Judge: William D. Claster, Case: 19-01049864, Date: 2022-09-02 Tentative Ruling

Plaintiff Jorge Mendoza's Notice of Motion and Motion for Final Approval of Class Action Settlement, Attorneys' Fees, Costs, and Enhancement ROA 149

The Court has reviewed the supplemental declaration filed in response to the July 28, 2022 minute order.  Plaintiff’s motion for final approval of class action settlement is GRANTED.

The Court approves the following distributions:

1.    Attorney’s fees of $39,000, or 30% of the MSA.  The Court finds this amount to be reasonable in light of the quality of the result obtained, the work performed by class counsel, a review of the billing records provided, and the estimated lodestar.  In approving this amount and examining the billing records provided, the Court is not approving any particular hourly billing rates proposed by class counsel.

2.    Litigation costs of $7,018.16, per the costs ledger attached to the Wilson Declaration. 

3.    Administration costs in the amount of $5,500, per the administrator’s declaration.

4.    An enhancement of $5,000 to Plaintiff.  In making this award, the Court has considered only the factors set forth in Golba v. Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (2015) 238 Cal.App.4th 1251 and Clark v. Am. Residential Servs. LLC (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 785.

5.    A payment to the LWDA in the amount of $1,850, representing the LWDA’s share of the amount allocated to Plaintiff’s PAGA claim.

Please submit a revised proposed order that conforms to the foregoing for the Court’s signature.

Pursuant to CCP § 384(b), Plaintiff shall submit to the Court a final report on or before April 7, 2023 setting forth the actual amounts paid to class members and other amounts disbursed pursuant to the settlement.  Upon receiving the report, the Court will determine whether further reports and/or a hearing will be necessary.