In re BLACK FARMERS DISCRIMINATION LITIGATION

Filing 460

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER re JAMS' final invoice for Track A and Track B Neutral services provided in implementing the Settlement Agreement. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on June 8, 2016. (MA)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
_________________________________________
)
In re BLACK FARMERS DISCRIMINATION
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LITIGATION
)
_________________________________________ )

Misc. No. 08-0511 (PLF)

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
On May 23, 2016, JAMS submitted to the Court a letter containing its “final
invoice and the corresponding back up for the Track A and Track B Neutral services provided in
implementing the Settlement Agreement.” Letter from Stacey Harrison, General Manager of
JAMS, to the Honorable Paul L. Friedman, U.S. District Court (May 23, 2016) (on file with the
Court). The invoice documents expenses in the amount of $95,215.00. Id.
This letter follows the Court’s Order of August 27, 2013, Dkt. 381, which
amended Section V.E.13 of the Settlement Agreement in this case to include the following
language:
[USDA] shall set aside . . . the estimated $200,000 in funding authorized for the
payment of the Track A and B Neutrals for the completion of their final duties
under the Settlement agreement . . . . [USDA] shall have no obligation to transfer
this estimated $200,000 until the Track A and Track B Neutrals submit to the
Court a final invoice setting forth their final Implementation Costs, which costs
shall not exceed $200,000. Any such invoices(s) by the Track A and Track B
Neutrals shall be submitted to the Court, and copies provided to the Secretary and
Class Counsel, within 12 months of the date of the Court’s Order pursuant to
Section IV.H of the Settlement Agreement approving the distribution of funds
pursuant to the Preliminary Final Accounting submitted by the Claims
Administrator. Within twenty (20) days of the Court’s Order approving the final
invoice(s) for the Track A and Track B Neutrals, [USDA] shall deposit the
payment amounts(s) set forth in the Track and Track B Neutrals’ final invoices(s)
into the Designated Account. The Parties agree that the Secretary shall pay the
amounts set forth in the Track A and Track B Neutral’s invoices up to a total of
$200,000

See Order at 2 [Dkt. 381] (emphasis added). On March 31, 2016, the Court issued a second
Order, Dkt. 457, which approved of class counsel’s unopposed motion to replace the words
“within 12 months” in Section V.E.13 with the words “within 36 months.” See Order at 3-4
[Dkt. 457].
For these reasons, it is hereby:
ORDERED that, pursuant to Section V.E.13 of the Settlement Agreement, the
Defendant shall within (20) twenty days of the date of this Order deposit $95,215.00 into the In
re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation QSF Account at SunTrust Bank. These funds shall
be distributed by the Claims Administrator in accordance with the terms of the Settlement
Agreement.
SO ORDERED.

/s/
PAUL L. FRIEDMAN
United States District Judge
DATE: June 8, 2016