Graham v. Southwest Florida Yachts, Inc.

Filing 33

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION recommending Joint Motion to Approve FLSA Settlement 31 , and the Joint Stipulation of Dismissal With Prejudice 32 be granted. Signed by Magistrate Judge Douglas N. Frazier on 9/21/2009. (brh)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FT. MYERS DIVISION
GARY GRAHAM, Plaintiff, -vsSOUTHWEST FLORIDA YACHTS, INC., Defendant. ______________________________________ R E P O R T AND RECOMMENDATION
TO THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Case No. 2:08-cv-343-FtM-29DNF

On September 17, 2009, the parties filed a Joint Motion to Approve FLSA Settlement (Doc. 32), and a Joint Stipulation of Dismissal With Prejudice (Doc. 32). The parties are requesting that the Court approve the parties' settlement of the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") claim and dismiss this case with prejudice. To approve the settlement, the Court must determine whether the settlement is a "fair and reasonable resolution of a bona fide dispute" of the claims raised pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"). Lynn's Food Stores , Inc. v. United States, 679 F.2d 1350, 1355 (11th Cir. 1982), and 29 U.S.C. §216. There are two ways for a claim under the FLSA to be settled or compromised. Id. at 1352-3. The first is under 29 U.S.C. §216(c), providing for the Secretary of Labor to supervise the payments of unpaid wages owed to employees. Id. at 1353. The second is under 29 U.S.C. §216(b) when an action is brought by employees against their employer to recover back wages. Id. When the employees file suit, the proposed settlement must be presented to the district

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court for the district court review and determination that the settlement is fair and reasonable. Id. at 1353-54. The Eleventh Circuit found settlements to be permissible when the lawsuit is brought by employees under the FLSA for back wages because the lawsuit provides some assurance of an adversarial context. The employees are likely to be represented by an attorney who can protect their rights under the statute. Thus, when the parties submit a settlement to the court for approval, the settlement is more likely to reflect a reasonable compromise of disputed issues than a mere waiver of statutory rights brought about by an employer's overreaching. If a settlement in an employee FLSA suit does reflect a reasonable compromise over issues, such as FLSA coverage or computation of back wages, that are actually in dispute; we allow the district court to approve the settlement in order to promote the policy of encouraging settlement of litigation.

Id. at 1354. The Plaintiff, Gary Graham taught sailing and power boating classes and was employed by the Defendant, Southwest Florida Yachts, Inc. The Plaintiff was represented by counsel throughout this litigation. The parties have disputed issues of law and fact. The Court reviewed the terms of the Confidential Settlement Agreement, Waiver, and Mutual General Release (Doc. 31). The parties settled for the amount of $7,500.00 for all claims raised in this case, and each party agreed to be responsible for their own attorney's fees and costs. (See, Doc. 31, p. 1 of the Confidential Settlement Agreement). The Court finds that the settlement in the amount of $7,500.00 to be fair and reasonable. IT IS RESPECTFULLY RECOMMENDED: That the Joint Motion to Approve FLSA Settlement (Doc. 31) and the Joint Stipulation of Dismissal With Prejudice (Doc. 32) be granted, and the settlement be approved by the Court as a "fair and reasonable resolution of a bona fide dispute" of the FLSA issues. The Court further recommends

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that if the District Court adopts this Report and Recommendation, then the Clerk be directed to dismiss this action with prejudice and close the file. Failure to file written objections to the proposed findings and recommendations contained in this report within ten (10) days from the date of its filing shall bar an aggrieved party from attacking the factual findings on appeal. Respectfully recommended in Chambers in Ft. Myers, Florida this 21st 2009. day of September,

Copies: All Parties of Record

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