for Final 

Approval of the Settlement. 

T. “Individual Settlement Payment” means the amount payable from the Net 

Settlement Amount to each Settlement Class Member. 

U. “Maximum Settlement Amount” means the maximum amount of Four Hundred 

Forty-Four Thousand Dollars ($444,000.00) that Defendant will pay as a result of this Stipulation 

of Settlement, which shall cover all Individual Settlement Payments, Employer-side Payroll Taxes, 

the Class Representatives Service Awards, the Class Counsel Award, and the Settlement 

Administration Costs. 

V. “Named Plaintiffs” means Edgardo Dones, Emmanuel Berjamin and Romeo Vite. 

W. “Net Settlement Amount” or “NSA” means the Maximum Settlement Amount, less: 

(1) the Class Counsel Award; (2) the Class Representatives Service Awards; (3) Employer-side 

Payroll Taxes; and (4) Settlement Administration Costs. 

X. “Notice” means the Notice of Class Action Settlement to be mailed to the Class 

Members, in a form substantially similar to the form attached hereto as “Exhibit 1.” 

Y. “PAGA” means the California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004. 

Z. “Parties” means Named Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones and Emmanuel Berjamin and 

Defendant, collectively, and “Party” shall mean either Named Plaintiffs or Defendant, individually. 

AA. “Payment Ratio” means the respective Compensable Workweeks for each 

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Settlement Class Member divided by the total Compensable Workweeks for all Settlement Class 

Members. 

BB. “Preliminary Approval Date” means the date the Court enters an order granting 

preliminary approval of the Settlement. 

CC. “Released Claims” means all causes of action that were alleged or reasonably could 

have been alleged in the operative complaint based on the facts, legal theories, or causes of action 

contained therein, including but not limited to all associated claims for: (a) unpaid regular and 

overtime wages; (b) failure to provide proper meal periods, and to properly provide premium pay in 

lieu thereof; (c) failure to provide proper rest breaks, and to properly provide premium pay in lieu 

thereof; (d) waiting time penalties for untimely final pay; (e) improper and/or inaccurate wage 

statements; (f) unfair business practices based on the afore-referenced claims and as alleged in the 

Complaint; (g) the aggrieved employee portion (25%) as to any civil penalties under the Labor Code 

Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) based on the afore-referenced claims; (h) any other claims 

or penalties under the wage and hour laws pleaded in the Action based on the afore-referenced claims 

and as alleged in the Complaint; and (i) all damages, penalties, interest and other amounts recoverable 

under the afore-referenced claims under said causes of action under California and federal law, to the 

extent permissible, as to the facts alleged in the Action, including the applicable Wage Orders as to 

the facts alleged in the Complaint (collectively, the “Released Claims”). The period of the Release 

shall extend to the limits of the Covered Period. The res judicata effect of the Judgment will be the 

same as that of the Release. 

DD. “Released Parties” means Defendant and its past, present and/or future, direct and/or 

indirect, officers, directors, members, managers, employees, agents, representatives, attorneys, 

insurers, partners, investors, shareholders, administrators, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, 

divisions, predecessors, successors, assigns, and joint venturers, including but not limited to “Does 

1 through 25,” as defined in the Complaint. 

EE. “Response Deadline” means the date sixty (60) days after the Settlement 

Administrator mails Notice Packets to Class Members and the last date on which Class Members 

may submit requests for exclusion or objections to the Settlement. 

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FF. “Settlement” means the disposition of the Action pursuant to this Agreement. 

GG. “Settlement Administration Costs” means the fees and expenses reasonably incurred 

by the Settlement Administrator as a result of the procedures and processes expressly required by 

this Agreement, which are not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). 

HH. “Settlement Administrator” means CPT Group, Inc.. 

II. “Settlement Class Members” or “Settlement Class” means all Class Members after 

excluding any person who submits a timely and valid request for exclusion as provided in this 

Agreement. 

II. RECITALS 

A. Class Certification. The Parties stipulate to provisional class certification of the 

Class for purposes of settlement only. If the Court does not grant either preliminary or final 

approval of this settlement, this provisional class certification shall immediately be set aside and 

the Class immediately decertified (subject to further proceedings on motion of any party to certify 

or deny certification thereafter) and this Agreement shall not constitute or be used as evidence that 

class certification is appropriate. If the Court does not grant either preliminary or final approval of 

this settlement, the Parties shall be returned to their respective statuses as of the date and time 

immediately prior to the execution of the Agreement, and the Parties shall proceed in all respects as 

if this Agreement had not been executed, except that any costs actually incurred by the Settlement 

Administrator shall be paid by equal apportionment among the Parties. 

B. Procedural History. On October 30, 2017, Named Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones, 

Emmanuel Berjamin and Romeo Vite filed a putative class action Complaint in the San Francisco 

County Superior Court, alleging claims for Defendant’s failure to pay minimum and overtime 

wages, failure to provide compliant meal and rest periods and associated premium pay; failure to 

timely pay wages, and failure to provide accurate wage statements, along with derivative claims for 

restitution under California Business & Professions Code sections 17200, et seq., and claims for 

interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. On March 8, 2018, Defendant removed the Action to the United 

States District Court for the Northern District of California. On June 21, 2018, Class Counsel 

notified the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency of Defendant’s alleged Labor 

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Code violations and Named Plaintiffs’ intention to seek civil penalties under PAGA. 

C. The Class Representatives believe they have meritorious claims based on alleged 

violations of the California Labor Code, and that class certification is appropriate because the 

prerequisites for class certification can be satisfied in the Action. 

D. Defendant denies any liability or wrongdoing of any kind associated with the claims 

alleged in the Action, disputes the damages and penalties claimed by the Class Representatives, 

and further contends that, for any purpose other than settlement, the Action is not appropriate for 

class or representative action treatment. Defendant contends, among other things, that at all times 

it complied with the California Labor Code, and the Industrial Wage Commission Orders. 

E. On September 6, 2018, the Parties attended a day-long mediation session with 

Mark C. Peters, Esq., a well-respected mediator with experience in mediating wage and hour class 

actions. The mediation did not result in a resolution of the Action on that day. The Parties engaged 

in subsequent discussions which resulted in a complete settlement of this case on November 6, 

2018, as memorialized as to material terms in a Memorandum of Agreement. Based on 

Defendant’s assertion that Named Plaintiff Romeo Vite’s claims were subject to an enforceable 

arbitration agreement, the Parties reached a separate, confidential settlement with Plaintiff Vite, on 

an individual basis. Named Plaintiffs Edgardo Dones and Emmanuel Berjamin are proceeding to 

represent the Class Members, as defined in Section I.C, above. 

F. The Parties believe that the Settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate. The 

Settlement was arrived at through arm’s-length negotiations, taking into account all relevant 

factors. The Parties recognize the uncertainty, risk, expense and delay attendant to continuing the 

Action through trial and any appeal. Accordingly, the Parties desire to fully, finally, and forever 

settle, compromise and discharge all disputes and claims arising from or relating to the Action. 

III. TERMS OF AGREEMENT 

A. Settlement Consideration. Defendant shall pay up to the Maximum Settlement 

Amount. The Parties agree that this is a non-reversionary Settlement and that no portion of the 

Maximum Settlement Amount shall revert to Defendant. In no event shall Defendant be required 

to pay more than the Maximum Settlement Amount. 

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B. Release By All Settlement Class Members. As of the Effective Date, in exchange 

for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, Named Plaintiffs (as used hereinafter, “Named 

Plaintiffs” shall refer to Edgardo Dones and Emmanuel Berjamin) and the Settlement Class 

Members release the Released Parties from the Released Claims for the Covered Period. 

Settlement Class Members hereby expressly waive any recovery under PAGA as an aggrieved 

employee and any right they may have to act as a PAGA representative. Named Plaintiffs and the 

Settlement Class Members may hereafter discover facts or legal arguments in addition to or 

different from those they now know or currently believe to be true with respect to the claims, 

causes of action and legal theories of recovery in this case which are the subject matter of the 

Released Claims. Regardless, the discovery of new facts or legal arguments shall in no way limit 

the scope or definition of the Released Claims, and by virtue of this Agreement, Named Plaintiffs 

and the Settlement Class Members shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the final judgment 

approved by the Court, shall have, fully, finally, and forever settled and released all of the Released 

Claims as defined in this Agreement. 

C. General Release By Named Plaintiffs. As of the Effective Date, in consideration for 

the consideration set forth in this Agreement, Named Plaintiffs, for themselves and their heirs, 

successors and assigns, do hereby waive, release, acquit and forever discharge the Released Parties, 

from any and all claims, actions, charges, complaints, grievances and causes of action, of whatever 

nature, whether known or unknown, which exist or may exist on Named Plaintiffs’ behalf as of the 

date of this Agreement, including but not limited to any and all tort claims, contract claims, wage 

claims, wrongful termination claims, disability claims, benefit claims, public policy claims, 

retaliation claims, statutory claims, personal injury claims, emotional distress claims, invasion of 

privacy claims, defamation claims, fraud claims, quantum meruit claims, and any and all claims 

arising under any federal, state or other governmental statute, law, regulation or ordinance, 

including, but not limited to claims for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the California 

Labor Code, the Wage Orders of California’s Industrial Welfare Commission, other state wage and 

hour laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the 

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California Family Rights Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, California’s Whistleblower 

Protection Act, California Business & Professions Code Section 17200 et seq., the California Labor 

Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004, California Labor Code Section 2699 et seq. 

(“PAGA”), and any and all claims arising under any federal, state or other governmental statute, 

law, regulation or ordinance. Named Plaintiffs hereby expressly waive any right they may have to 

act as a PAGA representative. Named Plaintiffs hereby expressly waive and relinquish any and all 

claims, rights or benefits that they may have under California Civil Code § 1542, which provides as 

follows: A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not 

know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that if known 

by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released 

party. Named Plaintiffs may hereafter discover claims or facts in addition to, or different from, 

those which they now know or believe to exist, but they each expressly agree to fully, finally and 

settle and release any and all claims against the Released Parties, known or unknown, suspected or 

unsuspected, which exist or may exist on behalf of or against the other at the time of execution of 

this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any and all claims relating to or arising from Named 

Plaintiffs’ employment with Defendant. The Parties further acknowledge, understand and agree 

that this representation and commitment is essential to the Agreement and that this Agreement 

would not have been entered into were it not for this representation and commitment. Without 

limiting the scope of this Agreement, each Named Plaintiff, in the event he receives a service 

award, agrees that this Agreement constitutes a knowing and voluntary waiver of any and all rights 

or claims that exist or that each Named Plaintiff may claim to have under the ADEA, as amended 

by the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.). Each Named 

Plaintiff acknowledges all of the following: 

1. The consideration provided pursuant to this Agreement, including the 

possibility of a service award, is in addition to any consideration that he would otherwise be 

entitled to receive; 

2. Each Named Plaintiff has been and is advised in writing to consult with an 

attorney prior to signing this Agreement; 

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3. Each Named Plaintiff has been provided a full and ample opportunity to 

study this Agreement, including a period of at least twenty-one (21) calendar days within which to 

consider it; 

4. To the extent that either Named Plaintiff takes fewer than twenty-one (21) 

calendar days to consider this Agreement prior to signing it, such Named Plaintiff acknowledges 

that he had sufficient time to consider this Agreement with legal counsel and that he expressly, 

voluntarily, and knowingly waives the full twenty-one (21) calendar-day period; 

5. Each Named Plaintiff agrees that any changes made to the Agreement during 

the twenty-one (21) day period (whether material or immaterial) do not restart the running of the 

twenty-one (21) day period; and 

6. Each Named Plaintiff is aware of his right to revoke this waiver of claims 

under the ADEA any time within the seven (7) calendar-day period following the date of full 

execution of this Agreement and that the waiver of claims under the ADEA shall not become 

effective or enforceable until the seven (7) calendar-day revocation-period expires. 

Notwithstanding each Named Plaintiff’s right to revoke the waiver of claims under the ADEA, the 

remainder of the terms of this Agreement shall become effective and enforceable as of the date the 

Parties sign this Agreement. 

7. To be effective, timely notice of revocation of the waiver of ADEA claims 

must be made in writing and delivered to Defendant through its counsel, Gregory C. Cheng, Esq., 

at Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, P.C., One Market Plaza, Steuart Tower, Suite 1300, 

San Francisco, California 94105, no later than the seventh (7th) day after the date of Preliminary 

Approval. Each Named Plaintiff agrees to keep written documentation proving that such Named 

Plaintiff revoked this Agreement as provided in this paragraph, either by keeping the documents 

attesting to the delivery of the revocation, or verification that the fax was, in fact, received. 

D. Conditions Precedent: This Settlement will become final and effective only upon 

the occurrence of all of the following events: 

1. The Court enters an order granting preliminary approval of the Settlement; 

2. The Court enters a Final Approval Order and Judgment; 

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3. The time for appeal of the Final Approval Order and Judgment expires; or, if 

an appeal is timely filed, there is a final resolution of any appeal from the Final Approval Order 

and Judgment; and 

4. Defendant does not invoke its right to revoke the Settlement as described in 

paragraph III(O) herein. 

E. Nullification of Settlement Agreement. In the event that this Settlement Agreement 

is not preliminarily or finally approved by the Court, fails to become effective (as set forth in 

Section III.D) , or is reversed, withdrawn or modified by the Court, or in any way prevents or 

prohibits Defendant from obtaining a complete resolution of the claims as described herein: 

1. This Settlement Agreement shall be void ab initio and of no force or effect, 

and shall not be admissible in any judicial, administrative or arbitral proceeding for any purpose or 

with respect to any issue, substantive or procedural; 

2. The conditional class certification (obtained for any purpose) shall be void 

ab initio and of no force or effect, and shall not be admissible in any judicial, administrative or 

arbitral proceeding for any purpose or with respect to any issue, substantive or procedural; and 

3. None of the Parties to this Settlement will be deemed to have waived any 

claims, objections, defenses or arguments in the Action, including with respect to the issue of class 

certification. 

F. Certification of the Class. The Parties stipulate to conditional class certification of 

the Class for the Covered Period for purposes of settlement only. In the event that this stipulation 

is not approved by the Court, fails to become effective, or is reversed, withdrawn or modified by 

the Court, or in any way prevents or prohibits Defendant from obtaining a complete resolution of 

the claims as described herein, the conditional class certification (obtained for settlement purposes) 

shall be void ab initio and of no force or effect, and shall not be admissible in any judicial, 

administrative or arbitral proceeding for any purpose or with respect to any issue, substantive or 

procedural. 

G. Tax Liability. The Parties make no representations as to the tax treatment or legal 

effect of the payments called for hereunder, and Settlement Class Members are not relying on any 

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statement or representation by the Parties in this regard. Settlement Class Members understand and 

agree that they will be responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties assessed on the Individual 

Settlement Payments described herein and will hold the Parties free and harmless from and against any 

claims, liabilities, costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees, resulting in any way from personal tax 

treatment of the payments made pursuant to this Agreement, including the treatment of such payments 

as not subject to withholding or deduction for payroll and employment taxes. 

H. Circular 230 Disclaimer. Each Party to this Agreement (for purposes of this section, 

the “acknowledging party” and each Party to this Agreement other than the acknowledging party, 

an “other party”) acknowledges and agrees that: (1) no provision of this Agreement, and no written 

communication or disclosure between or among the Parties or their attorneys and other advisers, is 

or was intended to be, nor shall any such communication or disclosure constitute or be construed or 

be relied upon as, tax advice within the meaning of United States Treasury Department circular 230 

(31 CFR part 10, as amended); (2) the acknowledging party (a) has relied exclusively upon his, her 

or its own, independent legal and tax counsel for advice (including tax advice) in connection with 

this Agreement, (b) has not entered into this Agreement based upon the recommendation of any 

other Party or any attorney or advisor to any other Party, and (c) is not entitled to rely upon any 

communication or disclosure by any attorney or adviser to any other party to avoid any tax penalty 

that may be imposed on the acknowledging party, and (3) no attorney or adviser to any other Party 

has imposed any limitation that protects the confidentiality of any such attorney’s or adviser’s tax 

strategies (regardless of whether such limitation is legally binding) upon disclosure by the 

acknowledging party of the tax treatment or tax structure of any transaction, including any 

transaction contemplated by this Agreement. 

I. Preliminary Approval Motion. At the earliest practicable time, Named Plaintiffs 

shall file with the Court a Motion for Preliminary Approval of the Settlement and supporting 

papers, which shall include this Settlement Agreement. Class Counsel shall provide a copy of the 

draft Motion for Preliminary Approval of the Settlement to Defendant’s Counsel for review three 

(3) business days before filing it with the Court. Defendant shall timely file a Statement of NonOpposition to the Motion for Preliminary Approval of the Settlement. The Parties and their counsel 

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will cooperate with each other and use their best efforts to obtain the Court’s approval of the 

Motion for Preliminary Approval of the Settlement. 

J. Settlement Administrator. 

1. The Settlement Administrator shall be responsible for: (a) preparing and 

mailing the CAFA Notice (as set forth below); (b) printing and mailing the Notice to the Class 

Members as directed by the Court; (c) receiving and reporting the objections and requests for 

exclusion; (d) processing and mailing payments to the Class Representatives, Class Counsel, and 

Settlement Class Members; (e) distributing tax forms; (f) processing and mailing tax payments to 

the appropriate state and federal taxing authorities; (g) providing declaration(s) as necessary in 

support of preliminary and/or final approval of this Settlement; and (h) other tasks as the Parties 

mutually agree or the Court orders the Settlement Administrator to perform. The Settlement 

Administrator shall keep the Parties timely apprised of the performance of all Settlement 

Administrator responsibilities. 

2. The Settlement Administrator shall translate, prepare, and send to the Class 

Members a version of the Court-approved Notice that is in English and Spanish. Effective from the 

date of the first mailing of the Notice to the date of the Final Approval Hearing, the Settlement 

Administrator shall establish and operate a telephone support line that can assist English and 

Spanish speakers. 

3. Effective from the date of the first mailing of the Notice to the date that is 

fourteen (14) calendar days after the expiration of the Individual Settlement Payment checks to 

Settlement Class Members, the Settlement Administrator shall post the following on its website for 

the Settlement: 

a. the Complaint; 

b. a copy of the Settlement Agreement; 

c. a copy of all papers filed in support of preliminary approval of the 

Settlement (which may be combined into one file); 

d. a copy of the preliminary approval order and all other orders by the 

Court regarding the Settlement; 

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e. an exemplar of the Court-approved Notice in English and Spanish. 

f. a copy of all papers filed in support of final approval of the 

Settlement (which may be combined into one file); 

g. a copy of the Final Approval Order and Judgment (after it has been 

entered and filed); and 

h. any other notices or documents as the Court may require. 

K. CAFA Notice. Within ten (10) calendar days after the Named Plaintiffs Edgardo 

Dones and Emmanuel Berjamin file their motion for preliminary approval of the Settlement, the 

Settlement Administrator, on behalf of Defendant, will mail a notice of proposed settlement 

pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (“CAFA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1715 (“CAFA Notice”) 

to the Attorney General of the United States, the Attorney General of the State of California, and 

the Attorney General of any state where a Class Member resides. 

L. Notice Procedure. 

1. Class Data. No later than fourteen (14) calendar days after the Preliminary 

Approval Date, Defendant shall provide the Settlement Administrator with the Class Data for 

purposes of preparing and mailing the Notice to Class Members. The Class Data shall be 

confidential. The Settlement Administrator shall not provide the Class Data to Class Counsel or 

Named Plaintiffs, except as required to monitor the administration of the notice process and 

preparation of papers for submission to the Court, or any third party, or use the Class Data or any 

information contained therein for any purpose other than to administer this Settlement. 

2. Notice to Class Members. 

a. The Notice of Class Action Settlement in a form substantially similar 

to the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1, shall inform Class Members that in order to receive an 

Individual Settlement Payment if the Court grants final approval of the Settlement, they do not 

need to do anything except to keep the Settlement Administrator apprised of their current mailing 

addresses. The Notice of Class Action Settlement shall also set forth the release to be given by all 

members of the Class who do not request to be excluded from the Settlement. 

b. The Notice of Class Action Settlement shall also include the Class 

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Member’s starting and ending dates of employment during the Class Period, the number of 

Compensable Workweeks, and the estimated amount of his or her Individual Settlement Payment if 

he or she does not request to be excluded from the Settlement. The Settlement Administrator shall 

use the Class Data to determine the dates of employment, calculate the number of Compensable 

Workweeks, and calculate the estimated Individual Settlement Payment for each Class Member.

3. Notice By First Class U.S. Mail. Upon receipt of the Class Data, the 

Settlement Administrator will perform a search based on the National Change of Address Database 

to update and correct any known or identifiable address changes. No later than twenty-one (21) 

calendar days after receiving the Class Data from Defendant as provided herein, the Settlement 

Administrator shall mail copies of the Notice to all Class Members via regular First Class U.S. 

Mail. The Settlement Administrator shall exercise its best judgment to determine the current 

mailing address for each Class Member. The address identified by the Settlement Administrator as 

the current mailing address shall be presumed to be the best mailing address for each Class 

Member. 

4. Undeliverable Notices. Any Notice returned to the Settlement Administrator 

as non-delivered on or before the Response Deadline shall be re-mailed to the forwarding address 

affixed thereto. If no forwarding address is provided, the Settlement Administrator shall promptly 

attempt to determine a correct address by lawful use of skip-tracing, or other search using the 

name, address and/or Social Security number of the Class Member involved, and shall then 

promptly perform a re-mailing, if another mailing address is identified by the Settlement 

Administrator. Class Members who received a re-mailed Notice shall have their Response 

Deadline extended fifteen (15) calendar days from the original Response Deadline. 

5. Disputes Regarding Individual Settlement Payments. Class Members will 

have the opportunity, should they disagree with Defendant’s records regarding the dates of 

employment stated on their Notice, to provide documentation and/or an explanation to show 

contrary employment dates. Any such dispute must contain: (1) the Class Member’s full name and 

address; (2) the case name and number; (3) a clear statement indicating that the Class Member 

wishes to dispute the dates of employment attributed to him or her; and (4) the dates of 

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employment the Class Member contends are correct, together with any supporting documents or 

information. The Parties agree that disputes will not be rejected for technical failure to meet the 

requirements set forth herein, as long as the Class Member can be identified through Defendant’s 

records. The Settlement Administrator will consult with Defendant in order to determine whether 

the Class Member can be identified. If there is a dispute, the Settlement Administrator will consult 

with the Parties to determine whether an adjustment is warranted. The Settlement Administrator 

shall determine the eligibility for, and the amounts of, any Individual Settlement Payments under 

the terms of this Agreement. The Settlement Administrator’s determination of the eligibility for 

and amount of any Individual Settlement Payment shall be binding upon the Settlement Class 

Member and the Parties. 

6. Disputes Regarding Administration of Settlement. Any disputes not 

resolved by the Settlement Administrator concerning the administration of the Settlement will be 

resolved by the Court under the laws of the State of California. Prior to any such involvement of 

the Court, counsel for the Parties will confer in good faith to resolve the disputes without the 

necessity of involving the Court.

7. No Claim Form Required. Class Members are not required to submit a 

claim form to receive an Individual Settlement Payment. The Notice of Class Action Settlement 

shall state that Class Members who wish to receive Individual Settlement Payments need not do 

anything except to keep the Settlement Administrator apprised of a current mailing address in order 

to receive an Individual Settlement Payment check following the Effective Date of the Settlement.

8. Exclusions. The Notice of Class Action Settlement shall state that Class 

Members who wish to exclude themselves from the Settlement must submit a written request for 

exclusion by the Response Deadline. The written request for exclusion must: (1) contain the name, 

address, telephone number and the last four digits of the Social Security or the full employee ID 

number of the person requesting exclusion; (2) be signed by the Class Member or his or her legal 

representative; (3) be postmarked or fax stamped by the Response Deadline and returned to the 

Settlement Administrator at the specified address or fax telephone number; and (4) contain a 

typewritten or handwritten statement that the Class Member wishes to be excluded from the 

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Settlement. Notwithstanding the requirements set forth herein, the Parties agree that any timely 

requests for exclusion which unambiguously express the Class Member’s intention to opt out will 

generally be honored. However, requests for exclusion will not be valid if they are not timely 

submitted. The date of the postmark or fax-stamp on the request for exclusion shall be the 

exclusive means used to determine whether the request for exclusion was timely submitted. In the 

case of other technical deficiency, the Settlement Administrator will evaluate the request for 

exclusion and decide whether it is valid, and, if necessary, the Settlement Administrator will 

present it to the Court to decide. Any Class Member who requests to be excluded from the 

Settlement will not be entitled to any recovery under the Settlement and will not be bound by the 

terms of the Settlement or have any right to object, appeal or comment thereon. Class Members 

who fail to submit a valid and timely written request for exclusion on or before the Response 

Deadline shall be bound by all terms of the Settlement and any final judgment entered in this 

Action if the Settlement is approved by the Court. No later than fourteen (14) calendar days after 

the Response Deadline, the Settlement Administrator shall provide counsel for the Parties with the 

final number of Class Members who have timely submitted written requests for exclusion. At no 

time shall any of the Parties or their counsel seek to solicit or otherwise encourage members of the 

Class to submit requests for exclusion from the Settlement.

9. Objections. The Notice of Class Action Settlement shall state that Class 

Members who do not seek to exclude themselves from the Settlement (i.e. Settlement Class 

Members), and who wish to object to the Settlement must file a written objection and supporting 

papers (“Notice of Objection” or “Written Objection”). Any Notice of Objection must (a) clearly 

identify the case name and number, (b) be submitted to the Court either by mailing the Notice of 

Objection to the Class Action Clerk, United States District Court for the Northern District of 

California, or by filing the Notice of Objection in person at any location of the United States 

District Court for the Northern District of California, on or before the Response Deadline. 

Settlement Class Members who fail to file objections in the manner specified above shall be 

deemed to have waived any objections and shall be foreclosed from making any objections 

(whether by appeal or otherwise) to the Settlement. Settlement Class Members who file a timely 

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Notice of Objection will have a right to appear at the Final Approval Hearing in order to have their 

objections heard by the Court and may appear through their own attorney at the Settlement Class 

Member’s expense. No Settlement Class Member may appear at the Final Approval Hearing 

unless he or she has filed a timely written objection that complies with the procedures provided in 

this Section. At no time shall any of the Parties or their counsel seek to solicit or otherwise 

encourage Class Members to file written objections to the Settlement or appeal from the Final 

Approval Order and Judgment. Class Members who submit a written request for exclusion are not 

entitled to object to the Settlement. 

M. Funding and Allocation of the Maximum Settlement Amount. Defendant is 

required to pay the sum of the Individual Settlement Payments, the Class Representatives Service 

Awards, the Class Counsel Award, Employer-Side Payroll Taxes, and the Settlement 

Administration Costs, as specified in this Agreement and as approved by the Court, up to the 

Maximum Settlement Amount. 

1. Funding Due Dates. Defendant shall fund the Maximum Settlement Amount 

in two equal installments, payable to the Settlement Administrator as follows: (a) the first payment 

of $222,000.00 shall be made within ten (10) business days of the date the Court issues the Final 

Approval Order and Judgment; and (b) the second and final payment of $222,000.00 shall be 

made sixty (60) calendar days after the first payment is made. 

2. Individual Settlement Payments. Individual Settlement Payments shall be 

paid from the Net Settlement Amount and shall be paid pursuant to the formula set forth herein. 

a. Calculation of Estimated Individual Settlement Payments. Using the 

Class Data, the Settlement Administrator will calculate the total Compensable Workweeks for all 

Class Members. The respective Compensable Workweeks for each Class Member will be divided 

by the total Compensable Workweeks for all Settlement Class Members, resulting in the Payment 

Ratio for each Settlement Class Member. Each Class Member’s Payment Ratio will then be 

multiplied by the estimated Net Settlement Amount to calculate each Class Member’s estimated 

Individual Settlement Payments. 

b. Calculation of Individual Settlement Payments. Using the Class 

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Data, or using the Compensable Workweeks calculated based on disputed and subsequently 

approved alternative employment dates (where dates of employment have been disputed by a 

Settlement Class Member in accordance with this Agreement), the Settlement Administrator will 

calculate the total Compensable Workweeks for all Settlement Class Members. The respective 

Compensable Workweeks for each Settlement Class Member will be divided by the total 

Compensable Workweeks for all Settlement Class Members, resulting in the Payment Ratio for 

each Settlement Class Member. Each Settlement Class Member’s Payment Ratio will then be 

multiplied by the Net Settlement Amount to calculate each Settlement Class Member’s Individual 

Settlement Payments. 

c. Allocation. For tax purposes, Individual Settlement Payments shall 

be allocated and treated as follows: (i) twenty percent (20%) as wages (reported on IRS Form W2); (ii) forty percent (40%) as penalties (reported on IRS Form 1099) and (iii) forty percent (40%) 

as interest (reported on IRS Form 1099). Prior to issuance of payment to Settlement Class 

Members, each Individual Settlement Payment shall be reduced for the employee’s share of taxes 

and withholding with respect to the wage-portion of the Individual Settlement Payment. 

d. Mailing. All Individual Settlement Payment checks shall be mailed 

by regular First Class U.S. Mail to Settlement Class Members’ last known mailing address no later 

than fourteen (14) calendar days after the Effective Date. 

e. Expiration. Any Individual Settlement Payment checks issued to 

Settlement Class Members shall remain valid and negotiable for one hundred and eighty (180) 

calendar days from the date of their issuance. In the event that an Individual Settlement Payment 

check has not been negotiated within one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days, the check shall 

be voided and funds associated with such voided checks plus any accrued interest that has not 

otherwise been distributed, shall be awarded to Instituto Laboral de la Raza. 

3. Class Representatives Service Awards. Defendant agrees not to oppose or 

object to any application or motion by Named Plaintiffs for a Class Representative Service Award 

of up to Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) to each Named Plaintiff in exchange for the Released 

Claims and a General Release and for their time, effort and risk in bringing and prosecuting this 

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matter. The Settlement Administrator shall pay the Class Representatives Service Awards to 

Named Plaintiffs from the Maximum Settlement Fund no later than fourteen (14) calendar days 

after the Effective Date. Any portion of the requested Class Representatives Service Awards that is 

not awarded to the Class Representatives shall be part of the Net Settlement Amount and shall be 

distributed to Settlement Class Members as provided in this Agreement. The Settlement 

Administrator shall issue an IRS Form 1099 — MISC to each of the Named Plaintiffs for his 

respective Class Representative Service Award. Each Named Plaintiff shall be solely and legally 

responsible to pay any and all applicable taxes on his Class Representative Service Award and 

shall hold harmless Defendant from any claim or liability for taxes, penalties, or interest arising as 

a result of the Class Representative Service Award. The Class Representatives Service Awards 

shall be in addition to each of the Named Plaintiff’s respective Individual Settlement Payment as a 

Settlement Class Member. In the event that the Court reduces or does not approve the requested 

Class Representatives Service Awards, Plaintiff shall not have the right to revoke the Settlement, 

and it will remain binding.

4. Class Counsel Award. Defendant agrees not to oppose or object to any 

application or motion by Class Counsel for attorneys’ fees not to exceed thirty percent (30%) of 

the Maximum Settlement Amount ($133,200.00 out of $444,000.00), plus actual costs and 

expenses supported by declaration, from the Maximum Settlement Amount. Any portion of the 

requested Class Counsel Award that is not awarded to Class Counsel shall be part of the Net 

Settlement Amount and shall be distributed to Settlement Class Members as provided in this 

Agreement. The Settlement Administrator shall pay the Class Counsel Award to Class Counsel 

from the Maximum Settlement Amount no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after the Effective 

Date. Class Counsel shall be solely and legally responsible to pay all applicable taxes on the 

payment made pursuant to this paragraph. The Settlement Administrator shall issue an IRS Form 

1099 — MISC to Class Counsel for the payments made pursuant to this paragraph. In the event 

that the Court reduces or does not approve the requested Class Counsel Award, Named Plaintiffs 

and Class Counsel shall not have the right to revoke the Settlement, or to appeal such order, and the 

Settlement will remain binding. 

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5. Settlement Administration Costs. The Settlement Administrator shall be 

paid for the costs of administration of the Settlement from the Maximum Settlement Amount, not 

to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). The Settlement Administrator shall be paid the 

Settlement Administration Costs no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after Defendant provide 

funds to the Settlement Administrator for disbursement under this Agreement.

N. Final Approval Motion. At the earliest practicable time following the expiration of 

the Response Deadline, Named Plaintiffs shall file with the Court a Motion for Final Approval of 

Settlement, which motion shall request final approval of the Settlement and the amounts payable 

for the Class Representatives Service Awards, the Class Counsel Award, the Settlement 

Administration Costs, and also seek entry of a Final Approval Order and Judgment. 

1. Review of Motion for Final Approval. Class Counsel will provide an 

opportunity for Defendant’s Counsel to review the Motion for Final Approval of Settlement prior 

to filing with the Court. The Parties and their counsel will cooperate with each other and use their 

best efforts to obtain the Court’s approval of the Motion for Final Approval of the Settlement. 

2. Declaration by Settlement Administrator. The Settlement Administrator 

shall submit a declaration in support of Named Plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval of the 

Settlement detailing: (a) the number of Notices mailed and re-mailed to Class Members; (b) the 

number of undeliverable Notices; (c) the number of timely requests for exclusion; (d) the number 

of objections submitted; (e) the amount of the highest and average Individual Settlement Payments, 

the Settlement Administration Costs; and (f) any other information as the Parties mutually agree or 

the Court orders the Settlement Administrator to provide. 

O. Defendant’s Option to Terminate Settlement. If, after the Response Deadline and 

before the Final Approval Hearing, the number of Class Members who submitted timely and valid 

written requests for exclusion from the Settlement is at least ten percent (10%) of all Class 

Members, Defendant shall have, in its sole discretion, the option to terminate this Settlement. If 

Defendant exercises the option to terminate this Settlement, Defendant shall: (a) provide written 

notice to Class Counsel prior to the Final Approval Hearing and no later than seven (7) calendar 

days after receiving notice from the Settlement Administrator of the number of Class Members 

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who have submitted timely and valid requests for exclusion; (b) pay all Settlement Administration 

Costs incurred up to the date or as a result of the termination; and (c) the Parties shall proceed in all 

respects as if this Agreement had not been executed. 

P. Dispute Resolution Concerning Enforcement of the Terms of This Settlement 

Agreement. Except as provided herein, all disputes concerning the interpretation, calculation or 

payment of settlement shares, or other disputes regarding compliance with this Settlement 

Agreement shall be resolved as follows: if Named Plaintiffs or Class Counsel, on behalf of Named 

Plaintiffs or any Class Member, or Defendant at any time contend that the other Party has breached 

or acted contrary to the Settlement Agreement, that Party shall notify the other Party in writing of 

the alleged violation. Upon receiving notice of the alleged violation or dispute, the responding 

Party shall have ten (10) calendar days to correct the alleged violation and/or respond to the 

initiating Party with the reasons why the Party disputes all or part of the allegation. If the response 

does not address the alleged violation to the initiating Party's satisfaction, the Parties shall negotiate 

in good faith for up to ten (10) calendar days to resolve their differences and shall present any and 

all application(s) and/or stipulation(s) to the Court as may be necessary to effectuate their 

resolution and obtain the Court’s approval. If the Parties are unable to resolve their differences 

within thirty (30) calendar days after the writing which notified them of the alleged violation, either 

Party may elect to file (l) an appropriate motion for enforcement with the Court, or (2) take any 

other legal action to enforce this Settlement Agreement, including and not limited to, pursuant to 

the Court’s continuing jurisdiction pursuant to California Rule of Court 3.769 and as stated in 

Section Z herein. 

Q. Cooperation. The Parties and their counsel will cooperate with each other and use 

their best efforts to effect the implementation of the Settlement. 

R. Interim Stay of Proceedings. The Parties agree to stay all proceedings in the Action, 

except such proceedings necessary to implement and complete the Settlement, pending the Final 

Approval Hearing to be conducted by the Court. 

S. Amendment or Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified only 

by a written instrument signed by counsel for all Parties or their successors-in-interest. 

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T. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the attached Exhibit constitute the entire 

Agreement among the Parties, and no oral or written representations, warranties or inducements 

have been made to any Party concerning this Agreement or its Exhibit other than the 

representations, warranties and covenants contained and memorialized in the Agreement and its 

Exhibit. 

U. Authorization to Enter Into Settlement Agreement. Counsel for all Parties warrant 

and represent they are expressly authorized by the Parties whom they represent to negotiate this 

Agreement and to take all appropriate actions required or permitted to be taken by such Parties 

pursuant to this Agreement to effectuate its terms, and to execute any other documents required to 

effectuate the terms of this Agreement. The person signing this Agreement on behalf of Defendant 

represents and warrant that they are authorized to sign this Agreement on behalf of Defendant. 

Each Named Plaintiff represents and warrants that he is authorized to sign this Agreement and that 

he has not assigned any claim, or part of a claim, covered by this Settlement to a third-party. 

V. Binding on Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and 

inure to the benefit of, the successors or assigns of the Parties hereto, as previously defined. 

W. California Law Governs. All terms of this Agreement and the Exhibits hereto and 

any disputes arising hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted according to the laws of the 

State of California. 

X. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts. All 

executed counterparts and each of them shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument 

provided that counsel for the Parties to this Agreement shall exchange among themselves copies or 

originals of the signed counterparts. 

Y. This Settlement Is Fair, Adequate and Reasonable. The Parties believe this 

Settlement is a fair, adequate and reasonable settlement of this Action and have arrived at this 

Settlement after extensive arms-length negotiations, taking into account all relevant factors, present 

and potential. 

Z. Jurisdiction of the Court. The Parties agree that pursuant to California Rule of 

Court 3.769(h) the Court shall retain jurisdiction with respect to the interpretation, implementation 

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and enforcement of the terms of this Agreement and all orders and judgments entered in connection 

therewith, and the Parties and their counsel hereto submit to the jurisdiction of the Court for 

purposes of interpreting, implementing and enforcing the settlement embodied in this Agreement 

and all orders and judgments entered in connection therewith. 

AA. Invalidity of Any Provision. Before declaring any provision of this Agreement 

invalid, the Court shall first attempt to construe the provisions valid to the fullest extent possible 

consistent with applicable precedents so as to define all provisions of this Agreement valid and 

enforceable. 

BB. Publicity. Named Plaintiffs and Class Counsel agree not to disclose or publicize the 

Settlement, including the fact of the Settlement, its terms or contents, and the negotiations 

underlying the Settlement, in any manner or form, directly or indirectly, to any person or entity, 

and Class Members. For the avoidance of doubt, this section means Named Plaintiffs and Class 

Counsel agree not to issue press releases, communicate with, whether by publication either in print 

or electronic format, video recording or any other medium, any media or publication entities or any 

person related thereto, concerning the Settlement, including the fact of the Settlement, its terms or 

contents and the negotiations underlying the Settlement, except as shall be contractually required to 

effectuate the terms of the Settlement as set forth herein. However, for the limited purpose of 

allowing Class Counsel to prove adequacy as class counsel in other actions, Class Counsel may 

reference the Settlement without stating the name of the Parties in this Action, for such purposes. 

CC. No Unalleged Claims. Named Plaintiffs and Class Counsel represent that represent 

that they do not currently intend to pursue any claims against Defendant, including, but not limited 

to, any and all claims relating to or arising from Named Plaintiffs’ employment with Defendant, 

and that Named Plaintiffs’ Counsel is not currently aware of any facts or legal theories upon which 

any claims or causes of action could be brought against Defendant, excepting those facts or legal 

theories alleged in the operative complaint in this Action. The Parties further acknowledge, 

understand and agree that this representation is essential to the Agreement and that this Agreement 

would not have been entered into were it not for this representation. 

DD. Waiver of Certain Appeals. The Parties agree to waive appeals regarding, and to 

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stipulate to, class certification for purposes of this settlement only. 

EE. No Admissions. Named Plaintiffs have claimed and continue to claim that the 

Action has merit and gives rise to liability on the part of Defendant. Defendant claims that the 

Action has no merit and does not give rise to liability. This Agreement is a compromise of 

disputed claims. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no documents referred to herein and no 

action taken to carry out this Agreement may be construed or used as an admission by or against 

the Defendant or Named Plaintiffs or Class Counsel as to the merits or lack thereof of the claims 

asserted. 

[Signatures follow on the next page.] 

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