Lee v. Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc.

Filing 45

ORDER by Judge Jeffrey S. White GRANTING 38 Motion for Preliminary Approval of Settlement. (jswlc3, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 8/27/2010)

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Lee v. Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. Doc. 45 Case3:09-cv-04022-JSW Document44 Filed08/27/10 Page1 of 7 1 STEVEN G. ZIEFF (State Bar No. 84222) KENNETH J. SUGARMAN (State Bar No. 195059) 2 JOHN T. MULLAN (State Bar No. 221149) RUDY, EXELROD, ZIEFF & LOWE, LLP 3 351 California Street, Suite 700 4 San Francisco, CA 94104 Telephone: (415) 434-9800 5 Facsimile: (415) 434-0513 sgz@rezlaw.com 6 kjs@rezlaw.com jtm@rezlaw.com 7 Attorneys for Plaintiffs 8 9 RUDY EXELROD ZIEFF & LOWE LLP 10 PH (415) 434-9800 | FX (415) 434-0513 | www.rezlaw.com UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND DIVISION Case No. 09-04022 (JSW) CLASS ACTION AMENDED [PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR ORDER: (1) PROVISIONALLY CERTIFYING SETTLEMENT CLASS; (2) PRELIMINARILY APPROVING CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION; (3) DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION OF NOTICE OF THE SETTLEMENT; AND (4) SETTING A SCHEDULE FOR THE FINAL SETTLEMENT APPROVAL PROCESS AS MODIFIED HEREIN Before: Honorable Jeffrey S. White / Complaint Filed: July 28, 2009 11 12 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104 351 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 700 13 EUNICE LEE, and SUSAN MONTEGNA, individually and on behalf of all others 14 similarly situated, 15 16 v. Plaintiffs, 17 ULTA SALON, COSMETICS & FRAGRANCE, INC. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Defendant. WHEREAS, the motion of Plaintiff Susan Montegna for provisional class certification, 27 preliminary approval of settlement, approval of the form and manner of notice to the class, and 28 other matters came under this Court's consideration on September 3, 2010; 1 [PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT APPROVAL CASE NO. 09-04022 (JSW) Dockets.Justia.com Case3:09-cv-04022-JSW Document44 Filed08/27/10 Page2 of 7 1 WHEREAS, Plaintiff has alleged claims against Defendant Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & 2 Fragrance, Inc. ("Ulta") on behalf of herself, and all other Salon Managers who worked for Ulta 3 and who held the title Salon Manager in California at any time from July 28, 2005 to March 27, 4 2009; 5 WHEREAS, Plaintiffs asserts claims for 1) Violations of California Overtime Wage 6 Provisions; (2) California Waiting Period Penalties; (3) Violations of California Record-Keeping 7 Provisions; (4) Violations of California Meal and Rest Period Provisions; (5) Violations of the 8 California Unfair Competition Law; and (7) Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act penalties; 9 RUDY EXELROD ZIEFF & LOWE LLP PH (415) 434-9800 | FX (415) 434-0513 | www.rezlaw.com WHEREAS, Ulta expressly denies the allegations of wrongdoing and violations of law 10 alleged in this Action, and further denies liability whatsoever to Plaintiff, or to the Settlement 11 Class Members; 12 WHEREAS, Class Counsel have engaged in extensive discussions and negotiations with SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104 351 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 700 13 Defendant and its counsel concerning a resolution of the issues raised in this Action, including a 14 mediation session which was conducted under the auspices of mediator Jeffrey Ross; and 15 WHEREAS, the parties have proposed a settlement of the Action intended to resolve the 16 wage claims at issue in this lawsuit, the terms of which are embodied in the Joint Stipulation of 17 Settlement and Release (the "Agreement") attached hereto as Exhibit 1. 18 19 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1. To the extent defined in the Stipulation of Settlement and Release (the "Agreement") attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by reference, the terms in this Order shall have the meanings set forth therein. 2. The Court finds that provisional certification of the proposed Settlement Class for settlement purposes is appropriate under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23 and related case law: Settlement Class: All California employees of Ulta Salons, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. or its predecessors who were assigned to Ulta Salons, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. stores and who held the position of "Salon Manager" during the period from July 28, 2005 to March 27, 2009; the date when Defendant reclassified its Salon Managers as non-exempt employees ("Class Period"). 2 [PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT APPROVAL CASE NO. 09-04022 (JSW) Case3:09-cv-04022-JSW Document44 Filed08/27/10 Page3 of 7 1 3. The Settlement Class, consisting of approximately 52 Class Members, is 2 sufficiently numerous that joinder is not practicable. 3 4. The proposed class members' claims all stem from the same source ­ their 4 employment as Salon Managers, their classification as exempt employees, and their non-receipt 5 of overtime wages for their overtime hours worked ­ and there are questions of law and fact 6 common to the members of the Settlement Class. The questions of law and fact common to the 7 members of the Settlement Class include: 8 9 RUDY EXELROD ZIEFF & LOWE LLP 10 PH (415) 434-9800 | FX (415) 434-0513 | www.rezlaw.com · Whether Ulta's policy and practice of classifying the Settlement Class Members as exempt from overtime entitlement and failing to pay overtime to the Settlement Class Members violates applicable California law, including applicable statutory and regulatory authority; and Whether Ulta unlawfully failed to pay compensation to Settlement Class members for missed meal and rest periods in violation of the UCL and applicable California wage and hour laws; and Whether Ulta unlawfully failed to keep and furnish Settlement Class members with records of hours worked, in violation of applicable law. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 · SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104 351 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 700 · As the Plaintiffs need only establish one common question of law or fact in order to meet the low threshold set by Rule 23(a)(2), Plaintiffs' above showing of common issues satisfies what is required. 5. The named Plaintiff's claims are typical of those of the Class that she seeks to represent. Plaintiff Susan Montegna's claims are typical of those of the Settlement Class because they all arise out of Ulta's former uniform policy of classifying Salon Managers as exempt, and of refusing to pay Salon Managers overtime compensation for overtime hours worked. 6. The proposed Class Representative will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the Settlement Class. She has retained counsel who have the experience and resources necessary to provide adequate representation of the Classes and meet the requirements of Rule 23(g)(1). /// /// /// 3 [PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT APPROVAL CASE NO. 09-04022 (JSW) Case3:09-cv-04022-JSW Document44 Filed08/27/10 Page4 of 7 1 7. The Court hereby approves Plaintiff Susan Montegna as representative of the 2 Settlement Class, and appoints as Class Counsel, the law firm of Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe, 3 LLP and all attorneys associated with that firm. 4 8. Pursuant to the parties' separate stipulation (filed simultaneously herewith) 5 providing for the binding arbitration of Eunice Lee's individual claims, Ms. Lee individual 6 claims are hereby dismissed with prejudice subject to the Court's approval of that stipulation. 7 9. Plaintiffs' class allegations on behalf of Ulta General Managers are dismissed 8 without prejudice subject to the Court's approval of the Stipulation mentioned in paragraph 8 9 hereinabove. RUDY EXELROD ZIEFF & LOWE LLP 10 PH (415) 434-9800 | FX (415) 434-0513 | www.rezlaw.com 10. The Court hereby appoints Simpluris, Inc. as the Settlement Administrator and 11 preliminarily approves Settlement Administration Costs payable to the Settlement Administrator 12 pursuant to Paragraph 14 of the Agreement, estimated to be no more than $20,000. 13 11. Subject to the receipt and consideration by the Court of any objections to or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104 351 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 700 14 comments on the Agreement at the hearing described in Paragraph 15 of this Order, the Court 15 finds the Agreement and all of its terms to be fair, just, equitable, and in the best interests of the 16 members of the Settlement Class. The proposed Settlement falls within the range of possible 17 Settlement approval, was negotiated at arms length, and is worthy of being presented to the Class 18 Members for their comments. The Court hereby preliminarily approves the Settlement under 19 Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including preliminarily approving its 20 provision for service payment to the Class Representative in the amount of $7,500. However, 21 subject to the receipt and consideration by the Court of any objections to or comments on the 22 Agreement at the hearing described in Paragraph 15 of this Order, the service payment to the 23 Class Representative in the amount of $7,500 is subject to further Court review and Court 24 approval. 25 12. 2010 By no later than September 23, 2009, the Settlement Administrator shall cause to 26 be mailed by first class mail the Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement and Settlement 27 Hearing (the "Class Notice") in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to the Joint Response 28 4 [PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT APPROVAL CASE NO. 09-04022 (JSW) Case3:09-cv-04022-JSW Document44 Filed08/27/10 Page5 of 7 1 to the Court's Questions re: Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Approval, to the current or last 2 known address of each Settlement Class Member. 3 13. The Class Notice given in compliance with the provisions set forth in Paragraph 4 12 above is hereby found to be the best notice practicable under the circumstances, and 5 constitutes due and sufficient notice, in full compliance with the requirements of Rule 23(3) of 6 the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Constitution of the United States, and any other 7 applicable law. 8 14. All reasonable costs incurred in identifying and notifying Class Members, as well 9 as administering the Settlement, shall be paid as set forth in the Settlement Agreement. RUDY EXELROD ZIEFF & LOWE LLP 10 PH (415) 434-9800 | FX (415) 434-0513 | www.rezlaw.com 15. Pursuant to Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a hearing (the 11 "Settlement Hearing") shall be held on December 17, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., before the Honorable 12 Jeffrey S. White, United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern 13 District of California, San Francisco/Oakland Division, in Courtroom 11 at 450 Golden Gate 14 Ave., San Francisco, California to determine the fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy of the 15 proposed Settlement, including its provision for payment to named Plaintiff Susan Montegna, and 16 whether it should be finally approved, and to consider the motion of Class Counsel for attorneys' 17 fees, costs, and expenses. 18 16. Monday, November 8, 2010 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104 351 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 700 Members of the Settlement Class who do not opt-out of the Class by November 7, 19 2010 will be deemed to be a Class Member and will be bound by the terms of the Settlement 20 unless otherwise ordered by the Court. 21 17. Members of the Settlement Class who wish to challenge the employment dates 22 and/or the average weekly salary used to calculate their share of the Settlement must provide 23 written evidence to support their challenge to the Settlement Administrator postmarked by Monday, November 8, 2010 24 November 7, 2010. The Settlement Administrator will have full discretion to resolve any such 25 disputes in accordance with the terms spelled out in the Notice of Class Action Settlement. 26 18. No Class Member shall be heard in opposition to the proposed Settlement, or, if 27 approved, the judgments and other orders to be entered thereon, to the requested award of 28 attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses, or to the requested payment to the Named Plaintiff, and no 5 [PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT APPROVAL CASE NO. 09-04022 (JSW) Case3:09-cv-04022-JSW Document44 Filed08/27/10 Page6 of 7 1 papers or briefs submitted by any such person shall be accepted or considered by the Court 2 unless, on or before November 26, 2010, such person has filed with the Settlement Administrator 3 a written statement that indicates the specific basis for such person's objections, along with any 4 supporting documentation. 5 19. On or before November 12, 2010, Class Counsel shall file with the Court and 6 serve on all parties their motion for attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses, and all papers in support 7 thereof, to be heard concurrently with the final approval hearing referenced in Paragraph 15. 8 20. On or before November 12, 2010, Plaintiffs shall file a motion for Final Approval 9 of Settlement and Dismissal of Action. Any timely objections received after Plaintiffs file their RUDY EXELROD ZIEFF & LOWE LLP 10 motion for Final Approval of Settlement and Dismissal of Action may be addressed in the Reply PH (415) 434-9800 | FX (415) 434-0513 | www.rezlaw.com 11 papers. 12 21. Any Class Member who has met the requirements of paragraph 18 herein, or his SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104 351 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 700 13 or her representative, may appear at the Settlement Hearing in person or by telephone, and be 14 heard to the extent allowed by the Court in support of, or in opposition to, the fairness, 15 reasonableness and adequacy of the proposed Settlement, the requested award of attorneys' fees, 16 costs, and expenses, and the requested payment to Named Plaintiff, Susan Montegna. Any Class 17 Member who does not make his or her objections as required by Paragraph 18 herein shall be 18 deemed to have waived such objections and shall forever be foreclosed from making any 19 objection to the fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy of the proposed Settlement, the requested 20 award of attorneys' fees and costs, and the requested payment to Named Plaintiff, Susan 21 Montegna unless otherwise ordered by the Court. 22 22. The Court expressly reserves its right to continue the Settlement Hearing from 23 time to time without further direct notice to the Class. 24 23. Non-substantive amendments may be made to the Agreement or Class Notice 25 form upon written agreement of the Class Counsel and counsel for Ulta. 26 /// 27 /// 28 /// 6 [PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT APPROVAL CASE NO. 09-04022 (JSW) Case3:09-cv-04022-JSW Document44 Filed08/27/10 Page7 of 7 The hearing set for September 3, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. is VACATED. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 RUDY EXELROD ZIEFF & LOWE LLP 10 PH (415) 434-9800 | FX (415) 434-0513 | www.rezlaw.com IT IS SO ORDERED. August 27, 2010 Dated: ___________________________ Honorable Jeffrey S. White United States District Judge 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 7 [PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT APPROVAL CASE NO. 09-04022 (JSW) SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104 351 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 700

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