Norsoph v. Riverside Resort and Casino, Inc. et al

Filing 139

ORDER Granting 137 Motion to Approve Settlement and 138 Motion to be Relieved as Counsel. Signed by Judge Andrew P. Gordon on 1/8/2021. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - MR)

Case 2:13-cv-00580-APG-EJY Document 139 Filed 01/08/21 Page 1 of 5

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

2

DISTRICT OF NEVADA

3 ROBERT NORSOPH,
4

Plaintiff

Case No.: 2:13-cv-00580-APG-EJY
Order (1) Approving Settlement and
(2) Relieving Plaintiffs’ Counsel

5 v.
[ECF Nos. 137, 138]
6 RIVERSIDE RESORT AND CASINO, INC.,
et al.,
7
Defendants
8
9

This is a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The parties have

10 filed a joint motion to approve a settlement of this case. ECF No. 137. The plaintiffs’ counsel
11 has filed a motion to be relieved as the attorney for Plaintiffs Michelle Frank, Clifford Gerhard,
12 Randall Johnson, Bobby Louis, Traci Moss and Nichole Rathman. ECF No. 138. Both motions
13 are supported by good cause.
14

I THEREFORE ORDER as follows:

15

1.

This court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this litigation and personal

16 jurisdiction over the named plaintiffs, all members of the FLSA collective action, and the
17 defendant.
18

2.

I adopt the defined terms in the Settlement Agreement.

19

3.

As set forth in Exhibit A to this Order, 40 individuals have accepted the

20 Settlement (Accepting Plaintiffs). As of the date of this Order, each Accepting Plaintiff has
21 waived and shall be deemed to have fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished, and
22 discharged all Released Claims, as set forth in the Settlement Agreement. Payment to all
23

Case 2:13-cv-00580-APG-EJY Document 139 Filed 01/08/21 Page 2 of 5

1 Accepting Plaintiffs shall be completed in accordance with the terms of the Settlement
2 Agreement within 30 days of the Effective Date as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
3

4.

As set forth in Exhibit B to this Order, five individuals have not accepted the

4 Settlement. Each of the individuals listed in Exhibit B is dismissed from this case without
5 prejudice and shall have 60 days from the date of this Order to institute a FLSA claim in a new
6 litigation before the statute of limitations begins to run again, as provided for in the Settlement
7 Agreement. In respect to opt in plaintiff Mary Nolan, I have been advised she has settled her
8 FLSA claim as part of a court-supervised and approved settlement involving other legal claims
9 as well in the case of Nolan v. Riverside Resort and Casino, Eighth Judicial District Court of
10 Nevada, # A-19-790731-C, so her claim in this case is dismissed with prejudice.
11

5.

I grant approval to this Settlement and find it to be a reasonable resolution of a

12 bona fide dispute of tips under the FLSA. The Settlement is reasonable in all respects,
13 including the service award to Robert Norsoph and the attorneys’ fees and costs of Plaintiffs’
14 counsel. The Settlement confers a substantial benefit to all individuals similarly situated to
15 Plaintiffs, considering the strength of Plaintiffs’ claims and the risk, expense, complexity, and
16 duration of further litigation. The settlement is the result of arms-length negotiations between
17 experienced counsel representing the interests of both sides.
18

6.

The $2,500 payment to plaintiff Robert Norsoph is $1,000 more than the amount

19 paid to any other plaintiff. It is appropriate in recognition of his service to the other plaintiffs in
20 bringing this litigation and the risks he assumed as the named plaintiff in this case.
21

7.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $44,000 are reasonable and

22 hereby approved.
23

8.

I grant the Motion to be Relieved as Counsel of Record for plaintiffs listed on

2

Case 2:13-cv-00580-APG-EJY Document 139 Filed 01/08/21 Page 3 of 5

1 Exhibit "B" to this Order. The Rejecting Plaintiffs should retain separate legal counsel if they
2 wish to pursue their legal claims and are reminded that they have 60 days from the date of this
3 Order to properly institute a new FLSA lawsuit that, for the purposes of the statute of limitations
4 set forth in 29 U.S.C. § 255, will be deemed commenced on the date they filed a consent to
5 joinder with the Court in this case.
6

9.

Th plaintiffs’ claims are dismissed with prejudice except as to those plaintiffs

7 listed on Exhibit "B" for whom such dismissal shall be without prejudice as provided for by this
8 Order. The clerk shall close this case.
9

Dated: January 8, 2021.

10
11

ANDREW P. GORDON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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Case 2:13-cv-00580-APG-EJY Document 139 Filed 01/08/21 Page 4 of 5
Exhibit "A" ‐ Accepting Plaintiffs

FirstName
BRIAN             
RICHARD           
JEENIE            
CHERYL            
NICOLE            
GENERIO           
TOM               
JUSTIN            
PAUL              
PAMELA            
MICHELLE          
JOHNNY            
JULIE             
JEFFERY           
JAMES             
DOUGLAS           
LAURA             
DUC               
DENNIS            
CECILIA           
JOSEPH            
PAUL              
RICHARD           
OFELIA            
SHAYNA            
DAVID             
JEREMIE           
ROBERT
VAGRAM            
STEPHEN           
BENJAMIN          
ALEJANDRINO       
GREGORY           
CARLOS            
RAUL              
YOLANDA           
PAUL              
CHRISTOPHER       
RANDY             
BRANDT            

middleInit LastName
R
BAKER             
P
BARONE            

BERLIN            
A
BEZADA            
B
BIXENMANN         
A
BUSTAMANTE        
G
DALTON            
R
DOOLEY            
A
DREISIGACKER      
E
FOX               
M
FRANK             
R
GREEN             
A
HAGSTROM          
A
HALL              
W
HALPINE           
E
INGOLD            
L
LEITHEISER        
X
MAI               
D
MANUKYAN          
V
MAS               
L
MASON             
J
MAZUR             
L
MEHLHOFF          
C
MORA              
N
MUFFOLETTO        
L
NEVELS            
M
NOLAN             
NORSOPH

PAPOYAN           
J
PISTURINO         
W
PORTER            

QUINTERO          
C
RIO               
R
RUIZ              

SALAZAR           
M
SALAZAR           
W
SEAMAN            
C
SHRIVER           
R
SODA              
M
STAFFELDT         

Case 2:13-cv-00580-APG-EJY Document 139 Filed 01/08/21 Page 5 of 5
Exhibit "B" ‐ Non‐Accepting Plaintiffs

First Name
CLIFFORD          
RANDALL           
BOBBY             
TRACI             
NICHOLE           

Initial
P
L
R
L
R

Last Name
GERHARD           
JOHNSON           
LOUIS             
MOSS              
RATHMAN