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R U D Y E X E L R O D Z I E F F & L O W E
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[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVALCASE NO. C-06-7776 SC
David A. Lowe (State Bar #178811)John T. Mullan (State Bar # 221149)RUDY, EXELROD, ZIEFF & LOWE, L.L.P.351 California Street, Suite 700San Francisco, CA 94104Telephone: (415) 434-9800Facsimile: (415) 434-0513Email: dal@rezlaw.comEmail: jtm@rezlaw.comAttorneys for PlaintiffsUNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIASAN FRANCISCO DIVISIONCase No. C-06-7776 SCRICHARD PRENTICE, CHRISTIANMILLER, and TIFFINEYPETHERBRIDGE, on their own behalf andon behalf of classes of those similarlysituated,Plaintiff,vs.FUND FOR PUBLIC INTERESTRESEARCH, INC.,Defendant.
/[PROPOSED] ORDER: (1) FINALLYAPPROVING CLASS ACTIONSETTLEMENT AND PLAN OFDISTRIBUTION; (2) ENTERINGFINAL JUDGMENT; (3)APPROVING SERVICE PAYMENTTO NAMED PLAINTIFFS; (4)APPROVING THE PAYMENT OFREASONABLE COSTS OFADMINISTRATION; AND (5)RESERVING JURISDICTION
Case3:06-cv-07776-SC Document115 Filed05/15/09 Page1 of 7
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[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVALCASE NO. C-06-7776 SC
This matter came on for hearing on May 15, 2009, upon the motion of Plaintiffs RichardPrentice, Christian Miller and Tiffiney Petherbridge and the Class they represent (hereinafter collectively “Plaintiffs”) and not opposed by Defendant The Fund for Public Interest Research,Inc. (“Fund”) for final approval of the proposed settlement of this action on the terms set forth inthe Joint Stipulation of Settlement and Release (the “Agreement”) attached hereto as Exhibit 1.Due and adequate notice having been given to the members of the settlement Class, and the Courthaving considered the Agreement, all papers and proceedings held herein, and all oral and writtencomments received regarding the proposed Settlement, and having reviewed the entire record inthis action (“the Action”), and good cause appearing, the Court, finds that:WHEREAS, Plaintiffs have alleged claims against Defendant Fund on behalf of themselves, the FLSA Collective Action Class members, and all individuals who worked for Fund and who held the title Canvasser or Field Manager in California at any time from December 19, 2002 to May 7, 2007, or who worked for Fund and who held the title Canvasser or FieldManager in New York at any time from December 19, 2000 to May 7, 2007;WHEREAS, Plaintiffs asserts claims for 1) FLSA Overtime and Minimum WageViolations; and, as to present and former California Canvassers and Field Managers, (2)Violations of California Overtime and Minimum Wage Provisions; (3) California Waiting PeriodPenalties; (4) Violations of California Record-Keeping Provisions; (5) Violations of CaliforniaMeal and Rest Period Provisions; (6) Violations of the California Unfair Competition Law; (7)Conversion; and, as to present and former New York Canvassers and Field Managers, (8)Violations of New York Overtime Provisions, and (9) Violations of New York “Spread of Hour”Provisions;WHEREAS, the Court previously conditionally certified a Fair Labor Standards Act(“FLSA”) collective action, and approximately 770 individuals opted into that claim prior to theclose of the opt-in period;WHEREAS, approximately 220 of the individuals who opted into the previouslyconditionally certified FLSA Collective Action worked only after May 7, 2007; the date onwhich Fund began paying its canvassing staff for overtime and for observation days (the FLSA
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[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING FINAL APPROVALCASE NO. C-06-7776 SC
Collective Action Class is defined in Paragraph 1 of the Joint Stipulation of Settlement andRelease attached hereto as Exhibit 1), and, accordingly, this Court previously found such 220individuals are not similarly situated to the balance of the Collective Action members – that is,those who filed consents to join and who worked for Fund prior to May 7, 2007 – and aretherefore not part of this Action;WHEREAS, Fund expressly denies the allegations of wrongdoing and violations of lawalleged in this Action; claims that it always properly classified and compensated its employees;and further denies any liability whatsoever to Plaintiffs or to the Class Members;WHEREAS, without admitting any liability, claim or defense the Parties determined thatit was mutually advantageous to settle this Action and avoid the costs, delay, uncertainty and business disruption of ongoing litigation;WHEREAS,this Court granted preliminary approval of the parties’ Agreement in thisAction on February 4, 2009 (“Preliminary Approval Order”); andWHEREAS, notice to the Class members was sent in accordance with the PreliminaryApproval Order; andWHEREAS, a fairness hearing on the proposed Settlement having been duly held and adecision reached; NOW, therefore, the Court grants final approval of the Settlement, andIT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT:1.To the extent defined in the Stipulation of Settlement and Release (the“Agreement”), attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by reference, the terms in thisOrder shall have the meanings set forth therein.2.The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action, the DefendantFund, and the Class.3.The Court has determined that the notice given to the Class fully and accuratelyinformed all persons in the Class of all material elements of the proposed Settlement, includingthe plan of allocation of the Settlement Payment and the application for service awards to the Named Plaintiffs and the application for an attorneys’ fees award to Class Counsel, constituted
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