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In re Namaste Technologies Inc. Securities Litigation, 1:18-CV-10830-GHW. (2020)

Court: District Court, S.D. New York Number: infdco20200312d02 Visitors: 10
Filed: Mar. 11, 2020
Latest Update: Mar. 11, 2020
Summary: FINAL JUDGMENT APPROVING CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE GREGORY H. WOODS , District Judge . WHEREAS, a class action is pending in this Court entitled In re Namaste Technologies Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 1:18-CV-10830-GHW (the "Action"); WHEREAS, (a) Class Member Willard Workman and lead plaintiffs Janita Holgate, Linda M. Rich and Minako Caddeo (collectively, "Plaintiffs"), on behalf of themselves and the Settlement Class (defined below); and (b) def
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FINAL JUDGMENT APPROVING CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE

WHEREAS, a class action is pending in this Court entitled In re Namaste Technologies Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 1:18-CV-10830-GHW (the "Action");

WHEREAS, (a) Class Member Willard Workman and lead plaintiffs Janita Holgate, Linda M. Rich and Minako Caddeo (collectively, "Plaintiffs"), on behalf of themselves and the Settlement Class (defined below); and (b) defendant Namaste Technologies Inc. ("Namaste"), and defendants Sean Dollinger, Philip van den Berg, and Kenneth Ngo (collectively, the "Individual Defendants," together with Namaste, the "Defendants," and Plaintiffs and Defendants together are the "Parties"), have entered into a Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement dated October 25, 2019 (the "Stipulation"), that provides for a complete dismissal with prejudice of the claims asserted against Defendants in the Action on the terms and conditions set forth in the Stipulation, subject to the approval of this Court (the "Settlement");

WHEREAS, unless otherwise defined in this Judgment, the capitalized terms herein shall have the same meaning as they have in the Stipulation;

WHEREAS, by Order dated October 25, 2019 (the "Preliminary Approval Order"), this Court: (a) preliminarily approved the Settlement; (b) certified the Settlement Class solely for purposes of effectuating the Settlement; (c) ordered that notice of the proposed Settlement be provided to potential Settlement Class Members; (d) provided Settlement Class Members with the opportunity either to exclude themselves from the Settlement Class or to object to the proposed Settlement; and (e) scheduled a hearing regarding final approval of the Settlement;

WHEREAS, due and adequate notice has been given to the Settlement Class;

WHEREAS, the Court conducted a hearing on March 11, 2020 (the "Settlement Hearing") to consider, among other things, (a) whether the terms and conditions of the Settlement are fair, reasonable and adequate to the Settlement Class, and should therefore be approved; and (b) whether a judgment should be entered dismissing the Action with prejudice as against Defendants; and

WHEREAS, the Court having reviewed and considered the Stipulation, all papers filed and proceedings held herein in connection with the Settlement, all oral and written comments received regarding the Settlement, and the record in the Action, and good cause appearing therefor;

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED:

1. Jurisdiction — The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Action, and all matters relating to the Settlement, as well as personal jurisdiction over all of the Parties and each of the Settlement Class Members.

2. Incorporation of Settlement Documents — This Judgment incorporates and makes a part hereof: (a) the Stipulation filed with the Court on October 25, 2019; and (b) the Notice and the Summary Notice, both of which were also filed with the Court on October 25, 2019.

3. Class Certification for Settlement Purposes — The Court hereby affirms its determinations in the Preliminary Approval Order certifying, for the purposes of the Settlement only, the Action as a class action pursuant to Rules 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure on behalf of the Settlement Class consisting of all persons and entities who or which purchased or otherwise acquired shares of Namaste common stock traded on the over-the-counter ("OTC") market between November 29, 2017 and March 6, 2019, inclusive (the "Settlement Class Period") and were allegedly damaged thereby. Excluded from the Settlement Class are Defendants, the present and former Officers and directors of Namaste and any subsidiary thereof, and the Immediate Family members, legal representatives, heirs, successors or assigns of such excluded persons and any entity in which any such excluded person has or had a controlling interest during the Settlement Class Period. Also excluded from the Settlement Class are the persons and entities listed on Exhibit 1 hereto who or which are excluded from the settlement class.

4. Adequacy of Representation — Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and for the purposes of the Settlement only, the Court hereby affirms its determinations in the Preliminary Approval Order certifying Plaintiffs as Class Representatives for the Settlement Class and appointing Lead Counsel as Class Counsel for the Settlement Class. Plaintiffs and Lead Counsel have fairly and adequately represented the Settlement Class both in terms of litigating the Action and for purposes of entering into and implementing the Settlement and have satisfied the requirements of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23(a)(4) and 23(g), respectively.

5. Notice — The Court finds that the dissemination of the Notice and the publication of the Summary Notice: (a) were implemented in accordance with the Preliminary Approval Order; (b) constituted the best notice practicable under the circumstances; (c) constituted notice that was reasonably calculated, under the circumstances, to apprise Settlement Class Members of (i) the pendency of the Action; (ii) the effect of the proposed Settlement (including the Releases to be provided thereunder); (iii) Lead Counsel's motion for an award of attorneys' fees with interest and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses; (iv) their right to object to any aspect of the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation and/or Lead Counsel's motion for attorneys' fees with interest and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses; (v) their right to exclude themselves from the Settlement Class; and (vi) their right to appear at the Settlement Hearing; (d) constituted due, adequate, and sufficient notice to all persons and entities entitled to receive notice of the proposed Settlement; and (e) satisfied the requirements of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the United States Constitution (including the Due Process Clause), the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4, as amended, and all other applicable law and rules.

6. Final Settlement Approval and Dismissal of Claims — Pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this Court hereby fully and finally approves the Settlement set forth in the Stipulation in all respects (including, without limitation: the amount of the Settlement; the Releases provided for therein; and the dismissal with prejudice of the claims asserted against Defendants in the Action), and finds that the Settlement is, in all respects, fair, reasonable and adequate to the Settlement Class. The Parties are directed to implement, perform and consummate the Settlement in accordance with the terms and provisions contained in the Stipulation.

7. The Action and all of the claims asserted against Defendants in the Action by Plaintiffs and the other Settlement Class Members are hereby dismissed with prejudice. The Parties shall bear their own costs and expenses, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Stipulation.

8. Binding Effect — The terms of the Stipulation and of this Judgment shall be forever binding on Defendants, Plaintiffs and all other Settlement Class Members (regardless of whether or not any individual Settlement Class Member submits a Claim Form or seeks or obtains a distribution from the Net Settlement Fund), as well as their respective successors and assigns. The persons and entities listed on Exhibit 1 hereto are excluded from the Settlement Class pursuant to request and are not bound by the terms of the Stipulation or this Judgment.

9. Releases — The Releases set forth in paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Stipulation, together with the definitions contained in paragraph 1 of the Stipulation relating thereto, are expressly incorporated herein in all respects. The Releases are effective as of the Effective Date. Accordingly, this Court orders that:

(a) Without further action by anyone, and subject to paragraph 10 below, upon the Effective Date of the Settlement, Plaintiffs and each of the other Settlement Class Members, on behalf of themselves, and their current and former officers, directors, agents, parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, predecessors, assigns, assignees, employees, attorneys, heirs, executors, and administrators in their capacities as such, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of law and of the judgment shall have, fully, finally and forever compromised, settled, released, resolved, relinquished, waived and discharged each and every Released Plaintiffs' Claim against Defendants and Defendants' Releasees, shall be permanently and forever enjoined from instituting, commencing or prosecuting, in any capacity, any and all of the Released Plaintiffs' Claims against any of Defendants' Releasees, and shall be deemed to permanently covenant to refrain from instituting, commencing or prosecuting, in any capacity, any and all of the Released Plaintiffs' Claims against any of Defendants' Releasees. This Release shall not apply to any of the Excluded Claims (as that term is defined in paragraph 1(r) of the Stipulation).

(b) Without further action by anyone, and subject to paragraph 10 below, upon the Effective Date of the Settlement, Defendants, on behalf of themselves, and their respective current and former officers, directors, agents, parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, predecessors, assigns, assignees, employees, attorneys, heirs, executors, and administrators in their capacities as such, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of law and of the judgment shall have, fully, finally and forever compromised, settled, released, resolved, relinquished, waived and discharged each and every Released Defendants' Claim against Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs' Releasees, and shall forever be barred and enjoined from prosecuting any or all of Released Defendants' Claims against any of Plaintiffs' Releasees. This Release shall not apply to any person or entity listed on Exhibit 1 hereto.

10. Notwithstanding paragraphs 9(a) — (b) above, nothing in this Judgment shall bar any action by any of the Parties to enforce or effectuate the terms of the Stipulation or this Judgment.

11. Rule 11 Findings — Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(c)(1) and based solely on its review of the record, the Court finds that the Parties and their respective counsel complied with the requirements of Rule 11(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in connection with the Complaint and Amended Complaint, Dkt. Nos. 1 and 32, filed in this Action.

12. Plan of Allocation Approval — The Court finds and concludes that the formula for the calculation of the claims of Claimants as set forth in the Plan of Allocation submitted by Lead Counsel, as described in the Notice and in accordance with paragraph 1(hh) of the Stipulation, is hereby approved as fair, reasonable and adequate. Any further orders or proceedings solely regarding the Plan of Allocation, or any appeal from any order relating thereto or reversal or modification thereof, shall be considered separate and apart from this Judgment and shall not operate to terminate the Settlement or in any way disturb or affect this Judgment, the finality of this Judgment, or the release of the Released Claims. Any orders regarding the Plan of Allocation shall not affect or delay the Effective Date of the Settlement.

13. No Admissions — Neither this Judgment, the Memorandum of Understanding, the Stipulation (whether or not consummated), including the exhibits thereto and the Plan of Allocation contained therein (or any other plan of allocation that may be approved by the Court), the negotiations leading to the execution of the Memorandum of Understanding and the Stipulation, nor any proceedings taken pursuant to or in connection with the Memorandum of Understanding, the Stipulation and/or approval of the Settlement (including any arguments proffered in connection therewith):

(a) shall be offered against any of Defendants or Defendants' Releasees as evidence of, or construed as, or deemed to be evidence of any presumption, concession, or admission by any of Defendants or Defendants' Releasees with respect to the truth of any fact alleged by Plaintiffs or the validity of any claim that was or could have been asserted or the deficiency of any defense that has been or could have been asserted in this Action or in any other litigation, or of any liability, negligence, fault, or other wrongdoing of any kind of any of Defendants or Defendants' Releasees or in any way referred to for any other reason as against any of Defendants or Defendants' Releasees, in any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding, other than such proceedings as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of the Stipulation;

(b) shall be offered against any of Plaintiffs' Releasees, as evidence of, or construed as, or deemed to be evidence of any presumption, concession or admission by any of Plaintiffs' Releasees that any of their claims are without merit, that any of Defendants or Defendants' Releasees had meritorious defenses, or that damages recoverable under the Amended Complaint, Dkt. No. 32, would not have exceeded the Settlement Amount or with respect to any liability, negligence, fault or wrongdoing of any kind, or in any way referred to for any other reason as against any of Plaintiffs' Releasees, in any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding, other than such proceedings as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of the Stipulation; or

(c) shall be construed against any of the Releasees as an admission, concession, or presumption that the consideration to be given under the Settlement represents the amount which could be or would have been recovered after trial; provided, however, that the Parties and the Releasees and their respective counsel may refer to this Judgment and the Stipulation to effectuate the protections from liability granted hereunder and thereunder or otherwise to enforce the terms of the Settlement.

14. Retention of Jurisdiction — Without affecting the finality of this Judgment in any way, this Court retains continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over: (a) the Parties for purposes of the administration, interpretation, implementation and enforcement of the Settlement; (b) the disposition of the Settlement Fund; (c) any motion for an award of attorneys' fees and/or Litigation Expenses by Lead Counsel in the Action that will be paid from the Settlement Fund; (d) any motion to approve the Plan of Allocation; (e) any motion to approve the Class Distribution Order; and (f) the Settlement Class Members for all matters relating to the Action.

15. Modification of the Agreement of Settlement — Without further approval from the Court, Plaintiffs and Defendants are hereby authorized to agree to and adopt such amendments or modifications of the Stipulation or any exhibits attached thereto to effectuate the Settlement that: (a) are not materially inconsistent with this Judgment; and (b) do not materially limit the rights of Settlement Class Members in connection with the Settlement. Without further order of the Court, Plaintiffs and Defendants may agree to reasonable extensions of time to carry out any provisions of the Settlement.

16. Lead Counsel's Attorney Fees and Expenses — The Court hereby awards Lead Counsel attorneys' fees in the amount of $915,750.00, together with the interest earned thereon for the same time period and at the same rate as that earned on the Settlement Fund until paid, and expenses in an amount of $51,440.91. The Court finds that the amount of fees awarded is fair and reasonable in light of the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the case, the skill required to prosecute the case, the experience and ability of the attorneys, awards in similar cases, the contingent nature of the representation and the result obtained for the Settlement Class. Said fees shall be allocated among any other plaintiffs' counsel in a manner which, in Lead Counsel's good-faith judgment, reflects each counsel's contribution to the institution, prosecution, and resolution of the Litigation.

17. Plaintiffs' Expenses Related to Representation of the Settlement Class — The Court hereby awards plaintiff Janita Holgate her reasonable costs and expenses directly related to her representation of the Settlement Class in the amount of $3,000.00. The Court hereby awards plaintiff Linda M. Rich her reasonable costs and expenses directly related to her representation of the Settlement Class in the amount of $3,000.00. The Court hereby awards plaintiff Minako Caddeo her reasonable costs and expenses directly related to her representation of the Settlement Class in the amount of $3,000.00.

18. The awarded attorneys' fees and expenses, and interest earned thereon, as well as any costs or expenses awarded pursuant to the previous paragraph, shall be paid to Lead Counsel (or to the plaintiffs described in the previous paragraph) from the Settlement Fund immediately after the date this Judgment is executed subject to the terms, conditions, and obligations of the Stipulation. Any awards of attorneys' fees and expenses, as well as any costs or expenses awarded pursuant to the previous paragraph, shall in no way affect or delay the finality of this Judgment and shall not affect or delay the Effective Date of the Settlement.

19. Termination of Settlement — If the Settlement is terminated as provided in the Stipulation or the Effective Date of the Settlement otherwise fails to occur, this Judgment shall be vacated, rendered null and void and be of no further force and effect, except as otherwise provided by the Stipulation, and this Judgment shall be without prejudice to the rights of Plaintiffs, the other Settlement Class Members and Defendants, and the Parties shall revert to their respective positions in the Action as of July 26, 2019, as provided in the Stipulation.

20. Entry of Final Judgment — There is no just reason to delay the entry of this Judgment as a final judgment in this Action. Accordingly, the Clerk of the Court is expressly directed to immediately enter this final judgment in this Action.

SO ORDERED.

Exhibit 1

List of Persons and Entities Excluded from the Settlement Class Pursuant to Request

1. Melvin Belsky

2. Adam Klein

3. Vanessa Angelo

4. Roger B. Magee II

5. Jordan Patin

6. Andrew Smith

7. Richard Witvoet

8. Nicole Prum

Source:  Leagle

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