Bennett v. Boyd Gaming Corporation

Filing 119

Order granting 111 MOTION for Attorney Fees. The requested attorney's fees, expenses and class representative payment are approved. Signed by Chief Judge William H. Steele on 11/23/2016. (tgw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
JASON BENNETT, etc.,
Plaintiff,
v.
BOYD BILOXI, LLC, etc.,
Defendant.

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) CIVIL ACTION 14-0330-WS-M
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ORDER

The Court has by previous order approved the settlement of this class
action and entered judgment accordingly. (Docs. 117, 118). Remaining for
consideration is the plaintiff’s motion for an award of attorney’s fees, expenses
and class representative payment. (Doc. 111). All class members were given the
opportunity to object. (Doc. 100 at 10). The time for filing objections has
expired, no objections were filed, and the motion is ripe for resolution.
The plaintiff requests attorney’s fees of $2,000,000,000, expense
reimbursement of $7,500, and a class representative payment of $3,500. Pursuant
to the amended settlement agreement, the defendant has agreed not to object to
this request. The amended settlement agreement provides that the attorney’s fee
award, cost reimbursement and class representative award are payable by the
defendant and are separate from the class benefits previously approved.
For the reasons stated in the plaintiff’s exhaustive brief, (Doc. 111), and
supporting materials, (Docs. 111-1 to -5), as updated by the claims administrator’s
fourth report, (Doc. 115), the Court concludes that the requested fee is reasonable
and appropriate, that the requested expenses were reasonably incurred in
connection with the prosecution of this action and are reasonable in amount, and
that the requested class representative payment is reasonable and appropriate. The

plaintiff’s motion for an award of attorney’s fees, expenses and class
representative payment is granted. The requested attorney’s fees, expenses and
class representative payment are approved.
DONE and ORDERED this 23rd day of November, 2016.
s/ WILLIAM H. STEELE
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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