Sue Rodriguez et al v. Experian Services Corp. et al

Filing 58

ORDER AWARDING LEAD PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL ATTORNEYS FEES AND REIMBURSING EXPENSES by Judge Manuel L. Real: Upon Plaintiffs' Motion 55 , it is hereby ordered: Class Counsel are awarded $650,000.00 as attorneys' fees in this action, which includes their costs of prosecution of this action. Lead Plaintiffs shall be awarded $2,000 for an incentive fee award and reimbursement for their lost time in connection with their prosecution of this action. See document for further details. (gk)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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WESTERN DIVISION

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Sue Rodriguez, et al.,

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Case No. 2:15-cv-03553-R-MRW

Plaintiffs,
v.
Experian Services Corp., et al.,
Defendants.

ORDER AWARDING LEAD
PLAINTIFFS’ COUNSEL
ATTORNEYS FEES AND
REIMBURSING EXPENSES
Hon. Manuel Real

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WHEREAS, the Court has granted final approval to the Settlement of the abovereferenced class action;
WHEREAS, Lead Plaintiff’s Counsel, the Schwaba Law Firm and Nicholson

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Law Firm, PA, appointed by the Court as Class Counsel for the purposes of the

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Settlement have petitioned the Court for an award of attorneys’ fees in

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compensation for the services provided to Lead Plaintiffs and the Class, and

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reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the prosecution of this

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action, to be paid out of the Settlement Fund established pursuant to the Settlement;

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and

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WHEREAS, the Court has reviewed the fee application and the supporting

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materials filed therewith, and has heard the presentation made by Class Counsel

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during the final approval hearing, and due consideration having been had thereon,

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NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby ordered:

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1. Class Counsel are awarded $650,000.00 as attorneys’ fees in this action,

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which includes their costs of prosecution of this action.

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2. Except as otherwise provided herein, the attorneys’ fees shall be paid and

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reimbursement of expenses shall be made in the manner and procedure

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provided for in the stipulations of Settlement (Docket No. 49).

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3. Lead Plaintiffs shall be awarded $2,000 for an incentive fee award and

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reimbursement for their lost time in connection with their prosecution of this

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action.
4. In making this award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of expenses to be
paid from the Settlement Fund, the Court has considered and found that:
a. The Settlement has created a fund of $2,000,000 in cash, and Class
members who file timely and valid claims will benefit from the
Settlement created by Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel;
b. At least 2,685 copies of the Notice were disseminated to putative Class

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members indicating that at the September 18, 2017 final approval

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hearing, Lead Plaintiffs’ counsel intended to seek a fee of up to 25% of

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the Settlement Fund in attorneys’ fees, and reimbursement of their

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litigation expenses in an amount not to exceed $16,000.

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c. The Notice was emailed and mailed to class members as required by

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the Court, and no objection was filed against either the terms of the

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proposed Settlement or the ceiling on fees and expenses to be
requested by Lead Plaintiffs’ counsel;
d. Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel have conducted this litigation and achieved

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the Settlement;

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e. The litigation of this Action involved complex factual and legal issues

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and was actively prosecuted since its filing, and in the absence of

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Settlement, the Action would have continued to involve complex
factual and legal questions;
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f. If Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel had not achieved the Settlement, there was
a risk of either a smaller or no recovery; and

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g. Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel and additional Plaintiffs’ Counsel have

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devoted over 900 hours of professional time to the prosecution of this

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Action, with a lodestar value of $383,455.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: September 19, 2017
_________________
Hon. Manuel L. Real
United States District Judge

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