Downie v. Carelink, Inc., 1:16-cv-05868 (DF). (2020)
Court: District Court, S.D. New York
Number: infdco20200213810
Visitors: 12
Filed: Feb. 04, 2020
Latest Update: Feb. 04, 2020
Summary: ORDER AND FINAL JUDGMENT: (1) CONFIRMING CERTIFICATION OF CLASS AND COLLECTIVE; (2) GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS AND COLLECTIVE ACTION SETTLEMENT; AND (3) ENTERING FINAL JUDGMENT DISMISSING THE ACTION WITH PREJUDICE DEBRA C. FREEMAN , Magistrate Judge . This matter came on for hearing upon the Court's Order of October 17, 2019 following preliminary approval of the Settlement in this action ("Preliminary Approval Order"). Due and adequate notice having been given to the Class (as defined
Summary: ORDER AND FINAL JUDGMENT: (1) CONFIRMING CERTIFICATION OF CLASS AND COLLECTIVE; (2) GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS AND COLLECTIVE ACTION SETTLEMENT; AND (3) ENTERING FINAL JUDGMENT DISMISSING THE ACTION WITH PREJUDICE DEBRA C. FREEMAN , Magistrate Judge . This matter came on for hearing upon the Court's Order of October 17, 2019 following preliminary approval of the Settlement in this action ("Preliminary Approval Order"). Due and adequate notice having been given to the Class (as defined ..
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ORDER AND FINAL JUDGMENT: (1) CONFIRMING CERTIFICATION OF CLASS AND COLLECTIVE; (2) GRANTING FINAL APPROVAL OF CLASS AND COLLECTIVE ACTION SETTLEMENT; AND (3) ENTERING FINAL JUDGMENT DISMISSING THE ACTION WITH PREJUDICE
DEBRA C. FREEMAN, Magistrate Judge.
This matter came on for hearing upon the Court's Order of October 17, 2019 following preliminary approval of the Settlement in this action ("Preliminary Approval Order"). Due and adequate notice having been given to the Class (as defined below), and the Court having considered all papers filed and proceedings had herein and all oral and written comments received regarding the proposed Settlement, and having reviewed the record in the above captioned matter, and good cause appearing,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED AS FOLLOWS:
a. Except as otherwise specified herein, the Court adopts all defined terms set forth in the parties' Settlement Agreement, entered into as of August 29, 2019 (the "Agreement").
b. The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the above-captioned matter, the Named Plaintiff, Defendants CARELINK SERVICES, INC. and ENA BAILEY (collectively, "Defendants") and all Class Members, which consists of the persons listed on Exhibit A hereto.
c. The Court finds that the distribution by first-class mail of the Notice of Settlement constituted the best notice practicable and fully met the requirements of due process under the United States Constitution, applicable state law, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the New York Labor Law. Based on evidence and other material submitted in conjunction with the Fairness Hearing, the actual notice to Class was adequate. These papers informed Class Members of the terms of the Settlement, their right to object to the Settlement, or to elect not to participate in the Settlement and pursue their own remedies, and their right to appear at the Fairness Hearing and be heard regarding approval of the Settlement. Adequate periods of time were provided by each of these procedures. No Class Member objected to the Settlement and No Class Member have requested exclusion. The notices sent to the following Class Members were returned and after reasonable efforts, Class Counsel could not locate an updated address for them:
1 Antoinette Bennett
2 Gul Siddiqui
3 Merline Washington
4 Paulette Guerrier
5 Tamika Bancroft
6 Marlene Tilliman
7 Julise Jean Baptist
8 Annemarie Evans
9 Yolene Lascaze
10 Annette Carter
11 Adeline Casimir
12 Monique By
13 Marie Parinis
14 Paulette Sobers
15 Hacheley Sylvestre
16 Pricella Bell
17 Kelita Armstrong Keitt
18 Lisa Ann Norfleet
19 Dele Tijani
20 Ketly Volcy
21 Marie Saintelien
d. Thus, the above referenced 21 persons ("21 persons") did not receive notice and thus are removed from the Class and are not subject to the Settlement Agreement and the releases therein, and accordingly the original settlement equal to $106,324.47 is reduced by $3,234.64 (the sum of the 21 persons' claims) to $103,089.83.
e.
f. The Court confirms that it has previously certified the Class and the Collective. The Collective is comprised of all home health aides employed by Defendants at any time from January 1, 2015 to October 14, 2015 and whose payroll records reflected that they worked at least 40 hours in a workweek during that period. The Class is comprised of all home health aides employed by Defendants at any time from January 1, 2015 to the October 17, 2019 and whose payroll records reflected that they worked at least 40 hours in a workweek during that period. The previously certified Class and Collective have been modified in accordance with the Settlement Agreement and now consist of the persons listed on Exhibit A.
g. The Court approves the Settlement, and each of the releases and other terms set forth in the Agreement (as modified by the Stipulation of the parties dated January 29, 2020), as fair, just, reasonable, and adequate as to the Class Members, the Named Plaintiff, and Defendants (collectively "Settling Parties") under all applicable law, including but not limited to, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the New York Labor Law The Parties and the Class Counsel are directed to perform in accordance with the terms set forth in the Agreement.
h. The Court approves the Settlement Amount payable to the Class equal to $43,731.68 (calculated as $46,966.32 minus $3,234.64 equal to the claims of the 21 persons who were excluded from the Settlement Class as a result of a failure to receive notice).
i. The Court finds that the plan of allocation set forth in the Agreement is fair and reasonable and that distribution of the Net Settlement Fund Settlement to Class Members shall be done in accordance with the terms outlined in the Agreement.
j. The Court hereby confirms its prior appointment of YVONNE DOWNIE, as Class Representative for the Class and Collective for purposes of settlement.
k. The Court hereby confirms its prior appointment of William Coudert Rand, Law Office of William Coudert Rand as Class Counsel for the Class.
l. CARELINK has agreed to pay to Class Counsel his reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses in the total amount of $51,858.15, and a Named Plaintiff Settlement Amount to the Named Plaintiff in the amount of $7,500.00 for her individual claims separate from the class claims. These payments were negotiated separately and after the Class member claim amounts were negotiated and do not diminish the amount being paid to the Class. Accordingly, the Court hereby awards to Class Counsel $46,059 for attorneys' fees and $5,799.15 for costs and expenses. The Named Plaintiff Settlement Amount in the amount of $7,500 to the Class Representative is also approved. Defendants are directed to make all of the foregoing payments to Class Counsel and the Named Plaintiff and the Class Members in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. Defendants shall not be required to make any additional payments in connection with the Settlement.
m. By operation of entry of this Order and Final Judgment, all Released Claims are fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished, and discharged pursuant to the terms of the Agreement as to all Class Members, except those who have timely and validly opted-out or who are excluded from the Class pursuant to paragraph (c) above. Each Class Member listed on Exhibit A is bound by this Judgment and Order, including, without limitation, the release of claims as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
n. The Defendants entered into this Agreement solely for the purpose of compromising and settling disputed claims. Defendants in no way admit any liability, and all liability is expressly denied.
o. This action is hereby dismissed on the merits with prejudice. The action is closed. The Court retains exclusive jurisdiction, to the extent necessary, to resolve any disputes under the Agreement or to effectuate the terms of the Agreement.
p. This document shall constitute a final judgment for purposes of Rule 58 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
EXHIBIT A TO ORDER
List of Class Members
Class Members
Name
1 Abrams, Martha
2 Abraham, Judite
3 Agenor, Katia
4 Allen, Onike
5 Anderson, Cydil
6 Andre, Marie
7 Angell, Joy
8 Auguste Guerrier, Nedege
9 Agustin, Roselene
10 Bacchus, Bibi
11 Bankole-Jones, Jean
12 "Barker, Olive
I"
13 Bernadin, Marie
14 Bernard, Kathleen
15 Bottex, Nicole
16 Brown, Georgett
17 Brown, lorna
18 Brown, Margaret
19 Brown, Trudy-Ann
20 Browne, Amanda
21 Bryan, Gwendolyn
22 Bullock, Hilda
23 Budhram, Omauti
24 Bully Carmel
25 Caesar, Andrea
26 Cameron, Karlene
27 Canterbury, Lakeitha
28 Carter, Janette
29 Carter, Vanessa
30 Casimir, Marie
31 Celestin, Roseline
32 Charles, Janelle
33 Charles, Marie Lourdes
34 Chedda, Suretta
35 Chery, Marie
36 Clarke, Junior
37 Colquhoun-Rayson, Winsome
38 Coquillon, Anne
39 Cossogu, Derly
40 Crews, Pauline
41 Crump, Andrea
42 Davis, Marlene
43 Dawkins, Beryl
44 Desiste, Clemence
45 Denis, Magdalie
46 Dieujuste Laguerre, Musette
47 Dinnald, Sashaya
48 Dixon, Marie
49 Dorleans, Nadine
50 Downie, Yvonne
51 Dubuisson, Elda
52 Duverneau, Marie
53 Edme-Misere, Natasha
54 Edwards-Askew, Maxine
55 Emanuel, Carmen
56 Escoto, Erlinda
57 Fasola, Rachael
58 Felix, Ketelie
59 Fermin, Maureen
60 Fils, Marie
61 Florez, Ninfa
62 Ford, Hortense
63 Fortune, Roxanne
64 Francoise, Guelce
65 Garcia-Banks, Patrice
66 Garcia, Emelyn
67 Garcia, Jerry
68 Gayle, Shirley
69 Gebor, Veroline
70 Gilmore, Donnie
71 Green, Camille
72 Griffith, Enid
73 Grigolia, Sopio
74 Gulotta, Gohar
75 Guy, Annette
76 Hassan, Noha
77 Haywood, K eron
78 Henry, Eugenie
79 Henry, Opaline
80 Heron-Henry, Primrose
81 Herbert, Ann
82 Hibbert, Barbara
83 Hinton, Delores
84 Jackson, Alicia
85 Jadotte, Merlene
86 Jean Baprist, Geraldine
87 Jean Baptiste, Jordeline
88 Jean Baptist, Marie
89 Jean Baptist, Ritzarre
90 Jean, Izette
91 Jean Jacques, Celie
92 Jeanty, Barbara
93 Jervis, Brenda
94 Johnson, Emily
95 Joseph, Evelyn
96 Jovin, Marlene
97 Kellman, Basmat
98 Kellyman, Lillieth
99 King, Gloria
100 Kowlessar, Indarwati
101 Lauralus, Rose
102 Layne, Lisa
103 Lee, Velma
104 Lerine, Marie
105 Littrea n, Barbara
106 Lucas, Marvin
107 Lyew, Herma
108 Malcolm, Joan
109 Matthews, Jenelle
110 McFarlane, Hortensa
111 Mcintosh, Veronica
112 McKenzie, Iris
113 Mclean, Roxanne
114 Mclean, Shanakay
115 Mcleggan, Angela
116 Medwinter, Leckertia
117 Millien, Francoise
118 Mitchell, Jean
119 Mohabir, Sunmatie
120 Moliere, Stephanie
121 Mondesir, Mitro
122 Morgan, Jackie
123 Morgan, Sonia
124 Morris, Junitth
125 Myrtil, Marie
126 Na,anmiap, Susan
127 Narcisse, Marie
128 Narine, Maureen
129 Nelson, Vivette
130 Oliver, Sandra
131 Oseni, Titilope
132 Palmer, Hirfa
133 Paschall, Marilyn
134 Patterson Williams, Pauline
135 Paul, Lunie
136 Payan, Guerda
137 Persaud, Beverley
138 Philips, Bonesta
139 Pierre-Louis, Nadege
140 Pierre Louis, Rolande
141 Pierre, Charlie
142 Pierre, Exlandre
143 Ramparshad, Seematty
144 Rawlins, Lucille
145 Registre, Guylaine
146 Reid, Wanda
147 Richards, Blossom
148 Rowe, Brendalyn
149 Saint Fleur, Alta
150 Saint Hilaire, Marie
151 Sama roo, Anjani
152 Schultz, Arlene
153 Shalto, Joanne
154 Simpkins, Kimberly
155 Simplice, Fequiere
156 Sinclair-Durand, Debbie
157 Skinner, Sanisha
158 Smith, Demmi
159 Smith, Tiffany
160 Stephenson, Joyce
161 Sylvestre, Hachebine
162 Tatum, Perla
163 Theophile, Marie
164 Thomas, Juliette
165 Turner, Valerie
166 Tyme, Valrie
167 Vassell, Sashanna
168 Vernet, Paulee
169 Vilsaint, Margarette
170 Vincent, Winsome
171 Voyard, Michelle
172 Warren, Paul
173 Welch, Joyann
174 Wellington, Tommeicka
175 White, Angella
176 Williams, Anika
177 Williams, Carlene
178 Williams, Shonnette
179 Williams, Brittinie
180 Williams, Tamile
181 Wilson, Twana
Source: Leagle