RODRIGUEZ v. FUNERARIAS DE LAS AMERICAS INTERNACIONAL INC et al

Filing 36

ORDER approving settlement, REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS Recommending that the case be dismissed with prejudice and that the Court retain jurisdiction until 6/13/2016 to enforce the settlement terms.(Objections to R&R due by 1/29/2016). Signed by Magistrate Judge John J. O'Sullivan on 1/12/2016. (mkr)

Download PDF
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA CASE NO. 15-24154-CIV-ALTONAGA/O’SULLIVAN JORGE L. RODRIGUEZ, Plaintiff, v. FUNERARIAS DE LAS AMERICAS INTERNACIONAL INC., SIGNAL FINANCE COMPANY LLC, MIAMI FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORIES, INC., HILBERT MOHABIR, DAYANA SOSA and ESTRELLA RODERO, individually, Defendants. ______________________________/ ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RECOMMENDING THAT THE CASE BE DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE THIS MATTER came before the Court following a settlement conference before the undersigned and the Court having conducted a hearing concerning the settlement. THE COURT has heard from counsel and considered the terms of the settlement agreement, the pertinent portions of the record, and is otherwise fully advised in the premises. This case involves a claim for unpaid overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §201, et seq ("FLSA"). In reviewing a settlement of an FLSA private claim, a court must "scrutiniz[e] the settlement for fairness," and determine that the settlement is a "fair and reasonable resolution of a bona fide dispute over FLSA provisions." Lynn Food Stores v. United States, 679 F.2d 1350, 1352-53 (11th Cir. 1982). A settlement entered into in an adversarial context where both sides are represented by counsel throughout litigation "is more likely to reflect a reasonable compromise of disputed issues." Id. The district court may approve the settlement in order to promote the policy of encouraging settlement of litigation. Id. at 1354. In this case, there is a bona fide factual dispute over whether the plaintiff worked any overtime hours and a legal and factual dispute over whether the plaintiff was an exempt employee under the FLSA and whether he was terminated for contesting his pay. The Court has reviewed the terms of the settlement agreement including the amount to be received by the plaintiff and the attorney’s fees and costs to be received by counsel and finds that the compromise reached by the parties is a fair and reasonable resolution of the parties' bona fide disputes. Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the parties' settlement agreement (including attorney’s fees and costs) is hereby APPROVED. It is further RECOMMENDED that this case be dismissed with prejudice and that the Court retain jurisdiction until June 13, 2016 to enforce the terms of the settlement.1 DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida this 12th day of January, 2016. ________________________________ JOHN J. O’SULLIVAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE Copies provided to: United States District Judge Altonaga All counsel of record 1 At the January 12, 2016 fairness hearing, the parties consented to magistrate judge jurisdiction for any further proceedings in this case. 2

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?