Allen v. Similasan Corporation et al

Filing 258

ORDER granting 257 Joint Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement. Court conditionally certifies a class for settlement purposes only. Court appoints Karen Hairston and Lainie Rideout as Class Representatives. Court appoints the Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC, Gomez Trial Attorneys, and Law Offices of Dean Goetz as Class Counsel to represent the Class. Court preliminarily approves the Settlement Agreement. Final Approval Hearing set for 8/7/2017 10:30 AM in Courtroom 4B before Judge Cynthia Bashant. Briefs for the Final Approval Hearing must filed no later than thirty (30) calendar days before the Final Approval Hearing. Class Counsel shall file their application for attorney's fees, costs, and expenses at least forty-five (45) days before the Final Approval Hearing. Court approves Classaura LLC to serve as the Court-Appointed Class Action Administrator for the this Settlement. Signed by Judge Cynthia Bashant on 4/12/2017. (jah)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 12 KIM ALLEN, LAINIE RIDEOUT and KATHLEEN HAIRSTON, on behalf of themselves, all others similarly situated, and the general public, 13 Plaintiffs, 11 14 15 v. SIMILASAN CORPORATION, 16 Defendant. 17 Case No. 12-cv-00376-BAS-JLB ORDER: (1) GRANTING JOINT MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT; (2) CONDITIONALLY APPROVING THE SETTLEMENT CLASS; (3) SETTING HEARING ON FINAL APPROVAL OF SETTLMENT 18 19 20 21 22 23 Plaintiffs Lainie Rideout and Kathleen Hairston and Defendant Similasan 24 Corporation (the “Parties”) have entered into a Settlement Agreement to resolve this 25 Class Action litigation. For the reasons discussed below, the Court GRANTS the 26 Parties’ Joint Motion (ECF No. 257) and preliminarily approves the Settlement 27 Agreement. The Court sets the matter for Final Hearing on August 7, 2017 at 10:30 28 a.m. –1– 12cv376 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Plaintiffs filed a class action Complaint on behalf of a California and Florida 3 class1, alleging that Similasan engaged in false or deceptive labeling of its 4 homeopathic products. (ECF No. 58, Third Amended Complaint (“TAC”).) 5 The Court granted Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, certifying two 6 classes: all purchasers of Similasan homeopathic products in California with respect 7 to Nasal Allergy Relief or Sinus Relief (first class) and all purchasers of Similasan 8 homeopathic products in California with respect to Allergy Eye Relief, Earache 9 Relief, Dry Eye Relief and Pink Eye Relief (second class). (ECF No. 143.) 10 The Court granted in part Similasan’s Motion for Summary Judgment, limiting 11 the time period of recovery and dismissing the claims for injunctive relief. (ECF Nos. 12 142, 247.) The Parties previously attempted a settlement that involved injunctive 13 relief only, which was rejected by the Court. (ECF Nos. 202, 223.) 14 After lengthy negotiations, motion practice and discovery, the Parties now 15 submit a second Joint Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Settlement. (ECF 16 No. 257.) 17 II. PROPOSED SETTLEMENT 18 A. 19 The Parties propose that this Court certify as a class: 20 [All] purchasers of all Similasan Corporation homeopathic Products nationwide for personal or household use and not for resale, as listed in Exhibit A to this Agreement, from February 10, 2008 to the present. 21 22 23 The Settlement Agreement Settlement Agreement § 2.6.2 Thus, the proposed class expands the class beyond the originally certified class 24 25 26 27 28 1 Plaintiff Allen withdrew as a named plaintiff and, as she was the only named plaintiff from Florida, Plaintiffs ultimately dismissed claims involving the Florida class. (ECF No. 69.) The Settlement Agreement is attached to the Declaration of Deborah Dixon (“Dixon Decl.”) (ECF No. 257-2) as Exhibit 1 (ECF No. 257-4). 2 –2– 12cv376 1 to include all purchasers nationwide, instead of just in California, and expands the 2 products beyond the original nasal, sinus, eye and ear relief to a wide swath of 3 Similasan homeopathic products. See Exhibit A to the Settlement Agreement (ECF 4 No. 257-4). 5 Similasan will establish a Fund of $700,000. (Settlement Agreement § 5.1.2.) 6 Class members may submit a claim form with a declaration that they purchased a class 7 product that did not provide any relief. (Settlement Agreement § 6.2.) Alternatively, 8 class members may submit a proof of purchase for each class product purchased. Id. 9 Claimants without a proof of purchase are limited to one claim. Claimants with a 10 valid proof of purchase may submit a claim for each class product purchased. Id. 11 The payment of the costs of notice, administration and distribution of the 12 settlement, attorneys’ fees, expenses and representative award will be paid from the 13 fund. 14 reimbursement for expenses and up to 25% of the fund for attorneys’ fees. (Settlement 15 Agreement § 5.1.4.) Counsel will also request $2500 each or $5000 total for the 16 representative plaintiffs. (Settlement Agreement § 5.1.3.) (Settlement Agreement §§ 7.2.3, 7.3.3.) Class counsel will request 17 Claimants submitting a proof of purchase are entitled to full repayment of their 18 purchase price. Claimants submitting a declaration are entitled to reimbursement, 19 which counsel estimates will be at least $3.50. (Dixon Decl. ¶ 30.) This amount 20 represents approximately 50% of the average retail price of each Class Product. 21 (Declaration of Michele Gillette, ECF No. 257-6 (“Gillette Decl.”) ¶7.) If there are 22 any remaining amounts in the settlement fund, after payment of claims, costs and 23 attorneys’ fees, these amounts will be distributed on a pro rata basis to class members 24 who have made a claim. (Settlement Agreement § 5.1.5.) 25 In addition to the monetary consideration for the Settlement, Similasan has also 26 agreed to make label changes to its products, providing more information to future 27 purchasers of the products, something the Plaintiffs sought at the outset. (Settlement 28 Agreement § 5.2.) –3– 12cv376 1 In return for these benefits, all class members will release all claims arising 2 from the allegations in the operative complaint concerning the class products. 3 (Settlement Agreement § 8.) Class members will not waive any right to pursue 4 personal injury claims or to redress their claims, if any, with any governmental agency. 5 (Id.) 6 B. Notice 7 The Settlement Agreement proposes posting notice on a Settlement website, 8 providing the required CAFA notice to state Attorneys General and United States 9 Attorneys, submitting online advertising on Facebook targeted to reach likely 10 homeopathy users (10 million impressions), publishing a press release on PR 11 Newswire’s website and publishing notice four times in the “San Diego Union- 12 Tribune” newspaper. (Settlement Agreement §§ 7.2, 7.3.) 13 III. ANALYSIS 14 The Ninth Circuit maintains a “strong judicial policy” that favors the settlement 15 of class actions. Class Plaintiffs v. City of Seattle, 955 F.2d 1268, 1276 (9th Cir. 1992). 16 However, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e) first “require[s] the district court to 17 determine whether a proposed settlement is fundamentally fair, adequate, and 18 reasonable.” In re Mego Fin. Corp. Sec. Litig., 213 F.3d 454, 458 (9th Cir. 2000) 19 (citing Hanlon v. Chrysler Corp., 150 F.3d 1011, 1026 (9th Cir. 1998)). Where the 20 “parties reach a settlement agreement prior to class certification, courts must peruse 21 the proposed compromise to ratify both the propriety of the certification and the 22 fairness of the settlement.” Staton v. Boeing Co., 327 F.3d 938, 952 (9th Cir. 2003). 23 In these situations, settlement approval “requires a higher standard of fairness and a 24 more probing inquiry than may normally be required under Rule 23(e).” Dennis v. 25 Kellogg Co., 697 F.3d 858, 864 (9th Cir. 2012) (internal quotation marks omitted). 26 A. Class Certification 27 Before granting preliminary approval of a class-action settlement, the Court 28 must first determine whether the proposed class can be certified. Amchem Prods., Inc. –4– 12cv376 1 v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591, 620 (1997) (indicating that a district court must apply 2 “undiluted, even heightened, attention [to class certification] in the settlement 3 context” in order to protect absentees). The class action is “an exception to the usual 4 rule that litigation is conducted by and on behalf of the individual named parties only.” 5 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 348 (2011) (quoting Califano v. 6 Yamasaki, 442 U.S. 682, 700–01 (1979)). 7 In order to justify a departure from that rule, “a class representative must be part 8 of the class and ‘possess the same interest and suffer the same injury’ as the class 9 members.” Id. (citing E. Tex. Motor Freight Sys., Inc. v. Rodriguez, 431 U.S. 395, 403 10 (1977)). In this regard, Rule 23 contains two sets of class-certification requirements 11 set forth in Rule 23(a) and (b). United Steel, Paper & Forestry, Rubber, Mfg. Energy, 12 Allied Indus. & Serv. Workers Int’l Union v. ConocoPhillips Co., 593 F.3d 802, 806 13 (9th Cir. 2010). “A court may certify a class if a plaintiff demonstrates that all of the 14 prerequisites of Rule 23(a) have been met, and that at least one of the requirements of 15 Rule 23(b) have been met.” Otsuka v. Polo Ralph Lauren Corp., 251 F.R.D. 439, 443 16 (N.D. Cal. 2008). 17 “Rule 23(a) provides four prerequisites that must be satisfied for class 18 certification: (1) the class must be so numerous that joinder of all members is 19 impracticable; (2) questions of law or fact exist that are common to the class; (3) the 20 claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of 21 the class; and (4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the 22 interests of the class.” Otsuka, 251 F.R.D. at 443 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)). “A 23 plaintiff must also establish that one or more of the grounds for maintaining the suit 24 are met under Rule 23(b), including: (1) that there is a risk of substantial prejudice 25 from separate actions; (2) that declaratory or injunctive relief benefitting the class as 26 a whole would be appropriate; or (3) that common questions of law or fact 27 predominate and the class action is superior to other available methods of 28 adjudication.” Id. (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)). –5– 12cv376 1 The Parties seek class certification under Rule 23(b)(3). In the context of a 2 proposed settlement class, questions regarding the manageability of the case for trial 3 are not considered. See Wright v. Linkus Enters., Inc., 259 F.R.D. 468, 474 (E.D. Cal. 4 2009) (citing Amchem Prods., Inc., 521 U.S. at 620 (1997) (“Confronted with a 5 request for settlement-only class certification, a district court need not inquire whether 6 the case, if tried, would present intractable management problems . . . for the proposal 7 is that there be no trial.”)). 8 In this case, the Court previously found that both the requirements of Rule 23(a) 9 and 23(b)(3) had been met. (ECF No. 143.) Expansion of the class to include all 10 purchasers nationwide as well as purchasers of additional products does not change 11 this analysis. The new class is more numerous than the originally certified one and 12 the representation is equally adequate. Furthermore, Similasan’s conduct appears to 13 be uniform across the United States as well as across the wide variety of products: it 14 sold products bearing representations about the products’ effectiveness. As the Court 15 previously found, given the uniformity of the efficacy representations, small 16 differences in the labeling are insignificant. This new class still presents common 17 questions of fact and law, the claims and defenses of the representative parties are 18 equally typical and the common questions of law or fact predominate. Given the small 19 cost of each product and the large number of purchasers, a class action is superior to 20 other available methods of adjudication. Therefore, the Court finds certification of 21 the proposed class is appropriate. 22 B. Fairness, Reasonableness, and Adequacy of Proposed Settlement 23 In determining whether the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable, and 24 adequate, “a district court must consider a number of factors, including: the strength 25 of plaintiffs’ case; the risk, expense, complexity, and likely duration of further 26 litigation; the amount offered in settlement; the extent of discovery completed, and 27 the stage of proceedings; the experience and views of counsel; the presence of a 28 governmental participant; and the reaction of the class members to the proposed –6– 12cv376 1 settlement.” Staton v. Boeing Co., 327 F.3d 938, 959 (9th Cir. 2003). The Court 2 considers each of these factors below. Strength of Plaintiff’s Case, and Risk of Further Litigation 3 1. 4 Defendant Similasan adamantly denies liability in this case. Furthermore, Class 5 Counsel tried a nearly identical matter in the Central District of California, which 6 resulted in a defense verdict. (Mem. P. & A. in Support of Joint Mot., ECF No. 257- 7 1, p. 23.) These facts, coupled with the fact that the Court has already stricken 8 injunctive relief from the action, have made plaintiffs’ counsel concerned about their 9 ability to win any benefit for the class without the Settlement Agreement. (Id.) 10 In addition, the litigation involves complex issues requiring extensive 11 resources, expert testimony and a likely appeal, if the case goes to trial. See Nat’l 12 Rural Telecommc’ns. Coop. v. DirecTV, Inc., 221 F.R.D. 523, 527 (C.D. Cal. 2004) 13 (avoiding a trial and the subsequent appeals in a complex case strongly militates in 14 favor of settlement rather than protracted and uncertain litigation). 15 16 Thus, the Court finds this first factor weighs in favor of accepting the proposed settlement. 17 2. Consideration Offered 18 Unlike the first proposed settlement agreement in this case, this Settlement 19 Agreement provides more than just injunctive relief for the class. Although at this 20 point it is difficult to assess how much each claimant will receive—since the number 21 of claimants is still highly speculative—counsel estimates each claimant will receive 22 a minimum of $3.50. (Dixon Decl. ¶30.) This is approximately 50% of the average 23 cost of the product nationwide. (Gillette Decl. ¶7.) Since the Settlement Agreement 24 provides for a pro rata distribution of the remaining amounts in the fund, after payment 25 of expenses, attorneys’ fees and representative award, conceivably the amount each 26 claimant receives could be more than the purchase price paid. 27 Although Plaintiff and Class Members might be entitled to greater 28 compensation if Plaintiffs’ allegations were proven true, this does not mean that the –7– 12cv376 1 settlement is inadequate. Linney v. Cellular Alaska P’ship, 151 F.3d 1234, 1242 (9th 2 Cir. 1998). “[The] very essence of a settlement is a compromise, ‘a yielding of 3 absolutes and an abandoning of highest hopes.’” Officers for Justice v. Civil Serv. 4 Comm’n of the City & Cty. of San Francisco, 688 F.2d 615, 624 (9th Cir. 1982). At 5 this point in the proceedings, the Court believes the consideration offered appears fair 6 and reasonable. 7 3. 8 This case has been pending for five years. Both sides were well into trial 9 Extent of Discovery Completed and Stage of Proceedings preparations at the time of settlement. (Dixon Decl. ¶14; Gillette Decl. ¶4.) 10 Plaintiffs engaged in substantial discovery and negotiations, reviewing 11 Similasan’s financial information, marketing literature and website, various products’ 12 labeling and packaging, FDCA and Sherman Act laws, rules and regulations, FDA 13 guidance on homeopathic drugs and FTC standards. (Mem. P. & A. in Support of 14 Joint Mot., ECF No. 257-1, pp. 25–26; Declaration of Ronald Marron, ECF No. 257- 15 6 ¶28.) The parties have briefed, and the Court has ruled on, three motions to dismiss, 16 two motions for summary judgment, a motion for class certification and a motion to 17 decertify the class. 18 Agreement. This factor weighs in favor of accepting the Settlement 19 4. Experience and Views of Counsel 20 Generally, “[t]he recommendations of plaintiffs’ counsel should be given a 21 presumption of reasonableness.” Boyd v. Bechtel Corp., 485 F. Supp. 610, 622 (N.D. 22 Cal. 1979); cf. Stull v. Baker 410 F. Supp. 1326, 1332 (S.D.N.Y. 1976) (holding that 23 the court should consider the recommendation of counsel, and weight it according to 24 counsel’s caliber and experience). 25 knowledge of Class Counsel, their recommendations are presumed to be reasonable, 26 and this factor accordingly favors approval. Here, due especially to the experience and 27 5. Governmental Participant 28 There is no governmental participant in this case, so this factor is neutral. –8– 12cv376 1 6. 2 Since notice has not yet been served, it would be premature to evaluate this 3 Reaction of the Class to the Proposed Settlement factor at this point in the proceedings. 4 C. Fairness Hearing and Required Notice to Parties 5 1. Notice Requirements 6 Under Rule 23(c)(2)(B), “the court must direct to class members the best notice 7 that is practicable under the circumstances, including individual notice to all members 8 who can be identified through reasonable effort.” The Rule directs: 9 14 The notice must clearly and concisely state in plain, easily understood language: (i) the nature of the action; (ii) the definition of the class certified; (iii) the class claims, issues, or defenses; (iv) that a class member may enter an appearance through an attorney if the member so desires; (v) that the court will exclude from the class any member who requests exclusion; (vi) the time and manner for requesting exclusion; and (vii) the binding effect of a class judgment on members under Rule 23(c)(3). 15 Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B). “[T]he mechanics of the notice process are left to 16 the discretion of the court subject only to the broad ‘reasonableness’ standards 17 imposed by due process.” Grunin v. Int’l House of Pancakes, 513 F.2d 114, 120 (8th 18 Cir. 1975). 10 11 12 13 19 In this case, individual class notice is not possible. Similasan does not sell its 20 products directly to class members but only to third party retailers and distributors 21 who sell the products on store shelves. Thus, notice by publication is the best possible 22 notice under the circumstances. 23 24 The Court has reviewed the proposed avenues of notice, as well as the proposed verbiage and is satisfied that it complies with Rule 23(c)(2)(B). 25 2. 26 Fed. R. Civ. P. Rule 23(e)(2), requires that “[i]f the proposal would bind class 27 members, the court may approve it only after a hearing and on finding that it is fair, 28 reasonable, and adequate.” “The purpose of a fairness hearing is to provide the court Fairness Hearing –9– 12cv376 1 with sufficient evidence for it to make an informed decision relating to the fairness of 2 the proposed settlement.” UAW v. Gen. Motors Corp., 235 F.R.D. 383, 386 (E.D. 3 Mich. 2006). A fairness hearing need not have all the procedures and protections of 4 a full trial; it is a forum for intervenors to voice their objections and for the fairness of 5 the settlement to be determined, and a court is within its discretion to limit the hearing 6 as necessary to meet those objectives. UAW, 235 F.R.D. at 386; Tenn. Ass’n of Health 7 Maint. Org., Inc. v. Grier, 262 F.3d 559, 567 (6th Cir. 2001). 8 Here, in their Settlement Agreement, the Parties agree to a framework for Class 9 Members who either wish to opt-out or to object to the proposed Settlement. 10 (Settlement § 10.) The Court finds the framework is fair and appropriate and 11 accordingly sets a Final Approval Hearing that will give any intervenors or objectors 12 a chance to be heard. 13 III. CONCLUSION & ORDER 14 In light of the foregoing, the Court GRANTS the Parties’ joint motion for 15 preliminary approval of the class action settlement (ECF No. 257) and hereby 16 ORDERS the following: 17 18 19 20 1. Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court hereby conditionally certifies a class for settlement purposes only. 2. The class shall consist of: 26 All purchasers of all Similasan Corporation homeopathic Products nationwide for personal or household use and not for resale, as listed in Exhibit A to this Agreement, from February 10, 2008 to the present. Excluded from the Class are governmental entities, Defendant, any entity in which Defendant has a controlling interest, its employees, officers, directors, legal representatives, heirs, successors and wholly or partly owned subsidiaries or affiliated companies, including all parent companies, and their employees; and the judicial officers, their immediate family members and court staff assigned to this case. 27 3. The Court hereby appoints Kathleen Hairston and Lainie Rideout as Class 21 22 23 24 25 28 Representatives. – 10 – 12cv376 1 4. The Court hereby appoints the Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC, 2 Gomez Trial Attorneys, and Law Offices of Dean Goetz as Class Counsel to 3 represent the Class. 4 5. The Court hereby preliminarily approves the Settlement Agreement and the 5 terms and conditions of Settlement set forth therein, subject to further 6 consideration at a Final Approval Hearing. 7 6. The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on August 7 at 10:30 a.m., in 8 the Courtroom of the Honorable Cynthia Bashant, United States District 9 Court for the Southern District of California, Courtroom 4B (4th Floor – 10 Schwartz), 221 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, for the following 11 purposes: 12 a. Finally determining whether the Class meets all applicable requirements 13 of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and whether the Class 14 should be certified for the purposes of effectuating the Settlement, 15 b. finally determining whether the proposed Settlement of the case on the 16 terms and conditions provided for in the Settlement Agreement is fair, 17 reasonable, and adequate and should be approved and ordered by the 18 Court, 19 20 c. considering the application of Class Counsel for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs, as provided for in the Settlement Agreement; 21 d. considering the application of the named Plaintiffs for a class 22 representative incentive award, as provided for in the Settlement 23 Agreement; 24 e. considering whether the release by the Class Members of the Released 25 Claims as set forth in the Settlement Agreement should be provided; and 26 f. ruling upon such other matters as the Court may deem just and 27 28 appropriate. 7. The Court may adjourn the Final Approval Hearing and later reconvene such – 11 – 12cv376 1 hearing without further notice to the Class Members. 2 8. Before the Final Approval Hearing, Defendant shall file with the Clerk of 3 the Court proof of its compliance with the notice provisions of the Class 4 Action Fairness Act of 2005 (“CAFA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1715. 5 9. In compliance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3), the Class Members will be 6 permitted to exclude themselves from the class. Requests for exclusion must 7 be submitted to the Clerk of the Court postmarked or delivered no later than 8 thirty calendar days before the Final Approval Hearing date. Requests for 9 exclusion purportedly filed on behalf of groups of person are prohibited and 10 will be deemed void. 11 10. Briefs for the Final Approval Hearing must be filed with the Clerk of the 12 Court no later than thirty calendar days before the Final Approval Hearing. 13 11. Class Members who desire to object to the fairness of the Settlement must 14 file and serve written objections with the Clerk of this Court no later than 15 thirty calendar days before the Final Approval Hearing. 16 12. Objections must be timely, in writing, signed and dated by the objector (or 17 his or her attorney, if applicable), must reference the name and case number 18 of the litigation and must contain the following information: (1) the 19 objector’s name, address and telephone number, (2) the name, address and 20 telephone number of any attorney for the objector, (3) the factual basis and 21 legal grounds for the objection, and (4) the payment terms of any fee 22 agreement between the objector and the objector’s attorney with respect to 23 the objection. 24 13. Objections that do not contain all required information or that are received 25 after the Objection Deadline will not be considered at the Final Approval 26 Hearing. Objections purportedly filed on behalf of groups of persons are 27 prohibited and will be deemed void. 28 14. If a Class Member hires an attorney to represent him or her in support of a – 12 – 12cv376 1 timely and properly submitted objection, and the attorney wishes to appear 2 at the Final Approval Hearing, the attorney must: (1) file a notice of intention 3 to appear and participate in the Final Approval Hearing with the Clerk of the 4 Court at least thirty calendar days before the Final Approval Hearing, and 5 (2) mail copies of the entry of appearance and the notice of intention to 6 appear and participate in the Final Approval Hearing to Counsel for 7 Defendant and Class Counsel, postmarked no later than thirty calendar days 8 before the Final Approval Hearing. 9 15. Any Class Member who does not file a valid and timely objection to the 10 settlement shall be barred from seeking review of the settlement by appeal 11 or otherwise. 12 16. Any response by the Plaintiff to the objections of Class Members must be 13 filed with the Clerk of the Court no later than fourteen days prior to the Final 14 Approval Hearing date. Any reply to this response must be filed and served 15 at least seven days prior to the Final Approval Hearing date. 16 17. Class Counsel shall file with the Clerk of this Court and serve their 17 application for attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses at least forty-five days 18 before the Final Approval Hearing. After filing, the Application for fees and 19 costs, and incentive award shall be posted on the Settlement Website for 20 review by Class Members. 21 18. The Court approves the form and procedure for disseminating Notice of the 22 proposed Settlement to the Class. The Court finds this is the best notice 23 practicable under the circumstances. 24 19. Within thirty days after the date of entry of this Order, Defendant shall 25 disseminate the Class Notice in the form attached to the Settlement 26 Agreement as Exhibit B. The manner and form of such dissemination shall 27 be as set forth in the Notice Plan attached as Exhibit E to the Settlement 28 Agreement. – 13 – 12cv376 1 20. The Court approves Classaura LLC (“Classaura”) to serve as the Court- 2 Appointed Class Action Administrator for this Settlement. The Class Action 3 Administrator shall disseminate Class Notice and supervise and carry out 4 the Notice Plan, and other administrative functions, and shall respond to 5 Class member inquiries. 6 21. The Court directs the Class Action Administrator to establish a Class 7 Settlement Website, making available copies of this Order, Class Notice, the 8 Settlement Agreement and all exhibits thereto, a toll-free hotline, and such 9 other information as may be of assistance to Class members or required 10 under the Settlement Agreement. The Class Settlement Website shall be 11 made available to Class Members no later than fifteen calendar days after 12 the date of this Order and continuously thereafter until thirty days after the 13 Final Approval Hearing. 14 22. As set forth in the Agreement, all fees, costs and expenses of the Notice and 15 Claims Administrator related to this Settlement will be paid out of the 16 Settlement Amount, which shall be used for costs and expenses associated 17 with the Class Notice, creating and maintaining the Class Settlement 18 Website, and all other Class Notice expenses. The Parties shall jointly retain 19 the services of Classaura as their Class Action Administrator. 20 23. No later than fourteen days prior to the Final Approval Hearing date, 21 Similasan, through the Class Action Administrator, shall file an affidavit and 22 serve a copy on Class Counsel, attesting that notice was disseminated as 23 required by the terms of the Notice Plan or as ordered by the Court. This 24 affidavit shall also inform the Court of any requests for exclusion from the 25 Class, objections or other reactions from Class Members received by the 26 Class Administrator. 27 // 28 // – 14 – 12cv376 1 // 2 // 3 4 5 24. The Parties are further ordered to carry out the Settlement Agreement in the manner provided in the Settlement Agreement. IT IS SO ORDERED. 6 7 DATED: April 12, 2017 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 – 15 – 12cv376

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