Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit v. Crane et al
Filing
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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE; ORDER ON APPLICATION FOR LEAD COUNSEL'S FEE AND EXPENSE AWARD AND THE LEAD PLAINTIFF COST AND EXPENSE AWARD. Signed by Judge Vince Chhabria on 5/17/16. (cl, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/17/2016)
1 LIONEL Z. GLANCY (#134180)
ROBERT V. PRONGAY (#270796)
2 JOSHUA L. CROWELL (#295411)
GLANCY PRONGAY & MURRAY LLP
3 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, California 90067
4 Telephone: (310) 201-9150
Facsimile: (310) 201-9160
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BETH A. KASWAN (pro hac vice)
6 DEBORAH CLARK-WEINTRAUB (pro hac vice)
DONALD A. BROGGI
7 AMANDA F. LAWRENCE (pro hac vice)
SCOTT+SCOTT, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, LLP
8 The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue, 40th Floor
9 New York, New York 10174
Telephone: (212) 223-6444
10 Facsimile: (212) 223-6334
11 Attorneys for Lead Plaintiff Fire Retirement
System of the City of Detroit and the Class
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[Additional counsel appear on signature page.]
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION
17 POLICE AND FIRE RETIREMENT
18 SYSTEM OF THE CITY OF DETROIT,
Individually and on Behalf of All Others
19 Similarly Situated,
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Plaintiff,
vs.
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ROSEMARY A. CRANE, PATRICK D.
23 SPANGLER, and EPOCRATES, INC.,
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Defendants.
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Case No. 13-cv-00945-VC
[PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND
ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH
PREJUDICE; ORDER ON APPLICATION
FOR LEAD COUNSEL’S FEE AND
EXPENSE AWARD AND THE LEAD
PLAINTIFF COST AND EXPENSE
AWARD
Hearing Date: May 12, 2016
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Location:
Courtroom 4, 17th Floor
Judge:
Hon. Vince Chhabria
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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
CASE NO. 13-CV-00945-VC
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This matter came before the Court for hearing pursuant to an Order of this Court, dated
2 December 15, 2015 (the “Preliminary Approval Order”), on the application of the Parties for
3 approval of the Settlement set forth in the Stipulation of Settlement dated as of October 30, 2015,
4 (the “Stipulation”). Due and adequate notice having been given of the Settlement as required in
5 said Preliminary Approval Order, and the Court having considered all papers filed and
6 proceedings held herein and otherwise being fully informed in the premises and good cause
7 appearing therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that:
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1.
This Judgment incorporates by reference the definitions in the Stipulation, and all
9 terms used herein shall have the same meanings set forth in the Stipulation.
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2.
This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Litigation, including the
11 terms and conditions of the Stipulation and all exhibits thereto, and over all Parties to the
12 Litigation, and all Settlement Class Members.
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3.
Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this Court hereby
14 finally certifies, for settlement purposes only, a Settlement Class consisting of all Persons who
15 purchased or otherwise acquired the common stock of Epocrates between February 1, 2011
16 through August 9, 2011, inclusive, and who were allegedly damaged thereby. Excluded from the
17 Settlement Class are Defendants, members of the immediate families of the Individual Defendants,
18 the officers and directors of the Company during the Settlement Class Period, the legal
19 representatives, heirs, successors, or assigns of any of the foregoing excluded Persons and any
20 entity in which any of the Defendants have or had a controlling interest. Also excluded from the
21 Settlement Class are those Persons who submitted valid and timely requests for exclusion in
22 accordance with the requirements set forth in the Notice who are listed on Schedule 1 hereto.
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4.
Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and for the purposes
24 of the Settlement only, Lead Plaintiff is appointed as the class representative for the Settlement
25 Class (“Class Representative”) and Lead Counsel is appointed as counsel for the Settlement Class.
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5.
The Court finds, for settlement purposes only, that the prerequisites for a class
27 action under Rules 23(a) and 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have been satisfied
28 in that: (a) the number of Settlement Class Members is so numerous that joinder of all members
FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
CASE NO. 13-CV-00945-VC
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1 thereof is impracticable; (b) there are questions of law and fact common to the Settlement Class;
2 (c) the claims of the Court-appointed Class Representative, Police and Fire Retirement System of
3 the City of Detroit, are typical of the claims of the Settlement Class it represents; (d) the Class
4 Representative has and will continue to fairly and adequately represent the interests of the
5 Settlement Class; (e) the questions of law and fact common to the Settlement Class Members
6 predominate over any questions affecting only individual Settlement Class Members; and (f) a
7 class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the
8 controversy.
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6.
The distribution of the Notice and the publication of the Summary Notice, as
10 provided for in the Preliminary Approval Order, constituted the best notice practicable under the
11 circumstances, including individual notice to all Settlement Class Members who could be
12 identified through reasonable effort. Said notices were reasonably calculated under the
13 circumstances to apprise Settlement Class Members of the nature of the Litigation, including the
14 claims, issues and defenses thereto, the proposed Settlement set forth in the Stipulation, the
15 definition of the Settlement Class, their right to exclude themselves from the Settlement Class and
16 the manner to do so, their right to object to any aspect of the proposed Settlement, their right to
17 appear at the Settlement Hearing, either on their own or through counsel hired at their own
18 expense, and the binding effect of these proceedings, rulings, orders, and judgments in this
19 Litigation on all Persons who are not excluded from the Settlement Class. Said notices fully
20 satisfied the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, Section 21D(a)(7) of the
21 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the requirements of Due Process, and any other applicable law.
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7.
Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this Court hereby
23 approves the Settlement set forth in the Stipulation and finds that said Settlement is, in all respects,
24 fair, reasonable and adequate to, and is in the best interests of the Lead Plaintiff, the Settlement
25 Class, and each of the Settlement Class Members. This Court further finds the Settlement set forth
26 in the Stipulation is the result of arm’s-length negotiations between experienced counsel
27 representing the interests of the Lead Plaintiff, Settlement Class Members, and the Defendants.
28 Accordingly, the Settlement embodied in the Stipulation is hereby approved in all respects and
FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
CASE NO. 13-CV-00945-VC
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1 shall be consummated in accordance with its terms and provisions. The Parties are hereby
2 directed to perform the terms of the Stipulation.
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8.
The Litigation and all Released Claims are dismissed with prejudice. The Parties
4 are to bear their own costs, except as otherwise provided in the Stipulation.
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9.
All Persons whose names appear on Schedule 1 hereto are hereby excluded from
6 the Settlement Class, are not bound by this Judgment, and may not make any claim with respect to
7 or receive any benefit from the Settlement. Such excluded Persons may not pursue Released
8 Claims on behalf of those who are bound by this Judgment.
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10.
In accordance with Paragraph 1.24 of the Stipulation, for purposes of this Judgment
10 the term “Released Claims” shall mean: any and all claims, known or unknown, contingent or
11 non-contingent, whether suspected or unsuspected, including any claims arising under federal or
12 state statutory or common law or any other law, rule or regulation, whether foreign or domestic,
13 including Unknown Claims, that have been or could have been asserted against all or any of the
14 Defendants or any of the Released Persons that (i) arise out of or relate to the claims or allegations
15 in the Litigation, including the acts, facts, events, disclosures, or omissions alleged in the
16 Litigation; and (ii) relate to the purchase, sale or ownership of Epocrates securities during the
17 period from and including February 1, 2011, and August 9, 2011; including all aspects of
18 Epocrates’ public statements to investors regarding its business, prospects, and operations; and the
19 obligations of any of the Defendants in connection with Epocrates’ public statements to investors
20 regarding its business, prospects, and operations, provided, however, that the term “Released
21 Claims” shall not include claims to enforce the Settlement or the Judgment entered pursuant
22 thereto.
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11.
In accordance with Paragraph 1.25 of the Stipulation, for purposes of this Judgment
24 the term “Released Persons” shall mean: each and all of the Defendants, any other past or present
25 defendants in the Litigation, and any of their respective past, present or future direct or indirect
26 parent entities, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries or families, and each and all of the foregoing’s
27 respective past, present or future officers, directors, stockholders, agents, representatives,
28 employees, attorneys, advisors, consultants, accountants, investment bankers, underwriters,
FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
CASE NO. 13-CV-00945-VC
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1 brokers, dealers, lenders, insurers, co-insurers, reinsurers, heirs, executors, principals, managing
2 directors, managing agents, joint ventures, personal or legal representatives, estates, beneficiaries,
3 predecessors, successors and assigns.
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12.
Upon the Effective Date, Lead Plaintiff and each of the Settlement Class Members
5 on behalf of themselves and each of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees,
6 agents, personal representatives, spouses, subsidiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, successors
7 and assigns, and any other Person claiming (now or in the future) to be acting on behalf of any of
8 them, and regardless of whether any such Lead Plaintiff or Settlement Class Member ever seeks or
9 obtains by any means, including, without limitation, by submitting a Proof of Claim and Release,
10 any distribution from the Settlement Fund, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the
11 Judgment shall have, fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished, and discharged all Released
12 Claims (including known claims and Unknown Claims) against the Released Persons and shall
13 have covenanted not to sue the Released Persons with respect to all such Released Claims, and
14 shall be permanently barred and enjoined from instituting, commencing, participating in,
15 continuing, maintaining, asserting or prosecuting, whether directly or indirectly, whether in the
16 United States or elsewhere, whether their own behalf or on behalf of a class or any other Person,
17 any Released Claims against any of the Released Persons.
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13.
Upon the Effective Date hereof, each of the Defendants shall be deemed to have,
19 and by operation of this Judgment shall have, fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished, and
20 discharged Lead Plaintiff, each and all of the Settlement Class Members and Lead Counsel from
21 all claims (including Unknown Claims), arising out of, relating to, or in connection with the
22 institution, prosecution, assertion, settlement, or resolution of the Litigation or the Released
23 Claims, provided that nothing herein shall bar any action or claim to enforce the terms of the
24 Settlement or this Judgment entered pursuant thereto.
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14.
Any further orders or proceedings solely regarding the Plan of Allocation, the Fee
26 and Expense Award or the Lead Plaintiff Cost and Expense Award shall in no way disturb or
27 affect this Judgment, and shall be considered separate and apart from this Judgment.
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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
CASE NO. 13-CV-00945-VC
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15.
Neither the Stipulation nor the Settlement contained therein, nor any act performed
2 or document executed pursuant to or in furtherance of the Stipulation or the Settlement (a) shall be
3 deemed to be or used as an admission of, or evidence of, the validity of any Released Claim, any
4 allegation made in the Litigation, or any wrongdoing or liability of Defendants or any Released
5 Persons; and (b) shall not be deemed to be or used as an admission of, or evidence of, any liability,
6 fault, or omission of any of Defendants or any Released Persons in any civil, criminal, or
7 administrative proceeding in any court, administrative agency, or other tribunal. Neither this
8 Stipulation nor the Settlement, nor any act performed or document executed pursuant to or in
9 furtherance of this Stipulation or the Settlement shall be offered or admissible in any proceeding
10 for any purpose, except to enforce the terms of the Settlement, except that Defendants may file or
11 refer to the Stipulation and/or the Judgment in any action that may be brought against them in
12 order to enforce the releases or other protections granted herein or to otherwise support a defense
13 or counterclaim based on principles of res judicata, collateral estoppel, release, good faith
14 settlement, judgment bar or reduction, or any other theory of claim preclusion or issue preclusion
15 or similar defense or counterclaim.
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16.
Without affecting the finality of this Judgment in any way, this Court hereby
17 retains continuing jurisdiction over: (a) implementation of this Settlement and any award or
18 distribution of the Settlement Fund, including interest earned thereon; (b) disposition of the
19 Settlement Fund; and (c) all Parties hereto for the purpose of construing, enforcing and
20 administering the Stipulation of Settlement.
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17.
The Court finds that during the course of the Litigation, the Parties and their
22 respective counsel at all times complied with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
23 11, and particularly with Rule 11(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
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18.
In the event that the Settlement does not become effective in accordance with the
25 terms of the Stipulation or the Effective Date does not occur, then this Judgment shall be rendered
26 null and void to the extent provided by and in accordance with the Stipulation and shall be vacated
27 and, in such event, all orders entered and releases delivered in connection herewith shall be null
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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
CASE NO. 13-CV-00945-VC
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1 and void to the extent provided by and in accordance with the Stipulation and the terms of ¶7.3 of
2 the Stipulation shall apply.
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19.
The Parties are hereby authorized, without further approval of the Court, to
4 unanimously agree to and adopt in writing such amendments, modifications, and expansions of the
5 Stipulation and all exhibits thereto, provided that such amendments, modification, and expansions
6 of the Stipulation are not materially inconsistent with this Judgment and do not materially limit the
7 rights of Settlement Class Members under the Stipulation.
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20.
The Court hereby GRANTS Lead Counsel’s attorneys’ fees of twenty-five thirty
9 percent (30% 25%) of the Settlement Fund ($1,530,000.00 $1,275,000.00) and expenses in an
10 amount of $123,316.86, together with the interest earned thereon for the same time period and at
11 the same rate as that earned on the Settlement Fund until paid. Although the result ultimately
12 achieved for the class is a good one, the Court declines to award attorneys' fees in an amount
13 higher than 25 percent for the reasons stated on the record. The Court finds that the amount of
14 fees awarded is fair and reasonable in light of the time and labor required, the novelty and
15 difficulty of the case, the skill required to prosecute the case, the experience and ability of the
16 attorneys, awards in similar cases, the contingent nature of the representation and the result
17 obtained for the Settlement Class. Said fees shall be allocated among Plaintiff’s counsel in a
18 manner which, in their good-faith judgment, reflects each counsel’s contribution to the institution,
19 prosecution, and resolution of the Litigation.
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21.
The Court hereby GRANTS Lead Plaintiff Police and Fire Retirement System of
21 the City of Detroit’s reasonable costs and expenses (including lost wages) directly related to its
22 representation of the Class in the amount of $10,000.00.
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22.
The awarded attorneys’ fees and expenses, and interest earned thereon, shall be
24 paid to Lead Counsel from the Settlement Fund immediately after the date this Order is executed
25 subject to the terms, conditions, and obligations of the Stipulation and in particular ¶6.2 thereof,
26 which terms, conditions, and obligations are incorporated herein.
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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
CASE NO. 13-CV-00945-VC
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2 DATED: May 17, 2016
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The Honorable Vince Chhabria
United States District Judge
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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
CASE NO. 13-CV-00945-VC
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SCHEDULE 1
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List of Persons Excluded from the Settlement Class in
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Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit v. Crane et al.
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Civil Action No. 13-cv-00945-VC
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The following Persons, and only the following Persons, properly excluded themselves
6 from the Settlement Class by the April 21, 2016 deadline pursuant to the Court’s Preliminary
7 Approval Order dated December 15, 2015:
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FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
CASE NO. 13-CV-00945-VC
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