Patel v. Trans Union, LLC et al
Filing
167
ORDER granting 159 Motion for Settlement; granting 160 Motion for Attorney Fees. (Beeler, Laurel) (Filed on 3/11/2018)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
San Francisco Division
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
12
AMIT PATEL,
Case No. 14-cv-00522-LB
Plaintiff,
13
v.
14
15
TRANS UNION, LLC, et al.,
Defendants.
16
ORDER APPROVING CLASS-ACTION
SETTLEMENT AND AWARDING
FEES AND COSTS
Re: ECF Nos. 159 and 160
17
18
INTRODUCTION
19
This is a consumer suit under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681-
20
1681x, and counterpart California law.1 Named plaintiff Amit Patel alleges that the defendants
21
(operating as a single “consumer reporting agency”) disseminated a consumer-information report
22
that wrongly described him as a terrorist, and that ascribed to him a criminal record that he did not
23
have.2 For this alleged conduct, Mr. Patel brings a claim under § 1681e(b) of FCRA.3 Mr. Patel
24
25
26
27
28
1
See generally Am. Compl. – ECF No. 41. Record citations are to material in the Electronic Case File
(“ECF”); pinpoint citations refer to the ECF-generated page number at the top of documents.
2
Id.
3
“Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares a consumer report it shall follow reasonable
procedures to assure [sic] maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual
about whom the report relates.” § 1681e(b).
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
1
also alleges that, when he asked the defendants to provide him with the file that they maintained
2
on him, they failed to send him his complete file, in particular, a background check that flagged
3
him as a potential terrorist. This, Mr. Patel claims, violated § 1681g of FCRA.4
4
The court certified two national classes for the two class claims asserted under the FCRA: an
5
“accuracy” class for the § 1681e(b) claim, and a “disclosure” subclass for the § 1681g claim. See
6
Patel v. TransUnion, LLC, 308 F.R.D. 292, 310 (N.D. Cal. 2015). The two class claims are Counts
7
I and VI (misnumbered “Count V”) in the Amended Complaint. The court stayed the case until the
8
Supreme Court decided Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins, 136 S. Ct. 1540 (2016), and it denied the
9
defendants’ subsequent motion to decertify the class.5
The parties then settled their case. The settlement covers Counts I and VI (misnumbered as
10
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
“Count V”) in the Amended Complaint.6 The parties stipulated to the dismissal with prejudice of
12
Mr. Patel’s individual claims against the defendants: Counts II, III, IV, V (misnumbered as second
13
Count IV), and VII (misnumbered as count VI).7 The court previously granted the plaintiff’s
14
motion for preliminary approval of the proposed class-action settlement.8 The plaintiff then moved
15
for final approval of the settlement.9 The court held a fairness hearing on March 8, 2018. The court
16
finds the settlement fair, adequate, and reasonable and approves the final settlement, including
17
fees, costs, and a service award to Mr. Patel.
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
4
“Every consumer reporting agency shall, upon request, . . . clearly and accurately disclose to the
consumer . . . [a]ll information in the consumer’s file at the time of the request . . . .” § 1681g(a)(1).
5
Order – ECF No. 116; Order – ECF No. 132.
6
Stipulated Dismissal – ECF No. 142; Settlement Agreement – ECF No. 145-1.
7
Stipulated Dismissal – ECF No. 142.
8
Order – ECF No. 153.
9
Mot. – ECF No. 159.
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
2
1
2
STATEMENT
1. Other Information About the Lawsuit to Date
3
In June 2015, the court certified the following class and subclass:
4
All natural persons residing in the United States who, from February 2012 until
December 2013, were the subjects of Trans Union Rental Screening Solutions
SmartMove reports containing at least one item of “Alert List” information.
5
6
All natural persons residing in the United States who, from February 2012 until
December 2013, were the subjects of Trans Union Rental Screening Solutions
SmartMove reports containing at least one item of “Alert List” information who
requested a file disclosure from, and were sent a disclosure by, Trans Union,
LLC.10
7
8
After the court denied decertification in October 2016, the court approved notice — and notice
9
was given — to the class and subclass.11 The defendants provided a list of names for 10,505 class
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
members and 2,193 subclass members.12 RSM US LLP (“RSM”), a third-party claims
12
administrator, determined that there were 10,501 class members and provided notice via first-class
13
mail.13 The United States Postal Service (“USPS”) returned 16 notices with a forwarding address,
14
and RSM mailed the notices to the updated addresses.14 The USPS returned 2,027 notices without
15
forwarding addresses, and RSM obtained new addresses and re-mailed notices to 1,849
16
addresses.15 The USPS returned 243 addresses as undeliverable.16 RSM calculates that notice
17
reached 96% of the class.17 Two class members requested exclusion.18
The parties engaged in substantial discovery, phased to address class issues first, and then —
18
19
after the court certified the classes — merits issues.19 They conducted written discovery and
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
10
308 F.R.D. at 309.
11
ECF Nos. 133, 134.
12
Mot. – ECF No. 145 at 10.
13
RSM Decl. – ECF No. 145-2 at 3 (¶¶ 3–4).
14
Id. (¶ 5(b)).
15
Id. (¶ 5(a)).
16
Id.
17
Id.
18
ECF No. 145-3.
19
Mot. ‒ ECF No. 145 at 8–9; see Scheduling Order – ECF No. 123.
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
3
1
eleven depositions, including the defendants’ witnesses, Mr. Patel, and two third parties.20 They
2
had two full-day JAMS mediation sessions, one in San Francisco in January 2015 and a second in
3
Philadelphia in May 2017.21 The second resulted in a term sheet reflecting the parties’ agreement
4
to settle the litigation.22 In June 2017, the parties notified the court about their agreement.23 The
5
parties exchanged drafts and engaged in additional settlement negotiations, and ultimately, they
6
finalized the settlement agreement.24 The court granted the plaintiff’s unopposed motion for
7
preliminary approval.25
8
9
2. Settlement Terms
The settlement agreement resolves the claims of the certified class and subclass. In summary
10
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
form, the settlement is as follows.
The defendants established a fund of $8 million, with $37,000 paid to the Settlement
12
13
Administrator after the court entered its preliminary approval order and the balance of $7,973,000
14
to be paid 30 days after the settlement agreement’s Effective Date following final approval.26
15
There are two settlement pools that the plaintiff represents are consistent with class discovery: (1)
16
the Automatic Payment Pool and (2) the Claims Made Pool.
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
20
Mot. – ECF No. 145 at 12.
21
Id. at 11, 12.
22
Id.
23
ECF No. 139.
24
Id. at 11–12; Settlement Agreement – ECF No. 145-1.
25
Mot. – ECF No. 145; Statement of Non-Opposition – ECF No. 147; Mot. – ECF No. 159 at 14;
Order – ECF No. 153.
26
Settlement Agreement §§ 1.22, 4(a)(ii). Capitalized terms in this order are defined terms in the
Settlement Agreement.
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
4
1
2.1 Automatic Payment Pool
2
$4,202,000 is allocated to the Automatic Payment Pool. Class members automatically receive
3
a $400 check without submitting a claim.27 The check must be cashed within 60 days or it is null
4
and void, and the funds then fall into the Claims Made Pool.28
5
2.2 Claims Made Pool
6
Class members can submit a claim to be paid a pro rata share of the Claims Made Pool.29 After
7
costs of notice and administration, the parties estimate that the pool will be more than $1 million.30
2.3 Service Award, Attorney’s Fees and Costs, Administration Costs, and Cy Pres Award
9
The settlement provides for a service award to Mr. Patel of $10,000.31 The defendants do not
10
object to the plaintiff’s motion for attorney’s fees and reimbursable expenses in an amount not to
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
8
exceed one-third of the settlement fund.32
There is no reversion to the defendants. If any funds remain following payment of checks, up
12
13
to $10,000 may be paid to the Settlement Administrator to defray reasonable Notice and
14
Administration Expenses that the settlement administrator actually incurs.33 Remaining amounts
15
will be distributed to the cy pres recipients Consumer Federation of California, Credit Builders
16
Alliance, and the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.34
17
2.4 Release
18
The settlement has a release limited to claims that were asserted or could have been asserted
19
relating to the class claims only.35 Mr. Patel has a general release.36
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
27
Id. § 10(a); Mot. ‒ ECF No. 145 at 13.
28
Settlement Agreement § 10(a).
29
Id. §§ 8, 10(b).
30
Mot. – ECF No. 145 at 13.
31
Settlement Agreement § 9(b).
32
Id. §§ 1.24, 9(a).
33
Id. § 4(b)(vi).
34
Id. § 4(c).
35
Id. § 11(a).
36
Id. § 11(b).
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
5
1
2.5 Administration
2
The settlement fund will fund all costs of notice and administration. After evaluating bids,
3
RSM was chosen as the Settlement Administrator.37 It handled the class-notice process after class
4
certification. (See supra.) The notice procedures required it to mail and re-mail the settlement
5
notice, send out the CAFA notice, set up a settlement website and toll-free number, receive and
6
process claims forms, handle the payments to class members, and report to the parties and the
7
court before the final approval hearing.38
RSM complied with these procedures, including setting up the website.39 As of February 21,
8
9
2018, the website has received 168 email inquiries.40 On November 22, 2017, RMS mailed the
notice and claim forms (prepopulated with the name and address of the class member and with a
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
unique identification number) to the 10,501 Settlement Class Members, first updating the list
12
through the National Change of Address database.41 1,706 packets were returned undeliverable:
13
(1) 1,695 had no forwarding address, but RMS identified 1,163 addresses through Accurint, a
14
LexisNexis address-search service and re-mailed the notices; 129 notices were returned
15
undeliverable with no forwarding address; and (2) 11 packets had forwarding addresses, and RMS
16
re-mailed them.42 RMS thus presumes that 9,851 notices were delivered, which is 93.81% of the
17
class.43
One class member objected and subsequently withdrew the objection.44 As of February 21,
18
19
2018, RMS has received and accepted 874 Claims Forms from individuals on the initial mailing
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
37
Id. § 1.43.
38
Id. § 5.
39
RSM Decl. – ECF No. 159-1 at 2–5.
40
Id. at 3 (¶ 7).
41
Id. at 2–3 (¶¶ 3–5).
42
Id. at 3 (¶ 8).
43
Id. at 4 (¶ 9).
44
ECF Nos. 155 (Dec. 1, 2017), 156 (Dec. 14, 2017). Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
23(e)(5) and for good cause shown, the court approves the withdrawn objection.
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
6
1
list; 872 were submitted on the prepopulated forms.45 RMS has received an additional 3,314
2
Claims Forms that were the unpopulated Claims Forms available on the website. 122 were
3
submitted by persons whose names matched a name on the Class List but who provided a different
4
address. RMS mailed letters to the 122 persons to confirm their current and prior addresses to
5
match the information to the Class List.46 As of March 9, 2018, the total approved claims
6
(considering verified additional claims) is 884. The claims include the two claims filed with the
7
court at ECF No. 147 and 158. The remaining 3,191 handwritten forms were submitted by persons
8
who are not on the Class List. RMS declares that it is a trend for non-class members to try to
9
receive a share of the settlement funds, and it identified several claimants who were non-class
members and filed claims in an unrelated settlement that it administered recently. It rejected the
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
3,191 claims as fraudulent. As a result, it has incurred additional fees of $30,000 above its original
12
estimate for costs of notice and claims administration.47
13
14
15
ANALYSIS
1. Jurisdiction
16
The court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2).
17
18
2. Certification of Class
19
20
The court previously certified the class and subclass set forth in the Statement under Rule 23.
Excluded from the class are the two individuals who submitted the requests for exclusion.
21
22
3. Approval of Settlement
23
Settlement is a strongly favored method for resolving disputes, particularly “where complex
24
class action litigation is concerned.” Class Plaintiffs v. City of Seattle, 955 F.2d 1268, 1276 (9th
25
26
27
28
45
Id. (¶ 11a).
46
Id. at 4–5 (¶ 11b).
47
Id. Class counsel points to another case in this district where a claims administrator identified 5,924
fraudulent claims. Mot. – ECF No. 159 at 16 n.2.
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
7
1
Cir. 1992); see, e.g., In re Pac. Enters. Sec. Litig., 47 F.3d 373, 378 (9th Cir. 1995). A court may
2
approve a proposed class-action settlement only “after a hearing and on finding that it is fair,
3
reasonable, and adequate.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e)(2). The court need not ask whether the proposed
4
settlement is ideal or the best possible; it determines only whether the settlement is fair, free of
5
collusion, and consistent with the named plaintiffs’ fiduciary obligations to the class. Hanlon v.
6
Chrysler Corp., 150 F.3d 1011, 1026–27 (9th Cir. 1998). In Hanlon, the Ninth Circuit identified
7
factors relevant to assessing a settlement proposal: (1) the strength of the plaintiff’s case; (2) the
8
risk, expense, complexity, and likely duration of further litigation; (3) the risk of maintaining
9
class-action status throughout trial; (4) the amount offered in settlement; (5) the extent of
discovery completed and the stage of the proceeding; (6) the experience and views of counsel; (7)
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
the presence of a government participant; and (8) the reaction of class members to the proposed
12
settlement. Id. at 1026 (citation omitted).
“Where a settlement is the product of arms-length negotiations conducted by capable and
13
14
experienced counsel, the court begins its analysis with a presumption that the settlement is fair and
15
reasonable.” Garner v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 2010 WL 1687832, *13 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 22,
16
2010); see, e.g., Rodriguez v. West Publ’g Corp., 563 F.3d 948, 965 (9th Cir. 2009) (“We put a
17
good deal of stock in the product of an arms-length, non-collusive, negotiated resolution . . . .”);
18
Nat’l Rural Telecomm. Coop. v. DirecTV, Inc., 221 F.R.D. 523, 528 (C.D. Cal. 2004).
The court has evaluated the proposed settlement agreement for overall fairness under the
19
20
Hanlon factors and concludes that approval is appropriate.
First, the settlement is the product of serious, non-collusive, arm’s-length negotiations and was
21
22
reached after mediation with experienced mediators and after extensive settlement discussions
23
involving sophisticated counsel for all parties.
24
Second, the parties engaged in substantial fact discovery regarding liability and damages.
25
Third, litigation poses risk. As the plaintiff’s counsel points out, establishing liability entails
26
risk.48 Liability is not strict and depends on a finding of negligence or willful failure to comply. 15
27
28
48
Mot. – ECF No. 145 at 21.
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
8
1
U.S.C. §§ 1681n and 1681o. Defendants contest liability. Even if the plaintiff establishes liability,
2
there are issues about whether the plaintiff and class members have sustained damages and how to
3
value any damages.49 The risks are real and likely would be fought through trial and appeal.50
4
There are also the risks that attend the Supreme Court’s decision in Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins, 136 S.
5
Ct. 1540 (2016).
Fourth, settlement provides real cash benefits to the class. Statutory damages are between $100
6
7
and $1,000. 15 U.S.C. § 1681n(a)(1)(A). Class members receive an automatic check of $400, and
8
they can submit a claim for a pro rata share of the Claims Made Pool. The benefits are substantial,
9
especially given that unless there is a finding of willful noncompliance, the plaintiff and class must
10
establish actual damages.51
Fifth, the settlement has no obvious deficiencies. There is no reversion. The cy pres
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
12
distribution accounts for and has a substantial nexus to the nature of the lawsuit, the objectives of
13
the statutes, and the interests of the silent class members. See Lane v. Facebook, Inc., 696 F.3d
14
811, 819‒22 (9th Cir. 2012); Nachshin v. AOL, LLC, 663 F.3d 1034, 1038‒41 (9th Cir. 2011).
15
In sum, the court finds that viewed as a whole, the proposed settlement is sufficiently “fair,
16
adequate, and reasonable” such that approval of the settlement is warranted. See Officers for
17
Justice v. Civil Serv. Comm’n of the City and Cnty. of San Francisco, 688 F.2d 615, 625 (9th Cir.
18
1982).
19
20
4. Appointment of Class Representative, Class Counsel, and Claims Administrator
21
The court previously certified the class and subclass, appointed Mr. Patel as class
22
representative, and appointed his lawyers as class counsel. The court confirms its prior
23
appointment of RMS as the claims administrator.
24
25
26
27
28
49
Id.
50
Id.
51
Id. at 21–22 (citing and analyzing Safeco Ins. Co. of America v. Burr, 551 U.S. 47, 69 (2007)).
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
9
1
5. Class Notice
As described above, the claims administrator provided notice to the members of the class in
2
3
the form that the court had approved. The notice met all legal requisites: it was the best notice
4
practicable, satisfied the notice requirements of Rule 23, adequately advised class members of
5
their rights under the settlement agreement, met the requirements of due process, and complied
6
with the court’s order regarding notice.52
7
8
6. Compliance with Class Action Fairness Act
The defendants prepared and mailed (on September 25, 2017) the notice that must be served
9
under the Class Action Fairness Act of 200, 28 U.S.C. § 1715, to the appropriate federal and state
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
officials; the defendants filed the proof of notice on October 2, 2017.53 The final settlement
12
approval is more than 90 days after service as required by 28 U.S.C. § 1715.
13
14
7. Cy Pres Award
Any remaining amount of the net settlement fund will be split equally between the cy pres
15
16
beneficiaries identified in the settlement agreement: Consumer Federation of California, Credit
17
Builders Alliance, and the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. As discussed
18
above, this distribution accounts for and has a substantial nexus to the nature of the lawsuit, the
19
objectives of the statutes, and the interests of the silent class members. See Lane v. Facebook, Inc.,
20
696 F.3d 811, 819–22 (9th Cir. 2012); Nachshin v. AOL, LLC, 663 F.3d 1034, 1038–41 (9th Cir.
21
2011).
22
23
8. Attorney’s Fees and Costs
Class counsel asks for $2,666,666.66, or one-third of the settlement fund, for attorney’s fees
24
25
26
27
28
52
See Order – ECF No. 153 at 9.
53
Notice – ECF No. 152.
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
10
1
and expenses.54
Rule 23(h) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides: “In a certified class action, the
2
3
court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and nontaxable costs that are authorized by law or by
4
the parties’ agreement.” Fee provisions included in proposed class-action settlements must be
5
reasonable. See In re Bluetooth Headset Prods. Liab. Litig., 654 F.3d 935, 941 (9th Cir. 2011). The
6
court is not bound by the parties’ settlement agreement as to the amount of attorney’s fees. See id.
7
at 942–43. The Ninth Circuit has instructed district courts to review class fee awards with special
8
rigor:
9
Because in common fund cases the relationship between plaintiffs and their attorneys
turns adversarial at the fee-setting stage, courts have stressed that when awarding
attorneys’ fees from a common fund, the district court must assume the role of fiduciary for
the class plaintiffs. Accordingly, fee applications must be closely scrutinized. Rubberstamp approval, even in the absence of objections, is improper.
10
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
12
13
Vizcaino v. Microsoft Corp., 290 F.3d 1043, 1052 (9th Cir. 2002) (quotation omitted).
When counsel recovers a common fund that confers a “substantial benefit” on a class of
14
15
16
17
18
beneficiaries, counsel is “entitled to recover their attorney’s fees from the fund.” Fischel v.
Equitable Life Assurance Soc’y of the U.S., 307 F.3d 997, 1006 (9th Cir. 2002). In common-fund
cases, courts may calculate a fee award under either the “lodestar” or “percentage of the fund”
method. Id.; Hanlon, 150 F.3d at 1029.
Where the settlement involves a common fund, courts typically award attorney’s fees based on
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
a percentage of the total settlement. The Ninth Circuit has established a “benchmark” that fees
should equal 25% of the settlement, although courts diverge from the benchmark based on a
variety of factors, including “the results obtained, risk undertaken by counsel, complexity of the
issues, length of the professional relationship, the market rate, and awards in similar cases.”
Morales v. Stevco, Inc., No. CIV-F-09-0704-AWI-JLT, 2013 WL 1222058, *2 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 25,
2013); see also Morris v. Lifescan, Inc., 54 F. App’x 663, 664 (9th Cir. 2003) (affirming 33% fee
award); Pacific Enterprises, 47 F.3d at 379 (same); State of Fla. v. Dunne, 915 F.2d 542, 545 (9th
27
28
54
Mot. for Fees and Costs – ECF No. 161-1 at 6..
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
11
1
Cir. 1990); Six Mexican Workers v. Arizona Citrus Growers, 904 F.2d 1301, 1311 (9th Cir. 1990).
2
When determining the value of a settlement, courts consider the monetary and non-monetary
3
benefits that the settlement confers. See, e.g., Staton, 327 F.3d at 972–74; Pokorny v. Quixtar, Inc.,
4
No. C-07-0201-SC, 2013 WL 3790896, *1 (N.D. Cal. July 18, 2013) (“The court may properly
5
consider the value of injunctive relief obtained as a result of settlement in determining the
6
appropriate fee.”); In re Netflix Privacy Litig., No. 5:11-CV-0379-EJD, 2013 WL 1120801, *7
7
(N.D. Cal. Mar. 18, 2013) (settlement value “includes the size of the cash distribution, the cy pres
8
method of distribution, and the injunctive relief”).
9
Finally, Ninth Circuit precedent requires courts to award class counsel fees based on the total
benefits being made available to class members rather than the actual amount that is ultimately
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
claimed. Young v. Polo Retail, LLC, No. C-02-4547-VRW, 2007 WL 951821, *5–*6 (N.D. Cal.
12
Mar. 28, 2007) (citing Williams v. MGM-Pathe Commc’ns Co., 129 F.3d 1026 (9th Cir. 1997)
13
(“district court abused its discretion in basing attorney fee award on actual distribution to class”
14
instead of amount being made available) (quoted language from Young)).
15
If the court applies the percentage method, it then typically roughly calculates the lodestar as a
16
“cross-check to assess the reasonableness of the percentage award.” See, e.g., Weeks v. Kellogg
17
Co., No. CV-09-8102-MMM-RZx, 2013 WL 6531177, *25 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 23, 2013); see also
18
Serrano v. Priest, 20 Cal. 3d 25, 48–49 (1977); Fed-Mart Corp. v. Pell Enters., 111 Cal. App. 3d
19
215, 226–27 (1980); Melnyk v. Robledo, 64 Cal. App. 3d 618, 624 (1976); Clejan v. Reisman, 5
20
Cal. App. 3d 224, 241 (1970). “The lodestar . . . is produced by multiplying the number of hours
21
reasonably expended by counsel by a reasonable hourly rate.” Lealao v. Beneficial Cal., Inc., 82
22
Cal. App. 4th 19, 26 (2000). Once the court has fixed the lodestar, it may increase or decrease that
23
amount by applying a positive or negative “multiplier to take into account a variety of other
24
factors, including the quality of the representation, the novelty and complexity of the issues, the
25
results obtained, and the contingent risk presented.” Id.
26
Class counsel also are entitled to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Fed. R.
27
Civ. P. 23(h); see Harris v. Marhoefer, 24 F.3d 16, 19 (9th Cir. 1994) (attorneys may recover
28
reasonable expenses that would typically be billed to paying clients in non-contingency matters);
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
12
1
Van Vranken v. Atl. Richfield Co., 901 F. Supp. 294, 299 (N.D. Cal. 1995) (approving reasonable
2
costs in class action settlement). Costs compensable under Rule 23(h) include “nontaxable costs
3
that are authorized by law or by the parties’ agreement.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(h).
Based on the declarations submitted by the plaintiff’s counsel establishing a lodestar amount
4
$1,273,572.45 with an additional $90,935.56 in litigation expenses,55 the court finds that that
6
requested fee award is appropriate and is supported by a lodestar cross-check. The billing rates are
7
within normal and customary ranges for timekeepers with similar qualifications and experience in
8
the San Francisco market. The rates counsel used are appropriate given the deferred and
9
contingent nature of counsel’s compensation. See LeBlanc-Sternberg v. Fletcher, 143 F.3d 748,
10
764 (2nd Cir. 1998) (“[C]urrent rates, rather than historical rates, should be applied in order to
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
5
compensate for the delay in payment . . . .”) (citing Missouri v. Jenkins, 491 U.S. 274, 283–84
12
(1989)); In re Wash. Pub. Power Supply Sys. Secs. Litig., 19 F.3d 1291, 1305 (9th Cir. 1994) (“The
13
district court has discretion to compensate delay in payment in one of two ways: (1) by applying
14
the attorneys’ current rates to all hours billed during the course of litigation; or (2) by using the
15
attorneys’ historical rates and adding a prime rate enhancement.”). Counsel also submitted a
16
sufficient breakdown of the attorneys’ billing efforts for the court to reach its conclusion about the
17
lodestar.
The court concludes that a fee award at the requested amount is justified. See Hanlon, 150 F.3d
18
19
at 1029. It is appropriate based on counsel’s efforts and the substantial benefits to the class. It is
20
similar to awards in other cases.56 It is supported by the lodestar cross-check, the efficiency of the
21
litigation, the quality of the representation, and the contingent risk.
The court also increases the amount that can be paid to RMS for its actual administration costs
22
23
by $30,000.
24
25
26
27
28
55
ECF No. 161-1 at 13.
56
Mot. – ECF No. 160-1 at 8–10 (collecting cases).
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
13
1
9. Service Award
2
District courts must evaluate proposed incentive awards individually, using relevant factors
3
that include “the actions the plaintiff has taken to protect the interests of the class, the degree to
4
which the class has benefitted from those actions, . . . [and] the amount of time and effort the
5
plaintiff expended in pursuing the litigation.” Staton, 327 F.3d at 977. “Such awards are
6
discretionary . . . and are intended to compensate class representatives for work done on behalf of
7
the class, to make up for financial or reputational risk undertaken in bringing the action, and,
8
sometimes, to recognize their willingness to act as a private attorney general.” Rodriguez, 563 F.3d
9
at 958–59 (citation omitted). The Ninth Circuit has “noted that in some cases incentive awards
may be proper but [has] cautioned that awarding them should not become routine practice.”
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
Radcliffe v. Experian Info. Solutions, 715 F.3d 1157, 1163 (9th Cir. 2013) (discussing Staton, 327
12
F.3d at 975–78). The Ninth Circuit also has emphasized that district courts “must be vigilant in
13
scrutinizing all incentive awards to determine whether they destroy the adequacy of the class
14
representatives.” Id. at 1164.
15
Counsel described sufficiently the efforts of the named plaintiff, including consulting with
16
counsel, assisting in discovery, and otherwise participating in the litigation.57 The court approves
17
the service award of $10,000.
CONCLUSION
18
19
The court approves the class-action settlement. The two people listed in Exhibit B to the
20
Preliminary Approval Motion have validly excluded themselves from the Class and will not be
21
bound by the Settlement.58 From the total settlement fund of $8 million, and pursuant to the
22
settlement terms, the court allocates (1) $2,666,666 to attorney’s fees and costs, (2) up to $57,000
23
for reimbursement of actual administration costs by RSM, and (3) a $10,000 service award to the
24
named plaintiff. The court further orders the following:
25
26
27
28
57
Mot. – ECF No. 159 at 17.
58
See ECF No. 145-3.
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
14
1
1. As allowed by Section 8(b)(ii) of the Settlement Agreement (providing that, with the
2
Parties’ agreement, the Settlement Administrator may allow untimely Claim Forms), the
3
Settlement Administrator may allow Damages Claims submitted by any of the 122 individuals
4
identified in Paragraph 11b of the RSM Declaration59 (and described above) who resubmit valid
5
Claim Forms;
6
7
2. This court dismisses the action on the merits with prejudice and without an award of costs
or fees to any party (except as provided in this order).
8
3. Pursuant to the releases contained in Section 11 of the Agreement, the claims of the Class
Representative and the Class Members are compromised, settled, released, discharged, and
10
dismissed with prejudice by virtue of these proceedings and this Final Approval Order. The
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
9
Plaintiff, Class Members, and their successors and assigns are permanently barred and enjoined
12
from instituting or prosecuting, either individually or as a class, or in any other capacity, any of
13
the released claims against any of the Released Parties, as set forth in the Agreement.
14
4. Without affecting the finality of this judgment, the court hereby reserves and retains
15
jurisdiction over the interpretation, implementation, and performance of the Settlement and this
16
Final Approval Order.
17
5. All Class Members are bound by all of the terms, conditions and obligations of the
18
Agreement, and all determinations and judgments in the Litigation concerning the Settlement.
19
Neither the Settlement, nor any of its terms or provisions, nor any of the negotiations or
20
proceedings connected with it, may be construed as an admission or concession by any party of
21
the truth of any allegation in the Litigation or of any liability, fault or wrongdoing of any kind.
22
6. The court hereby enters final Judgment in this action, consistent with the terms of the
23
Agreement, which is a final judgment under Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
24
The court finds that no reason exists for delay in ordering final judgment pursuant to Federal Rule
25
of Civil Procedure 54(b) and thus directs the Clerk of Court to enter the judgment forthwith. The
26
court also directs the Clerk to close the file.
27
28
59
RSM Decl. – ECF No 159-1 at 4 (¶ 11b).
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
15
1
This disposes of ECF Nos. 159 and 160.
2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
3
Dated: March 11, 2018
4
______________________________________
LAUREL BEELER
United States Magistrate Judge
5
6
7
8
9
10
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
ORDER – No. 14-cv-00522-LB
16
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?