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855912.6

CV 11-01613 SI (MEJ NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

LEONARD B. SIMON (Bar No. 58310)

LAW OFFICES OF LEONARD B. SIMON P.C.

655 West Broadway, Suite 1900 San Diego, CA 92101 Telephone: 619-338-4549 Facsimile: 619-231-7423 lsimon@rgrdlaw.com Attorneys for Plaintiffs and the Class [Additional counsel appear on signature pages]

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICK JAMES, by and through THE JAMES AMBROSE JOHNSON, JR., 1999 TRUST, his successor in interest, et al., individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, vs. UMG RECORDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation, Defendant. CASE NO. CV 11-01613 SI (MEJ)

NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

DATE: April 28, 2015 TIME: 10:30 a.m. CTRM.: 10, 19th Floor JUDGE: Hon. Susan Illston

Case3:11-cv-01613-SI Document234 Filed04/14/15 Page1 of 28

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

I.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ............................................................................................1 II. BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................2 A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS .........................................................................................2 B. THE EXTENSIVE AND MONTHS-LONG SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS ......................................................................................................4 C. SETTLEMENT TERMS ............................................................................................5 1.

Past Relief ......................................................................................................5 2. Prospective Relief ..........................................................................................5 3. Narrowly Tailored Release .............................................................................6 4. Attorneys’ Fees and Costs and Enhancement Awards ...................................6 5. Comprehensive Notice Program ....................................................................7 III.

LEGAL ANALYSIS ..............................................................................................................7 A.

STANDARD FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL ...................................................7 B. THE SETTLEMENT SHOULD BE PRELIMINARILY APPROVED ....................8 1.

The strength of plaintiff’s case compared to the risk, expense, complexity, and likely duration of further litigation ......................................9 2. The risk of maintaining class action status throughout the trial ...................10 3. The amount offered in settlement .................................................................10 4. The extent of discovery completed and the stage of the proceedings ..........10 5. The experience and views of counsel ...........................................................11 C.

INDIVIDUAL NOTICE MORE THAN SATISFIES RULE 23 .............................11 D. THE COURT SHOULD CERTIFY A SETTLEMENT CLASS FOR SETTLEMENT PURPOSES ...................................................................................13 1.

The Requirements of Rule 23(a) Are Satisfied ............................................13 (a)

Numerosity .......................................................................................13 (b) Commonality ....................................................................................14


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(c) Typicality .........................................................................................14 (d) Adequacy of Representation ............................................................15 2.

The Requirements of Rule 23(b)(3) Are Satisfied .......................................15 IV.

ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS AND ENHANCEMENT AWARDS ........................16 V. THE COURT SHOULD SET A FINAL APPROVAL HEARING SCHEDULE ...............17 VI. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................17
