Hopkins et al v. Stryker Sales Corporation

Filing 65

Order by Hon. Lucy H. Koh granting 61 Motion for Final Approval of Settlement.(lhklc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/6/2013)

Case5:11-cv-02786-LHK Document63-2 Filed02/05/13 Page1 of 5

1
2
3
4
5
6

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

7

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, SAN JOSE DIVISION

8
9

JOHN HOPKINS, BRODY PUCKETT, on
behalf of themselves, individually, and all
others similarly situated,

10

Case No. CV 11-02786 LHK
CLASS ACTION

Plaintiffs,

11

v.

12

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL TO CLASS
ACTION SETTLEMENT

STRYKER SALES CORPORATION, a
Michigan Corporation; and DOES 1 to 100,
inclusive,

13

(Assigned to Hon. Lucy H. Koh
Courtroom 8, 4th Floor)
Date:
January 31, 2013
Time:
1:30 P.M.
Courtroom: 8

14
Defendants.

15
16

This matter came before this Court on the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval of

17 Settlement (“Final Approval Motion”).
18

WHEREAS, a class action is pending before the Court entitled John Hopkins, et. al. vs.

19 Stryker Sales Corporation, Case Number CV-11-02786 LHK;
20

WHEREAS, the Court has received and reviewed the Settlement Agreement entered into

21 between the Class Representatives and the Class Members, on the one hand, and Defendant, on
22 the other hand, and has considered the terms of the proposed settlement set forth therein (the
23 “Settlement”);
24

WHEREAS, all terms contained herein shall have the same meanings as set forth in the

25 Settlement Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein;
26

WHEREAS, on December 11, 2012, the Court entered its order preliminarily approving

27 the Settlement of this class action, approving the form and method of notice, and setting a date
28
1
[Proposed] Order Granting Final Approval of Class Settlement

Case No. CV-11-02786 LHK

Case5:11-cv-02786-LHK Document63-2 Filed02/05/13 Page2 of 5

1 and time for a fairness hearing to consider whether the Settlement should be finally approved by
2 the Court pursuant to Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as fair, adequate, and
3 reasonable (the “Preliminary Approval Order”);
4

WHEREAS, the Preliminary Approval Order further directed that all members of the

5 Settlement Class be given notice of the Settlement and of the date for the final fairness hearing;
6

WHEREAS, the Court has received the declaration of Krista Tittle attesting to the

7 mailing of the Notice in substantial accordance with the Preliminary Approval Order;
8

WHEREAS, the Court notes that there have been no objections to any aspect of the

9 Settlement; and
10

WHEREAS, the Court having conducted a final fairness hearing on January 31, 2013

11 (the “Fairness Hearing”), and having considered the arguments presented, all papers filed and all
12 proceedings had therein;
13

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED AS FOLLOWS:

14

1.

The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action, all members of

15 the Settlement Class, and Defendant.
16

2.

In accordance with Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the

17 requirements of due process, all members of the Settlement Class have been given proper and
18 adequate notice of the Settlement. Based upon the evidence submitted by the parties, the
19 Settlement Agreement, the arguments of counsel, and all the files, records and proceedings in
20 this case, the Court finds that the Notice and notice methodology implemented pursuant to the
21 Settlement Agreement and the Court’s Preliminary Approval Order (a) constituted the best
22 practicable notice under the circumstances; (b) constituted notice that was reasonably calculated,
23 under the circumstances, to apprise members of the Settlement Class of the pendency of the
24 litigation, their right to object to the Settlement, and their right to appear at the Fairness Hearing;
25 (c) were reasonable and constituted due, adequate and sufficient notice to all persons entitled to
26 notice; and (d) met all applicable requirements of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil
27 Procedure, and any other applicable law.
28
2
[Proposed] Order Granting Final Approval of Class Settlement

Case No. CV-11-02786 LHK

Case5:11-cv-02786-LHK Document63-2 Filed02/05/13 Page3 of 5

1

3.

The Settlement Agreement in this action warrants final approval pursuant to Rule

2 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure because it is fair, adequate, and reasonable to those
3 it affects, and resulted from vigorously contested litigation, including meaningful discovery,
4 motion practice and additional merits discovery, and extensive good-faith arm’s length
5 negotiations between the parties, and is in the public interest considering the following factors:
6

(a)

the strength of the plaintiffs’ case;

7

(b)

the risk, expense, complexity and likely duration of further litigation;

8

(c)

the risk of maintaining class action status throughout the trial;

9

(d)

the amount offered in settlement;

10

(e)

the extent of discovery completed, and the stage of the proceedings;

11

(f)

the experience and views of counsel;

12

(g)

the presence of a governmental participant; and

13

(h)

the reaction of the class members to the proposed settlement.

14 Torrisi v. Tucson Elec. Power Co., 8 F.3d 1370, 1375 (9th Cir. 1993). Settlements that follow
15 sufficient discovery and genuine arms-length negotiation are presumed fair. Hanlon v. Chrysler
16 Corp., 150 F.3d 1011, 1026 (9th Cir. 1998).
17

4.

The Final Approval Motion is hereby GRANTED, and the Settlement Agreement

18 is hereby APPROVED as fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the public interest, and the terms of
19 the Settlement Agreement are hereby determined to be fair, reasonable and adequate, for the
20 exclusive benefit of the Class Members. The Parties are directed to consummate the Settlement
21 Agreement in accordance with its terms.
22

5.

The Court APPROVES payment of the Class Settlement Amount in accordance

23 with the terms of the Settlement Agreement.
24

6.

The Court APPROVES payment of Attorneys’ Fees in the amount of

$69,715.88
25 $1,416,666, and Costs in the amount of $68,715.88 to Class Counsel, as detailed in the Order
$74,890.88
$1,232,500
$1,275,000

26 Awarding Attorneys’ Fees and Costs issued contemporaneously herewith.
27

7.

The Court APPROVES payment of enhancement awards to the Representative

28
3
[Proposed] Order Granting Final Approval of Class Settlement

Case No. CV-11-02786 LHK

Case5:11-cv-02786-LHK Document63-2 Filed02/05/13 Page4 of 5

1 Plaintiffs in the amount of $7,500 each, as detailed in the Order Granting Enhancement Award to
2 Representative Plaintiffs issued contemporaneously herewith.
3

8.

Class Counsel have provided the Court with the declaration of Jamie Hopkins,

4 the surviving spouse of Representative Plaintiff John Hopkins (deceased) pursuant to California
5 Probate Code § 13100 evidencing the fact that she is Mr. Hopkins sole surviving heir. The
6 Administrator is ordered to pay all funds due Mr. Hopkins pursuant to the Settlement directly to
7 Jamie Hopkins.
8

9.

The allocation plan is hereby APPROVED as fair, adequate, and reasonable.

9 The Class Settlement Amount, Class Representative Incentive Awards, and Attorneys’ Fees and
10 Costs Amount shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement and
11 any further orders of this Court.
12

10.

The Litigation is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE and without costs to any

13 Party, other than as specified in the Settlement Agreement and this Order.
14

11.

In consideration of the Class Settlement Amount, and for other good and

15 valuable consideration, each of the Releasing Class Members shall, by operation of this
16 Judgment, have fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished, and discharged all Class
17 Member Released Claims against Defendant in accordance with the terms of the Settlement
18 Agreement and as Released Claims are defined in the Settlement, shall have covenanted not to
19 sue Defendant with respect to all such Released Claims, and shall be permanently barred and
20 enjoined from instituting, commencing, prosecuting or asserting any such Class Member
21 Released Claim against Defendant.
22

12.

This Judgment is the Final Judgment in the suit as to all Class Member Released

13.

Without affecting the finality of this Judgment in any way, this Court retains

23 Claims.
24

25 jurisdiction over (a) implementation of the Settlement and the terms of the Settlement
26 Agreement; (b) distribution of the Class Settlement Amount, the Class Representative Incentive
27 Awards, and the Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Amount; and (c) all other proceedings related to the
28
4
[Proposed] Order Granting Final Approval of Class Settlement

Case No. CV-11-02786 LHK

Case5:11-cv-02786-LHK Document63-2 Filed02/05/13 Page5 of 5

1 implementation, interpretation, administration, consummation, and enforcement of the terms of
2 the Settlement Agreement and/or the Settlement, and the administration of Claims by Settlement
3 Class Members.
4

14.

In the event that the Settlement Effective Date does not occur, this Judgment

5 shall be rendered null and void and shall be vacated, nunc pro tunc, and without prejudice to the
6 status quo ante rights of Plaintiffs, Class Members, and Defendant
7

15.

This Court finds that there is no just reason for delay and expressly directs

8 Judgment and immediate entry by the Clerk of the Court.
9
IT IS SO ORDERED.

10
11 Dated this ___ day of _________, 2013.
12
13
14

Date: February 6, 2013
Hon. Lucy H. Koh
United States District Judge

15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
5
[Proposed] Order Granting Final Approval of Class Settlement

Case No. CV-11-02786 LHK