Mendoza v. Hyundai Motor Company, LTD et al

Filing 85

ORDER GRANTING 73 PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND GRANTING IN PART 74 MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES, COSTS, AND SERVICE AWARD. Signed by Judge Beth Labson Freeman on 1/23/2017. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(blflc2S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/23/2017)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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SAN JOSE DIVISION

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ELIZABETH MENDOZA, et al.,

Case No. 15-cv-01685-BLF

Plaintiffs,
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v.
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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, LTD, et
al.,
Defendants.

[Re: ECF 73, 74]

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ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’
MOTION FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF
CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND
GRANTING IN PART MOTION FOR
ATTORNEYS’ FEES, COSTS, AND
SERVICE AWARD

Alleging that their 2011–2014 Hyundai Sonatas were sold with defective engines,

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Plaintiffs Elizabeth Mendoza and Beth Graham (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) sued Hyundai Motor

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Co. The parties now jointly appear before the Court in support of final approval of their class

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action settlement.

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Two motions are pending in this putative class action for violations of California’s

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consumer protection statutes, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and the Song-Beverly Act, as

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well as for breach of express and implied warranty, common law fraud, and breach of the duty of

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good faith and fair dealing. See generally Compl., Mendoza v. Hyundai Motor Am., Inc., No. 15-

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cv-1685, ECF 1 (filed Apr. 14, 2015) (hereinafter, “Mendoza Compl.”); Compl., Graham v.

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Hyundai Motor Am., Inc., No. 15-2071, ECF 1 (filed May 7, 2015) (hereinafter, “Graham

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Compl.”). First, Plaintiffs move for an order granting final approval to the parties’ settlement

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agreement. Mot. for Final Settlement Approval, ECF 73, (hereinafter, “Final Approval Mot.”).

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Second, Plaintiffs move for an award of attorneys’ fees, litigation costs, and a service award to the

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class representatives. Mot. for Att’y Fees, Costs, & Service Awards, ECF 74 (hereinafter, “Mot.

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for Att’y Fees”). The Court held a final fairness hearing on December 15, 2016. For the reasons

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set forth below, the Court GRANTS the motion for final approval and GRANTS IN PART the

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motion for attorneys’ fees, costs, and service award.

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I.

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BACKGROUND
A.

The Parties and Claims
Plaintiffs bring this class action against Hyundai Motor America (“Hyundai”), alleging that

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the 2011–2014 model year Hyundai Sonatas were sold with defective engines. Plaintiffs bring

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these claims on behalf of “[a]ll owners and lessees of a Class Vehicle1 who purchased or leased

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the Class Vehicle in the United States, excluding the territories, or abroad while on active military

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duty.” Final Approval Mot. 5 (footnote added).
Plaintiff Mendoza filed her suit on April 14, 2015. See generally Mendoza Compl.

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Mendoza alleges that her 2011 Hyundai Sonata began to exhibit a loud knocking noise in the

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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engine, and that her Hyundai dealership told her one of the pistons had blown out. Id. ¶ 19. The

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dealership refused to cover the necessary repairs under warranty, leaving Mendoza to pay a local

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mechanic $3,000 to replace her engine. Id. ¶¶ 20–21. Plaintiff Graham, whose 2011 Sonata also

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suffered an engine failure, filed suit on May 7, 2015. See generally Graham Compl. Graham

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alleges that the engine in her Sonata seized and turned off while her husband was driving in rush-

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hour traffic. Id. ¶ 23. Mr. Graham was able to coast to the side of the highway and call a tow

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truck. Id. ¶ 24. Hyundai agreed to pay for part of the required engine repair, purportedly as a

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“goodwill gesture,” but the Grahams spent $2,000 to repair the engine, $800 for a rental car while

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the car was being repaired, and $150 for towing and the initial diagnosis. Id.
Plaintiffs allege that a common defect in the vehicles’ rotating assembly—specifically, in

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the lubrication channels within the connecting rods and other parts of the assembly—was

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responsible for the various symptoms and eventual engine failures experienced by Sonata owners.

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Mendoza Compl. ¶ 49–57; Graham Compl. ¶¶ 11–15. Plaintiffs further allege that to remedy the

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defect, the “short block” engine must be replaced, along with potentially other components of the

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vehicle, such as its battery, starter, or “long block” engine. Gibbs Decl. ISO Preliminary Approval

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The term “Class Vehicles” refers to “all 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 model year Hyundai Sonata
vehicles factory equipped with a Theta II 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection engine[.]”
See Ex. 1 to Gibbs Decl. § I.F, ECF 57-2 (hereinafter, “Settlement Agreement”).
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of Class Settlement (“Gibbs Decl.”) ¶ 4, ECF 57-1. Plaintiffs contend that by selling Sonata

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vehicles without disclosing that the engines were defective, Hyundai violated California’s

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consumer protection statutes and common law. Mendoza Compl. ¶¶ 88–159; Graham Compl. ¶¶

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38-50. Plaintiffs also aver that Hyundai breached its warranty obligations by blaming owners for

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causing the engine failures, accusing them of not properly maintaining or servicing their vehicles.

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Mendoza Compl. ¶¶ 68, 88–159; Graham Compl. ¶¶ 38–50.

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The Court consolidated the two cases on June 24, 2015. ECF 27. The parties were able to

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reach a preliminary settlement before Plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint. The Court granted

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preliminary approval to the parties’ proposed settlement agreement and conditionally certified the
putative class for settlement purposes only on July 8, 2016. ECF 67. In its order granting

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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Plaintiff’s motion for preliminary approval, the Court also (1) appointed the law firm of Gibbs

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Law Group LLP and McCune Wright LLP, as counsel for the settlement class; (2) approved the

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parties’ proposed notice; (3) set the deadline for filing objections and requests for exclusion by

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November 28, 2016; and (4) set the date of the fairness hearing to December 15, 2016. See ECF

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67.
Plaintiffs have now filed a motion for final approval of the class action settlement and a

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motion for attorney fees, costs, and service award. ECF 73, 74. The Court held a fairness hearing

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on December 15, 2016.

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B.

Terms of the Agreement
Under the terms of the preliminarily approved settlement agreement, Hyundai has agreed

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to (1) warn drivers about the problem; (2) extend its Powertrain Warranty for free inspections and

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repairs; (3) reimburse Class Members for past vehicle repairs, rental cars, and towing services; and

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(5) compensate Class Members for trade-ins and sales. See Settlement Agreement; Final Approval

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Mot. 6–9. At the fairness hearing, Class Counsel clarified that it would be “very difficult” to put a

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dollar value on the settlement because not every Class Vehicle suffers from the defect. Hr’g Tr.

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6:18–21. As of December 15, 2016, Hyundai had paid about $8.5 million to 2,883 Class Members

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in connection with this settlement. Id. 4:20.

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The Court discusses each aspect of the agreement below.
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i.

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Warning Drivers about Stalling

Hyundai will be responsible for ensuring Class Members are adequately warned about
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possible engine failure through the following mechanisms:
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

Class Notice by Direct Mail: Hyundai has disseminated a long form notice
warning about potential engine stalling and encouraging Class Members to
schedule the free inspection provided by the settlement.

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Class Notice by Email: Hyundai has emailed the class notice to all Class Members
for whom it possesses email addresses.



Color Pamphlet to be Kept with Owner’s Manual: Hyundai has mailed and
emailed Class Members a color pamphlet designed to be kept with the owner’s
manual. The pamphlet warns of the risks of the defect, encourages drivers to
obtain inspections and repairs as needed, and reminds them of various settlement
benefits to which they are entitled. The pamphlets will also be distributed at
dealerships.



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Recall Notices: Owners and lessees of the 2011–2012 Class Vehicles have been
sent notices by mail pursuant to the recall initiated in September 2015.



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Website and Phone: Hyundai will maintain a dedicated settlement website and
toll-free telephone number to provide additional information and answer questions
about the settlement.

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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Settlement Agreement §§ IV.C.1–4, IV.C.6–8
ii.

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Warranty Extension for Free Inspections and Repairs

Under the settlement, all current owners and lessees of Class Vehicles can receive a free
engine inspection and, if necessary, a short block engine repair. Id. §§ IIA.1–11. This benefit will
come in two forms. First, Hyundai will extend its Powertrain Warranty to cover short block
engines for a 10-year/120,000-mile period, whichever comes first. Id. §§ I.J, II.A.1. The full
duration of the extended warranties negotiated for original and subsequent owners are transferable
to subsequent owners. Id. § II.A.3. Second, all Class Members were permitted to bring their
vehicles to a Hyundai retailer for free inspections between September 28, 2016 and December 27,
2016. Id. § II.A.I. Any vehicle determined to need a short block repair based on that inspection
received free repairs under the extended warranty, regardless of mileage or current length of
ownership.
Under the settlement, extended warranty inspections and repairs may not be denied for
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failure of the owner to properly maintain or service those vehicles except in “limited exceptional

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neglect circumstances.” Id. § II.A.6. All such denials must be reported to Class Counsel.

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Additionally, Hyundai will cover all costs associated with repairs, including replacement parts,

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labor, diagnoses, and loaner vehicles.2 Id. §§ II.A.2, II.A.5. Finally, the settlement contains a

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BBB dispute resolution process, through which Class Members can contest a dealership’s

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warranty decision. Id. § III.6. All fees and expenses aside from attorneys’ fees associated with

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this dispute resolution process will be borne by Hyundai.

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iii.

Reimbursements for Past Vehicle Repairs, Rental Cars and Towing Services

The settlement also reimburses Class Members in full for repairs due to the alleged defect,

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including short block engine repairs, provided certain conditions are met. Primarily, the repair

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Northern District of California

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must have been performed within the period covered by the extended settlement warranty, i.e.,

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within the earlier of 10 years of the Class Vehicle’s original sale or lease or 120,000 miles. Id.

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§ II.C.1. Additionally, Hyundai will reimburse Class Members who incurred rental car or towing

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expenses reasonably related to a reimbursable repair.
To obtain a refund, Class Members must complete a brief Claim Form that can be

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submitted by mail, email, or through the settlement website. See Claim Form, Ex. B to Settlement

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Agreement, ECF 57-2. Class Members seeking reimbursements must provide few or no

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supporting documents to verify their expenses. Settlement Agreement § II.C.2.

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iv.

Compensation for Trade-Ins and Sales

Class Members who sold or traded in the Class Vehicles for reduced value rather than

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paying for the necessary repairs will be able to seek compensation from Hyundai. Id. § II.D.3.

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Those Class Members must submit a Claim Form with documentation demonstrating that their

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Class Vehicle was diagnosed with an engine failure prior to receiving notice of the settlement or

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recall, and that they sold or traded-in the Class Vehicle without first obtaining the recommended

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engine-block repair. Id. Hyundai will evaluate the transaction and propose compensation for any

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effect on the fair market value of the Class Vehicle at the trade-in or sale. Id. Any unsatisfied

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Alternatively, Hyundai will reimburse rental car costs.
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Class Member has the right to avail himself or herself of the BBB dispute resolution process

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outlined above.

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v.

Mutual Release

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As part of the settlement, Class Members agree to release Hyundai and its related entities

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from all known and unknown claims related to the engine defect alleged or that could have been

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alleged in the litigation. Settlement Agreement §§ I.N, VI. Hyundai will also release Plaintiffs

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and Class Counsel from any claims related to this litigation or settlement. Id. §§ I.O, VI. Claims

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for death, personal injury, damages to tangible property other than a Class Vehicle, and/or

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subrogation, are not covered by the settlement. Id. § VI.

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II.

FINAL APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
In line with its previous order granting preliminary approval, the Court now concludes that

United States District Court
Northern District of California

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the proposed settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable.
A.

Legal Standard
“The claims, issues, or defenses of a certified class may be settled . . . only with the court’s

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approval.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e). “Adequate notice is critical to court approval of a class

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settlement under Rule 23(e).” Hanlon v. Chrysler Corp., 150 F.3d 1011, 1025 (9th Cir. 1998). In

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addition, Rule 23(e) “requires the district court to determine whether a proposed settlement is

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fundamentally fair, adequate, and reasonable.” Id. at 1026. In order to assess a settlement

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proposal, the district court must balance a number of factors:

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(1) the strength of the plaintiffs’ case; (2) the risk, expense,
complexity, and likely duration of further litigation; (3) the risk of
maintaining class action status throughout the trial; (4) the amount
offered in settlement; (5) the extent of discovery completed and the
stage of the proceedings; (6) the experience and views of counsel;
(7) the presence of a governmental participant; and (8) the reaction
of the class members to the proposed settlement.
Churchill Vill., L.L.C. v. Gen. Elec., 361 F.3d 566, 575 (9th Cir. 2004).
Settlements that occur before formal class certification also require a higher standard of

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fairness. In re Mego Fin. Corp. Sec. Litig., 213 F.3d 454, 458 (9th Cir. 2000). In reviewing such

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settlements, in addition to considering the above factors, the court also must ensure that “the

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settlement is not the product of collusion among the negotiating parties.” In re Bluetooth Headset
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Prods. Liab. Litig., 654 F.3d 935, 946–47 (9th Cir. 2011).

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B.

A class action is maintainable only if it meets the four Rule 23(a) prerequisites:

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(1) the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is
impracticable;

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(2) there are questions of law or fact common to the class;

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(3) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of
the claims or defenses of the class; and

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Rule 23(a) and (b) Requirements

(4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the
interests of the class.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a). In a settlement-only certification context, the “specifications of the Rule . . .

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designed to protect absentees by blocking unwarranted or overbroad class definitions . . . demand

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Northern District of California

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undiluted, even heightened, attention[.]” Amchem Prods., Inc. v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591, 620
(1997). “Such attention is of vital importance, for a court asked to certify a settlement class will

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lack the opportunity, present when a case is litigated, to adjust the class, informed by the
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proceedings as they unfold.” Id.

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In addition to the Rule 23(a) prerequisites, “parties seeking class certification must show

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that the action is maintainable under Rule 23(b)(1), (2), or (3).” Amchem Prods., Inc., 521 U.S. at
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614. Rule 23(b)(3), relevant here, requires that (1) “questions of law or fact common to class
members predominate over any questions affecting only individual members” and (2) “a class

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action is superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the
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controversy.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3). The “pertinent” matters to these findings include:

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(A) the class members’ interests in individually controlling the
prosecution or defense of separate actions;

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(B) the extent and nature of any litigation concerning the
controversy already begun by or against class members;

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(C) the desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation of
the claims in the particular forum; and

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(D) the likely difficulties in managing a class action.

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Id.
The Court previously found the putative class satisfied the requirements for numerosity,
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commonality, typicality, and adequacy of representation under Rule 23(a). Order Granting

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Preliminary Approval of Class Settlement ¶ 2, ECF 67 (hereinafter, “Preliminary Approval

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Order”). The Court is unaware of any changes that would alter its analysis, and thus sees no

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reason to revisit the analysis of Rule 23. See G.F. v. Contra Costa Cty., No. 16-3667, 2015 WL

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4606078, at *11 (N.D. Cal. July 30, 2015).

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C.

Adequacy of Notice
“The class must be notified of a proposed settlement in a manner that does not

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systematically leave any group without notice.” Officers for Justice v. Civil Serv. Comm’n of City

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& Cty. of San Francisco, 688 F.2d 615, 624 (9th Cir. 1982) (citation omitted).

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The Court has previously approved the parties’ proposed notice procedures for the class.

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Northern District of California

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Preliminary Approval Order 3. In the motion for final approval, Plaintiffs state that the parties

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have carried out this notice plan. Final Approval Mot. 2. Hyundai mailed the long form class

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notice via first class mail to 1.3 million Class Members between August 15, 2016 and September

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28, 2016. Id.; Reply ISO Final Approval Mot. 2, ECF 76. Hyundai also sent the email version of

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the class notice to those Class Members for whom Hyundai had an email address. Zielomski

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Decl. ¶ 5, ECF 76-4. Hyundai sent this email version to over 1.4 million email addresses, which

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included multiple email addresses per Class Member. The notice informed Class Members about

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all key aspects of the settlement, the date, time, and place of the fairness hearing, and the process

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for objection and opt-out.

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Of the 1,310,640 long form class notices sent via mail, 8,755 were returned as

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undeliverable. Zielomski Decl. ¶ 4. Of the 1,413,087 emails sent, 269,984 were returned as

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undeliverable. Id. ¶ 5. For the mailed notices returned as undeliverable, Hyundai used its best

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efforts to conduct an advanced address search using its customer database, and was able to identify

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35 alternative addresses. Id. Hyundai mailed a long form class notice to those alternative

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addresses.

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In light of these actions and the Court’s prior order granting preliminary approval, the

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Court finds the parties have sufficiently provided notice to the settlement Class Members. See

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Mullane v. Cent. Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 U.S. 306, 314 (1950) (holding that notice must
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“apprise interested parties of the pendency of the action and afford them an opportunity to present

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their objections”); Lundell v. Dell, Inc., No. C05-3970, 2006 WL 3507938, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Dec.

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5, 2006) (holding that notice sent via email and first class mail constituted the “best practicable

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notice” and satisfied due process requirements).

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D.

Fairness, Adequacy and Reasonableness
i.

Strength of Plaintiffs’ Case and Risk of Continuing Litigation

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Approval of a class settlement is appropriate when “there are significant barriers plaintiffs

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must overcome in making their case.” Chun–Hoon v. McKee Foods Corp., 716 F. Supp. 2d 848,

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851 (N.D. Cal. 2010). Similarly, difficulties and risks in litigating weigh in favor of approving a

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class settlement. See Rodriguez v. W. Publ’g Corp., 563 F.3d 948, 966 (9th Cir. 2009).

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Northern District of California

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Here, Plaintiffs acknowledge that despite the strength of their case, were the case to

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continue, it could fail on liability or be whittled down in terms of overall liability. Final Approval

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Mot. 12. For example, Plaintiffs assert that Hyundai might have a colorable defense because it

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did not discover the problem until after it sold many of the Class Vehicles or that the majority of

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repairs not covered under warranty or through goodwill were fairly denied given the owner’s

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failure to properly maintain the vehicle. Id. Moreover, Plaintiffs recognize the impact a delay on

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any damage award could have on Class Members: “Any damage award would need to be

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distributed to class members based on vehicle ownership records that would then be several years

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older; class members would also likely need to locate receipts for repairs that would be equally

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old, significantly reducing the overall recovery.” Id.; id. at 13 (“The passage of time would [ ]

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pose a risk to class members because of the potential for engine seizure or stalling, which they will

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now be notified about and able to address through free inspections and repairs.”). Additionally,

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Plaintiffs admit that they would face risk at the class certification stage, given the highly

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discretionary nature of class certification proceedings. Id. at 3.

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The Court finds that these factors weigh in favor of settlement.
ii.

Settlement Amount

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“In assessing the consideration obtained by the class members in a class action settlement,

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‘it is the complete package taken as a whole, rather than the individual component parts, that must
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be examined for overall fairness.’” Nat’l Rural Telecomms. Coop. v. DIRECTV, Inc., 221 F.R.D.

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523, 527 (C.D. Cal. 2004) (quoting Officers for Justice, 688 F.2d at 628). “In this regard, it is

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well-settled law that a proposed settlement may be acceptable even though it amounts to only a

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fraction of the potential recovery that might be available to the class members at trial.” Id. (citing

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Linney v. Cellular Alaska P’ship, 151 F.3d 1234, 1242 (9th Cir. 1998)).

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Although Class Counsel stated that it would be “very difficult” to put a dollar value on the
settlement because not every Class Vehicle suffers from the defect, Hr’g Tr. 6:18–21, the

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proposed settlement provides Class Members with virtually all relief requested in Plaintiffs’

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complaints. As detailed above, Hyundai is warning drivers potentially affected by this defect of

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the defect and is extending the warranty at its expense. Settlement Agreement § II.A.I. Hyundai

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Northern District of California

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is also reimbursing Class Members for past repair expenses in full, with only minimal

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documentation requirements and a streamlined claims process. Id. § II.C.2. And, any Class

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Members who sold or traded in their vehicles to avoid the expense of repairing the engine will be

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entitled to a compensation process. Id. § II.D.3. Under these circumstances, this factor weighs in

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favor of approval.

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iii.

Extent of Discovery

“In the context of class action settlements, ‘formal discovery is not a necessary ticket to the

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bargaining table’ where the parties have sufficient information to make an informed decision

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about settlement.” In re Mego Fin. Corp., 213 F.3d at 459 (citation omitted).

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Here, Plaintiffs’ counsel have reviewed publicly available sources of technical information,

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interviews of drivers, and consultations with automotive experts; retained an automotive expert to

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conduct a tear down and analysis of a failed Sonata engine; reviewed raw data and analysis

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relating to potentially relevant warranty claims, customer complaints, goodwill payments, and

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field service reports; reviewed materials prepared internally to brief Hyundai executives about the

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alleged engine defect and root cause analysis; and conducted a full interview of the Hyundai

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engineer most familiar with the data and analysis. Final Approval Mot. 14. These actions put

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Class Counsel in a strong position to evaluate their case and conclude that settlement was the best

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way forward. See In re Omnivision Techs., Inc., 559 F. Supp. 2d 1036, 1042 (N.D. Cal. 2007)
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(finding the parties were sufficiently informed about the case prior to settling because they

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engaged in discovery, took depositions, briefed motions, and participated in mediation). This

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factor therefore weighs in favor of approval.

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iv.

Counsel’s Experience

Plaintiffs’ counsel have recommended approval of the settlement. Final Approval Mot. 15.

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“The recommendations of plaintiffs’ counsel should be given a presumption of reasonableness.”

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In re Omnivision, 559 F. Supp. 2d at 1043 (citation omitted); In re Pac. Enters. Sec. Litig., 47 F.3d

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373, 378 (9th Cir. 1995) (“Parties represented by competent counsel are better positioned than

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courts to produce a settlement that fairly reflects each parties’ expected outcome in litigation.”).
Here, Class Counsel has substantial experience litigating consumer class actions against

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Northern District of California

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automotive companies. Final Approval Mot. 15. In light of Class Counsel’s considerable

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experience and their belief that the settlement provides more than adequate benefits to Class

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Members, this factor weighs in favor of approval.

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v.

Presence of a Governmental Participant

Because there is no governmental entity involved in this litigation, this factor is

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inapplicable.

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vi.

Reaction of the Class

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There are approximately 1.3 million Class Members. Reply ISO Final Approval Mot. 2.

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The deadline for Class Members to submit objections to the settlement or the fees and expenses

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motion, or to request exclusion from the Settlement Class was November 7, 2016. Final Approval

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Mot. 2. Since notice of the settlement was disseminated, over 800 Class Members have contacted

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Class Counsel and Hyundai has paid approximately $8.58 million in compensation to 2,883 Class

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Members. Reply ISO Final Approval Mot. 2; Hr’g Tr. 4:20–21. Moreover, as of December 15,

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2016, out of 885,000 current owners, 338,054 (about 38%) had availed themselves of the option to

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receive a free inspection and, if necessary, a repair. Reply ISO Final Approval Mot. 2. Class

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Counsel expects this number to rise, as Class Members will remain eligible for free repairs

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throughout the 10-year/120,000-mile extended warranty period. Id.

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In contrast, only 247 Class Members (approximately 0.017%) have opted out. Hr’g Tr.
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10:8–9; Reply ISO Final Approval Mot. 2. A list of Class Members who have opted out of the

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settlement can be found in Exhibit A to this order. Forty-one Class Members, some of whom have

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also opted out of the settlement, have timely objected. Reply ISO Final Approval Mot. 3.
Given the high claim rate and the low opt-out and objection rates, this factor strongly

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favors final approval. See Churchill Vill., 361 F.3d at 577 (finding no abuse of discretion where

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district court, among other things, reviewed list of 500 opt-outs in a class of 90,000 Class

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Members); Cruz v. Sky Chefs, Inc., 2014 WL 7247065, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 19, 2014) (“A court

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may appropriately infer that a class action settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable when few

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class members object to it.”); Chun-Hoon, 716 F. Supp. 2d at 852 (granting final approval of

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settlement where 16 out of 329 class members (4.86%) requested exclusion). That nearly 40

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Northern District of California

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percent of Class Members have availed themselves of the option to receive a free inspection and,

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if necessary, a repair, also supports final approval. See In re TracFone Unlimited Serv. Plan

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Litig., 112 F. Supp. 3d 993, 1006 (N.D. Cal. 2015) (approving class action settlement with claim

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rate of approximately 25–30%); Moore v. Verizon Commc’ns Inc., No. C 09-1823, 2013 WL

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4610764, at *8 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 28, 2013) (approving class action settlement with 3% claim rate).

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Nonetheless, the Court recognizes that not all—albeit a small percentage—of Class

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Members are entirely satisfied with the settlement. “[I]t is the nature of a settlement, as a highly

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negotiated compromise . . . that it may be unavoidable that some class members will always be

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happier with a given result than others.” Allen v. Bedolla, 787 F.3d 1218, 1223 (9th Cir. 2015)

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(internal quotation marks omitted). The Court addresses those objections below.

21

a. Timing and Mileage Limitations of the Extended Warranty

22

The most common objection is that the settlement does not cover repairs far enough into

23

the future.3 One objector expresses concerns that future repairs will not be covered at all, while

24

the remainder contend that the extended warranty is insufficient. For example, Vincent Preston

25
26
27
28

3

Objections from or on behalf of David Bourne, Michael Canceliere, Robert & Lorelei Chaplin,
Don Clarke, Louis Curcio, James Dirago, John Dragone, Robert & Donna Farr, Christina & Keith
Floyd, Greg Geisert, Jeff Klotz, Arnold Levey, Roger Love, Velma Inez Miles, Dennis Miller,
Robert Neeley, Mitchell Pitkoff, Vincent Preston, Rachel Ray, Hilda Rudder, Greg Shaw, and
Philip Storace. See Objections, ECF 78-1.
12

1
2
3
4
5

writes:
The warranty extension is insufficient. The 10 years is no extension
for new car owners, like myself, since the car was warranted for 10
years when purchased. The mileage extension is only 20,000 miles
to 120,000 miles which is ridiculous for a car that could be
serviceable for 200,000 miles or more. Thus, if this design flaw
causes a failure at 121,000 miles, the owner is liable for all repair
costs which are quite high.
Objections 71. Class Counsel responds, however, that the settlement does offer protections for

6
these consumers. Reply ISO Final Approval Mot. 3. Under the settlement, regardless of the
7
current mileage count of the Class Vehicle, Class Members are entitled to receive a free
8
inspection. Settlement Agreement § II.A.I. If any engine is found to suffer from the defect at
9
issue in the case, that Class Member will receive a free repair. Accordingly, the extended
10
warranty is not the primary mechanism for ensuring that consumers are not required to pay to
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

repair their engines; it is merely an added remedy—if a Class Member does not elect to participate
12
in the inspection program and later suffers engine failure, he or she may avail himself or herself of
13
the extended warranty. Reply ISO Final Approval Mot. 3–4.
14
Moreover, in addition to extending the length of the warranty for engine repairs, the
15
settlement improves the scope of warranty coverage: Under the settlement, warranty repairs can
16
no longer be denied on improper maintenance grounds, with the only exception being cases of
17

“exceptional neglect.” Settlement Agreement § II.A.6. And, any past repair expenses denied on

18
improper maintenance grounds can be recouped through the settlement. Id. § II.C.4.
19
Finally, at the hearing, Class Counsel explained that the underlying data in the case shows
20

that the engine failures at issue most commonly occur before 100,000 miles. Hr’g Tr. 12:8–17.

21
In sum, although the settlement extends the warranty to 10 years or 120,000 miles,
22
whichever comes first, the Court agrees that holding off on settlement in the hopes of receiving a
23
longer extended warranty would not be in the best interests of the class as a whole. Accordingly,
24
the Court OVERRULES these objections.
25
26

b. Continued Safety Concerns
Another common concern is that Sonata vehicles may still suffer from dangerous engine

27
28
13

1

seizures.4 For example, Louis Curcio writes:

2

This settlement provides me no satisfaction that my car engine
won’t one day just seize, while I am driving on the highway at 75
mph. This could easily end in death or serious, debilitating injury. .
. . I am now afraid to drive my car, have my wife or son drive my
car, or have anyone as passengers in my car. I am even afraid to
trade it in on a new lease for fear that someone who purchases the
vehicle in the future may become victim to this faulty engine.

3
4
5

Objections 19. Despite this concern, the recall and free-inspection program addresses any

7

potential safety issues by taking defective engines off the road before they can fail. According to

8

Class Counsel, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) has approved the

9

inspection protocol. Moreover, there is no evidence to suggest that the inspection protocol will be

10

ineffective. See Nguyen v. BMW of N. Am. LLC, No. C 10-02257, 2012 WL 1677054, at *2 (N.D.

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

6

Cal. Apr. 20, 2012) (overruling objections to settlement where “[t]he objectors point[ed] to no

12

evidence that . . . indicate[d] ongoing defects”).
In light of the proactive inspection program, NHTSA’s approval of the inspection protocol,

13
14

and the lack of evidence demonstrating that the inspection protocol is insufficient, the Court

15

OVERRULES these objections.

16

c. Lost Resale Value
A third complaint raised by several of the objectors is that they are not receiving a cash

17
18

payment for loss of resale value.5 For example, James Robinson writes:

19

All Hyundai owners should be given a cash settlement or a buyback.
. . . My car has now been tainted and will always be known as a
“suspect car” because of the unreliable engine. . . . When I go to
trade it for another car, all automotive sales people will know that
this car’s engine can fail. I will then be given a lesser amount for
my car because of this fact.

20
21
22
Objections 87.
23
24
25
26
27
28

4

Objections from or on behalf of Richard Bartha, Melvin Bultman, Louis Curcio, Christina &
Keith Floyd, Randy Hernandez, Addie Marie Jenkins, Doreen Jodoin, Paralee Massie-Armstrong,
Velma Miles, Robert Neeley, Mitchell Pitkoff, Vincent Preston, Stephanie Roberts, Hilda Rudder,
and Mark Sullivan. See Objections, ECF 78-1.
5
Objections from or on behalf of Melvin Bultman, Louis Curcio, James Dirago, Randy
Hernandez, Addie Marie Jenkins, Arnold Levey, Paralee Massie-Armstrong, Mitchell Pitkoff,
Vincent Preston, Craig Rabinowitz, James Robinson, Karen Starr-Brady, and James Ventura.
14

The settlement considers these concerns in two ways. First, if a Sonata owner suffered an

1
2

engine failure, could not afford to repair the car, and sold it at a loss, he or she can seek

3

reimbursement for the loss in fair-market value caused by the engine defect.6 Settlement

4

Agreement § II.D.3. Second, Class Members who have never suffered an engine failure are now

5

receiving free inspections and there is no evidence that they will suffer a loss in value when and if

6

they later resell their vehicles. Accordingly, the Court finds that as currently constructed, it is in

7

the Class’s best interests to accept the offer, and thus OVERRULES these objections.

8

d. Additional Compensation
Other class members object to the settlement because although it offers reimbursement for

9

prior repairs, rental car expenses, and towing expenses, it does not go far enough in reimbursing

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

10

related expenses and costs, such as the cost of previously purchased extended warranties,

12

aggravation, lost wages, and the cost associated with buying a new car.7
With respect to reimbursing the cost of previously purchased extended warranties, which

13
14

several objectors raise, Class Counsel explained at the fairness hearing that the negotiated

15

warranty under the settlement focuses on a very specific thing and provides the aforementioned

16

appeals process. Hr’g Tr. 16:4–11. Thus, the previously purchased extended warranties are far

17

broader than the extended warranty negotiated under the settlement and thus, there is still

18

significant value in the purchased extended warranties. Id. 16:17–20. Accordingly, the Court

19

OVERRULES the objections on this ground.
As to the remainder of the objectors requesting additional compensation, the Court finds

20
21

that a class settlement is not capable of resolving every possible consequential damages claim a

22

Class Member might wish to pursue. It would not be fair to the class as a whole to set aside an

23
6

24
25
26
27
28

To qualify under this provision, a Class Member must have sold or traded in their un-repaired
Class Vehicle before the recall was announced for 2011–2012 models or before the settlement was
announced for 2013–2014 models. Three Class Members—Katherine Boutin, Paralee MassieArmstrong, and Richard Prigge—object to the time limitation. See Objections 5–6, 49; Prigge
Objection, ECF 78-2. However, once the recall or settlement was announced, there is no reason to
discount the estimated fair-market value of the vehicle because the Class Member could either
obtain a free engine repair prior to selling it or sell the vehicle with the assurance that a free engine
repair was available. Therefore, the Court OVERRULES these objections.
7
Objections from or on behalf of Yolanda Ashley, Michele Brown, Doreen Jodoin, Paralee
Massie-Armstrong, Samantha Raffield, and James Ventura.
15

1

otherwise fair settlement because it does not address unique and difficult to prove hardships

2

suffered by only a few members of the class. See Hendricks v. Starkist Co., No. 13-cv-00729,

3

2016 WL 5462423, at *6 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 29, 2016) (“That a more favorable result for some Class

4

Members could potentially have been reached is not a sufficient reason to reject an otherwise fair

5

and reasonable settlement.”). Accordingly, the Court OVERRULES these objections as well.

6

e. Other Objections

7

Other objections raised by only one Class Member are addressed below.

8

Mark Farrell objects because he believes his 2011 Santa Fe vehicle suffered from the same

9

defect and should therefore be included in the settlement along with Hyundai Sonatas. Objections
26–27. However, because the settlement will not release any claims Mr. Farrell may have

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

10

regarding this vehicle, Mr. Farrell lacks standing to raise this objection. In re Volkswagen “Clean

12

Diesel” Marketing, Sales Practices & Prods. Liab. Litig., No. MDL 2672, 2016 WL 6248426, at

13

*22 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 25, 2016) (citation omitted) (finding owners lacked standing to object based

14

on the settlement’s failure to include certain vehicles in the class). Accordingly, the Court

15

OVERRULES Mr. Farrell’s objection.

16

Dmitriy Pavlov objects because he believes the settlement should include 2011–2014

17

Hyundai Sonata with rebuilt salvage titles, except where the engine was damaged in an accident.

18

Objections 59. Mr. Pavlov’s objection appears to be based on a misunderstanding, as those

19

vehicles do fall within the definition of “Class Vehicles” and are eligible for free inspections and

20

repairs (as needed), as well as for reimbursements for qualifying repairs. Settlement Agreement

21

§§ II.A.1, II.C.1. Accordingly, the Court OVERRULES Mr. Pavlov’s objection.

22

Jason Pence objects on the belief that his claim was incorrectly denied. Objections 60–68.

23

Mr. Pence states that he has appealed Hyundai’s initial determination as required by the

24

settlement, but objects to preserve his rights. Class Counsel believes that Mr. Pence’s claim was

25

wrongly denied, and expects that this wrong will be remedied once Mr. Pence avails himself of the

26

process provided for challenging claim determinations. Final Approval Mot. 7. Class Counsel

27

further states that Mr. Pence’s experience does not appear to be typical. Because it appears that

28

Mr. Pence’s objection can be resolved pursuant to the settlement and is not typical of the class, the
16

1

Court OVERRULES his objection.
Finally, Arnold Levey objects on three grounds. First, Mr. Levey argues that the recall is

2
3

“past consideration,” and that the class gains nothing from the settlement. Objections 44. He

4

analogizes to an objection filed by Judge Kozinski and his wife in Klee v. Nissan North America,

5

Inc., No. CV1208238AWTPJWX, 2015 WL 4538426 (C.D. Cal. July 7, 2015). However, here,

6

unlike in Klee, the settlement includes substantial relief that Hyundai will not be obligated to

7

provide if the Court denies settlement approval. Cf. id. (objecting because the initial settlement

8

consisted solely of relief Nissan had agreed to provide regardless of whether the settlement was

9

approved). Accordingly, the Court finds this objection meritless and thus OVERRULES it.
Second, Mr. Levey objects to the form of the class notice. He claims that the class notice

10

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11

“was defective and did not provide sufficient information for enough of the class members to

12

realize how little they would receive as a result of the settlement.” Objections 45. However, for

13

the reasons described above, in Part II.C., the Court finds the notice adequate and OVERRULES

14

this objection.
Third, Mr. Levey objects to the requested attorneys’ fees, stating that the amount of fees

15
16

requested are “clearly excessive and unwarranted.” Objections 43. As explained below in III.B.,

17

the Court finds the attorneys’ fees reasonable, and thus OVERRULES Mr. Levey’s third

18

objection.

19
20

E.

The Bluetooth Factors
Although the Churchill factors favor settlement, consideration of those factors alone is

21

insufficient. See In re Bluetooth, 654 F.3d at 946. Where, as here, the parties reach a settlement

22

prior to class certification, courts must examine the settlement with “an even higher level of

23

scrutiny for evidence of collusion or other conflicts of interest than is ordinarily required under

24

Rule 23(e) before securing the court's approval as fair.” Id. (citations omitted). “Collusion may

25

not always be evident on the face of a settlement, and courts therefore must be particularly vigilant

26

not only for explicit collusion, but also for more subtle signs that class counsel have allowed

27

pursuit of their own self-interests and that of certain class members to infect the negotiations.” Id.

28

at 947. Signs of subtle collusion include:
17

1

(1) when counsel receive a disproportionate distribution of the
settlement, or when the class receives no monetary distribution but
class counsel are amply rewarded;

2

(2) when the parties negotiate a “clear sailing” arrangement
providing for the payment of attorneys’ fees separate and apart from
class funds, which carries the potential of enabling a defendant to
pay class counsel excessive fees and costs in exchange for counsel
accepting an unfair settlement on behalf of the class; and

3
4
5
6

(3) when the parties arrange for fees not awarded to revert to
defendants rather than be added to the class fund.

7

Id. (internal quotations marks and citations omitted).
8

Here, neither the process used by the parties to negotiate the settlement nor the settlement’s

9
terms indicate a collusive deal. The first factor is not present—while the Class receives all of the
10

recovery Plaintiffs requested, attorneys’ fees will not exceed $795,000 for both fees and expenses.

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

Mot. for Att’y Fees 2. This amount represents less than 10 percent of the value of the settlement
12

at present. See Hr’g Tr. 4:20–21 (Hyundai has paid approximately $8.58 million in compensation

13
to 2,883 Class Members); In re Online DVD-Rental Antitrust Litig., 779 F.3d 934, 949 (9th Cir.
14

2015) (finding that the Ninth Circuit sets a “benchmark” fee award at 25% of the recovery

15
obtained).
16
As to the second factor, the settlement agreement contains a clear sailing provision. The
17
18
19
20
21

agreement states Defendants will not “oppose, undermine, or solicit others to oppose or undermine
an award of attorneys’ fees and costs up to, but not to exceed, the total combined sum of
$795,000.00.” Settlement Agreement § V.2 “Although clear sailing provisions are not
prohibited, they ‘by [their] nature deprive . . . the court of the advantages of the adversary process’
in resolving fee determinations and are therefore disfavored.” In re Bluetooth, 654 F.2d at 949

22
(quoting Weinberger v. Great Northern Nekoosa Corp., 925 F.2d 518, 525 (1st Cir. 1991)). When
23
24
25

“confronted with a clear sailing provision, the district court has a heightened duty to peer into the
provision and scrutinize closely the relationship between attorneys’ fees and benefits to the class,
being careful to avoid awarding ‘unreasonably high’ fees simply because they are uncontested.”

26
Id. at 948 (citing Staton v. Boeing Co., 327 F.3d 938, 954 (9th Cir. 2003)).
27
However, the award represents the amount of time and expense counsel actually devoted to
28
18

1

the litigation. Gibbs Decl. ¶ 11. And, had the fee amount been litigated rather than negotiated, a

2

multiplier could have been awarded and the fees substantially higher. See, e.g., MacDonald v.

3

Ford Motor Co., No. 13-cv-2988, 2016 WL 3055643, at *9–10 (N.D. Cal. May 31, 2016)

4

(awarding fee multiplier of 2.0). The parties’ fee agreement thus represents a legitimate

5

compromise and not a collusive agreement to pay Class Counsel more in exchange for paying the

6

class less. See Schuchardt v. Law Office of Rory W. Clark, 314 F.R.D. 673, 687 (N.D. Cal. 2016)

7

(clear-sailing provision does not signal collusion when the agreed-upon fees are reasonable and

8

the relief negotiated for the class is favorable).

9
10

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11

As to the third factor, there is no kicker arrangement whereby “unpaid attorneys’ fees”
would revert to the defendant. In re Bluetooth, 654 F.3d at 949.
Two additional facts suggest that the settlement was not a result of collusion. First, the

12

settlement was negotiated by counsel with extensive experience litigating automotive class actions

13

and was aided by the presence of a mediator, Hon. James P. Kleinberg (Ret.). Gibbs Decl. ¶¶ 7,

14

10–11; see G.F. v. Contra Costa Cty., 2015 WL 4606078, at *13 (“[T]he assistance of an

15

experienced mediator in the settlement process confirms that the settlement is non-collusive.”

16

(citation and internal quotation marks omitted)). Second, under the settlement, Plaintiffs are

17

receiving all of their requested relief, which strongly suggests that the settlement is non-collusive.

18

See Tadepalli v. Uber Techs., Inc., No. 15-cv-4348, 2016 WL 1622881, at *9 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 25,

19

2016) (“[T]he fact that the class is receiving 100% [recovery] reduces the likelihood that the

20

parties colluded to confer benefits on each other at the expense of class members.”).

21

Similarly, the $2,500 service awards that Hyundai has agreed to award Plaintiffs Mendoza

22

and Graham are not indicative of a collusive deal, as they are lower than “typical incentive awards

23

in the Ninth Circuit, where $5,000 is presumptively reasonable.” Smith v. Am. Greetings Corp.,

24

No. 14-cv-2577, 2016 WL 362395, at *10 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 29, 2016).

25
26

Accordingly, the Court concludes that the settlement does not raise an inference of
collusion that warrants invalidation of the class settlement as a whole.

27
28
19

1
2
3
4

III.

ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS
A.

Legal Standard
i.

Attorneys’ Fees

“While attorneys’ fees and costs may be awarded in a certified class action where so
authorized by law or the parties’ agreement, Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(h), courts have an independent

5
obligation to ensure that the award, like the settlement itself, is reasonable, even if the parties have
6
7
8
9
10

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11
12
13
14

already agreed to an amount.” In re Bluetooth, 654 F.3d at 941. “Where a settlement produces a
common fund for the benefit of the entire class,” as here, “courts have discretion to employ either
the lodestar method or the percentage-of-recovery method” to determine the reasonableness of
attorneys’ fees. Id. at 942. “Because the benefit to the class is easily quantified in common-fund
settlements,” the Ninth Circuit permits district courts “to award attorneys a percentage of the
common fund in lieu of the often more time-consuming task of calculating the lodestar.” Id.
“Applying this calculation method, courts [in the Ninth Circuit] typically calculate 25% of the
fund as the ‘benchmark’ for a reasonable fee award, providing adequate explanation in the record
of any ‘special circumstances’ justifying a departure.” Id. (citing Six (6) Mexican Workers v. Ariz.

15
Citrus Growers, 904 F.2d 1301, 1311 (9th Cir. 1990)). However, the benchmark should be
16
17
18

adjusted when the percentage recovery would be “either too small or too large in light of the hours
devoted to the case or other relevant factors.” Six (6) Mexican Workers, 904 F.2d at 1311.
“[W]here awarding 25% of a ‘megafund’ would yield windfall profits for class counsel in light of

19
the hours spent on the case, courts should adjust the benchmark percentage or employ the lodestar
20

method instead.” In re Bluetooth, 654 F.3d at 942.

21
22
23

ii.

Costs

An attorney is also entitled to “recover as part of the award of attorney’s fees those out-ofpocket expenses that would normally be charged to a fee paying client.” Harris v. Marhoefer, 24

24
F.3d 16, 19 (9th Cir. 1994) (internal quotations and citation omitted). To support an expense
25
award, Plaintiffs should file an itemized list of their expenses by category, listing the total amount
26
advanced for each category, listing the total amount advanced for each category, allowing the
27
Court to assess whether the expenses are reasonable. Wren v. RGIS Inventory Specialists, No. 0628
20

1

cv-5778, 2011 WL 1230826, at *30 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 1, 2011), supplemented, No. 06-cv-5778,

2

2011 WL 1838562 (N.D. Cal. May 13, 2011).

3

B.

4

Analysis
i.

Attorneys’ Fees

Class Counsel moves the Court for $761,415.67 in attorneys’ fees, representing less than

5

10 percent of the settlement amount as of December 15, 2016. Mot. for Att’y Fees 2. Class

7

Counsel argues that this award is reasonable because they have spent 1,962 hours over the past

8

year and a half working on behalf of the class, which, at the current hourly billing rates, amounts

9

to a lodestar value of $882,201. Id. Thus, the fee Hyundai has agreed to pay includes an effective

10

multiplier of 0.86. Id. Moreover, this multiplier will decrease further as Class Counsel continues

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

6

to fulfil their post-settlement obligations to the class. Id. Finally, Class Counsel argues that in

12

light of the contingency risk they undertook and the positive results they achieved, the amount of

13

attorneys’ fees and expenses is reasonable. Id.
After careful review of Class Counsel’s declarations and filings, the Court concludes that

14
15

awarding $761,415.67 in attorneys’ fees and costs to Class Counsel is reasonable. First, the award

16

requested is far less than the 25 percent “benchmark” for a reasonable fee award in the Ninth

17

Circuit. See In re Bluetooth, 654 F.3d at 942. Such a fee award is “presumptively reasonable.”

18

Ching v. Siemens Indus., Inc., No. 11-cv-4838, 2014 WL 2926210, at *7 (N.D. Cal. June 27,

19

2014) (citing In re Bluetooth, 654 F.3d at 942). Although one class member has objected to the

20

proposed fee award, the Court finds the use of a fractional multiplier to be reasonable.
The Court has also crosschecked this award against the lodestar recovery. Class Counsel

21
22

calculated the anticipated lodestar as $882,201,8 which, as previously stated, would result in a

23

multiplier of approximately 0.86. This amount is less than the range of multipliers routinely

24

awarded by courts. See In re Omnivision, 559 F. Supp. 2d at 1048 (noting that courts have

25

approved multipliers raging between 1 and 4); see also Vizcaino v. Microsoft Corp., 290 F.3d

26
8

27
28

This figure is supported by the declarations of Eric Gibbs, Benjamin F. Johns, and Richard D.
McCune. Gibbs. Decl. ISO Mot. for Att’y Fees (“Gibbs Decl. II”), ECF 74-1; Johns Decl. ISO
Mot. for Att’y Fees (“Johns Decl.”), ECF 74-3; McCune Decl. ISO Mot. for Att’y Fees (“McCune
Decl.”), ECF 74-5.
21

1

1043, 1051 n.6 (noting that the majority of class action settlements approved had fee multipliers

2

that ranged between 1.5 and 3). Additionally, the number of hours expended falls below the range

3

of hours previously found by courts to be reasonable in similar cases. See, e.g., Sadowska v.

4

Volkswagen Grp. Of Am., No. CV 11-665, 2013 WL 9600948, at *9 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 25, 2013)

5

(approving attorneys’ fees based on 3,115 hours over 23 months of litigation).

6

Finally, Class Counsel is entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees under two California feeshifting statutes, the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”), Cal. Civ. Code §

8

1780(e), and California’s codification of the private attorney general doctrine, Cal. Civ. Proc.

9

Code § 1021.5. CLRA provides for an award of attorneys’ fees to a prevailing plaintiff in an

10

action like this brought pursuant to the CLRA. Cal. Civ. Code § 1780(e). Similarly, section

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

7

1021.5 of the California Code of Civil Procedure provides for attorneys’ fees to a successful party

12

who confers a significant benefit on the general public of a large class of persons. Under this

13

section, it does not matter that Plaintiffs succeeded through a settlement rather than through a

14

judgment following trial, it only matters that they succeeded. See Graham v. DaimlerChrysler

15

Corp., 34 Cal. 4th 553, 566 (2004) (“In determining whether a plaintiff is a successful party for

16

purposes of section 1021.5, the critical fact is the impact of the action, not the manner of the

17

resolution.” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)).

18
19
20

Accordingly, Class Counsel’s motion for $761,415.67 in attorneys’ fees is GRANTED.
ii.

Costs

Plaintiffs are also seeking reimbursement of $33,584.33 in costs. Gibbs Decl. II ¶ 18;

21

Johns Decl. ¶ 10; McCune Decl. ¶ 37. Class Counsel has provided itemized lists of the costs and

22

expenses separated by category. Gibbs Decl. II ¶ 18; Johns Decl. ¶ 10; McCune Decl. ¶ 37. Most

23

of the expenses resulted from expert consultants, litigation support and professional services, and

24

travel. Id. Upon review, the expenses are reasonable with the exception of the $8,343 classified

25

as “other” by Chimicles & Tikellis LLP. See Johns Decl. ¶ 10. Because Mr. Johns has not

26

provided sufficient information for the Court to assess whether these expenses are reasonable, the

27

Court declines to award those costs. Accordingly, Class Counsel’s motion for $33,584.33 in costs

28

is GRANTED IN PART. The Court awards Class Counsel $25,241.33 in costs.
22

1
2

IV.

SERVICE AWARD
A.

Legal Standard
Service awards “are discretionary . . . and are intended to compensate class representatives

3
for work done on behalf of the class, to make up for financial or reputational risk undertaken in
4
bringing the action, and, sometimes, to recognize their willingness to act as a private attorney
5
6

general.” Rodriguez v. W. Publ’g Corp., 563 F.3d 948, 958–59 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal citation
omitted). Courts evaluate service awards individually, “using relevant factors including the

7
actions the plaintiff has taken to protect the interests of the class, the degree to which the class has
8
benefited from those actions, the amount of time and effort the plaintiff expended in pursuing the
9
10

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11

litigation and reasonable fears of workplace retaliation.” Staton, 327 F.3d at 977 (citation and
internal quotations and alterations omitted). Indeed, “courts must be vigilant in scrutinizing all
inventive awards to determine whether they destroy the adequacy of the class representatives.”

12
Radcliffe v. Experian Info. Sols., Inc., 715 F.3d 1157, 1164 (9th Cir. 2013).
13
14

B.

Analysis
Plaintiffs request a service award of $2,500 each for Lead Plaintiffs Mendoza and Graham.

15

Mot. for Att’y Fees 2. Plaintiffs believe this award is reasonable in light of the contributions that

16
Plaintiffs have made on behalf of similarly-situated Sonata owners. Id. Specifically, Mendoza
17
and Graham worked with counsel to present their individual experiences on behalf of the class,
18
searched for and provided documentation to support their claims, reviewed the complaint prior to
19
filing, consulted with Class Counsel regarding potential settlement remedies, and reviewed the
20
settlement agreement on behalf of the class. Id.; Gibbs Decl. II ¶ 19. No one has objected to the
21
proposed service award.
22
To determine the reasonableness of a service award, courts consider the proportionality
23

between the service award and the range of class members’ settlement awards. Dyer v. Wells

24
Fargo Bank, N.A., 303 F.R.D. 326, 335 (N.D. Cal. 2014). In this Circuit, an award of $5,000 is
25
presumptively reasonable. See Harris v. Vector Marketing Corp., No. C-08-5198, 2012 WL
26

381202, at *7 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 6, 2012) (collecting cases). Thus, in light of Lead Plaintiffs’ service

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to the class, the Court finds that a service award of $2,500 each is reasonable.
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V.

ORDER
For the foregoing reasons, the Court hereby ORDERS as follows:

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1.

The Court certifies the class for settlement purposes only.

2.

The Court grants final approval to the parties’ proposed settlement, which is fair,

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adequate, and reasonable.
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3.

The Court approves a service award of $2,500 Plaintiff Elizabeth Mendoza and

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Beth Graham ($5,000 collectively).
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4.

The Court approves an award to class counsel of $ 761,415.67 in attorneys’ fees

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and $25,241.33 in expenses.
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5.

The 247 class members who requested to opt out of the settlement class are

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excluded from the class.
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United States District Court
Northern District of California

The Court further ORDERS the parties to submit a revised proposed final judgment
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consistent with this order on or before January 30, 2017.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Dated: January 23, 2017
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______________________________________
BETH LABSON FREEMAN
United States District Judge

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