Judge: William D. Claster, Case: 20-01167182, Date: 2022-11-18 Tentative Ruling

Plaintiff’s Motion for Approval of Class Settlement

Plaintiff’s motion for final approval of class action settlement is GRANTED.  The Court approves the following distributions:

1.    Attorney’s fees in the amount of $241,733.33, or 1/3 of the GSA.  The Court finds this amount to be a reasonable result 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 particular, the Court notes that the settlement gained preliminary approval on the first attempt, and the settlement provides excellent value for class members.  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 in the amount of $15,554.34, representing the full amount sought. 

3.    Administration costs in the amount of $8,000, per the administrator’s declaration.

4.    An enhancement of $7,500 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.    Payment to the LWDA of $30,000, representing the LWDA’s share of the amount allocated to the PAGA claim.

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

Pursuant to CCP § 384(b), Plaintiffs shall submit to the Court a final report on or before June 23, 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.