Judge: Armen Tamzarian, Case: 23STCV14292, Date: 2025-03-26 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23STCV14292    Hearing Date: March 26, 2025    Dept: 52

Plaintiff Ian Wilson Decosta’s Motion for Approval of PAGA Settlement

Plaintiff Ian Wilson Decosta moves for an order approving the settlement of this action under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).  Labor Code section 2699, subdivision (s)(2) provides, “The superior court shall review and approve any settlement of any civil action filed pursuant to” 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 is represented by experienced counsel, who investigated the case by reviewing defendant’s data and records.  (Tang Decl., ¶ 8.)  The gross settlement amount of $70,000 represents a reasonable compromise.  Allocating $24,500, just over one third of the amount, to attorney fees is typical in PAGA settlements (see Laffitte v. Robert Half Internat. Inc. (2016) 1 Cal.5th 480, 505) and is fair in this case.  The amount of fees is also supported by plaintiff’s counsel’s lodestar of over $28,000.  (Tang Decl., ¶ 13.) 

Plaintiff Ian Wilson Decosta’s motion for approval of PAGA settlement is granted.  The court will modify the proposed order and judgment submitted by plaintiff to eliminate superfluous portions.  The court will then enter judgment for plaintiff.