NOLF v. ALLEGHENY VALLEY BANK OF PITTSBURGH

Filing 19

ORDER Granting Preliminary Approval of Proposed Class Action Settlement, Directing the Dissemination of Notice and Scheduling a Final Settlement Hearing. Notice of the proposed settlement shall be issued by 10/26/09, and the Final Settlement Hearing is scheduled for 1/26/10 at 10:00 a.m., in Courtroom 9A, before Cathy Bissoon. Signed by Judge Cathy Bissoon on 10/16/09. (dcd)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA KIM NOLF, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. ALLEGHENY VALLEY BANK OF PITTSBURGH, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Civil Action No. 09-645 Magistrate Judge Bissoon

ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, DIRECTING THE DISSEMINATION OF NOTICE AND SCHEDULING A FINAL SETTLEMENT HEARING The Court has considered the Class Action Settlement Agreement and its exhibits (filed under Ex. 1 to Doc. 15), the joint Motion of the Settling Parties for an order preliminarily approving a class action settlement, directing the dissemination of notice and setting a final settlement hearing (Doc. 15), and all other papers filed in this action, including the parties' submission of clarification (Doc. 18) in response to the Court Order dated October 8, 2009 (Doc. 17). The matter having been submitted and good cause appearing therefore: The Court finds as follows: 1. All defined terms contained herein shall have the same meanings as set

forth in the Class Action Settlement Agreement executed by the Settling Parties and filed with this Court, as clarified/amended by the parties' submission at Docket Number 18 (the "Settlement Agreement"); 2. The Class Representative and the Allegheny Valley Bank Releasees,

through their counsel of record in the Litigation, have reached an agreement to settle all claims in the Litigation;

3.

The Court preliminarily concludes that, for the purposes of approving this

settlement only and for no other purpose and with no other effect on the Litigation, should the proposed Settlement Agreement not ultimately be approved or should the Effective Date not occur, the proposed Rule 23 Class likely meets the requirements for certification under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: (a) the proposed Class is ascertainable and so numerous that joinder of all members of the class is impracticable; (b) there are questions of law or fact common to the proposed Class, and there is a well-defined community of interest among members of the proposed Class with respect to the subject matter of the Litigation; (c) the claims of Class Representative Kim Nolf are typical of the claims of the members of the proposed Class; (d) Class Representative Kim Nolf will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the Members of the Class; (e) a class action is superior to other available methods for an efficient adjudication of this controversy; and (f) the counsel of record for the Class Representative are qualified to serve as counsel for the Class Representative in their own capacities as well as their representative capacities and for the Class; and, (g) common issues will likely predominate over individual issues; 4. The Settlement Agreement proposes a Settlement that is within the range

of reasonableness and meets the requirements for preliminary approval; and 5. The moving parties have presented to the Court for review a plan to

provide notice to the proposed Class of the terms of the settlement and the various options the Class has, including, among other things, the option for Class Members to opt-out of the class action; the option to be represented by counsel of their choosing and to object to the proposed settlement; and/or the option to become a Participating Claimant. The notice will be published consistent with the Settlement Agreement. The notice proposed by the Settling Parties is the best practicable under the circumstances, consistent with Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B). Good cause appearing, therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Class

Action Settlement Agreement is preliminarily approved; 2

2.

Notice of the proposed settlement and the rights of Class Members to opt

in and/or out of the settlement and/or to become a Participating Claimant shall be given by issuance of publication notice consistent with the terms of the Settlement Agreement by October 26, 2009. 3. A hearing shall be held in the United States Post Office and Courthouse,

7th and Grant Street, 9th Floor, Courtroom 9A, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before the undersigned on January 26, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. to consider whether the settlement should be given final approval by the Court: (a) Written objections by Class Members to the proposed settlement will be

considered if received by Class Counsel on or before the Notice Response Deadline; (b) At the Settlement Hearing, Class Members may be heard orally in support

of or, if they have timely submitted written objections, in opposition to the settlement; (c) Class Counsel and counsel for the Allegheny Valley Bank Releasees

should be prepared at the hearing to respond to objections filed by Class Members and to provide other information as appropriate, bearing on whether or not the settlement should be approved; and 4. In the event that the Effective Date occurs, all Class Members will be

deemed to have forever released and discharged the Released Claims. In the event that the Effective Date does not occur for any reason whatsoever, the Settlement Agreement shall be deemed null and void and shall have no effect whatsoever. IT IS SO ORDERED. October 16, 2009 cc (via email): All Counsel of Record s\Cathy Bissoon Cathy Bissoon United States Magistrate Judge

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