Court Opinion

ID: 4446572
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-14 12:01:29.340866+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:22.202185
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                             No. 15-938
                                      Filed: October 11, 2019

                                                   )
    BRUCE CIAPESSONI, ELISA                        )
    CIAPESSONI, BOB F. HANSEN,                     )
    HANSEN ENTERPRISES, R&H                        )
    AGRI-ENTERPRISES, ELDORA ROSSI,                )
    ROSSI & CIAPESSONI FARMS, and                  )
    ROSSI & ROSSI, on behalf of themselves         )
    and all others similarly situated, et al,      )
                                                   )
                      Plaintiffs,                  )
                                                   )
            v.                                     )
                                                   )
    THE UNITED STATES,                             )
                                                   )
                      Defendant.                   )
                                                   )

           ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR FINAL APPROVAL
                  OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

       Pursuant to Rule 23(e) of the Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims (RCFC),
the Court has reviewed Plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval of Class Action Settlement
Agreement and supporting filings, including the Settlement Agreement1 dated as of July 15,
2019 (Dkt. No. 82-1), which sets forth the terms and conditions for the proposed settlement of
this matter.

       Based upon the Court’s review, the arguments of counsel and the findings below, the
Court being fully advised in the premises finds good cause to grant the motion, and thus IT IS
HEREBY ORDERED, DECREED, AND ADJUDGED AS FOLLOWS:

      1. The Court has jurisdiction over the subject-matter of this action, the Parties, and all
         Settlement Class Members and all Persons who obtain releases as a result of the
         Settlement Agreement.

      2. As confirmed by the declaration filed with the Court by KCC Class Action Services, LLC
         (“KCC”), the Court-appointed Settlement Administrator, the Notice Plan was

1
        All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as those
set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
   implemented as directed by the Settlement Agreement and the Court’s July 18, 2019
   preliminary approval order (Dkt. No. 83), as follows: (a) KCC sent direct notice of the
   Settlement Agreement via First Class U.S. Mail to the last known postal addresses of all
   persons within the Class, including 4,853 Settlement Notices, 1,303 Affiliate Settlement
   Notices, and 1,337 Deemed Settlement Notices; (b) KCC sent direct notice of the
   Settlement Agreement to email addresses of persons in the Class for whom KCC had
   email addresses, including 97 Settlement Notices; (c) Internet notice was provided to the
   Class at the settlement website www.reserveraisinsclassaction.com, established and
   maintained by KCC, an informational and interactive website specific to the case that
   provided access to copies of the Settlement Notice, the Affiliate Settlement Notice, the
   Deemed Settlement Notice, the Settlement Agreement, a withdrawal form for Affiliate
   Class Members, and other related Court and settlement documents.

3. Notice of the settlement, pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and the July 18, 2019
   preliminary approval order, was the best notice practicable under the circumstances and
   constituted due, sufficient, and reasonable notice to the Class and complied fully with the
   requirements of RCFC 23 and of Due Process. The Notice apprised the Class of the
   items required by RCFC 23(c)(2)(B), the key terms of the Settlement Agreement, Class
   Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of expenses, Plaintiffs’ request
   for Time and Effort Amounts, and Settlement Class Members’ rights to object to the
   Settlement Agreement, to Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement
   of expenses, and/or to Plaintiffs’ request for Time and Effort Amounts.

4. The Settlement Administrator received two comments in full support of the Settlement
   from Sun-Maid Growers of California (“Sun-Maid”) and the Raisin Bargaining
   Association (“RBA”). The deadline for objections has passed. No Settlement Class
   Members have objected to the Settlement Agreement, the Plaintiffs’ request for a Fee and
   Expense Award, or the Plaintiffs’ request for Time and Effort Amounts. In addition, no
   Settlement Class Member served a notice of intent to appear at the Fairness Hearing.
   This lack of opposition to the Settlement Agreement supports final approval.

5. The Court finds that Sun-Maid and the RBA validly opted in on behalf of their members.
   Each of their members (i) who was a member of the certified class defined in Paragraphs
   16 and 17 of the Settlement Agreement and (ii) did not withdraw from participation as
   explained in Paragraph (6) below, is included in the Settlement Class, is bound by the
   Settlement Agreement, including the releases, and shall be paid by the Settlement
   Administrator his, her, or its respective Settlement Amount Share from the Settlement
   Amount.

6. The Settlement Agreement provides that Sun-Maid and RBA members that previously
   requested in writing not to participate in the settlement, or that timely withdrew from the
   settlement pursuant to Paragraph 46 of the Settlement Agreement, are not Affiliate Class
   Members and as a result are not Settlement Class Members, bound by the Settlement
   Agreement, and shall not be paid anything by the Settlement Administrator. Class
   Counsel has provided to Defendant the list of ten (10) Sun-Maid members that previously
   requested in writing not to participate in the settlement and the list of seven (7) Sun-Maid

                                             2
   and RBA members that timely withdrew from the settlement pursuant to Paragraph 46 of
   the Settlement Agreement. No Affiliate Class Member served an untimely request to
   withdraw.

7. As of October 7, 2019, a total of 143 Agreement to Be Bound forms were received by the
   Settlement Administrator from potential Deemed Settlement Class Members. Of this
   total, 125 were timely postmarked, 2 were postmarked on September 3, 2019, and 16
   were postmarked after September 3, 2019. With the consent of the parties, and
   notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Settlement Agreement, the Court declares
   that Agreement to Be Bound forms received by the Settlement Administrator by October
   7, 2019, are timely and that those persons or entities who submitted the 143 Agreement to
   Be Bound forms are hereby designated Deemed Settlement Class Members in accordance
   with Paragraph 49 of the Settlement Agreement. The Supplemental Settlement Amount
   is therefore $882,351.60.

8. In accordance with RCFC 23(e)(4), Opt-In Class Members that were not Affiliate Class
   Members were provided notice of their opportunity to request withdrawal from the
   settlement. No such withdrawal requests were received.

9. In accordance with RCFC 23(e)(3), the Parties disclosed the existence of a fee sharing
   agreement between Class Counsel and Brian C. Leighton. The Court finds that Class
   Counsel may apportion the Fee and Expense Award in accordance with the terms of that
   agreement.

10. Under RCFC 23(e), a class action may be settled only with the Court’s approval. The
    Court may approve the settlement only after finding that the proposed settlement is fair,
    reasonable, and adequate. RCFC 23(e)(2). In general, “[s]ettlement is always favored,”
    especially in class actions where the avoidance of formal litigation can save valuable time
    and resources. Sabo v. United States, 102 Fed. Cl. 619, 626 (2011). “Settlement
    proposals enjoy a presumption of fairness afforded by a court’s preliminary fairness
    determination.” Id. A court has discretion to accept or reject a proposed settlement, but
    it may not alter the proposed settlement, nor may it decide the merits of the case or
    resolve unsettled legal questions. Adams v. United States, 107 Fed. Cl. 74, 75–76 (2012).
    By order dated July 18, 2019, the Court previously found, subject to a final
    determination, that the Settlement Agreement was fair, adequate, and reasonable. (Dkt.
    No. 83). The Court hereby gives final approval to the Settlement Agreement and finds
    that the Settlement Agreement is, in all respects, fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the
    best interests of the Class pursuant to RCFC 23(e) and hereby directs that it shall be
    effectuated in accordance with its terms. The Settlement Agreement and every term and
    provision thereof shall be deemed incorporated as if explicitly set forth herein and shall
    have the full force of an Order of this Court, except as otherwise modified by this order.

11. Pursuant to RCFC 23(e)(2), the Court finds that (i) the class representatives and Class
    Counsel have adequately represented the Class; (ii) the Settlement Agreement is the
    product of good faith negotiations at arm’s length and is not the product of fraud or
    collusion; (iii) the relief provided to the class, including the Settlement Amount and

                                             3
   Supplemental Settlement Amount, is adequate, taking into account the costs, risks, and
   delay of trial and appeal, the effectiveness of the method of distributing the Settlement
   Amount and Supplemental Settlement Amount to Settlement Class Members, the terms
   of the Fee and Expense Award, and the fee sharing agreement between Class Counsel
   and Brian C. Leighton; and (iv) the Settlement Agreement treats Settlement Class
   Members equitably relative to each other.

12. The Court further finds that final approval of the Settlement Agreement is warranted in
    light of its consideration of the following additional factors: (a) the relative strengths of
    plaintiffs’ case compared to the proposed Settlement; (b) the recommendation of Class
    Counsel regarding the proposed Settlement Agreement, taking into account the adequacy
    of Class Counsels’ representation of the Class; (c) the reaction of the Class Members to
    the proposed Settlement Agreement, taking into account the adequacy of Notice to the
    Class Members of the Settlement terms; (d) the fairness of the Settlement Agreement to
    the entire class; (e) the fairness of the provision for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of
    expenses, including timing of payment; and (f) the ability of Defendant to withstand a
    greater judgment, taking into account that Defendant is a governmental actor.

13. The Court approves Plaintiffs’ request for the payment of the Time and Effort Amounts
    to the named Plaintiffs. The Court finds and determines that an award of $12,500 each to
    Plaintiffs (i) Bruce and Elisa Ciapessoni, (ii) Bob F. Hansen, (iii) Hansen Enterprises, (iv)
    R&H Agri-Enterprises, (v) Eldora Rossi, (vi) Rossi & Ciapessoni Farms, and (vii) Rossi
    & Rossi for their services as class representatives, in addition to any amounts that may be
    paid to them as Class Members, is fair and reasonable. The Court hereby gives final
    approval to and orders that payment of such amounts be made to Plaintiffs out of the
    Settlement Amount and Supplemental Settlement Amount in accordance with the terms
    of the Settlement Agreement. Such payment is appropriate compensation for their time
    and effort and risks incurred in serving the Class in this litigation and achieving the
    benefits for the Class, none of whom has objected to such an award.

14. The Court authorizes the Settlement Administrator to issue settlement checks to a
    Settlement Class Member’s heirs, assigns, or successors upon receipt of an affidavit
    under penalty of perjury from such person or persons attesting that he, she or they are the
    sole and rightful heir(s), assign(s), or successor(s) of the Settlement Class Member.

15. This lawsuit is dismissed with prejudice.

16. There is no just reason for delay of entry of judgment; a separate judgment will be
    entered under RCFC 58(a) concurrent with this order. The Court finds that such
    judgment will be final and no longer subject to appeal at any level because there were no
    objections filed, either (i) in the time and manner prescribed by the Settlement Agreement
    and the Court’s July 18, 2019 preliminary approval order, or (ii) otherwise before the
    October 8, 2019 hearing. Accordingly, the Court further finds that the Settlement
    Finalization Date is the date of entry of judgment.

                                              4
17. The Court will retain jurisdiction to enforce the Settlement Agreement until each and
    every act agreed to be performed by the Parties has been performed pursuant to the
    Settlement Agreement.

   IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                s/   Loren A. Smith
                                                Loren A. Smith,
                                                Senior Judge

                                            5
            In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                           No. 15-938
                                    Filed: October 11, 2019

                                                )
    BRUCE CIAPESSONI, ELISA                     )
    CIAPESSONI, BOB F. HANSEN,                  )
    HANSEN ENTERPRISES, R&H                     )
    AGRI-ENTERPRISES, ELDORA ROSSI,             )
    ROSSI & CIAPESSONI FARMS, and               )
    ROSSI & ROSSI, on behalf of themselves      )
    and all others similarly situated, et al,   )
                                                )
                     Plaintiffs,                )
                                                )
            v.                                  )
                                                )
    THE UNITED STATES,                          )
                                                )
                     Defendant.                 )
                                                )

                                          JUDGMENT
       For the reasons set forth in the Court’s orders granting plaintiffs’ motion for final
approval of class action settlement agreement (“Final Approval Order”) and granting plaintiffs’
motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, DECREED,
AND ADJUDGED AS FOLLOWS:

        Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement2 dated as of July 15, 2019 (Dkt. No. 82-1),
which has been approved by the Court in the Final Approval Order, and which is hereby
incorporated into this Judgment by reference (as modified by the Final Approval Order),
Defendant shall deposit the Settlement Amount of $85,000,000 and the Supplemental
Settlement Amount of $882,351.60 into the Settlement Class Account;

       Upon receipt of funds from Defendant, the Settlement Administrator shall pay (1)
attorneys’ fees of $21,470,587.90 and litigation costs and expenses and Notice and
Administration Costs of $783,899.26 as directed by Class Counsel; (2) Time and Effort Amounts
of $12,500 each to named Plaintiffs (i) Bruce and Elisa Ciapessoni, (ii) Bob F. Hansen, (iii)
Hansen Enterprises, (iv) R&H Agri-Enterprises, (v) Eldora Rossi, (vi) Rossi & Ciapessoni
Farms, and (vii) Rossi & Rossi; and (3) each Settlement Class Member his, her, or its Settlement
Amount Share or Supplemental Settlement Amount Share;

2
        All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as those
set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
                                                6
         The Settlement Administrator is authorized to issue settlement checks to a Settlement
Class Member’s heir(s), assign(s), or successor(s) upon receipt of an affidavit under penalty of
perjury from such person or persons attesting that he, she, or they are the sole and rightful
heir(s), assign(s), or successor(s) of the Settlement Class Member;

       This lawsuit is dismissed with prejudice;

        The Settlement Agreement constitutes a full and complete release of all rights, claims,
actions, causes of action, suits, obligations, losses, liabilities, and demands of whatever
character, whether known or unknown, whether arising in law or in equity, whether existing
jointly or severally, which any of the Settlement Class Members, comprised of Opt-In Class
Members3 and Deemed Settlement Class Members,4 or any of their heirs, executors,
administrators, or assignees, might have or might ever acquire against the United States, its
political subdivisions, and/or any of its agencies, departments, officers, agents, and/or
employees, arising out of, related to, and/or included in the Raisin Takings Claims, regardless of
whether they were addressed in the Complaint, including but not limited to all rights and claims
for costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, interest, and/or damages of any sort;

        This judgment is final and no longer subject to appeal at any level because there were no
objections filed, either (i) in the time and manner prescribed by the Settlement Agreement and
the Court’s July 18, 2019 preliminary approval order, or (ii) otherwise before the October 8,
2019 hearing;

       The date of this Judgment is therefore the Settlement Finalization Date; and

        Without affecting the finality of this Judgment, and until each and every act agreed to be
performed by the Parties has been performed pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, this Court
retains exclusive and continuing jurisdiction as to all matters relating to the implementation,
administration, consummation, enforcement, and interpretation of the Settlement Agreement,
including the releases contained therein, and any other matters related or ancillary to the
foregoing, and over all Parties hereto, including Settlement Class Members and any person who
is released, for the purpose of enforcing and administering the Settlement Agreement and the
action. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment consistent with this opinion.

      IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                     s/   Loren A. Smith
                                                     Loren A. Smith,
                                                     Senior Judge

3
        A complete list of Opt-In Class Members bound by this Judgment is attached as Exhibit
A to this Judgment.
4
        A complete list of Deemed Settlement Class Members bound by this Judgment is
attached as Exhibit B to this Judgment.
                                                 7