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THUMMEL v. ELKHORN ENVIRONMENTAL, LLC, 2:14-cv-01788-APG-NJK. (2014)

Court: District Court, D. Nevada Number: infdco20141205a75 Visitors: 14
Filed: Dec. 03, 2014
Latest Update: Dec. 03, 2014
Summary: JOINT NOTICE OF VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL UNDER FEDERAL RULE OF Civil PROCEDURE 41. ANDREW P. GORDON, District Judge. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41, Defendants ELKHORN ENVIRONMENTAL, LLC., WERDCO BC, INC., BRANDON CONRAD, and JOHN McCLURE (hereinafter "Defendants"), and Plaintiff DAVID THUMMEL (hereinafter "Plaintiff"), by and through their respective counsel, having agreed between themselves to resolve this matter, hereby stipulate and respectfully request an order dismissing the a
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JOINT NOTICE OF VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL UNDER FEDERAL RULE OF Civil PROCEDURE 41.

ANDREW P. GORDON, District Judge.

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41, Defendants ELKHORN ENVIRONMENTAL, LLC., WERDCO BC, INC., BRANDON CONRAD, and JOHN McCLURE (hereinafter "Defendants"), and Plaintiff DAVID THUMMEL (hereinafter "Plaintiff"), by and through their respective counsel, having agreed between themselves to resolve this matter, hereby stipulate and respectfully request an order dismissing the action between Plaintiff and Defendants, with prejudice.

Each of these parties stipulate that this case be dismissed with prejudice. Each party shall bear its own costs and fees for the action and claims dismissed by this Stipulation and Order.

In regard to Plaintiffs' Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) retaliation claim, the parties assert that no court approval of the settlement is necessary. The Court's duty to review FLSA settlements under 29 U.S.C. § 216(c) and Lynn's Food Stores, Inc. v. United States, 679 F.2d 1350, 1352-53 (11th Cir. 1982) extends only to FLSA wage claims, not FLSA retaliatory discharge claims.

Specifically, § 216(c) requires the Department of Labor to supervise settlements of FLSA wage claims brought under § 216(b), but says nothing regarding supervision of FLSA retaliatory discharge claims, which are brought under § 215(a) (3). See Dorner v. Polsinelli, White, Vardeman & Shalton, P.C., 856 F.Supp. 1483, 1489 (D. Kan. 1994). Thus, the plain language of the FLSA and the omission of any reference to supervision of FLSA retaliatory discharge claims in § 216(c) (while specifically referencing FLSA wage claims) supports the conclusion that no supervision of FLSA retaliatory discharge claims is required. Id.

Moreover, Lynn's Food requires only "compromises of FLSA back wage or liquidated damage claims" to be presented to the court. Lyn's Food, 679 F.2d at 1355; Yost v. Wyndham Vacation Resorts, Inc., 2012 WL 1165598, at *3 (M.D.Fla. Mar.26, 2012), report and recommendation adopted, 2012 WL 1165468 (M.D.Fla. Apr.9, 2012); McQuillan v. H.W. Lochner, Inc., 2013 WL 6184063, at *3 (M.D.Fla. Nov.25, 2013). Thus, an FLSA retaliatory discharge claim that is settled along with a wage claim does not need to be reviewed for its fairness, "provided that its terms do not serve to contaminate the [settlement] Agreement as to the FLSA [wage] claim." Yost, 2012 WL 1165598, at *3; McQuillan, 2013 WL 6184063, at *3.

Here, Plaintiff brought all of his wage claims under Chapter 608 of the Nevada Revised Statutes and has not filed any FLSA wage claims. Therefore, there is no risk whatsoever that the settlement of Plaintiff's FLSA retaliatory discharge claim could contaminate the settlement of a FLSA wage claim.

For the forgoing reasons, the parties respectfully request an order dismissing the action between Plaintiff and Defendants, with prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Source:  Leagle

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