Jones et al v. Singing River Health Services Foundation et al

Filing 300

ORDER AND FINAL JUDGMENT Signed by Chief District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. on 6/16/2016 (wld)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
SOUTHERN DIVISION

THOMAS JONES, et al.

PLAINTIFFS

v.

CAUSE NO. 1:14cv447-LG-RHW
consolidated with 1:15cv1-LG-RHW
1:15cv44-LG-RHW

SINGING RIVER HEALTH SERVICES
FOUNDATION, et al.

DEFENDANTS

ORDER AND FINAL JUDGMENT
This cause came to be heard upon the Jones Plaintiffs’ Motion for Final
Approval of Class Action Settlement [162]. Numerous written responses and
objections to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval were filed and the Court
conducted a two-day Final Fairness Hearing on May 16-17, 2016. Having read the
parties’ briefs, the briefs of the objectors, and having reviewed the evidence
submitted in the case, as well as having heard and considered all of the arguments
made at the Final Fairness Hearing, the Court hereby orders and adjudges as
follows:
(a)

The settlement, as appears in Document 163-1, incorporated herein by

this reference, is fair, reasonable and adequate, is ordered finally approved, and
shall be consummated in accordance with its terms and provisions.
(b)

The consolidated actions Jones, et al. v. Singing River Health Services

Foundation, et al., Case No. 1:14-cv-447-LG-RHW, Cobb, et al. v. Singing River
Health System, et al., Case No. 1:15-cv-1-LG-RHW, and Lowe v. Singing River
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Health System, et al., Case No. 1:15-cv-44-LG-RHW (collectively, “Federal Action”)
are proper class actions for purposes of settlement under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23, and the
following mandatory settlement class is certified pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.
23(b)(1)(A):
All current and former employees of Singing River Health System who
participated in the Singing River Health System Employees’
Retirement Plan and Trust, including their spouses, alternate payees,
death beneficiaries, or any other person to whom a plan benefit may be
owed.
(c)

The Court finds and determines that the notice procedure afforded

adequate protections to the Settlement Class Members and provided the basis for
the Court to make an informed decision regarding approval of the Settlement based
on the response of Settlement Class Members. The Court finds and determines that
the notice provided in this case satisfied the requirements of law and due process.
(d)

The Court expressly determines that there is no just reason for delay,

and therefore expressly directs entry of final judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.
54(b) as to the claims against Defendants Singing River Health System (“SRHS”),
Singing River Health Services Foundation, Singing River Health System
Foundation (f/k/a Coastal Mississippi Healthcare Fund, Inc.), Singing River
Hospital System Foundation, Inc., Singing River Hospital System Employee Benefit
Fund, Inc., Board of Trustees for the Singing River Health System, and Singing
River Hospital System (“Other Singing River Defendants”), and Defendants Michael
J. Heidelberg, Morris G. Strickland, Ira S. Polk, Michael Crews, Tommy L. Leonard,
Michael D. Tolleson, Lawrence H. Cosper, Allen L. Cronier, Marva Fairley-Tanner,

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Grayson Carter, Jr., Gary C. Anderson, G. Chris Anderson, Gary Anderson, Kevin
Holland, Martin D. Bydalek, William C. Descher, Stephen Nunenmacher, Joseph P.
Vice, Eric D. Washington, Hugo Quintana, and Stephanie Barnes Taylor
(“Individual Defendants”). The Plaintiffs’ claims against KPMG, LLP, and
Transamerica Retirement Solutions Corporation shall remain pending.
(e)

All claims, rights and causes of action, damages, losses, liabilities and

demands of any nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, that are, could
have been or might in the future be asserted by the Trust, any Plaintiffs or any
member of the Settlement Class (whether directly, representatively or in any other
capacity), against the following Released Persons, in connection with or that arise
out of any acts, conduct, facts, transactions or occurrences, alleged or otherwise
asserted or that could have been asserted in the Actions related to the failure to
fund the Trust and/or management or administration of the Plan (collectively
referred to as the “Settled Claims”) shall be compromised, settled, released and
discharged with prejudice:
(1) Jackson County, Mississippi and the Jackson County Board of
Supervisors;
(2) Singing River Health System, its current and former Board of Trustees
(individually and in their official capacities), agents, servants and/or
employees;
(3) Singing River Health Services Foundation, Singing River Health
System Foundation f/k/a Coastal Mississippi Healthcare Fund, Inc.,
Singing River Hospital System Foundation, Inc., Singing River
Hospital System Benefit Fund, Inc., and Singing River Hospital
System and all of their current and former employees, agents, and
inside and outside counsel and their firms; and

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(4) current and former Trustees of the Trust (in their individual and
official capacities).
(f)

The Plaintiffs and/or members of the Settlement Class are hereby

permanently barred and enjoined from instituting or prosecuting, either directly or
in any other capacity, any action that asserts any claims released under the terms
of the Settlement Agreement.
(g)

Without affecting the finality of this Order and Judgment in any way,

this Court grants continuing authority and exclusive jurisdiction over
implementation of the Settlement, and over enforcement, construction and
interpretation of the Stipulation to the Jackson County Chancery Court in Cause
No. 2015-0060-NH.
(h)

This Court approves the award of attorneys’ fees and expenses as well

as incentive fees as set forth in its order regarding same [Doc. #287] and grants
continuing jurisdiction over the payment of those fees to the Jackson County
Chancery Court in Cause No. 2015-0060-NH.
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this the 16th day of June, 2016.
s/

Louis Guirola, Jr.

LOUIS GUIROLA, JR.
CHIEF U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

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