Mayra Casas v. Victoria's Secret Stores, LLC et al
Filing
107
ORDER FINALLY APPROVING CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND ENTERING JUDGMENT DISMISSING THE ACTION WITH PREJUDICE by Judge George H. Wu. (See document for details) (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit) (mrgo)
EXHIBIT 1
to [Proposed] Order Finally Approving Class
Action Settlement and Entering Judgment
EXHIBIT 1
to [Proposed] Order Finally Approving Class
Action Settlement and Entering Judgment
1
2
3
4
5
6
LORIA. BOWMAN, CA Bar No. 114664
lori.bowman@ogletreedeakins.com
BETH A. GUNN, CA Bar No. 218889
beth.fill!ln@ogletreedeakins.com
JENNIFERL. KATZ, CA Bar No. 258917
jennifer.katz@ogletreedeakins.com
Ogletree, Deaici:tls, Nash,,, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
400 South HoQe Stree;, ~uite 1200
Los Angeles CA 900 11
Telephone: 213.239.9800 I Facsimile: 213.239.9045
Attorney~ for
Defendant
7 VICTORIA'S SECRET STORES, LLC
8 MARLIN & SALTZMAN LLP
9
Stanley D . Saltzman, Esq. tsBN 090058]
ssaltzman@marlinsaltzman.com
Stephen P . O'Dell, Esq. [SBN 132279]
1O sodell~arlinsaltzman.com
David ~. Leimbach, Esq. [SBN 265409]
dleimbach@marlinsaltzman.com
29229 Canwood Street,, Suite 208
12 Agoura Hills, California 91301
Plione: (818) 991 -8080 I Fax: (818) 991-8081
11
13
14
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
MAYRA CASAS and JULIO FERNANDEZ
15
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
16
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
17
18
19
MAYRA CASAS, an individual,, on
behalf of herself and all others Slmilarly
situated,
Plaintiff,
20
21
vs.
VICTORIA'S SECRET STORES,
LLC, a business eaj:ity Qf unknown
23 form, LIMITED BRANDS, a business
entity of unknown form, and DOES 1
24 Ithrough 100, inclusive,
22
25
26
27
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW (VBKx)
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS
ACTION SETTLEMENT
Dist. Judge:
Mag. Judge:
Hon. George H. Wu
Hon. Victor B. Kenton
July 9, 2014
Trial Date:
Defendants.
Complaint Filed:
First Amended
Comnlaint Filed:
Second Amended
Complai..11t Filed:
Third Amended
Complaint Filed:
None Set
Sentemher 5. 2014
D;cember
2~, 201 4 I
February 13, 2015
28
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW VBKx
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILEMENT
TO THE COURT AND TO ALL PARTIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE
1
2
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
This Joint Stipulation re: Class Action Settlement (hereinafter, "Stipulation" or
3
4
"Settlement") is made and entered into by and between plaintiffs Mayra Casas
5 ("Casas") and Julio Fernandez ("Fernandez," and, collectively with Casas,
6
"Plaintiffs"), on behalf of themselves and on behalf of others similarly situated; and
7 defendant Victoria's Secret Stores, LLC ("Defendant"), hereinafter collectively
8 referred to as the "Parties." Subject to the approval of the Court, the Action is
9 hereby being compromised and settled pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth
1O in this Stipulation. This Settlement shall be binding on Plaintiffs and the class they
11
purport to represent, Defendant, and on their respective counsel, subject to the terms
12
and conditions hereof and the approval of the Court.
THE PARTIES STIPULATE AND AGREE as follows :
13
14
15
I.
DEFINITIONS
1.
The following terms, as used throughout this Stipulation, are defined as
16 follows:
17
a)
Action. The term "Action" shall mean and refer to the legal
18
action pending in the United States District Court, Central District of
19
California, Case No. 2:14-cv-06412-GW (VBKx), entitled Mayra Casas, et al.
20
v. Victoria 's Secret Stores, LLC, et al., which is also currently pending before
21
the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, Case No. 15-56162.
22
b)
Check Cashing Deadline. The term "Check Cashing Deadline"
23
shall mean one hundred eighty (180) days after an Individual Settlement
24
Award is issued to a Class Member by check.
25
c)
Claims Administrator. The term "Claims Administrator" shall
26
refer to CPT Group, Inc., or any other third-party class action settlement
27
administrator agreed to by the Parties and approved by the Court for the
28
purposes of administering this Settlement.
1
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILEMENT
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2
3
d)
Class. The term "Class" shall mean and refer, collectively, to all
Class Members.
e)
Class Counsel. The term "Class Counsel" shall refer,
4
collectively, to Marlin & Saltzman, LLP, located at 29229 Canwood Street,
5
Suite 208, Agoura Hills, California 91301, and all of its lawyers, specifically
6
including, but not limited to, Stanley D. Saltzman, Stephen P. O'Dell, and
7
David C. Leimbach.
8
9
f)
Class Members. The term "Class Members" shall mean all
current and former employees of Defendant, who worked in California during
10
the Class Period; who were classified as non-exempt from overtime pay,
11
excluding Defendant, its owners, directors, officers, executives, and all
12
management personnel whose responsibility it was to maintain and/or enforce
13
the policies, procedures, customs and/or business practices complained of in
14
the Action; who do not timely submit a Request for Exclusion; and to whom a
15
Notice was mailed pursuant to Paragraph 19, subparagraph (b).
16
17
18
g)
Class Period. The term "Class Period" shall mean the time period
from July 9, 2010 to the Preliminary Approval Date.
h)
Class Representatives. The term "Class Representatives" shall
19
mean and refer to plaintiffs Mayra Casas and Julio Fernandez. The term
20
"Class Representatives" shall be synonymous with the term "Plaintiffs."
21
i)
Court. The term "Court" shall refer to the Honorable George H.
22
Wu of the United States District Court for the Central District of California,
23
before whom the Action is pending.
24
25
26
j)
Defendant. The term "Defendant" shall mean and refer to
Victoria's Secret Stores, LLC.
k)
Defendant's Counsel. The term "Defendant's Counsel" shall
27
refer, collectively, to Lori A. Bowman, Beth Gunn, and Jennifer L. Katz of
28
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., located at 400 South Hope
2
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JOINT STfi>ULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILEMENT
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1
2
Street, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, California, 90071.
1)
Effective Date. The term "Effective Date" shall mean the date by
3
which this Settlement is finally approved, as provided herein, and on which
4
the Court's Judgment becomes final, as further detailed in Paragraph 8, herein.
5
m)
Final Settlement Approval Hearing. The term "Final Settlement
6
Approval Hearing" shall mean and refer to a hearing before the Court to
7
finally approve the Settlement as fair, reasonable, and adequate, as further
8
detailed in Paragraph 27, herein.
9
n)
Final Settlement Papers. The term "Final Settlement Papers"
Io
shall refer to and include a Motion for Final Approval of the Settlement,
11
Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs, and [Proposed] Final Settlement Order.
12
o)
Fourth Amended Complaint. The term "Fourth Amended
13
Complaint" shall mean and refer to the Fourth Amended Complaint to be filed
14
to add claims for split shift pay and unreimbursed business expenses, which is
15
attached hereto as Exhibit D.
16
p)
Individual Settlement A ward. The term "Individual Settlement
17
Award" shall mean a Class Member' s share of the Net Settlement Amount, as
18
further detailed in Paragraph 17, subparagraph (f), herein.
19
q)
Net Settlement Amount. The term "Net Settlement Amount"
20
shall mean and refer to the balance of the Total Class Action Settlement
21
Amount, after all Court-approved deductions for attorneys' fees and actual
22
costs to Class Counsel, the claims administration costs and fees, Class
23
Representatives' enhancement awards, and the PAGA Allocation. The Net
24
Settiement Amount is the maximum amount that will be available for
25
distribution to Class Members.
26
27
28
r)
Notice. The term ''Notice" shall mean the Notice of Class Action
Settlement, attached hereto as Exhibit A.
s)
Opt-Out Deadline. The term "Opt-Out Deadline" shall mean
3
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETI1..EMENT
1
thirty (30) days after the Notice is mailed to Class Members by the Claims
2
Administrator.
3
t)
Parties. The term "Parties" shall mean and refer collectively to
4
plaintiffs Mayra Casas and Julio Fernandez, on behalf of the Class, and
5
Defendant.
u)
6
Plaintiffs. The term "Plaintiffs" shall mean and refer to plaintiffs
7
Mayra Casas and Julio Fernandez. The term "Plaintiffs" shall be synonymous
8
with the term "Class Representatives."
v)
9
Preliminary Approval Date. The term "Preliminary Approval
1o
Date" shall mean the date that the Court enters the Preliminary Approval
11
Order, attached hereto as Exhibit B, including any revisions required by the
12
Court.
13
w)
Released Parties. The term "Released Parties" shall mean and
14
refer to Defendant and all of Defendant's current or former parent companies,
15
subsidiary companies and/or related companies, partnerships, or joint
16
ventures, and, with respect to each of them, all of their and/or such related
17
entities' predecessors and successors, and, with respect to each such entity, all
18
of its past, present, and future employees, officers, partners, principals,
19
directors, stockholders, owners, representatives, assigns, attorneys, agents,
20
insurers, employee benefit programs (and the trustees, administrators,
21
fiduciaries, and insurers of such programs), and any other persons acting by,
22
through, under, or in concert with any of the persons or entities listed in this
23
subsection, and their successors.
24
x)
Stipulation. The term "Stipulation" shall refer to this document,
25
entitled "Joint Stipulation re: Class Action Settlement," including all exhibits
26
attached hereto.
27
y)
28
Total Class Action Settlement Amount. The term "Total Class
Action Settlement Amount" shall mean exactly Twelve Million Dollars
4
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILEMENT
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($12,000,000.00). This is the maximum possible amount that may be paid by
2
Defendant to resolve this Action, with the sole exception of certain additional
3
tax payments to be made pursuant to Paragraph 19, subparagraph (i). The
4
Total Class Action Settlement Amount is a common fund, non-reversionary
5
amount.
6
2.
7
Date Of This Stipulation. This Stipulation is made as of the date set
forth below by and between Plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves and the Class, on the
8 one hand, and Defendant, on the other hand, subject to the approval of the Court.
9
1o
II.
BACKGROUND OF THE LEGAL ACTION
3.
Complaint Filed In Los Angeles County Superior Court And Removed
11
To The Central District Of California. Casas filed the instant Action, entitled Mayra
12
Casas, et al. v. Victoria's Secret Stores, LLC, et al., in Los Angeles County Superior
13
Court on July 9, 2014. In it, Casas alleged causes of action for: (1) Failure to pay
14
reporting time on regularly scheduled shifts (8 Cal. Code Regs. § 11070(5); Cal. Lab.
15
Code§ 558); (2) Failure to pay reporting time on "call-in" shifts (8 Cal. Code Regs.
16
§ 11070(5); Cal. Lab. Code§ 558); (3) Failure to pay for all time worked (Cal. Lab.
17
Code§§ 510, 1194, 1194.2, 1197, and 1198; Wage Order); (4) Failure to maintain
18
required business records (Cal. Lab. Code§§ 1174, 1174.5; Wage Order); (5) Failure
19
to provide accurate itemized wage statements (Cal. Lab. Code§§ 226, 226.3; Wage
20
Order); (6) Unfair business practices (Bus. & Prof. Code§§ 17200, et seq.); and (7)
21
Civil penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act (Cal. Lab. Code§§ 2698, et
22
seq.). Defendant subsequently removed the Action to the Centrai District of
23
California, where it was assigned Case No. 2:14-cv-06412-GW (VBKx). On
24
September 5, 2014, Plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint ("FAC"), amending
25
the complaint to add Fernandez as a named plaintiff and putative class representative
26
and to add an additional claim for failure to pay all wages earned at termination
27
pursuant to California Labor Code sections 200 through 203 . Defendant moved to
28
dismiss Plaintiffs FAC, which Plaintiffs opposed. Following supplemental briefing,
5
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW (VBK.x)
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILEMENT
1
the Court granted, in part, Defendant's motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' FAC on
2
December 29, 2014. Thereafter, Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint
3
("SAC"), alleging causes of action for: (1) Failure to pay reporting time pay (8 Cal.
4
Code Regs. § 11070(5); Cal. Lab. Code§ 558); (2) Failure to pay overtime (Cal.
5
Lab. Code§§ 510, 1194; Wage Order); (3) Failure to pay minimum wage (Cal. Lab.
6
Code§§ 1182.11, 1182.12, 1194, 1194.2, 1197; Wage Order); (4) Failure to maintain
7
required business records (Cal. Lab. Code§§ 1174, 1174.5; Wage Order); (5) Failure
8
to provide accurate itemized wage statements (Cal. Lab. Code§§ 226, 226.3; Wage
9
Order); (6) Failure to pay all wages earned at termination (Cal. Lab. Code§§ 200-
10
203); (7) Unlawful business practices (Bus. & Prof. Code§§ 17200, et seq.); (8)
11
Unfair business practices (Bus. & Prof. Code§§ 17200, et seq.); and (9) Civil
12 penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act (Cal. Lab. Code§§ 2698, et seq.).
13
Defendants then moved to dismiss Plaintiffs' SAC, which Plaintiffs opposed.
14 During that time, Plaintiffs also moved this Court to certify for interlocutory appeal
15
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) its order dismissing certain claims from the FAC,
16 which Defendant opposed. Thereafter, following the Court's decision on February
17
13, 2015 to grant, in part, Defendant' s motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' SAC, Plaintiffs
18
filed a Third Amended Complaint ("TAC"), which is currently the operative
19
complaint in this action, alleging the same claims and causes of action set forth in the
20
SAC. Defendant moved to dismiss the TAC, which Plaintiffs opposed. Before
21
ruling on Defendant's motion to dismiss the TAC, this Court granted Plaintiffs'
22
motion to certify for interlocutory appecU pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) its order
23
dismissing, in part, Plaintiffs' FAC. Thereafter, the Ninth Circuit granted Plaintiffs'
24
petition for interlocutory appeal, the partjes lodged formal merits briefing, and the
25
Iparties participated in oral argument on October 5, 2016. Defendant generally denies
26 Plaintiffs' claims, including the allegations in the Complaint, FAC, SAC, and TAC.
27
28
4.
Mediation And Settlement Agreement Reached By The Parties. On
October 25, 2016, the Parties and their counsel participated in a formal mediation
6
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW (VBKx
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILEMENT
1
session before Steven G. Pearl, Esq., of ADR Services, Inc., in Los Angeles,
2
California. At the conclusion of the October 25, 2016 mediation session, the Parties,
3
by and through their counsel, reached an agreement to resolve the Action pursuant to
4
terms set forth in a Memorandum of Understanding. This Stipulation formalizes the
5 Settlement agreement reached by the Parties.
6
7
5.
Investigation. The Parties have conducted a detailed and
comprehensive investigation of the claims asserted against Defendant and of the
8 applicable law. Although the Action - including discovery-has been stayed during
9
initial motion practice before the Court and pending Plaintiffs' appeal of the Court's
10
order granting Defendant's motion to dismiss the FAC, the Parties agreed to engage
11
in informal discovery to prepare for mediation, which included: (a) analysis by the
12 Parties of payroll records, time records, scheduling records, and other related records
13
and policies pertaining to Plaintiffs, Class Members, and the claims asserted in the
14 Action; (b) Defendant's identification of all current and former non-exempt putative
15
class member employees in the relevant job categories during the relevant time
16
period; (c) research of the law applicable to Plaintiffs' claims and Defendant' s
17
affirmative defenses, as well as the damages alleged by Plaintiffs; (d) examination
18
and analysis of information and documents; and (f) consideration of information
19
disclosed at and in connection with mediation. Based upon the information known
20
as of February 27, 2016, the number of Class Members was approximately 36,278.
21
6.
Benefits Of Settlement. The Class Representatives and Class Counsel
22
recognize the uncertainty and risk of the outcome of further litigation, and the
23
difficulties and delays inherent in such litigation. The Class Representatives and
24
Class Counsel also are aware of the burdens of proof necessarv to establish liabilitv
.
25
for the claims asserted in the Action, the defenses thereto, and t.lie difficulties
26
inherent in the Action. Based on the foregoing, the Class Representatives and Class
27
Counsel have determined that the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation is a fair,
28
adequate, and reasonable settlement, and that it is in the best interest of the Class
~
7
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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Members. Based on their discovery and investigation, Class Counsel has determined
2 that the
Se~lement
is well within the range of reasonableness. The settlement
3
embodied and documented in this Stipulation is the product of extensive, arms-
4
length negotiations, and is not the product of collusion. Likewise, Defendant has
5 concluded that any further defense of this Action would be protracted and expensive.
6
Substantial amounts of time, energy, and resources have been, and will continue to
7 be, devoted to the defense of the Action unless this Settlement is made. Therefore,
8 Defendant has agreed to settle, in the manner and upon the terms set forth in this
9
Stipulation, in order to fully and finally resolve the claims asserted in the Action.
7.
10
11
Denial Of Wrongdoing . .Defendant has denied and continues to deny
each of the claims asserted by Plaintiffs in this Action, as referenced in Paragraph 3,
12 above. Defendant has asserted and continues to assert defenses to the Class
13 Representatives' claims, and has expressly denied and continues to deny any
14
wrongdoing whatsoever. Neither this Stipulation nor any action ta.ken to carry out
15
the Settlement may be construed as an admission by Defendant of any fault,
16 wrongdoing, or liability whatsoever.
17
18
III.
DATE OF SETTLEMENT
8.
Effective Date. The Court's Judgment shall become final when all of
19 the following events have occurred:
20
21
a)
The Stipulation has been executed by all Parties, Class Counsel,
and Defendant's Counsel;
22
b)
The Court has given preliminary approval to the Settlement;
23
c)
The Court has held a Final Settlement Approval Hearing and has
24
entered a Final Order and Judgment, dismissing the Action with prejudice, and
25
approving the Stipulation; and
26
27
28
d)
In the event that written objections are filed prior to the Final
Settlement Approval Hearing which are not later withdrawn, upon the later of:
t.
The date of final affirmance on an appeal of the Judgment;
8
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILEMENT
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1
the expiration of the time for a petition to review the
2
Judgment; and, if review is granted, the date of final
3
affinnance of the Judgment following review; or
4
n.
The date of final dismissal of any appeal from the
5
Judgment or the final dismissal of any proceeding to
6
review the Judgment; or
7
ni.
8
If no appeal is filed, the expiration date for filing any
appeal from the Judgment.
e)
9
In the event that no written objections are filed prior to the Final
10
Settlement Approval Hearing, or that any filed written objections are
11
withdrawn prior to the Final Settlement Approval Hearing, the Court's
12
Judgment shall become final when the conditions set forth in subparagraphs
13
(a) through (c) of this Paragraph 8, hereinabove, have been fulfilled.
14
15
IV.
CLASS MEMBERS INCLUDED IN SETTLEMENT
9.
Scope Of The Class. The Class is comprised of all current and former
16
employees of Defendant, who worked in California during the period from July 9,
17
2010 to the Preliminary Approval Date; who were classified as non-exempt from
18
overtime pay, excluding Defendant, its owners, directors, officers, executives, and all
19
management personnel whose responsibility it was to maintain and/or enforce the
20
policies, procedures, customs and/or business practices complained of in the Action;
21
who do not timely submit a Request for Exclusion; and to whom a Notice was
22
mailed pursuant to Paragraph 19, subparagraph (b).
23
10.
Class Members' Objections To This Settlement. Any Class Member
24
may object to the Settlement by filing a written objection with the Court and serving
25
the written objection on counsel for the Parties on or before the Opt-Out Deadline, at
26 the addresses detailed in Paragraph 42, below. Any Class Member who does not
27 object to the Settlement in the manner provided for in this Stipulation may not appeal
28
the Final Judgment. In the event that the Court approves this Settlement
9
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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notwithstanding the objections of any Class Members, Class Members who object to
2
the Settlement will nonetheless be bound by the Settlement. Class Members who
3 have opted out of the Settlement as detailed in Paragraph 19, subparagraph (d),
4
herein do not have standing to object to the Settlement or to file an appeal for
5 purposes of Paragraph 8.
11.
6
Class Members' Exclusion ("Opt-Out") From This Settlement. Any
7
Class Member may request to be excluded ("opt-out") from this Settlement by
8
mailing a written Request for Exclusion to the Claims Administrator as prescribed in
9
Paragraph 19, subparagraph (d), herein. Each Class Member who submits a valid
1o Request for Exclusion shall not be bound by the Settlement.
12.
11
Blow-Up Provision. Defendant reserves the right to revoke this
12
Stipulation and the Settlement provided for herein if more than ten percent (10%) of
13
Class Members opt out of the Settlement by submitting timely and valid Requests for
14
Exclusion in the manner set forth in Paragraph 19, subparagraph (d), below, in which
15
case this Stipulation will not have any force and/or effect. Class Counsel and Class
16
Representatives agree not to oppose any application by Defendant and/or its Counsel
17
that is consistent with this Paragraph. Defendant shall make its election within seven
18
(7) calendar days of receipt from the Claims Administrator of the total percentage of
19
opt-outs. If the Settlement is voided, no payment will be made by Defendant to
20
Plaintiffs, any Class Member, or Class Counsel; and all Parties and third parties
21
referenced in this Stipulation will bear their own costs, fees, and expenses associated
22
with the Litigation. However, Defendant will be responsible for the costs incurred
23
by the Settlement Administrator.
13.
24
Finality Of Settlement. As of the Effective Date, the Settlement
2s 1 ·contained herein, including the Release outlined below, shall be final and binding
26
upon all Class Members who do not exclude themselves from the Settlement.
27
V.
28
RELEASES
14.
Release By Plaintiffs And Class Members. As of the date of final
10
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approval of this Stipulation, Plaintiffs and Class Members (including the Class
2
Representatives) release the Released Parties from the following, collectively
3
referred to as the "Released Class Claims":
4
Any and all claims, actions, demands, causes of action, suits, debts,
5
obligations, damages, rights or liabilities that have been asserted by
6
Plaintiffs, or the Class Members or any of their respective heirs,
7
executors, administrators, beneficiaries, predecessors, successors,
8
attorneys, assigns, agents, and/or representatives arising out of any
9
claims that were encompassed in the Action, and any claims which
10
reasonably flow from the facts alleged in Plaintiffs' Complaint, First
11
Amended Complaint, Second Amended Complaint, Third Amended
12
Complaint, or Fourth Amended Complaint, including, but not limited to:
13
claims for unpaid wages (including claims for minimum wage and
14
overtime compensation); reimbursement of business expenses pursuant
15
to Labor Code section 2802; interest; penalties (including waiting time
16
penalties pursuant to Labor Code section 203, pay stub penalties
17
pursuant to Labor Code section 226, and civil penalties pursuant to the
18
Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (Labor Code
19
sections 2698, et seq.) ("PAGA")); claims pursuant to Labor Code
20
sections 200, 201, 202, 218.5, 226, 510, 558, 1174, 1194, 1197, 1198,
21
and 1199; the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders relating to
22
claims for unpaid reporting time pay premiums, unpaid hours worked,
23
recordkeeping, and split shift pay; and claims under Business and
24
Professions Code sections 17200, et seq., claims for attorneys' fees and
25
costs, conversion, fraud, common count, and unfair business practices.
26
Released Class Claims include all claimed or unclaimed compensatory,
27
consequential, incidental, liquidated, punitive and exemplary damages,
28
restitution, interest, costs and fees, injunctive or equitable relief, and any
11
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other remedies available at law or equity allegedly owed or available to
2
the Class arising or reasonably flowing from the Complaint, First
3
Amended Complaint, Second Amended Complaint, Third Amended
4
Complaint, or Fourth Amended Complaint against the Released Parties
5
for the time period from the beginning of each claim's applicable statute
6
of limitations, up to and including the Date of Final Approval.
7
15.
General Release By The Class Representatives. In addition to the
8
release set forth in the above Paragraph 14, the Class Representatives make the
9
additional general release of all of their individual claims as follows: Class
10
Representatives release Released Parties from any and all claims, actions, demands,
11
causes of action, suits, debts, obligations, damages, rights, or liabilities of any nature
12 and description whatsoever, known or unknown, that Class Representatives
13
individually may possess against the Released Parties arising from Class
14 Representatives' employment with Defendant. Class Representatives hereby
15
acknowledge that, upon receiving the sums provided to them pursuant to this
16
Stipulation, they will have received all potential wages, damages, and penalties
17
owing to them by Defendant, and, further, that they are not owed any additional
18 wages, penalties, or damages from Defendant.
Class Representatives also agree to expressly waive the provisions of
19
20
California Civil Code section 1542, which provides as follows:
21
A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor
22
does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of
23
executing the release, which if known by him or her must have
24
materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.
25 Class Representatives' general release shall cover the time period from the start of
26 each of their respective employment with Defendant up to the Effective Date.
27 VI.
AMOUNT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SETTLEMENT
28
16.
Settlement Amount. The Total Class Action Settlement Amount shall
12
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1
be exactly Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000.00). Defendant will pay the Total
2
Class Action Settlement Amount, within twenty (20) calendar days of the Effective
3
Date by wiring that amount to the Claims Administrator. With the limited exception
4
of Defendant's obligation to pay the employer's share of payroll taxes as described
5
in Paragraph 19, subparagraph (i), under no circumstances will Defendant be
6
obligated to pay more than the amount of $12,000,000.00 as a result of this
7
Settlement.
8
9
10
17. · Deductions From Settlement Amount. Deductions from the Total Class
Action Settlement Amount, all subject to Court approval, shall be made for:
a)
Attorneys' Fees. Class Counsel may apply for an award of
11
attorneys' fees, not to exceed 30 percent of the Total Class Action Settlement
12
Amount , or Three Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,600,000.00).
13
The attorneys' fees award shall be paid from the Total Class Action Settlement
14
Amount. Defendant agrees not to oppose any such applications which are
15
consistent with this paragraph. The amount of attorneys' fees shall include all
16
past and future attorneys' fees to Class Counsel - including, without
17
limitation, all time expended by Class Counsel in defending the Settlement
18
and securing final approval of the Settlement (including any appeals thereof).
19
b)
Attorneys'
Cos~.
In addition to attorneys' fees, Class Counsel
20
may apply for an award of costs, not to exceed the sum of Twenty Thousand
21
Dollars ($20,000.00). The costs award shall be paid from the Total Class
22
Action Settlement Amount. Defendant agrees not to oppose any such
23
applications which are consistent with this paragraph. The amount of costs
24
shall include all past and future costs associated with this Action - including,
25
without limitation, all costs expended by Class Counse] in defending the
26
Settlement and securing final approval of the Settlement (including any
27
appeals thereof).
28
c)
Class Representatives' Enhancement Awards. Class Counsel
13
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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1
may apply for an enhancement award to the Class Representatives in an
2
amount not to exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), allocated as not
3
more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to Casas and not more than Ten
4
Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to Fernandez. The enhancement award shall
5
be paid from the Total Class Action Settlement Amount. Defendant agrees
6
not to oppose any such application which is consistent with this paragraph.
d)
7
Claims Administration Costs And Fees. All actual costs for
8
claims administration, including related accounting costs, in an amount not to
9
exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00), shall be paid from the
1o
Total Class Action Settlement Amount. The Parties contemplate that the
11
Claims Administrator shall be CPT Group, Inc., or any other third-party class
12
action settlement administrator agreed to by the Parties and approved by the
13
Court for the purposes of administering this Settlement. To the extent actual
14
costs for claims administration are less than $200,000.00, those amounts will
15
be credited to the Total Class Action Settlement Amount prior to distribution
16
of the Net Settlement Amount to Class Members. Defendant agrees not to
17
oppose any such applications which are consistent with this paragraph.
e)
18
PAGA Allocation. The Parties agree to allocate Fifty Thousand
19
Dollars ($50,000.00) of the Total Class Action Settlement Amount to resolve
20
the Class Members' claims arising under PAGA (the "PAGA Allocation").
21
Pursuant to PAGA, 75 percent of the PAGA Allocation, or Thirty-Seven
22
Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($37,500.00), shall be paid to the State of
23
California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (the "LWDA"), with
24
the remaining 25 percent of, or Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Dollars
2s
26
II
($12,500.00), allocated to the Net Settlement Amount.
f)
Payment Of Individual Settlement Awards To Class Members.
27
After the amounts described in Paragraph 17, subparagraphs (a) through (e),
28
above, have been deducted from the Total Class Action Settlement Amount,
14
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1
the remainder - the Net Settlement Amount - shall be distributed to each
2
Class Member, in the following manner:
3
Each Class Member' s share of the Net Settlement Amount - i.e., each
4
Individual Settlement Award - will be calculated as follows: The Net
5
Settlement Amount shall be divided by the number of aggregate
6
qualified weeks worked by all Class M embers during the Class Period
7
to produce a "Weekly Settlement Value." A " qualified week" shall be
8
any week in which a Class Member was employed by Defendant in
9
California in a non-exempt job position - excluding in a position with
10
responsibility for maintaining and/or enforcing .the policies, procedures,
11
customs and/or business practices complained of in the Action - during
12
the Class Period. Each Class Member shall be eligible to receive a
13
settlement payment in the amount of the total number of qualified
14
weeks the Class Member worked for Defendant during the Class Period
15
multiplied by the Weekly Settlement Value, less applicable
16
withholdings, provided that the Class Member has not submitted a
17
Request for Exclusion.
18.
18
19
Non-Reversionruy Settlement. There will be no reversion to Defendant
following the claims process. In the event that an Individual Settlement Award is
20 paid to a Class Member by check and the check is not cashed on or before the Check
21
Cashing Deadline, the amount of the Individual Settlement Award shall be
22
considered unclaimed. Each unclaimed Individual Settlement Award shall be
23
tendered to the State of California Unclaimed Wages Fund in the Class Member's
24 name.
25
26
27
VII. CLAIMS ADMTNISTRATION
19.
Claims Administrator's Duties. The Claims Administrator shall be
responsible for (a) processing the data provided by Defendant to be used in
28 calculating Individual Settlement Awards; (b) preparing, printing, and mailing to
15
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1
Class Members the Notice (attached hereto as Exhibit A), as well as following up
2
with reasonable skip tracing; ( c) notifying the Parties of the identity of Class
3
Members who submit timely Requests for Exclusion; (d) calculating and mailing
4
Individual Settlement Awards to Class Members; (e) calculating and paying the
5 employer' s share of the applicable federal and state withholding taxes; (f) filing any
6
required federal and state tax forms and related agency reporting; (g) filing any
7 required reports with the Court; and (h) any and all such other tasks as to which the
8 Parties mutually agree, or which the Court orders the Claims Administrator to
9
10
11
perform. The claims process shall be anonymous to the extent possible.
Specifically, the Claims Administrator shall perform the following duties:
a)
Processing Data Provided By Defendant. Upon receipt of the
12
data provided by Defendant pursuant to Paragraph 24 herein, the Claims
13
Administrator shall determine, for each Class Member: (i) the Class Member's
14
name, (ii) the Class Member's last known address, (iii) the last four digits of
15
the Class Member' s social security number, and (iv) the Weekly Settlement
16
Value to be paid to the Class Member pursuant to Paragraph 17, subparagraph
17
( f), above.
18
b)
Mailing Of Notice. Within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of
19
the database containing the information to be provided by Defendant pursuant
20
to Paragraph 24 herein, the Claims Administrator shall mail a copy of the
21
Notice to all Class Members by first class regular U.S. Mail, using the most
22
current mailing address information possessed by Defendant. The Claims
23
Administrator will engage in address searches consistent with its normal
24
practices in administering settlements of wage claims, including skip tracing.
25
Such search efforts shall include, where necessary, using social security
26
numbers to obtain better address information and attempting to call such Class
27
Members. Any returned envelopes from this mailing with forwarding
28
addresses will be utilized by the Claims Administrator to forward the Notices
16
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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to the Class Members.
2
c)
Re-Mailing Of Returned Notices. Notices returned to the Claims
3
Administrator as non-delivered shall be re-sent to the forwarding address, if
4
any, on the retwned envelope. A returned Notice will be forwarded only once
5
per Class Member by the Claims Administrator. Upon completion of these
6
steps by the Claims Administrator, the Parties shall be deemed to have
7
satisfied their obligation to provide the Notice to the affected Class Member.
8
The affected Class Member shall remain a Class Member and shall be bound
9
by all the terms of this Stipulation and the Court's Final Order and Judgment.
10
d)
Processing Requests For Exclusion ("Opt-Outs") From
11
Settlement. In the event that a Class Member requests to be excluded ("opts
12
out") from the Settlement provided herein, he or she must mail a written
13
Request for Exclusion to the Claims Administrator by first class U.S. Mail, or
14
equivalent, postage paid and postmarked, by no later than the Opt-Out
15
Deadline, which is thirty (30) calendar days after the date that the Claims
16
Administrator originally mails Notices to Class Members. To be valid, the
17
written Request for Exclusion must include (i) the Class Member's name, (ii)
18
the Class Member's address, (iii) a request for exclusion, and (iv) the Class
19
Member's signature. The Claims Administrator shall notify Class CounseJ
20
and Defendant's Counsel of its receipt of all valid Requests for Exclusion
21
within three (3) business days after having received each such Requests for
22
Exclusion.
23
e)
Payment Of Individual Settlement Awards. The Claims
24
Administrator shall be solely responsible for the disbursement of the
25
Individual Settlement Award payments.
26
f)
Adjustments To Individual Settlement Awards. The Claims
27
Administrator shall perform additional calculations for the purpose of
28
determining the final amount to be distributed to Class Members as Individual
17
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SEITLEMENT
1
Settlement Awards by removing the number of Class Members for whom the
2
Notice was returned as undeliverable from the total number of Class Members
3
used to divide the total Net Settlement Amount prior to finalizing the
4
Individual Settlement Awards.
5
g)
Declaration Of Due Diligence. No later than ten (IO) calendar
6
days prior to the Final Settlement Approval Hearing, the Claims Administrator
7
shall provide both Parties with a declaration of due diligence to be filed with
8
the Court.
9
h)
Allocating Portions Of The Individual Settlement Awards As
10
Wages. The Claims Administrator shall be responsible for calculating the
11
portion of each Individual Settlement Award to be allocated as wages. Thirty-
12
three percent (33%) of each Individual Settlement Award shall be allocated as
13
wages. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of each Individual Settlement Award shall
14
be allocated as non-wages, which includes consideration for release of claims
15
seeking interest and penalties.
16
i)
Taxation Of Individual Settlement Awards. The Claims
17
Administrator shall be responsible for paying the employer's and employees'
18
share of federal, state, and local payroll and income taxes. The portion of each
19
Individual Settlement Award allocated as wages shall be subject to payroll
20
withholding. The employer's share of payroll taxes shall be paid in addition to
21
the Total Class Action Settlement Amount. Appropriate withholding of the
22
employee's share of income taxes shall be deducted from each Individual
23
Settlement Award.
24
t.
Federal Tax Reporting. The Claims Administrator shall
25
issue an IRS Fonn W-2 to each Class Member for the
26
portion of the Individual Settlement Award that is
27
designated as wages. The Claims Administrator shall issue
28
an IRS Form 1099 to each Class Member for the portion of
18
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1
the Individual Settlement Awards that is not designated as
2
wages. The Claims Administrator shall issue an IRS Form
3
1099 to the Class Representatives for any enhancement
4
award paid pursuant to Paragraph 17, subparagraph ( c ),
5
above, in connection with their roles as Class
6
Representatives.
7
11.
State Tax Reporting. The Claims Administrator shall file,
8
with the California Employment Development Department
9
("EDD"), the required reports of Personal Income Tax
10
("PIT') wages withheld from the Individual Settlement
11
Awards, as well as the amounts to be paid as
12
Unemployment Insurance ("Dr'), Employment Training
13
Tax ("EIT'), and State Disability Insurance ("SDI"). For
14
purposes of this reporting, prior to disbursement of the
15
Individual Settlement A wards, the Claims Administrator
16
shall provide Defendant with a list of all Class Members,
17
and Defendant shall provide to the Claims Administrator
18
the following information: (1) its Form DE 2088, Notice of
19
Contribution Rates and Statement of UT Account, for the
20
current calendar year (if unavailable, Defendant may
21
provide instead their California State Employer's
22
Identification Number and its applicable UI and ETT
23
Rates); and (2) the year-to-date earnings of each Class
24
Member who received any wages from Defendant during
2s
26
I
the current calendar year.
ni.
Responsibility For Tax Obligations. All Class Members
27
and the Class Representatives will be responsible for
28
correctly characterizing the compensation they receive for
19
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SEITLEMENT
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1
tax purposes and for paying any taxes on the amounts
2
received, except for the employer contributions which will
3
be handled as provided by this Stipulation. The Class
4
Members and the Class Representatives agree to indemnify
5
Defendant for any liability Defendant incurs to any tax
6
authority on account of the Class Members' or Class
7
Representatives' failures to pay all taxes due on amounts
8
they receive hereunder, except if the failure results from
9
Defendant's failure to pay their own portion of taxes due.
10
The liability of each Class Member, and each Class
11
Representative is limited to the liability caused by that
12
individual's own failure.
13
j)
Mailing Of Individual Settlement Awards. Within ten (10)
14
calendar days after Defendant's transfer of funds to the Claims Administrator,
15
the Claims Administrator shall mail all Class Members their Individual
16
Settlement Awards. Each check issued to a Class Member shall remain valid
17
and negotiable for one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of issuance.
18
Those Individual Settlement Awards not cashed by the Check Cashing
19
Deadline shall be canceled automatically, in which event the Class Member's
20
claim will be deemed void and the unclaimed funds shall be sent to the State
21
of California Unclaimed Wages Fund in the Class Member's name.
22
k)
Certifying The Class Members Bound By The Settlement.
23
Within fifty (50) calendar days from the Effective Date, the Claims
24
Administrator shall file written certification with the Court with copies to
25
counsel for all Parties that all Class Members have been mailed their
26
Individual Settlement Awards.
27
28
1)
Payment Of Attorneys' Fees And Costs. The Claims
Administrator shall pay the attorneys' fees and costs, as detailed in Paragraph
20
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILEMENT
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17, subparagraphs (a) and (b), above, within ten ( 10) calendar days after the
2
Effective Date.
3
m)
Payment Of PAGA Allocation. The Settlement Administrator
4
shall mail to the LWDA the State of California's allocated portion of the
5
Court-approved PAGA Allocation, as detailed in Paragraph 17, subparagraph
6
( e ), above, within ten (I 0) calendar days after the Effective Date.
7
20.
Disputes Regarding The Claims Administrator's Performance Of
8 Duties. All disputes relating to the Claims Administrator's performance of its duties
9 shall be referred to the Court, if necessary, which will have continuing jurisdiction
1o over the terms and conditions of this Stipulation until all payments and obligations
11
contemplated by this Stipulation have been fully carried out.
12
vm. DUTIES OF THE PARTIES PRIOR TO PRELIMINARY COURT
13
APPROVAL
14
21.
Submission Of Stipulation To Court. The Parties shall promptly submit
15 this Stipulation to the Court in support of Plaintiffs motion for preliminary approval
16 and determination by the Court as to the fairness, adequacy, and reasonableness of
17 this Stipulation, and shall apply to the Court for the entry of an order substantially in
the following form:
18
a)
19
Scheduling a fairness hearing on the question of whether the
20
proposed Settlement - including payment of attorneys' fees, attorneys' costs,
21
appointment of Class Representatives and the amount of their enhancement
22
award, and the method of determining Individual Settlement Awards to be
23
paid to Class Members - should be finally approved as fair, reasonable, and
24
25
I
I
adequate as to the Class;
b)
Approving as to form and content the proposed Notice (attached
26
as Exhibit A);
27
c)
28
Directing the mailing of the Notice, by first class U.S. Mail, to
the Class Members, pursuant to the terms specified herein;
21
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JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILEMENT
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d)
1
Preliminarily approving the Settlement, subject only to the
objections of Class Members and final review by the Court; and
2
e)
3
Enjoining the Class Representatives and all Class Members from
4
filing or prosecuting any claims, suits, or administrative proceedings
5
(including filing claims with the California Division of Labor Standards
6
Enforcement) regarding claims released by the Settlement unless such
7
individuals have submitted valid Requests for Exclusion to the Claims
8
Administrator. The parties expressly agree that if the Court refuses to enter
9
this injunction, this provision shall be severable and will not affect the
remainder of this Stipulation.
1O
11
The [Proposed] Preliminary Approval Order to be submitted shall be the document
12
attached hereto as Exhibit B, unless the Court's orders during the approval process .
13
require revisions to be made. Unless the Parties agree otherwise, only necessary
14 revisions shall be made to the [Proposed] Preliminary Approval Order to be
15
submitted to the Court.
22.
16
Amendment Of This Stipulation To Conform To The Court's Order. To
17
the extent the Court does not approve this Stipulation, or any term contained herein,
18
and instead allows the Parties to amend this Stipulation, the Parties agree to
19
cooperate in good faith to amend the Stipulation in accordance with the Court' s
20
direction, and to retain all other terms of the Stipulation that the Court approves.
21
IX.
DUTIES OF THE PARTIES FOLLOWING PRELIMINARY COURT
22
APPROVAL
23
23.
24
Timely Approval Of Documents To Be Mailed By The Claims
Administrator. Counsel for the Parties shall respond to requests by the Claims
25 Administrator to approve all claims administration documents, including the Notice
26
to be mailed to the Class, within seven (7) calendar days of the Claims
27
Administrator' s request for approval.
28
24.
Defendant' s Provision Of Class Member Data To Claims Administrator.
22
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1
No later than thirty (30) calendar days following preliminary approval of this
2
Settlement by the Court, Defendant shall provide the Claims Administrator with data
3
that is within Defendant's possession containing, for each Class Member: (a) the
4
Class Member's name, (b) the Class Member's last known address, and (c) the Class
5 Member's social security number. In addition to that data, if the Claims
6 Administrator determines that it needs any Class Members' last-known phone
7
numbers in order to effectuate the settlement, Defendant will provide such
8
information to the Claims Administrator, to the extent such information is available
9 to Defendant, within seven (7) calendar days after the Claims Administrator's
1O request. This Class information is confidential and not to be disclosed to anyone
11
other than the Claims Administrator. This information shall be based on
12
Defendant's payroll and other business records, and shall be in a format readily
13
accessible to Defendant. Within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the information
14
from Defendant, the Claims Administrator will mail the Notice to the Class
15
Members, provided that counsel for the Parties have approved the documents
16 pursuant to Paragraph 23 herein. In the event that approval of the documents
17 pursuant to Paragraph 23 takes more than ten (10) calendar days, the Claims
18
Administrator shall mail the Notice to the Class Members within two (2) business
19 days of receiving approval of the documents pursuant to Paragraph 23.
20
25.
Disputes Arising From Claims Administration. Any disputes arising
21
duri..tJ.g the claims acl'llinistration process must be resolved informally by counsel for
22
the Parties and, if the Parties cannot agree, by the Claims Administrator, within ten
23
(10) calendar days of the Opt-Out Deadline.
24
25
26.
Motions By Class Counsel.
a)
Motions Required For Final Approval Of The Settlement. Class
26
Counsel shall timely prepare, subject to Defendant's review and right to
27
comment, Final Settlement Papers in conformance with the terms of this
28
Settlement, including (1) a motion for final approval of the Settlement; (2) a
23
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETILE.:."\IBNT
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1
motion for award of attorneys' fees and costs; (3) a motion for Class
2
Representatives' enhancement awards; (4) the [Proposed] Final Settlement
3
Order; and (5) any other documents, petitions, or motions required to
4
effectuate this Settlement - including, but not limited to, any additional
5
proposed orders requested by the Court. Class Counsel must submit the Final
6
Settlement Papers to Defendant's Counsel no later than three (3) court days
7
prior to the deadline for filing the motion for final approval of the Settlement.
8
In the event that Class Counsel and Defendant's Counsel cannot resolve any
9
dispute regarding the Final Settlement Papers arising from Defendant's right
10
to review and comment, Defendant's Counsel shall submit its objections to the
11
Final Settlement Papers to the Court before or during the Final Settlement
12
Approval Hearing.
13
14
15
b)
[Proposed] Final Settlement Order. The [Proposed] Final
Settlement Order shall include a proposed Final Order and Judgment ordering:
i.
Approval of the Settlement, adjudging the terms thereof to
16
be fair, reasonable, and adequate, and directing
17
consummation of its terms and provisions;
18
n.
Approval of Class Counsel's application for an award of
19
attorneys' fees and costs (Class Counsel will separately
20
submit a motion for award of attorneys' fees and costs);
21
111.
Approval of the proposed Fourth Amended Complaint,
22
attached hereto as Exhibit D, adding claims against
23
Defendant for split shift pay and unreimbursed business
24
expenses, and deeming it filed as of the date of Final
25
Approval of the Settlement;
26
1v.
Representatives;
27
28
Approval of the enhancement awards to the Class
v.
Dismissal of the Action with prejudice and permanently
24
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1
barring and enjoining the Class Representatives and all
2
Class Members from prosecuting against the Released
3
Parties any claims released herein pursuant to Paragraphs
4
14 and 15, above, including any Released Class Claims
5
and, with respect to the Class Representatives, any claims
6
covered by the general release, upon satisfaction of all
7
payments and obligations hereunder; and
v1.
8
Reserving jurisdiction over the construction, interpretation,
implementation, and enforcement of the Parties'
9
10
Settlement, and over the administration and distribution of
11
the Settlement amounts.
12
The [Proposed] Final Approval Order and Judgment to be submitted shall be the
13
document attached hereto as Exhibit C, unless the Court's orders during the
14
approval process require revisions to be made. Unless the Parties agree otherwise,
15
only necessary revisions shall be made to the [Proposed] Final Approval Order and
16
Judgment to be submitted to the Court.
27.
17
Fairness Hearing. Upon expiration of the Opt-Out Deadline, the Parties
shall attend a Final Settlement Approval Hearing with the Court to finally approve
18
19 the Settlement as fair, reasonable, and adequate as to (a) Class Members; (b)
20
attorneys' fees and costs to Class Counsel; (c) the enhancement awards to Class
21
Representatives; (d) the costs and fees for claims administration; (e) the PAGA
22
Allocation, and (t) the Individual Settlement Awards to be paid to the Class
23
Members, including the methodology used to calculate such awards.
24
X.
2s
26
I
DUTIES OF THE PARTIES FOLLOWING FINAL COURT
APPROVAL
28.
Final Settlement Approval, And Entry Of Judgment. At or before the
27
Final Settlement Approval Hearing, Class Counsel shall submit the [Proposed] Final
28
Settlement Approval Order and Judgment to the Court for the Court's approval and
25
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1
entry. After entry of the Final Settlement Approval Order and Judgment, the Court
2
shall have continuing jurisdiction over the administration of the Settlement.
29.
3
Payment Of Settlement Amount. Not later than twenty (20) calendar
4
days following the Effective Date, Defendant shall deposit the Total Class Action
5
Settlement Amount into an account established by the Claims Administrator. The
6
Claims Administrator will retain authority over the deposited funds, which are to be
7 used in accordance with this Stipulation and any orders of the Court. The Claims
8 Administrator shall make all payments and other disbursements required by this
Stipulation from the Total Class Action Settlement Amount. Defendant shall have
9
10 no further obligations over the distribution of the Total Class Action Settlement
Amount.
11
30.
12
Provision Of Final Settlement Approval Order And Judgment To
Claims Administrator. Within two (2) business days of final approval by the Court
13
14 of the Settlement provided for in this Stipulation, Class Counsel shall provide the
15
Claims Administrator with a copy of the Final Settlement Approval Order and
16
Judgment.
17
XI.
ADDITIONAL TERMS
31 .
18
Nullification Of Settlement. This Stipulation shall be null and void, and
19
any order of judgment entered by the Court in furtherance of the Settlement shall be
20
vitiated nunc pro tune, if any of the following occurs:
a)
21
and Judgment as provided for herein or contemplated by this Stipulation;
22
23
b)
The Court does not finally approve the Settlement as provided for
herein;
24
2s
The Court does not enter the Final Settlement Approval Order
II
c)
The Court does not enter a Final Settlement Approval Order and
26
Judgment as provided for herein that becomes final as a result of the
27
occurrence of the Effective Date; or
28
d)
The Settlement does not become final for any other reason.
26
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1
In such a case, the Parties shall be returned to their respective statuses as of the date
2
of October 25, 2016, and the Parties shall proceed in all respects as if this Stipulation
3
had not been executed. If an appeal is filed from the Court's Final Settlement
4
Approval Order and Judgment prior to the Effective Date, administration of the
5 Settlement shall be immediately stayed pending final resolution of the appeal
6 process.
7
32.
No Admissions. Nothing contained herein is to be construed or deemed
8
to be an admission of liability or wrongdoing by Defendant. This Stipulation and the
9
attached exhibits are settlement documents, and, pursuant to California Evidence
1O Code section 1152, these documents shall be inadmissible in any proceeding except
11
12
13
14
in an action or proceeding to approve, interpret, or enforce this Stipulation.
33.
Amendment Or Modification. This Stipulation may be amended or
modified only by a written instrument signed by counsel for all Parties.
34.
Entire Agreement. This Stipulation and the accompanying exhibits
15
constitute and comprise the entire agreement between the Parties. No oral or written
16
representations, warranties, or inducements have been made to any of the Parties
17
concerning this Stipulation other than the representations, warranties, and covenants
18
contained and memorialized herein.
19
35.
Construction. The Parties agree that the terms of this Stipulation and
20
the accompanying exhibits are the result of lengthy, arms-length negotiations, and
21
lliat this Stipulation shall not be construed in favor of or against any of the Parties by
22
reason of the extent to which any of the Parties or their respective counsel
23
participated in the drafting of this Stipulation.
24
36.
Parties' Authority. The signatories to this Stipulation represent that
25
they are fully authorized to enter into this Stipulation and to bind the Parties hereto to
26
the terms and conditions hereof.
27
28
37.
Successors And Assigns. This Stipulation is binding upon, and inures
to the benefit of, the Parties' successors and assigns. The Parties represent and
27
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SEITLEMENT
Kx
1 warrant that they have not, directly or indirectly, assigned, transferred, or
2
encumbered to any person or entity any portion of any claim, demand, action, cause
3
of action, or rights herein released and discharged except as set forth herein.
4
38.
Enforcement Of Actions. In the event that any of the Parties to this
5
Stipulation institutes any legal action, arbitration, or other proceeding against any of
6
the other Parties to enforce the provisions of this Stipulation or to declare rights or
7 obligations under this Stipulation, the successful Party shall be entitled to recover
8 from the unsuccessful Party or Parties, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs,
9
including expert witness fees, incurred in connection with any such enforcement
Io proceedings.
11
12
13
39.
Governing Law. All terms of this Stipulation shall be governed by and
interpreted according to the laws of the State of California.
40.
Jurisdiction Of The Court. The Court shall retain jurisdiction with
14 respect to the interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of the terms of this
15
16
Stipulation and all orders and judgments entered in connection therewith.
41.
Counterparts. This Stipulation may be executed in one or more
17 counterparts. All executed counterparts, and each of them, shall be deemed to be one
18
and the same instrument. Signatures may be affixed either by original signatures,
19 PDF, or facsimile.
20
21
42.
Notices. Unless otheiwise specifically provided in this Stipulation, all
notices, demands, and/or other communications will be in writing and will be
22 deemed to have been duly given as of the third (3rd) business day after mailing by
23
U.S. Mail, addressed as follows:
24
25
26
27
28
To The Class:
MARLIN & SALTZMAN, LLP
Stanley D. Saltzman
Stephen P. 0 'Dell
David C. Leimbach
29229 Canwood Street) Suite 208
Agoura Hills, Califorma 91301
28
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
Kx
1
To Defendant:
2
OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK & STEWART, P.C.
Lori A. Bowman
Beth Gunn
Jennifer L. Katz
400 South Ho2e Street, Suite 1200
Los Angeles, California 90071
3
4
5
6
7
43.
Enforceability. The Parties intend for this Agreement to be enforceable
in the United States District Court, Central District of California, by and subject to
8 the Court's pendingjurisdiction.
9
44.
Interpretation. This Stipulation shall be construed as a whole according
10
to its fair meaning. It shall not be construed strictly for or against any Party. Unless
11
the context indicates otherwise, the term "or" shall be deemed to include the term
12 "and," and the singular or plural number shall be deemed to include the other.
13
Captions and headings are intended solely for convenience of reference and shall not
14
be used in the interpretation of this Stipulation.
15
16
45 .
Confidentiality.
a)
Media Comment. The Parties and their respective counsel agree
17
that the terms of this Settlement (including, but not limited to, any settlement
18
amounts), the negotiations leading to this Settlement, and all documents
19
related to the Settlement, shall not be discussed with, publicized, or promoted
20
to the media, except as necessary in order to enforce its tenns. The Parties and
21
their counsel agree that they will not directly or indirectly issue any press
22
release, hold any press conference, initiate any contact with any members of
23
the news media - including, but not limited to, any radio or television stations,
24
newspapers, or magazines - regarding the settlement between the Parties, this
25
Stipulation, or the negotiations of this Stipulation. Jn response to any
26
inquiries, including those from media outlets, concerning the settlement, the
27
Parties and their respective counsel agree that they shall simply respond by
28
stating, "the matter has resolved."
29
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
Kx
b)
1
Class Counsel Marketing And Adequacy Declarations. Class
2
Counsel agrees not to use Defendant's name in marketing materials. Class
3
Counsel and Class Representatives will not make any posting on any website,
4
instant message site, blog, or social networking site that uses Defendant's
5
name, and will not list or refer to the Action in any website, mailings,
6
publicity, or other similar fora or materials. However, following entry by the
7
Court of the Final Order and Judgment, in marketing materials or on websites,
8
Class Counsel shall be entitled to provide a brief description of the nature of
9
the case, the amount of the settlement, and that the defendant in the action was
1o
"a retailer"; Defendant shall approve the final language of any such statements
11
made by Class Counsel regarding the Action.
12
46.
Exhibits Incorporated By Reference. The terms of this Stipulation
13
include the terms set forth in any attached Exhibit, which are incorporated by this
14
reference as though fully set forth herein. Any Exhibit to this Stipulation is an
15
integral part of the Settlement.
16
47.
Interim Stay Of Proceedings. The Parties agree to refrain from further
17
litigation of this matter, except such proceedings necessary to implement and obtain
18
an Order granting Final Approval of the terms of the Settlement. The Parties further
19
agree that the mutual, voluntary cessation of litigation shall terminate either as of the
20
Effective Date or the date upon which this Settlement has been denied by the Court
21
and all subsequent attempts to cure deficiencies pursuant to Paragraph 22 have
22
ended.
23
48.
Invalidity Of Any Provision. Before declaring any provision of this
24
Stipulation invalid, the Court shall first attempt to construe the provisions valid to
25
the fullest extent possible consistent with applicable precedents so as to define all
26
provisions of this Settlement valid and enforceable.
27
28
49.
Class Certification For Settlement Purposes Only. The Parties agree to
stipulate to class certification only for purposes of the Settlement. If, for any reason,
30
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
Kx
1 the Settlement is not approved, the stipulation to certification will be void. The
2 Parties further agree that certification for purposes of the Settlement is not an
3
admission that class certification is proper under the standard applied to contested
4
certification motions and that this Settlement will not be admissible in this or any
5
other proceeding as evidence that (i) a class should or should not be certified or (ii)
6
Defendant is or is not liable to Class Representatives or the putative Class Members.
50.
7
Adding Claims For Settlement Purposes Only. Defendant agrees to
8
stipulate to allow Plaintiffs to add claims for split shift pay and unreimbursed
9
business expenses in the Action for the purpose of effectuating the Settlement, as
1O such potential claims were fully considered and negotiated as part of the Parties'
11
settlement negotiations. Attached hereto as Exhibit D is a Fourth Amended
12
Complaint, to be deemed the operative complaint in this matter as of the date that the
13
Final Approval Order is entered. If, for any reason, the Settlement is not approved
14
and/or final approval is not granted as anticipated in this Stipulation, Defendant
15
reserves the right to object to the addition of Plaintiffs' claims for split shift pay and
16
unreimbursed business expenses in the Action.
51.
17
All Terms Subject To Final Court Approval. All amounts and
18 procedures described in this Stipulation shall be subject to final Court approval.
52.
19
20
Execution Of Necessary Documents. All Parties shall execute all
documents reasonably necessary to effectuate the terms of this Settlement.
53.
21
Binding Agreement. The Parties intend that this Settlement shall be
22
fully enforceable and binding on all Parties, and that it shall be admissible and
23
subject to disclosure in any proceeding to enforce its terms, notwithstanding any
24
mediation confidentiality provisions that otherwise might apply under federal or state
25
law.
I
26
27
[Signature pages to follow.]
28
31
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACITON SETTLEMENT
Kx
------~ 2017
By:
1-u-u-0-Pernan~--ae-z~~~~~~
Plaintiff and ClBSS Representative
, 2017
VICTORIA,S SECRET STORBS, LLC
13
14
lS
18
19
20
21
22
Atto_m_eys for Plaintiffs
MAYRA CASAS and JUUO
FERNANDEZ
23
24
25
26
27
28
32
Case No. 2:14-CV..()6412 OW
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACI10N SEITLBMENT
l
DATED: _ _ _ _ _ _ 2017
2
3
By:MiYfi
4
Plaintiff and Class R.epft:sentative
: DATED:
f(.,rfi '2 /
Casas
_,2017
I
2017
~----~2017
VICTORIA'S SECRET STORES, LLC
MARLIN & SALTZMAN. LLP
By:
Stiiitey D. Siltzman
.
Stephen P. o•Dell
David C. Leimbach
Atto_Qteys for Plaintiffs
MAYRA CASAS and JULIO
FERNANDEZ
23
24
25
26
27
28
32
CaleNo. 2:14-CV..o64120W
JOINT STIPULATION RB: CLASS ACTlON SE1TLBMBNT
1CX
1
2
DATED: ...&....--'~'-------'--'' 2017
'fv\~CY'\ \
OGLETREEA DEAKINS~NASH,
SMOAK & ~TEWART, .t' .C.
3
4
5
6
7
Attorney~ for
Defendant
VICTORIA'S SECRET STORES, LLC
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
33
Case No. 2:14-CV-06412 GW
JOINT STIPULATION RE: CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
K.x
EXHIBIT A
to Joint Stipulation Re Class Action Settlement
EXHIBIT A
to Joint Stipulation Re Class Action Settlement
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AS
THIS NOTICE MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS
MAYRA CASAS, JULIO FERNANDEZ, individuals,
on behalf of themselves and all others similarly
situated,
CASE NO.: 2:14-cv-06412 GW (VBKx)
JUDGE: Honorable George H. Wu
COURTROOM: 9D
Plaintiff,
vs.
NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
VICTORIA’S SECRET STORES, LLC, a business
entity of unknown form; LIMITED BRANDS, a
business entity of unknown form; and DOES 1 through
100, inclusive,
Defendants.
I.
WHY DID I GET THIS NOTICE?
This notice explains that a settlement has been reached in the case entitled Mayra Casas, et al. v. Victoria’s
Secret Stores, LLC, et al., Case No. 2:14-cv-06412 GW (VBKx) (the “Lawsuit”). You are receiving this notice
because the records of Victoria’s Secret Stores, LLC (“VSS”) indicate that you are a member of the proposed
“Class” of employees included in the Lawsuit, because you are a current or former VSS employee who worked in
California during the time period of July 9, 2010 to August 10, 2017, who was classified as non-exempt from
overtime pay (hourly). Not included in the Class are VSS’ owners, directors, officers, executives, and all
management personnel whose responsibility it was to maintain and/or enforce the policies, procedures, customs
and/or business practices complained of in the Lawsuit. As a member of the proposed Class, you are eligible to
receive a portion of the settlement amount.
This is not a notice of a lawsuit against you. You are not being sued. The Lawsuit was brought on behalf of all
Class members, for their benefit. Your participation, or non-participation, in the Settlement will not affect your
employment with VSS in any way whatsoever.
The Court has ordered that this notice be sent to you because VSS’ records indicate that you are a member of the
Class. The purpose of this notice is to inform you of the proposed Settlement of the Lawsuit. The notice is also
intended (i) to describe the Settlement, including how the Settlement monies will be allocated and how the
Settlement may affect you, and (ii) to advise you of your rights and options with respect to the Settlement.
II.
WHAT IS THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT?
In July 2014, a then-current VSS employee filed a lawsuit in which she alleged multiple violations of California
wage-and-hour laws that were believed to be effecting all members of the proposed Class of employees described
above, including: (1) failure to pay reporting time pay for regular shifts; (2) failure to pay reporting time pay for
Page 1 of 6
“call-in” shifts; (3) failure to pay for all time worked; (4) failure to maintain required business records; (5) failure
to provide accurate itemized wage statements; (6) unfair business practices; and (7) civil penalties under the
Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Another former VSS employee was subsequently added to the Lawsuit.
These two individuals who are suing VSS are referred to in this document as “Plaintiffs.” The Lawsuit was
transferred from State to Federal Court in the Central District of California, and was litigated there prior to this
settlement.
VSS contends that the members of the Class have been paid all monies that were due to them, maintains that it
has at all times complied with California’s wage-and-hour laws, and vigorously denies any wrongdoing alleged
by Plaintiffs.
The Court has not ruled on whether Plaintiffs’ allegations have any merit. However, for the purpose of avoiding
the time and expense of further litigation, the ultimate outcome of which is uncertain, and to provide a fair and
reasonable resolution of this legal dispute, Plaintiffs and VSS have negotiated a settlement whereby VSS has
agreed to pay $12,000,000.00 to resolve the matter, and Class Members will be eligible to receive a portion of
this amount. This Settlement is not an admission by VSS of any liability.
III.
WHO IS INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT?
The proposed Class is defined to include the following individuals:
Class Members” shall mean all current and former employees of VSS, who worked in
California during the Class Period and who were classified as non-exempt from overtime pay,
excluding VSS, its owners, directors, officers, executives, and all management personnel
whose responsibility it was to maintain and/or enforce the policies, procedures, customs and/or
business practices complained of in the Lawsuit.
Additionally, a Subclass shall be formed to represent all members of the foregoing Class whose
employment with VSS terminated during the Class Period.
As used hereinabove, the term “Class Period” means the time frame commencing four years
prior to the date the original Complaint in this action was filed, i.e., July 9, 2010, and
continuing until August 10, 2017.
IV.
WHAT DOES THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OFFER?
Under the terms of the parties’ proposed settlement, the following will occur if the Settlement is given final
approval by the Court:
A.
VSS will pay Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000.00) to settle the claims of all Class Members.
B.
A claims administrator has been appointed by the Court to administer the Settlement. The claims
administrator will pay from the $12,000,000.00: (1) Plaintiffs’ costs of litigation, up to the amount of
$20,000.00; (2) The expenses of administering the Settlement, up to the amount of $200,000.00; (3) Plaintiffs’
counsel’s attorneys’ fees, up to $3,600,000.00; (4) An enhancement award of $10,000.00 to each Plaintiff; and
(5) $37,500.00 to the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency, representing 75% of the $50,000.00
allocated to the settlement of Plaintiffs’ claim for penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004
(California Labor Code sections 2698, et seq.) (“PAGA”). The remainder of the $12,000,000.00, currently
estimated to be at least $8,122,500.00, will be available to be distributed to all Settlement Class Members; this
amount is called the Net Settlement Fund (“NSF”).
Page 2 of 6
C.
The amount stated above to be distributed to the Settlement Class Members will be divided among
all Settlement Class Members as follows. After the amounts described in paragraph IV.B, above, are deducted,
the resulting NSF will be divided by the total number of “qualified weeks” worked by all Class Members during
the Class Period, to produce a “Weekly Settlement Value.” A “qualified week” is any week in which a
Settlement Class Member was employed by VSS in California in a non-exempt job position – excluding in a
position with responsibility for maintaining and/or enforcing the policies, procedures, customs and/or business
practices complained of in the Action – during the Class Period. You will be eligible to receive a Settlement
payment in the amount of the total number of qualified weeks you worked for VSS during the Class Period
multiplied by the Weekly Settlement Value, less applicable withholdings, unless you choose to opt out of (i.e.,
not participate in) the Settlement.
Please note that those Settlement Class Members who are members of the Subclass referred to in
Section III above, which includes those Class Members “whose employment with VSS
terminated during the Class Period,” will receive a five percent (5%) increase in their Settlement
payment amount, to reflect the estimated settlement value of the claim for “waiting time
penalties” under California Labor Code section 203, a claim which only former employees may
pursue.
D.
If the Court grants final approval of the settlement agreement and you do not opt out of the
settlement, then you will release VSS and all of VSS’ current or former parent companies, subsidiary companies
and/or related companies, partnerships, or joint ventures, and, with respect to each of them, all of their and/or
such related entities’ predecessors and successors, and, with respect to each such entity, all of its past, present,
and future employees, officers, partners, principals, directors, stockholders, owners, representatives, assigns,
attorneys, agents, insurers, employee benefit programs (and the trustees, administrators, fiduciaries, and insurers
of such programs), and any other persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of the persons or
entities listed in this subsection, and their successors (the “Released Parties”), from any and all claims, actions,
demands, causes of action, suits, debts, obligations, damages, rights or liabilities that have been asserted by
Plaintiffs, or the Class Members or any of their respective heirs, executors, administrators, beneficiaries,
predecessors, successors, attorneys, assigns, agents, and/or representatives arising out of any claims that were
encompassed in the Action, and any claims which reasonably flow from the facts alleged in Plaintiffs’
Complaint, First Amended Complaint, Second Amended Complaint, Third Amended Complaint, or Fourth
Amended Complaint, including, but not limited to: claims for unpaid wages (including claims for minimum wage
and overtime compensation); reimbursement of business expenses pursuant to Labor Code section 2802; interest;
penalties (including waiting time penalties pursuant to Labor Code section 203, pay stub penalties pursuant to
Labor Code section 226, and civil penalties pursuant to the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004
(Labor Code sections 2698, et seq.) (“PAGA”)); claims pursuant to Labor Code sections 200, 201, 202, 218.5,
226, 510, 558, 1174, 1194, 1197, 1198, and 1199; the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders relating to
claims for unpaid reporting time pay premiums, unpaid hours worked, recordkeeping, and split shift pay; and
claims under Business and Professions Code sections 17200, et seq., claims for attorneys’ fees and costs,
conversion, fraud, common count, and unfair business practices (the “Released Class Claims”). Released Class
Claims include all claimed or unclaimed compensatory, consequential, incidental, liquidated, punitive and
exemplary damages, restitution, interest, costs and fees, injunctive or equitable relief, and any other remedies
available at law or equity allegedly owed or available to the Class arising or reasonably flowing from the
Complaint, First Amended Complaint, Second Amended Complaint, Third Amended Complaint, or Fourth
Amended Complaint against the Released Parties for the time period from the beginning of each claim’s
applicable statute of limitations, up to and including the date of final approval of the settlement. You will be
barred from prosecuting any of the Released Class Claims against the Released Parties.
Page 3 of 6
V.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
A.
You may accept your share of the $12,000,000.00 settlement and be bound by the release of all
claims described above. In order to receive your Settlement award, you do not need to do anything. Settlement
awards will be paid by check after the Settlement is given final approval by the Court. The checks will be mailed
to you by the claims administrator. Your check will remain valid and negotiable for one hundred eighty (180)
days from the date on which it is issued. After those one hundred eighty (180) days expire, the check will
become void and your Settlement share will be sent to the State of California Unclaimed Wages Fund in your
name; or
B.
You may opt out of the Settlement, and thus not participate in it, in which case you will not
receive your share of the Settlement and you will not be bound by the terms of the Settlement. In order to
express your intention to opt out, you must send a written request for exclusion, by mail, to the claims
administrator, CPT Group, Inc., located at 50 Corporate Park, Irvine, California, 92606, by no later than
October 18, 2017 (30 calendar days after mailing of this Notice). In order to be considered valid, your request
for exclusion must include your name, your address, state your intent to opt out of the Settlement, and affix your
signature to that statement.
C.
You may object to the settlement. The procedures for objecting to the settlement are described
below in Section VIII of this form.
VI.
WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES FOR PAYMENT?
A.
The claims administrator will calculate your share of the Settlement based upon your “qualified
weeks” worked, and will issue and mail you a check.
B.
Thirty-three percent (33%) of your share of the Settlement award will be considered wages from
which ordinary W-2 tax withholdings will be deducted. No tax deductions shall be made from the remaining
sixty-seven percent (67%), which will be issued as 1099 “other income”. You will be given IRS tax forms for
each of these amounts, if applicable. You are responsible for paying the correct amount of taxes on each portion
of your share of the settlement.
C.
It is important for the Parties to the Lawsuit to have your current address in order to be able to
send you other mailings regarding the Lawsuit. You should contact the claims administrator to report any change
of your address after you receive this Notice. Failure to report a change of address may result in you not
receiving your share of the settlement money.
VII.
HEARING ON PROPOSED SETTLEMENT
A Final Fairness Hearing, at which the Court will decide whether or not the proposed settlement is fair,
reasonable, and adequate, will be held on November 20, 2017, at 8:30 a.m., in Courtroom 9D of the United States
District Court for the Central District of California, located at 350 West First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
The Court may adjourn or continue the hearing without further notice to you.
You are not required to attend the hearing. Counsel for Plaintiffs and the Class will answer any questions the
Court may have. However, you are welcome to attend the hearing at your own expense.
///
///
Page 4 of 6
VIII. PROCEDURES FOR OBJECTING TO SETTLEMENT
A.
You may object to the proposed settlement as unfair, unreasonable, and/or inadequate. You will
not be heard or entitled to contest the approval of the terms and conditions of the proposed settlement, or, if
approved, the judgment to be entered approving the settlement, unless you formally object to the settlement on or
before October 18, 2017 (30 calendar days after mailing of this Notice).
B.
To object to the settlement, you must file a written objection, along with copies of any papers in
support of your position, with the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Central District of California,
located at 350 West First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. You also must serve your objection and supporting
papers on all counsel for the parties, as listed below. In your written objection, you must also verify that you are
a member of the Class. If you do not object in this manner as described, you will have given up your right to
object to the settlement. If you file an objection, you do not have to come to the Court to talk about it. As long
as you submit your written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You may also pay your own lawyer to
appear in Court on your behalf.
C.
If you do not make your objection in the manner provided for in this Notice, you will be deemed
to have waived such objection and shall forever be barred from making any objection to or appealing the fairness,
reasonableness, or adequacy of the settlement.
IX.
EXAMINATION OF COURT PAPERS AND QUESTIONS
This Notice summarizes the Settlement. For more detailed information, you may review the Joint Stipulation re:
Class Action Settlement, and all other settlement related documents and motions, which are posted for your
review at www.xxxx.com, which you can access using the following code: xxxx. Additionally, all papers filed in
the Lawsuit, including the Joint Stipulation re: Class Action Settlement and all settlement related documents and
motions are on file with the Clerk of the Court, case number 2:14-cv-06412 GW (VBKx), which is located in the
office of the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court for the Central District of California at 350
West First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, and is available for viewing during regular office hours (Mon. – Fri.,
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Finally, the pleadings and all other records from this Lawsuit may also be examined by
accessing the Court docket in this case through the Court’s online Public Access to Court Electronic Records
(PACER) system, at https://ecf.cacd.uscourts.gov. There may be a fee required to review the materials via the
online PACER system.
If you have any questions, you can call the Claims Administrator at _____ or any of the attorneys
representing the Class (see below for Class Counsel’s phone number).
ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE CLASS
Marlin & Saltzman, LLP
Stanley D. Saltzman
Stephen P. O’Dell
29800 Agoura Road, Suite 210
Agoura Hills, California 91301
Tel: (818) 991-8080; Fax: (818) 991-8081
ssaltzman@marlinsaltzman.com
sodell@marlinsaltzman.com
Page 5 of 6
ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING VICTORIA’S SECRET STORES, LLC
(Not to be Contacted by Class Members)
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Lori A. Bowman
Jennifer L. Katz
400 South Hope Street, Suite 1200
Los Angeles, California 90071
PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR OTHERWISE ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE
COURT, VSS, VSS’ CORPORATE OFFICE AND/OR MANAGERS, OR THE
ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING VSS REGARDING THIS SETTLEMENT.
Page 6 of 6
EXHIBIT B
to Joint Stipulation Re Class Action Settlement
THIS EXHIBIT
INTENTIONALLY OMITTED
EXHIBIT B
to Joint Stipulation Re Class Action Settlement
EXHIBIT C
to Joint Stipulation Re Class Action Settlement
THIS EXHIBIT
INTENTIONALLY OMITTED
EXHIBIT C
to Joint Stipulation Re Class Action Settlement
EXHIBIT D
to Joint Stipulation Re Class Action Settlement
THIS EXHIBIT
INTENTIONALLY OMITTED
EXHIBIT D
to Joint Stipulation Re Class Action Settlement
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