Judge: Armen Tamzarian, Case: 21STCV35347, Date: 2023-01-10 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV35347    Hearing Date: January 10, 2023    Dept: 52

Plaintiff Miriam Liliana Macias Padilla’s Motion for an Order Approving Settlement of PAGA Claims

Plaintiff Miriam Liliana Macias Padilla moves for final approval of the amended settlement agreement with defendants Expression in Wood, Inc., Nathan Covey, and Darrell C. Covey. 

Labor Code § 2699(l)(2) provides, “The superior court shall review and approve any settlement of any civil action filed pursuant to” the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).  Courts review and approve PAGA settlements to “ensur[e] that any negotiated resolution is fair to those affected.”  (Williams v. Superior Court (2017) 3 Cal.5th 531, 549.) 

The proposed settlement is fair and reasonable.  Plaintiff’s counsel Moon & Yang, APC has extensive experience in class action wage and hour cases.  (Leviant Decl., ¶¶ 25-30.)  The gross settlement amount of $140,000 is a fair compromise based on counsel’s estimate of $350,000 in exposure.  (Id., ¶¶ 23.)  Plaintiff’s counsel investigated the facts and reviewed defendant’s data and documents.  (Id., ¶¶ 14-15.)  The parties settled after a mediation with Kelly Knight, Esq.  (Id., ¶ 15.) 

Finally, allocating $49,000 to attorney fees is both a reasonable percentage (35%) of the gross settlement and supported by a lodestar crosscheck.  (See Laffitte v. Robert Half Internat. Inc. (2016) 1 Cal.5th 480, 505.)  Counsel’s lodestar totals $70,149 for 109.9 hours of work.  (Leviant Decl., ¶ 36.)

Plaintiff’s motion for an order approving the PAGA settlement is granted.  The court will sign plaintiff’s proposed order.