Bova v. Washington Mutual Bank et al

Filing 95

ORDER granting 92 Preliminary Approval of Class and Collective Action Settlement. The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on October 14, 2011 1:30 p.m., Courtroom 12 before Judge Anthony J. Battaglia. Signed by Judge Anthony J. Battaglia on 04/29/11. (cge)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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VINCENT BOVA, an individual; on behalf of )
himself, and on behalf of all persons similarly )
situated,
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
v.
)
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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., solely
)
and exclusively as successor to
)
WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK and Does )
1 to 10,
)
)
Defendants.
)
)

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The Court has heard a motion by Plaintiff VINCENT BOVA ("Plaintiff" or "Class Representative") for

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preliminary approval of a proposed class and collective action settlement. Defendant JPMORGAN

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CHASE BANK, N.A., as acquirer of certain assets and liabilities of WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK

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("WMB") from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), acting as receiver (hereinafter,

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"Defendant") filed a Notice of Non-Opposition to the motion. The Court has considered the Joint

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Stipulation and Settlement Agreement ("Stipulation") and the proposed Notice Regarding Pendency of

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Class Action ("Class Notice") and attached exhibits, and the submissions of counsel, and hereby finds

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and orders as follows:

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1.

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within the "range of reasonableness" and therefore approves the settlement on a preliminary basis.

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Civil No. 07cv2410 AJB (JMA)
ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY
APPROVAL OF CLASS AND
COLLECTIVE ACTION SETTLEMENT
[Doc. No. 92]

The Court finds that the settlement memorialized in the Stipulation filed with the Court falls

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07cv2410

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2.

Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3), the Court conditionally certifies, for settlement purposes

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only, the following class ("Class"): All individuals who were employed by Washington Mutual Bank's

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Home Loans or Home Loans and Insurance Services group as Wholesale Underwriters or Senior

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Wholesale Underwriters in the State of California between December 26, 2003 and September 30, 2008,

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who did not sign a severance agreement, and who have not had their claims adjudicated in another

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forum.

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3.

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purposes only, the following collective action ("Collective Action"): All individuals who were

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employed by Washington Mutual Bank's Home Loans or Home Loans and Insurance Services group as

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Wholesale Underwriters or Senior Wholesale Underwriters in the State of California between December

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26, 2004 and September 30, 2008, who did not sign a severance agreement, and who have not had their

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claims adjudicated in another forum.

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4.

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only, shall not be cited in any matter for the purpose of seeking class or collective action certification or

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class or collective action notice.

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5.

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Class and the Collective Action.

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6.

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Bhowmik as Class Counsel.

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7.

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Collective Action.

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Stipulation as Exhibit 3.

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9.

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such methodology to be fair and reasonable, and thus approves such allocation on a preliminary basis.

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The Court further approves the issuance of notice in the form proposed by counsel, entitled Notice to

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Class Members Regarding Pendency of a Class and Collective Action and Notice of Hearing on

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Proposed Settlement.

Pursuant to 29 U.S.C., section 216(b), the Court further conditionally certifies, for settlement

This Order, which conditionally certifies a class and collective action for settlement purposes

The Court appoints, for settlement purposes only, Vincent Bova as the representative for both the

The Court appoints, for settlement purposes only, the law firm of Blumenthal, Nordrehaug, and

The Court appoints Gilardi and Company as the Claims Administrator for both the Class and the

Plaintiff shall have leave to file the Fifth Amended Complaint in the form attached to the

The Court has reviewed the methodology for the allocation of settlement proceeds, and finds

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10.

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on the fairness and adequacy of the proposed

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Settlement, the plan of distribution, Class Counsel's request for attorneys' fees and costs, the administra-

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tive costs, and the enhanced awards to the Class Representative on October 14, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. in

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Courtroom 12 of the United States District Court, Southern District of California, located at 940 Front

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Street, San Diego, CA 92101.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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DATED: April 29, 2011

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Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia
U.S. District Judge

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