Neff et al v. Old Republic Title Ltd

Filing 38

ORDER - Judgment and Decree Granting final approval to Class action Settlement, Approving attorney fee Award, Apporving representative Plaintiffs' Award and dismissing Claims with Prejudice re: 32 30 , by Judge Robert S. Lasnik.(MD, cc to Fin'l Dept)

Honorable Robert S. Lasnik

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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PEGGY A. NEFF and GEOFFREY E.
NEFF, on behalf of themselves and others
similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,

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v.
OLD REPUBLIC TITLE, LTD., a foreign
corporation,

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NO. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL
ORDER, JUDGMENT AND
DECREE GRANTING FINAL
APPROVAL TO CLASS ACTION
SETTLEMENT, APPROVING
ATTORNEY FEE AWARD,
APPROVING REPRESENTATIVE
PLAINTIFFS’ AWARD AND
DISMISSING CLAIMS WITH
PREJUDICE

Defendant.

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NOTE ON MOTION CALENDAR:
MARCH 13, 2014

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I. FINDINGS OF FACT

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1.

Plaintiffs filed this putative class action lawsuit (the “Action”) against Old

Republic in King County Superior Court on October 16, 2012. Old Republic removed the
Action to the United States District Court for the District of Western Washington on November
16, 2012, pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act.
2.

Plaintiffs allege Old Republic collected and retained excess recording charges

from Plaintiffs and other customers in certain Washington State real estate transactions in which
ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 1
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

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Old Republic provided escrow services. Old Republic denies Plaintiffs’ allegations, denies any

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wrong-doing, and denies that a class should be certified in this Action.
3.

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The parties have estimated Old Republic collected and retained some amount of

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excess recording charges from Settlement Class Members in approximately 12,700 transactions

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between October 16, 2006 and October 18, 2013.1
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The parties have engaged in contested litigation and have exchanged substantial

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information about the facts underlying Plaintiffs’ claims and the claims of the Settlement Class

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Members. They have conducted extensive, arm’s-length settlement discussions over the terms of

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resolution and the Settlement Agreement.
5.

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Based upon extensive analysis of the facts and law applicable to Plaintiffs’

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claims, and taking into account the extensive burdens and expense of litigation, including the

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risks and uncertainties associated with protracted trials and appeals and the fair, cost-effective

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and assured method of resolving the claims of the Settlement Class, Plaintiffs and Class Counsel

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have concluded the Settlement Agreement provides substantial benefits to the Settlement Class

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and is fair, reasonable, adequate and in the best interests of the Settlement Class.
6.

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Although Old Republic denies Plaintiffs’ assertions in the Action and denies any

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wrongdoing or liability to Plaintiffs or the putative class of any kind, Old Republic has

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concluded the Settlement Agreement is in its best interests to avoid the time, expense and

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business distraction of defending potentially protracted and expensive litigation.
7.

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This Court previously considered Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion for Certification

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of Settlement Class and Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement, together with

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supporting materials, including the Settlement Agreement, the Notice Plan and the proposed

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Class Notice. On November 18, 2013, this Court entered its Order Preliminarily Approving

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Class Action Settlement, Striking Case Deadlines, Authorizing Distribution of Class Notice and

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All capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Order shall have the same meaning as defined in the
Agreement.

ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 2
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

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Setting Final Approval Hearing (the “Preliminary Approval Order”). Among other things, the

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Preliminary Approval Order approved and directed the distribution of the Class Notice regarding

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the Settlement Agreement, set deadlines for filing Requests for Exclusion and objections, and set

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the date for the Final Approval Hearing.

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8.

The parties and the Settlement Administrator have submitted declarations and

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exhibits demonstrating they have complied with all of the requirements of the Preliminary

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Approval Order concerning the distribution of the Class Notice to Potential Class Members.

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9.

On December 19, 2013, Class Counsel filed, served, and posted to a website

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accessible by Settlement Class Members an application seeking an Attorney Fee Award and a

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Representative Plaintiffs’ Award. On February 14, 2014, Class Counsel filed a motion seeking

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final approval of the Settlement Agreement.

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10.

On March 13, 2014, this Court held the Final Approval Hearing to consider,

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among other things, whether to grant final approval to: (a) the Settlement Agreement, (b) Class

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Counsel’s application for an Attorney Fee Award and a Representative Plaintiffs’ Award, and (c)

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the entry of this Final Approval Order.

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11.

Having read, reviewed and considered the papers filed with this Court, the oral

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arguments of counsel, and the written and oral objections and comments of all those who

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appeared at the Final Approval Hearing, if any, and based on the entire record in the Action, the

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Court finds the Settlement Agreement is fair, reasonable, adequate and in the best interests of the

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Settlement Class and should be finally approved.

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II. ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE
The Court having considered the record in the Action, the materials submitted in

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connection with the Preliminary Approval Motion, the materials submitted in connection with

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the motion for final approval of the Settlement Agreement and good cause having been shown,

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IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that:

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ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 3
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

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1.

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims asserted in this

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proceeding, including the Settled Class Claims, has personal jurisdiction over the settling parties

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(including without limitation the Persons in the Settlement Class), and subject matter jurisdiction

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to approve the Settlement.

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2.

As demonstrated by declarations, the parties have complied with the Preliminary

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Approval Order regarding the Notice Plan. Notice given to the Settlement Class was reasonably

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calculated under the circumstances to apprise the Settlement Class of the pendency of this action,

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all material terms of the Agreement, their opportunity to exclude themselves from the Settlement

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Class, to object to or to comment on the Settlement Agreement, and to appear at the Final

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Approval Hearing. The notice was reasonable and the best notice practicable under the

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circumstances, provided due, adequate and sufficient notice to all members of the Settlement

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Class, and complied fully with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and federal constitutional

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due process, and any other applicable rules of the Court. Settlement Class Members were

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provided a full opportunity to participate in the Final Approval Hearing, and all Settlement Class

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Members and other persons wishing to be heard have been heard. Accordingly, the Court

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determines that all potential members of the Settlement Class, except those who have timely and

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properly excluded themselves from the Settlement Class, are bound by the Agreement and this

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Final Approval Order.

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3.

The Opt Outs are identified on a list filed under seal with the Court. The Opt

Outs are not bound by the Agreement or this Final Approval Order.
4.

The Settlement Class (as defined in the Preliminary Approval Order) is granted

final certification for purposes of the Settlement.
5.

The Court hereby grants final approval to the Settlement Agreement and finds it is

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fair, adequate, and reasonable, and in the best interests of the Settlement Class as a whole. The

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parties entered into the Settlement Agreement after contested litigation and in good faith after

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ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 4
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

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extensive, non-collusive and arm’s-length negotiations. The Court has considered and overrules

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all of the filed objections, if any.

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6.

Neither this Final Approval Order nor the Settlement Agreement is an admission

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or indication by the Released Parties of the validity of any claims in the Action or of any liability

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or wrongdoing. This Final Approval Order and the Settlement Agreement are not a concession,

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and neither of them shall be used as an admission or indication with respect to any claim of any

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wrongdoing, fault, or omission by any Released Party or any other person in connection with any

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transaction or occurrence or any statement, release or written document issued, filed, or made.

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Neither this Final Approval Order nor the Settlement Agreement, nor any related document,

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proceeding, or action, nor any reports or accounts thereof, shall be offered or received in

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evidence in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding, other than proceedings that may be

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necessary to enforce the Settlement Agreement and the releases granted in the Settlement

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Agreement or this Final Approval Order.

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7.

Plaintiffs and all Settlement Class Members shall be and hereby are conclusively

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deemed to have fully, finally, and forever released and discharged the Released Parties from the

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Settled Class Claims as provided in the Settlement Agreement. This release is binding and

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effective on each such Settlement Class Member and any of their predecessors, successors,

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partners, subsidiaries, affiliates, custodians, agents, assigns, representatives, marital

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communities, heirs, executors, trustees, administrators and any other person or entity having any

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legal or beneficial interest in the Settled Class Claims, including without limitation Unknown

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Class Claims.

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8.

In connection with the releases in the Agreement and this Final Approval Order,

the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
(a)

“Released Party or Parties” means Old Republic and each and all of its past,

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present and future predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, divisions, subsidiaries, associates,

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affiliated companies and corporations, and each and all of their respective past, present, and
ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 5
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

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future representatives, employees, managers, agents, consultants, insurers, directors, committees,

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managing directors, officers, partners, general partners, limited partners, principals, members,

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insurers, reinsurers, accountants, financial and other advisors, investment bankers, underwriters,

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shareholders, lenders, auditors, investment advisors, legal representatives, attorneys, successors

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in interest, assigns and Persons, firms, trusts, trustees, corporations, officers, directors, other

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individuals or entities in which Old Republic has a controlling interest or which is related to or

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affiliated with any of them or any other representatives of any of these Persons and entities, and

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each and all of their respective executors, successors, assigns, and legal representatives.

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(b)

“Releasing Party or Parties” means Plaintiffs and the Settlement Class Members

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and each and all of their present or past heirs, executors, personal representatives, estates,

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authorized users, guarantors, administrators, predecessors, successors, assigns, parents,

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subsidiaries, associates, affiliates, employers, employees, agents, consultants, insurers, directors,

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managing directors, officers, partners, principals, members, accountants, financial and other

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advisors, investment bankers, underwriters, lenders, and each of their affiliates’ present or past

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heirs, executors, estates, administrators, predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries,

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associates, affiliates, employers, employees, agents, consultants, insurers, directors, managing

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directors, officers, partners, principals, members, accountants, financial and other advisors,

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investment bankers, underwriters, lenders and any other representatives of any of these Persons

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and entities.

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(c)

“Settled Class Claims” means collectively any and all claims, demands, rights,

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liabilities, suits, matters, obligations, damages, losses, costs, actions and causes of action of

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every nature and description whatsoever, in law or equity, known or unknown, latent or patent,

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asserted, unasserted or that might have been asserted (including, without limitation, assigned

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claims and common law claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, violations of any

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Consumer Protection Act or state or federal statutes, rules or regulations) either directly, in a

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representative capacity or in any other capacity, by the Releasing Parties against the Released
ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 6
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

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Parties, arising from or in any way relating to Old Republic’s collection or retention from

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Settlement Class Members of recording charges in real estate transactions in Washington State

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between October 16, 2006, and October 18, 2013, in which Old Republic provided escrow

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services, or Old Republic’s making of alleged misrepresentations, omissions, statements,

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misleading disclosures or failures to disclose information about such charges, or their collection

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or retention. Settled Class Claims include without limitation Unknown Class Claims and all

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claims asserted in the Complaint on file in the Action relating to recording charges, and all

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claims alleged or asserted, or which could have been alleged or asserted, against the Released

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Parties which arise from the alleged acts, omissions, representations, facts, events, matters,

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transactions or occurrences relating to recording charges at issue in the Action.
(d)

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“Unknown Class Claims” means any and all claims by the Releasing Parties

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against the Released Parties arising from the facts and circumstances that were alleged in the

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Action relating in any way to Old Republic’s collection or retention from Settlement Class

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Members of excess recording charges in real estate transactions in Washington State between

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October 16, 2006, and October 18, 2013, in which Old Republic provided escrow services, based

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on facts that now exist, may hereafter exist, or have previously existed that the Releasing Parties

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may hereafter discover in addition to, or different from, those which Class Counsel and the

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Releasing Parties now know or believe to be true concerning the Settled Class Claims, without

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regard to the subsequent discovery of those facts by the Releasing Parties or the existence of any

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such different or additional facts.
The Releasing Parties have waived any and all rights they may have under or pursuant to:

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(i) the provisions of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California and/or (ii) the

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provisions of any similar statutory, regulatory or common law of any state or of the United

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States.

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ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 7
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

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9.

Plaintiffs and all Settlement Class Members are hereby barred and permanently

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enjoined from prosecuting, commencing or continuing any proceedings regarding the Settled

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Class Claims against the Released Parties.

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10.

Without affecting the finality of this Final Approval Order, the Court reserves

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continuing jurisdiction over the Parties to the Agreement and the Settlement Class, to administer,

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supervise, construe and enforce the Agreement in accordance with its terms.

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The Settlement Agreement is approved and expressly incorporated herein by this

reference. The parties shall consummate the Settlement Agreement according to its terms.
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The Court having been advised that Plaintiffs Peggy A. Neff and Geoffrey E. Neff

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were not overcharged escrow fees and are no longer pursuing any escrow fee overcharge claims

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under any legal theory in this Action, that they do not seek or purport to represent a class

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bringing any such escrow fee overcharge claims, and that the parties do not intend the settlement

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to include, resolve or release such escrow fee overcharge claims on a class basis, any claims

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asserted by these Plaintiffs in the Action arising from or relating to escrow fees or seeking

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remedy for alleged escrow fee overcharges are hereby dismissed without prejudice. Without

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prejudice to the Opt Outs, the other individual and class claims asserted in this Action relating to

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or arising from recording charges are dismissed with prejudice and without an award of costs or

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fees to any party except as provided below.

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13.

Within ten (10) business days of the Effective Date of this Order, Old Republic

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shall deliver to the Settlement Administrator the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars

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($200,000.00) (the “Settlement Fund”), less any Administration Costs already paid by Old

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Republic to the Settlement Administrator, to be held and disbursed by the Settlement

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Administrator in accordance with the terms of this Order. The Settlement Administrator is

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authorized and directed to deposit the Settlement Fund into a segregated account, to calculate

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and pay Awards from the Settlement Fund to Award Recipients and distribute any remainder in

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the Settlement Fund Account as provided by this or subsequent orders of this Court.
ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 8
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

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14.

Class Counsel’s request for the Attorney Fee Award, payable solely from the

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Settlement Fund, is approved in the amount of $50,392.48, which includes their litigation costs.

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The Settlement Administrator shall pay the Attorney Fee Award to Class Counsel, in such shares

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as Class Counsel directs, within twenty (20) business days after the Effective Date.

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15.

Class Counsel’s request for the Representative Plaintiffs’ Award is approved in

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the total amount of $2,500.00 for Plaintiffs Peggy A. Neff and Geoffrey E. Neff, payable solely

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from the Settlement Fund. The Settlement Administrator shall pay the Representative Plaintiffs’

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Award by delivering a check to Schroeter Goldmark & Bender made payable jointly to Peggy A.

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Neff and Geoffrey E. Neff in the total amount of $2,500.00.

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16.

The Settlement Administrator shall calculate the amount payable to each Award

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Recipient as provided in Paragraph 4.2 of the Settlement Agreement and shall mail the Award

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checks within twenty (20) business days after the Effective Date. All Award checks shall be

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mailed on the same day.

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17.

Award checks will be valid and will be paid only if they are cashed on or before

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the Award Expiration Date. Award checks shall include a legend indicating that after the Award

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Expiration Date they are invalid, cannot be cashed, and will not be honored. The bank holding

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the Settlement Fund Account established by the Settlement Administrator is hereby prohibited

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from paying or honoring any Award checks more than six (6) business days after the Award

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Expiration Date. The Settlement Administrator is directed to provide the bank holding the

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Settlement Fund Account with a copy of this Final Approval Order at the time the Settlement

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Fund Account is opened, and to draw its attention to this Paragraph 17.

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18.

Not later than thirty (30) calendar days after the Award Expiration Date, the

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Settlement Administrator shall distribute the funds remaining in the Settlement Fund Account, if

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any, as provided in the Agreement: (i) fifty percent (50%) to the Legal Foundation of

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Washington, and (ii) fifty percent (50%) to the King County Bar Foundation.

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ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 9
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

19.

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If the Settlement does not become effective as provided in the Agreement, this

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Final Approval Order shall be rendered null and void and shall be vacated. In such an event, all

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orders entered in connection with the Settlement (including, without limitation, the Preliminary

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Approval Order) shall be vacated and the Parties shall return to their respective litigation

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positions as of the date immediately preceding the entry of the Preliminary Approval Order. The

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parties shall then jointly request the Court to hold a scheduling conference for the purpose of

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establishing a new case schedule.

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IT IS SO ORDERED this 13th day of March, 2014.

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A
Robert S. Lasnik

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United States District Judge 

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ORDER, JUDGMENT AND DECREE GRANTING
FINAL APPROVAL - 10
(No. 2:12-CV-02019-RSL)

SCHROETER, GOLDMARK & BENDER

500 Central Building ● 810 Third Avenue ● Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]