Marengo v. Miami Research Associates, LLC

Filing 56

ORDER Denying 48 Final Motion Approval to Class Action Settlement and Motion for Attorney Fees. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 6/7/2018. (jw)

UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
SOUTHERN DI
STRI O F FLO RI
CT
DA
CASE NO.1 c 20459-LK
7- vJ
DESI
REE M ARENGO,
l vi ly a on be l ofa1
ndi dual nd
haf
1
Ot r smia l st t d,
he s i lry iua e

Pl ntf,
ai if

M I IRESEARCH A SSOCI
AM
ATES, LLC,

d baQPS M I IRESEARCH AS
//
AM
SOCI
ATES,
a Fl i co po ai
orda r r ton,
Dee
f ndan .
t

ORDER DENYI FI
NG NAL APPRO VAL TO

CLASS ACTI SETTLEM ENT AND
ON
M O TI N FO R A TTO R N EY S'FEE S W I O UT PREJU D I
O
TH
CE
TH I C AU SE com es be or t Co tupon Pl i tf U noppos d M o i f A ppr l
S
f e he ur
a n ifs
e
ton or
ova

ofSe te nt Ator Fe , a dEx e e ( 48 fldM ac 2, 8
tl me , t ney es n p ns s DE ) ie
r h 201 .

On Aprl26,201 t Cour hed adul noi d tnala ovalhe rng t consde :( )
i
8, he
t l
y tce l ppr
ai o
i r 1
W hehe t tr a c tonsoft Sete ntAgr e ntaeras bl a a
t r he ems nd ondii
he tlme
e me r e ona e nd dequae (
t; 2)

wh t e aj d me ts o l b e trd ds sig Plitf sCo lito t me isa d wi
eh r u g n h ud e n ee imisn an if mpan n he rt n t
h
p eu ie i f v ro De e d n ,M imiRe e r h Aso its($ 1A' ;a d ( )wh t e a d i
rj dc n a o f fn a t a
s ac s cae d t ' n 3 eh r n n
M
)
wha a ountt a r couns lf rt s tl me cls a t ne f esa expe esand whehe
tm
o wa d
e o he e te nt a s tor ys' e nd
ns
t r
a i wha amoun t a d a i e i pa e t Pl i if
nd n
t
t o war n nc ntve ym nt o antf.

Noo j cinsweefld a t
b e to
r ie s o

t t r s of t Se te e A gr m e a t D e e nt i i f l ag ee ent w ih t
he e m
he tl m nt
ee nt nd he f nda s n ul r m
t he

s tl nt i l ng t $390, awa d ofat ne sf st tt Pl i ifha r que t d. For
e teme , ncudi he
000 r
tor y' ee ha he antf s e se

t f l wi r s ,t Cour de e a o t t pa te fna Setl m e
he olo ng ea ons he
t ni s ppr val o he ris' i l te
ntAg e menta
re
nd
m o i f a t neys f sa c t .
ton or tor ' ee nd os s
Proc dur Backaround
e al

On Fe ua y 5 201 Pl i if fld a cas a to compl nt a i t Def nda M RA
br r , 7, antf ie
l s cin
ai gans
e nt

algi t tMRA vi ae t TelphoneCons rPrtci Act(ç
le ng ha
oltd he e
ume oe ton
d
TCPA' The TCPA i a
'
)
s
.

f de alprvac saut whi h a f dsc um e s a prvae rghtofac i . The Pl ntf a lges
e r i y tt e
c for ons r
i t i
ton
ai if le

t ti J nua y 2017 s r ceved t e a o a e t xtme s ge ad rie
ha n a r
he e i
hr e ut m t d e
sa
ve ts ment on herc l a
s
elul r

te
elphone fom M RA ( 1 ! 25) On Ma c 22,201 , t Def ntfld is ans r and
r
DE ,
.
rh
7 he enda ie t we
afr tvedee e i r pons t Pli ifsCompli ( 1 On M arch 24,2017,t Cour
fimai fns s n es e o antf'
ant DE 0)
he
t
.

e trdisS h d l Or e ( 1 )a dd so e yc mme c dtee fe
nee t c e ui d r DE 4 n ic v r o n e h r a tr
ng
.

Bewee Fe ua y t De mbe 201 , t pa tese ged i lmie dico y. O n J y
t n br r o ce r 7 he ri nga
n i td s ver
ul

2 , an ifmo e t c mp l ic v r ( 25 .De e d n ' Repo s o j cigt Plitf'
7 Plitf v d o o e d s o ey DE ) fn a ts s n e b e tn o an ifs
M of nt c mp l DE 3 )wa fld o Se tmb r1 2 7 a dd n e o J n ay 1 , 201 (
to o o e ( 2 s e n pe e , 01 n e id n a u r 8 8 DE
45)asmoot Ot rt n t smoto no ot rmoi wee fld. On Ocobe 25, 2017,t
. he ha hi in,
he tons r ie
t r
he
patespatci td i aone- y cou tor rd me ai t tr ule i a stlmen ( 39
ri ri pae n
da
r- dee diton ha es td n ete t DE )
.

On De e be 1 201 t Cour gr nt d pr lm i r appr lt t pr
c m r 8, 7, he
t a e e i na y
ova o he opos d c a ss tl men ,
e l s e te t
pr s o ly c r ii t cl s a ove t pr e e f gi ng c a snotc t t s tl nt
ovi i na l e tfed he as , ppr d he oc dur 0r vi l s
i e o he eteme

cas me r,a s tfine she i ( 44)f Aprl26, 8( 52 .
l s mbes nd e ar s arng DE
or i 201 DE )
The Seteme Agr e
tl nt
e mentpr de f r a s tlm e f r quii De enda t pa
ovi s o
ete nt und e rng f nt o y

$1 f ea h txtm e s ge s bm it d by cls m e r . Th camsaes be t o v rfc to
30 or c e
s a u te
a s mbe s
e li r u j c t eiiain.
The s te ntr quie De enda t ma a l bl u t $1236, t pay tm el and vald
etlme e r s f nt o ke vaia e p o , 300 o
i y
i
cai s isons i udi $390, f at ne 'f s a c t as oc a e wih t notc
l m ubm s i , ncl ng
000 or tor ys ee nd oss s i t d t he ie
pr r m a s tlm e a i sr ton.
og a nd ete nt dm nita i

Att Fam e sHea i Pl ntf Cl s Couns pr en e lgala gum e i s
he i s
rng, ai if as
el es t d e
r
nt n uppor of
t
t Pl i ifs M oton f Fi lAppr
he antf '
i or na
ovaloft Se teme Ag ee
he tl nt r menta p e e e t Cour
nd r s nt d he
t
wih t fna r ulsoft s tlm e a nita i pr e s Pli ifc
t he i l es t
he ete nt dmi sr ton oc s . antf ouns lsaed t oft
e t t hat he
a xomit y 9,00 cons m e s who r ceve t xt m e s ge a rie
ppr
a el 5
u r
e i d e
sa
dve ts ment fom De e
s r
f ndant
,

8, i vi l wer ma ld notc . Outoft 8, notce t twe e m a ld out at a of
263 ndi duas e ie
ies
he 263 i s ha r
ie
ot l
,
3 1 ca ms we e s
, 59 li
r ubmit f ve ii a i . Uli t l onl 211 cai swer va i t d. Thi
ted or rfc ton
tma ey, y
lm
e lda e
s

r s t d i a t alc h be ft potnta l a l e t t Pl i if cas of $27,430. A t t
e ule n ot as ne i e ily vaiabl o he antf l s
he

fin s h a ig n o j ci n wee r ie a d t e De e d n v ie t a t y wee i f l
ar e s e rn , o be to s r as d n h fn a t oc d h t he r n ul
a e nt wih t tr s of t s tlm e . No wine s we e c led or a exhi t or
gr eme
t he e m
he ete nt
t s es r a l
ny
bis
doc nt ofer d by e t rc el
ume s f e
ihe ouns .

Upon bei que tone by t Cour abou pl n if s t y of ca c a i of hi
ng
si d
he
t
t aitf heor
l ulton
s

a t ne f et ta crptr tecs
tor ys e he r ns i el t:
Pg.9

4

THE COURT:

So l m e ge t s s r i ht
et
t hi t a g .

You s up a f ofcos t o - nd- - re m ilon
et
und
l e o ne a a qua tr li
6

dola s Outoft tf you'egoi t pa $27,00, nd
lr .
ha und
r ng o y
0 a

7

y r goi t wak awa wih $390, i t wha you'e
ou'e ng o l
y t
000; s hat t
r

8

t lng me?
eli

9

M R.
LEHRM AN: Yo Ho r t ti t s tlm e t t
ur no ,ha s he ete nt ha

10

t pa teshave r ac d.
he r i
e he

11

Tha i ac ur e, ha Y o Honorhasr cied.
t s c at w t ur
e t

12

THE COURT: Butmy oblg ton i t ma a
i a i s o ke
de e mi to whe he t ti f i a r s bl .
t r nai n
t r ha s ar nd ea ona e

14

And m y que ton i, i i f ra r a o bl t tyou
si s s t ai nd e s na e ha

1
5

s dwal a ywih $390, whe t cli nt a ewal ng
houl k wa t
000 n he ama s r ki

1
6

awa wih $27,
y t
0002
M R.LEHRM AN:

YourHonor t nk you.Iu r tnd t
nde sa he
, ha

q e to .l us wa t o- 1tikt ee sa tal - lus
u sin j t n t hn h r ' cu ly j t
wa tt ca iy - s ve a quesins pot ntal t Cour'
n o lrf e r l
to , e i ly,he
ts
posi
ng.

One i whehert s tl ntis l i f i,
s
t he eteme te f s ar
r s bl a ade t gi n alt s cic sa est t
ea ona e nd qua e ve l he e r um t nc ha
YourHo r si ntfe
no ' de ii d.
Ano he quesi woul be, ft Cour fndst tt
t r
ton
d i he
t i ha he
s tl me i notf r r as
e te nt s
ai, e onabl a ade t e nd qua e
Pg.1
0
1

THE COURT: Ri ht
g .

2

M R.
LEHRM AN :

3

g a edpr lm i r a ova a pr dednotc of- t
r nt
e i nay- ppr l nd ovi
ie
he

4

Cour no decdest t w
i o

5

THE COURT:

6

t cl ma st bef i a r s na e, nott at e
he ai nt o
ar nd ea o bl but he tom y

7

f e por i ofi .
e
ton t

--

AND THE Cour decdes- ha ng
t i
vi

And Ica fnd t s tlm e po ton f
n i he ete nt ri or

#*#**

Pg.11

THE COURT:

lg s m y q si t r woul be wha
ue s
ue ton he e
d , t

21

r a i hi doesyourco mon f ha t r alt , whe t
eltons p
m
und ve o e iy
n he

22

r alt i t tyou'epa ng ou $27,
e iy s ha
r yi
t 000?

1me n y umih a wel wh d n'y uj s c li
a , o g t s l- y o t o u t alt
a bilon dola f
li
lr und?

M R.
LEHRM AN : W e l YourHonor bec us a bilon
l,
, a e li
Pg.
12

dola swasnotma a ia et t s tlm e cls .
lr
de va lbl o he ete nt a s
THE COURT: Butwhy not l you know you'e onl goi
? f
r
y ng

To- t r a iy i you'e goi t pay o $27, why not
he e lt s r ng o
ut 000,
J tca li a num be you w a a t n bas yourf a a d
us l t ny
r
nt nd he
e
ee w r

On s
omear tar s te
bir y etlmentf
und?
Fam e sHe rngTr nc i
i s ai
a rpt

Ap i26, 18( 9- 0;11 1 )
rl 20 pp 1 - 2
D i c s on
s us i

Cl s c elba e t i l la gume s f ra t ne 'f e a coss t alng $390,
as ouns s her ega r
nt o tor ys e s nd t ot i
000
upon a co rs of pe ce a s of f es a r d i cls ac i ca e whe e t cls ha
mpa ion
r nt ge
e wa de n a s ton s s
r he a s s

be tt d a s ek a a r o $390, i ato e ' f es a e ns s or a oxi a ey
neie nd e n wa d f
000 n t m ys e nd xpe e
ppr m t l
315% oft t alpr e s tlm e f
.
he ot opos d ete nt und. Cl s c
as ouns la gue t ti t Elve h Cicui,
e r s ha n he e nt r t
a t neys f es a e bas d upon a r as bl per en a of t f e t bls f t be i of
tor
'e r
e
e ona e c t ge he und s a i hed or he neft

t cas . M or over cas c
he l s
e , l s ouns la gues t t t i f r ue ti w ihi t r nge of r as
e r
ha her ee eq s s t n he a
e on

unde t fcor s f t i Camde 1Condo. s' v Dun e,9 F. 768( t Ci.19 )
r he a t s et orh n
n
As n . kl 46 2d
11h r 91 .
l s
n uppo tof t i f e r que t cl s c
r
he r e e s , as ouns l s a e t t t s te e he e r pr s nt a
e t t s ha he etl m nt r e e e s
s e s ul r s t Tha i , e c cl s m e ber who s it a vald cl i w il r e ve a
ucc s f e ul.
t s a h as
m
ubm ted
i am
l ec i

s tl ntbe i i t a
e teme
neft n he mountof$1 fom t s tl ntf . Cl sscounselsat t tt i
30 r he eteme und a
t es ha he r

fer q e ti j siid a d a prpraebe a e lh c s wa vg r u l c n e td d rng te
e e u s s u tfe n p o it c us t e a e s io o sy o tse u i h
t
tme be or s te e ,'t tt c am s agans def nda s lde nde co i r bl tme and
i
f e etl m nt' ha he l i
i t e nt û ma d nsde a e i

lbor' a t tt Ss ues i ve we e novelmz difc t a r quie t s l ofhi y
a ,' nd ha he l s
i
nvol d r
d fi ul, nd e r d he kil
ghl
t lnt d l wye s' Pl .M ot f Fi l Appr
ae e a r .
' s
. or na
ovala 22. Cl s c
t
as ouns c e t tt f
el ont nds ha he ee
r que t of a oxi t y 315% i i lne wih varous ot r c es t t ha f
e sed
ppr ma el .
sn i
t
i
he as ha ve ound t ta
ha
33. % i wihi ar ngeofr a o .
33 s t n a
esn

Ba ed ont m i m a doc ta tviy,f pla ngss it d, and e de epr s nt a
s
he ni l ke c i t ew e di ubm te
vi nc e e ed t
o a a g e ,t Co tfndst tt ca e ct d by t Pli tf a e ditng s bl fom t
r l r um nt he ur i ha he s s ie
he a n if r si uiha e r he

fds a bar Pli ifs ct d ca es ali ve a sgnii a a
a
t . antf ' ie s l nvol d i fc nt mountofwo k a efo' f t
r nd f l or he
t
r s t t twe e obt i
e uls ha r
aned. He e,be
r
yond sai t t$a1oft s wor eo um e a s t nta
t tng ha tl
hi
k ns d ubsa il

a o oftm e, net roft a fda t s
m unt i ' ihe
'
he fi vis ubmit dby c a sc
te
l s ouns lc a nsabr akdown oft
e ont i
e
he
tme de ed t t sma tr
i
vot o hi te .Ther or r l c st tt r wa no i dico r unde tke a
ec d efe t ha he e s m nal s ve y
ra n nd
t tno dipostve motonswe e tld orbre e Asde fom t e f ines he rng hel on Aprl
ha
s ii
i
r ie
i f d. i r h ar s a i
d
i
26,201 t pa te di notappe rbef et Cour orpr pa e f or a gum e . Fi ly,t
8, he ris d
a
or he
t
e r or al r
nt na l he
r c d r l c sm i m a eforst publci t t r oft s tlm e . Tha i,t r wasonl
e or efe t ni l f t o
i ze he e ms he ete nt
t s he e
y

one r nd ofnotfc i nss nto vi U. mai. l i r i t s nd a s ond ort r r
ou
iiato e ut a S. l t s outne o e
ec
hid ound of
no i s t cas m e r r r ng t s tlm e t l wye s ag ue or t da e oft Cour
tce o l s mbe s ega di he ete nt he a r r d
he t
he
t

o d ed Fam es Hea i t ke a rie e s i t l lpa ,or r di a rie e s I
r er
i
rng, a dve ts m nt n he oca per
a o dve ts m nt . n
s t t r doe nota a t ha be n s t nta e f t t i r a e t numbe of vald
hor, he e
s
ppe r o ve e ubsa il fors o nc e s he
r
i
c ai an s t t s tl m en . Cl s c
l m t o he e t e t
a s ouns s is t t t s tl m e i ver f vor bl t t
el ubm t ha he e te nt s y a a e o he

pl i ifc a s snce ea h verfe cli a wilr eve $1 dola s Howe r onl 211 c a s
antf l s i
c
ii d am nt l ec i
30 lr .
ve , y
ls

m e r c d pot i ly r ei t be ft The t a fnalbe i c ere t t Pl i if
mbe s oul
enta l ec ve hat ne i.
ot l i
neft onf r d o he antf

cls woul be a oxi t l $ ,
as
d ppr ma ey 27430.
Couns l elc e not t pr s nt a uae pr t e bl t Cour t a ove t
e e td
o e e deq t oof o na e he
t o ppr
he
Se te ntAg ee
tlme
r menta t stme. On t s f c s t Cour c no ma t es e i fndi
t hi i
he e a t , he
t an t ke he s ntal i ng
t tt s Sete e Agr e e i f i a r s bl t t Pli tf cas or t t r co d
ha hi tlm nt e m nt s ar nd ea ona e o he a n if l s
hat he e r
s
upporst M oton f rAto neys Fee a Coss The f r s he rng hed on Aprl26,20l
t he
i o t r ' s nd
t.
aine s a i
l
i
8

r l t r inc on conc usona y sa e t fom pl i ifsm oton t tpl ntf lwye ha
etec s ela e
l i r t t men s r
antf
i ha ai ifs a r d

l ke har 'o t ca e and t t snc de e e c e ag ee t $390, f m us be
i
wor d d' n he s
ha i e f ns ouns l r d, he
00 ee
t

r ao bea s o dbeo d rd b te Co r. P an ifdd n tc l a at r e f ee p r ( r
e s na l nd h ul
r ee y h u t litf i o al n to n y e x e t o
s ta afi vi)rgadi t numberofhour s ntby ea h c el ort houry rt
ubmi n fda t e r ng he
s pe
c ouns , he
l aes
e h of Pli if s tte couns c r e t de onsr t co it nc wih t f us l a
ac
a ntf lr e
el ha g d o m tae nsse y t he ee ua nd
r a c r soft Barf rt e s r i esa c t . J
egulr ha ge
he
o hes e v c nd oss udge M i e ooksi M a
ddlbr
n hony v. TT

of Pi i , I No 1
nerdge nc.
780029 Ci r quied c
v, e r ouns l t s i é lm e ai a s n
e o ubm t d z ntton nd wor
doc
deca ai nss
lr to uppori al kesa a yss i udi i or i n a
tng oc tr nal i, ncl ng nf mato boutt a t ney e renc
he tor
xpe i e

f ea h ofPl ntf sator ys t numberofhour bil d, nd t houry r t t te h at e
or c
ai if t ne , he
s le a he
l a e ha ac tonz y
c r a tri hadno be n s it d by pl ntf a hi Fa r s Hea i
ha ged fe t
t e ubm te
ai if t s ine s rng.
The Faine s Hea i hed on Aprl 26, 201 di not c r a numbe of e e nt
r s
rng l
i
8 d
ove
r
l me s
e s ta t c ncng t Cour t tt Seteme Agr e e i f i a r s bl t t
s en i l o onvi i he
t ha he tl nt e m nt s ar nd ea ona e o he
c a sanddef nda . Fore
ls
e nt
xampl
e,
The e wa no e a ton f r why t e was no mor e f te red t r ac ng ot
r
s
xpl na i o
her
t
e for xe t o e hi
her
me be soft pli ifcl s
m r
he antf as ;

Ther i no pr oft pr e spli ifus d t ve iy t cl ms orwhy outof3, 59
es
oof he oc s antf e o rf he ai ,
1
t a cli s it d, y 211we e a t ly ve iie
ot l a ms ubm te onl
r cua l rtf d;
The e wasno pr pr de oft d e ntsfna i la lt t r pond t pli ifs
r
oof ovi d he ef nda ' i nc a biiy o es
o antf
cli s at
am ; lhough pli ifa g d r ince on t de enda ' l k offna alworh asa
a ntf r ue ela
he f nts ac
i nci
t

mao r ao pan ifa r e t s c a s l fn n ilb n ftt t e ca s idv d a
j r e s n litf g e d o u h mal ia ca e e i o h ls n iiu l
cl i a s
a m nt .
The e w a no doc en a i pr de de aii t br a
r
s
um t ton ovi d t lng he e kdow n of tm e s nt on t
i
pe
he

mat rby t Sete e Admi sr t r a
te
he tlm nt
nita o ; nd

The e wa no evi e s
r s
denc ubmit d t s t nta et hour pli tf a t ne wor
te o ubsa it he
s a n if tor ys ked,or

r as blnes oft i houryc r i or rt s
e ona e s her
l ha ges n de o uppor a f r s of$390,
t ee eque t
000.

Ac o dngy te mo in i d ne wi o tprj d c t r fl a trt e p ris f r ih t e
c r i l, h to s e id t u eu ie o e e fe h a t u n s h
h
e
c ' wih e r wine s ,doc e sand ora fda t gi ng t Cour t ne es a y f t
oul t xpe t t s es
t
um nt
/ fi vis vi he
t he c s r acual
bass a outi
i, s
lned a
bove t e t ih t f ines a r as blnes of t Sete e
, o sabls he ar s nd e ona e s
he tlm nt

Agr eme a moton f at ne ' f es
e nt nd
i or tor ys e .

Acc di y, bas on t t aiy of t
or ngl
ed
he ot lt
he

cic s a es
r um t nc ,
l i O R D ERE D, A DJU D G ED , and D EC R EED t t t pl i if s M oton f r
t s
ha he a ntf
i
o

Ator y' Fe s a f Fi lAppr lofSete nt( E.#48)be a t s me i hee
t ne s e nd or na
ova
tlme D.
nd he a s rby
DENI W I
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