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s r c v , a d af r consider g the m v p 2 pa e r s,the Cou r e e b y GR N T S bo mo tions a nd ap p v e th e t lemJras

f ir d as o n bl e . "S ars ' r f s bot h in th is O .

P R OC ED U AL BA K GR OU

The p roc e du al c a t sp t ed.On N mb r 3 , f or gn.al lass ton m a t s f d w ch i clu ed s atu or y d

8 om l w c aim . U a stipula on J nuary 2 0 4 e p ie e d o give pl nt f a o m c mp t ef c v la i n f t

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wtD t Jie Rl f B 9 F llo w in g sev ra tipu on t on i ue h e15 ead n un d rLo ca l R u le 23-3, Plaint f tim ly ov d fr cla s c r t fc io n on

June 7, 2 04 e i g f w c w a s o ed veral m wh th p s

on s lem n Af rf ay m ion a si n eb eono r Lee S r k , epar e each d lem w i e b

jo n ly the no dO A g 16, 05based on a a nj i y ub it by

ourtc clas v w h e leme g e m tnd gr tedrel min y p v lo e c t l Fai r ne H ag

F 7 0 . i e rhas ak n , o lyc uns l esp . w n bj o con ume w oa p o the

a a a o o e Thi ParAd in s ' d l tva6 fr cup u S .

tl m a pro e d f c a by o 2 mI po e c8 to d t r y f s s

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'DISCU ON

A egal S nd r

F ina l prov al of Se tl m n t An Det rm ina on f Go d F h \FderalRu e of P edu (e) Ap vid s: "Theour

pprove any m lun ydism s al, r m e ofth m , su6 o def ns so c t c as ." F d R C P23( ) I A . nd c dingwh r

p ov 'p oposeds l ment, N nth C c t on j c o yt ats t t cul lwh c mplex a o tiga on

c nc ."Clas P int v. Se ,95 d 1268, 1276 (9 h 9

(quo ngL nny v l r 3d 4, 38 9 h 19The e aov i ng ub ic i land q t ngli g

and h p cula y c a t onui ."V n B nkh S Corp ,5 9F.2d 9 0(9 hCir. 9 ) m n spar e i sh c sp o r ed to d s o est o o j d al at943.C eq l , ki mpu a t l ou 's:

r i np n wh is otherwi se a r iv ate con ensual gr m n n go tia ted

betw ee epar ies oa la w su t mustb l mi ed to th x te n nec s ar to reach ar so ed ju dgm n hat the ag m n is ot p uc of a o ov ching

9 by, or co liusi betw negotiat ing parties, and m , tak n s a

whole, is f ir, e onb nd a equat t a c o n c e r ed . Of c ers JCi Se v. om ' , 6 8 F. 2d 615, 25 (9t Cir.1 82); a H n o v.

h s ler Corp., 150 F .3 d 1 , 027 9t h Cir.1 9 )

Ther e f r , "[a] s t em n s h ou ld be ap roved i t is nda al y f i,Iad qua s l ." T v. Tu o El Pw Co ., 8 F. d 370 1375

(9th Cir.1 3) (c t i omit ed).Thisultima e d ec s on i i th e soun d scr io t d c t [ ] ] l p l

27 cl - c o s t l m e nt o n e by-case i ." Ev a ns v . J e D., 475 U 71742, 6 S.Ct 1 31, 89 L Ed.2 74 ( 98 ) Howe v r, a se l m nt he ar ng is "not

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. 'to be into at l r re e s l r tr al onth or sh u)d :,;pr po d se emen"be ju ged t ahypo eticalo eculativem u:whatmig hav ach ev d by t ne a ors.'O p

/688 F.2d 625 To e a e m onof ss r se whe : )co n l ix d r t o ; (2s l m tw e tho g

m'sl ng n go ation ;(3) v st g d d ov y al oouns land th cour t c t ll ly. 19 7

W l w45006 , t* (.D C lJuly 18, 9 7 ("Ti volv e ofxp l a o dt f t g e t

din ' le t got o, er d o dt ke ea e m o a gr t fir."), d 15 3d 234(9t

Cir.1998); Nav l F 8 F.R D 5 8 (N D C 80 f d 661F .2 d 939 (9 C r 98v

T de ine whe e e q tendr e ason abl ,a c ourt may c nsider 1 ome o al " o f h f lowing f to : (I) t es tren gth of plaint fs ' case; (2) he ri k, e p ns c o m p lexi an d ikely d u r ation of

f her g to ; (3) t e risk of m nt i g cl as ac ti on thro ugh o u he trial; (4) th a u f r set lemen ; 5)th e x t n o d cove y ompl te and s g proc di g ; 6) e ex n e and v ws o ou (7 th

pr c of a gov e m en a l par ic a t; (8) th re c t io n o th clas m b r

t he r p se d t m "O c rs f u supr a, 88 F.2 d at 5); Linn y, 2 su r 5 1 F. 3 d at 12 ;T p 8 FJ at 1375. "Thi s l t is n xc usive

and e n f cto s may predomi at n d e re f l o t ts." T i

2 pr ,8 F .3d 1376 (c i atio mi d). O e fc tor l n may p ove de .

S H w v "th e lem n ay o be h produc f c o llus ion a m on g h n egotia a s " I n re M go i ,C rp S c L t 213 F . d 454, 4 8(9

ir. 2000) (cita o ns m ted .


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2 Award t the" Name P intAs anexampl of Secu tieL t gat on e cou sh v h v

3 of ep gra e u era ion o a eprese ve .See Inre Xcel Eher ,} t

Se . D ivat ver sa ig20 5 W st w 840 7(D M A r. 820 5) (w ar g $1 ,0 c cti lyo lai f g , o bedi tribu

mo g e ght le d p t f m a w co sel o Iiv e u m o , d a e ai g e oa a l kep e

e g a a d a e he po u d r g h e u e w ) e Dunn & B ad tree Cre i e v . us om

F R D36 S D O o199 a a din c a pr $5 , 0ea h de J ep e e ves$ , 00 a )) T a ard n al y k

e ub c o y o e i e n o ee D n yJ ke s&13 G chr ,2 05 W e st l aw 388562 (S.D N Y Feb 18, ).

15 3. At om es Fe es

T e Manual fr C o m ple x L t g io (4 h ed.) d is c us es t e m ho f r

17 a cul at n g a o ey f es. Whe a u o ders a la in a to e f s e

8 are w me od avai abe, either ercen ag f he d o s at

19 a w r d. Sta uto aw ar d e a lly ca cula ed us n g he lo es a m h .

0 Sec ion 21.7 r b the l d st r m h s a s t e " u b r o f ho ur as ab

spen on l ga o, m tipl ed y n ho r y e, e a ce ome i s n .

mu " T his e o of u o e c e a a e f e

s h if ng

un d 15 U SC

16 a nd 8 0.

I additi n, 4 N W BE R G ON CLAS A TIO NS (4th e . 200 ) e s

an l zin a o y f es roug t h o c i w h a or e s ge pa d b d o

th e of t e con ra n te r d o h r l t . T er w exc ,

2 7 w h a e he s au ory f e- i ng p v ns a d th e equita ble m n

do ct r ine . I d 14: I T h e c a a w a r ds in cla c ons are t e c a l ul a t d


6/14

u d theperce t ge eth dor e J s a meth . : T e Jo emultiplie ho w ke h e t e u

The e tca b a j s e p s t vely one v y ( i ;f ed1

t as a l i ier) a on v y a ex fthe is s, h q y he rp es n a io , h g b n f obtai e.d fr g l dh i

no p e t F hecou oppr ov ea dju m nt e t e fr fes t pr n h wa en ren ca

8 e nin a o b l . I T me be e c

to per n g w mo r y

f ctst e esults achie ved. I d.Wh o o mon n and h b n f p vh

p rc n t age method of c a lc u l a t io n is napp opr tand th e L s m h ds ul

be ap lie , b ca s t e rcen ge m h pp b Zucher v. O

Peto l umC rp., 968 F. S 13 6 1400 ( .D C 1997) Mu tipli r a eo

applied to he L o destar m ethod t o ref ct counsel' ris k in ta ki g o uch

6 i ga on o d e e a d om e s i x c h

7 l s Id. 40In c e, h Lo tar o d sho u b s d o culat t he rey

1 fe du e to th fc th v U b t o h cias b ased o u r .of pe son wh red em th c up ons ) is spe la t iv , mak ng the perc nt ag d

1 unr lia ble whe re s e Lo de t ar m h c t s a reaso able amou nt f t o y2 f es. I h i ng , inru v s c m o L al :

"In -call d fe shif ng cases in w hic t e res on bli y o p y a o rey fee is s atutorily or o th erwi s t a nsf r e d o m the

.p reva il ng p laintif o c as to h e def ant, th p imary method fr

a g e amou of "r n b y is d s

7 me tho d. " L a a v. B n f al C al or i , Ic. 97 C l R ptr. 2 79 ,803 (9 h Cir. 20 ) O c the cou has fx e d h e l destar , y


7/14

in a o d c as that by applying a p sitive n gative :!

2 "mu tiplier to take i ac oun a va ieyof o h r to rs, includ g:th quality of h e rep e en a io, the ovel yand co p lexi yof th e >

l '

is u ,th r u ob ain , dthe conti g t r sk p d.J (P , CaA o neyFee Awards (Co t Ed.Bar2d . 9 8)13 - .7 )

A er c nsider o n ea on ble e f eq st8 e ould e l ok h e f h eme t r m d l m ay

prov lr e . agr m n ingh yf ou b

mp e te by eco b ec u chp e tere t agr e en v th

r e ne e n t agr m ntw s t e podu 2 Fi ll od m h s be upp e e e i o i i ul pl3 ba o gh f erep s n a io l lher inve g

o her l c io t he cl s Do k t No .5215 53, an d 54), thecomplexity of th e is ue (whic se v id e n t by th ssu being ne

of mp n) t e ov al res u t obtain ed lar ge cla s num b er f

po

ten i

al m bers ( .2 l on co n sum e r na t onw d) a n d hec o n t ng e t risk

pr se nt d to h a r ys re p r ese n in t h c se ( is c ase no a s ur n ce of

s u cc e g iv n the n o ve l t e o y of re c o v e r ) .

In n a lyz in g th e se h to s r undi g a ey f ee plicat ons, th e

1 a ly s b gi with h e ou ' nvol em w ith e p o o ed a tqmey f s.

W en making an a s sm en pur s a t to R ul e 23(e ), h ou ' "i tr s up

w hat is o he wise a priv te con e sua gr me t ego t d b w n t e ar ies t l w u m be li d to he exte t n c o r a h a r son judgment a

25 he greem nt is n the produc of f aud r over ac i g by, or co llu on w

h n ia n p s and th e s lm , k w o i f r b

7 a nd adequ t to l con e r e d." In e H e B nd L t g , 200 W l w

94403 a t *2 (C.D Ca . 20 5). "Ther fo a l me t h ul b p o ved f it

7


8/14

ndamen a ly adequate a d " A "pr su t on ( : .1

s e wh r : ) cou selsx er e e in ait ga on; (2)e l meni:a :J

3 r h m1 le hnegotia o s; (3)ves ondd sc a .f i n wcoun el d t ou t c eJ I g tly." i ey

5 A a kaC ?1997 We l w450 6 ,a * 5(N.D Cal 1 97)L d st rl lat o s a d m dby mu iply g then mb of u e o bly

7 exp nd ddu i g l g y re s blou ly r d pic l y u e8 a t e en s e valu is o i cu to d i a

S Cou as d c e l ss i p e l

n go i e t yhese e e t of ac ni l bu s h p ymtor 's f s In an a LCo P i it g 998UD st. L x 232 7, * 9(S.D al 9 8 W . MG -P

1 3 o 29 F 3 6, l 027(9 h p r tom t d). If the am u n of the fe s and xp es wil not a ct he cla s 's

e cover y and t h par y pa y in g the b i l do e no t op ose the reque st, t c ou mu t

1 st l e v ie w t o n ur r ea o ab l s u n d e r Rule 23(e ) . I at 0.

1 Wh nr view g a at or yfe p ica t on, he ra te s r eq u e st e d sh oul be 8 co so a t wi h f e war c se of m ar c mplexity and dif culty. Blu m

19 n , _ ALCITO8 8 10 4 c1tA '0T 2, Q( (198 ) ' ;, "t f .n le ns o O U .r 0 u , ' :. ' , I 7 L U 0 l VJU L au

u wa ad justmen t h f aw d, h cou ak s in co ns ider at th qu l t

of r a io and wh h r he l gation w a s. co plex. Id Sinc e t h e

2 k o l dg e of th e " e s u lt o ned" ge ner a l ly l b su m w th

23 o h r f ors us ed to alc u lat e a on ble f e, i ll y d o s t p ovid as a n

4 i pe e n bas s inc r e s ing the f e war I 9 0. I n o e w rd , th s

f c or s neutral. Sim l ly, th e n um be o f p e rs o n b n f ted is n ot a co n s dera ti

of sign fca e wh ul t or y e I .16, t t g t d d

7 888

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9/14

Ov a Lod ar ods ou eus dto l a o ey:, s-1t

ue t t atthe v a1b n h c ssba s n f pr on.-t

wh d e c p i p cula v , h r ag f4 wherea e lodes me o r es re ona bl amount. The ag ee t

c e n eatto ef o l b p n by th b ea ty n a nt oh f h ' s t s

7 agre m t .wasno p od c f l sion.Th g m uld lb seh U d S S r eCo s ca d ht a ou of e

b n om e m nt i sign a ,whe s ra lbe e

10 l sa a e ould b dered. F al e Lo es a oube1 pp men i u p a d on h ho

a n l xi h iss s c is ev dent t e be n f

r m ss o r r s r l g s b ; ec nt ng e kp ese dto t at orey s rep s tig h case.

B An lysi

M tion r F al A p ova ofe e eA De e t onG d a t

Wi h n a mos w oand h va a c o

m d a , Honor ab le . L e S ok n, e e ar iv l d f a

21 s ttlem n ( h "S l ). T i Se lment fllo ws co s d rabl disco y and

w d p o itio n , carefl ve t gat t t mr f. hi c io , a d

2 c sidera ble n got a ad med . Throug sproces , thepari es l ntai

24 a h y werebl d e e r ga g eene s o t ei ga o vers eg i s Fo he

e o pp v ' m

equ a te and m ade in go d fit h.


10/14

a T he Sett l m n t I Fair d Adequ at U nd er R l :2 3 Ll, 1

, I

lTh e S e tt le

men

t w s t e re

su l of a s-leng!,

4 i r ed, a n d (Ret.) Judg -as i ted me d ia t o n

s T s r e c he d i i r ul of x v - 6 negotia s nd f rm al m d i t a tion s by mp t couns l x ri ed i the

FCR , pa ticul r y vol ing p rivacy l s c i ga on. The parties an d th e ir

re p ctiv coun l hav d v d con sid r bl a ou of tme, ef r

r sou o the n S t m n .

l Th e Co ur fnd s no v id c to s ugge st tha t h e s tlement ach d we re1 1 h pr od c o f au r si , b f d a ing on th e pa r i s . T h lengt 12 o f m e e o achiev h se lem n t n t he c l ga o o t i c as e

ev iden ces t ha th e s tlem en w r re a che in g oo d f i h. Furthe , th e

mediaton p ces w a lso uperis a b y R t.Circ t Co ur Judge H. L Sarok n, p ov d g f the r in d icia of t h e abs nc e o f lus o o fa ud.

16T e streng h fPla if 'case ri*,expense,comp xit a d ike y f her

lit ga onvor v S lem0 "I mo tua i n ,u h s m ntclearly i ad qa ,

ac pp ova e p ef blo engt y d e s v l ig w thr sul ! T m C pEC R D 3

526 (C D. l 20 4)q g4C e

& HN w e Cla24 A :50at (4 ed. 20 ) s e ia l tre of a ctio

p r icu a ly fs uri es cl a mb c f typ al m l x y.MD G b T c . C , F S d ( D Y 0 );

Sumitom C p er L g., 189F D274 ( D N Y 999)(H la ons s


11/14

in ave reputation gmo t compl x ..' ) (q o t o2 mi ted

h a i volvedondu h t f cted ap roxim ely.2 l on4 consum rs hos creditr p sw reob a daf r ir w5 a d y uts n i g b l c s s to ebt . a t p

hePla t f sa b , a wou d be, plexan kyto eiga e u hw gdo g lleged

w g i ga n g i c . Td ag o av9 a y o v g vha som r on ,s ch h ,

0 wer aw r na u po - o u s o th , w m ys fher l c dit po b ngob ain b Se s.Th C u o s giv e ela ze e e l k lh e t a

t a go o a a d o - lm p t cFu e or , c a app c wou dk ly fl lof proc edings in sC o ur t f th m lit a e s in v r of na l ap r v lof the

S le me t See N at'/ Rural, 221 F R D. at 527.

Al o v ring a pr oval of t h S t m n s the k o wl dge ha t, w hile

P t con ent f th s r ng h of h s ca , i ud o r

u tim t su c c ess a t ri l and th eaf er. " It is k o wn f m pas t exp r nc th t n o

att r ow co den n ma y b e f he ou com of li t ga ion , suc h co den e i

2 o p d." t e o f We st V g ini v. C ha . P f ze & C ,3 4 F p. 7 07 3- 4 (S.D N Y 9 0), a d 4 40 F .2 d 1 9 (2d Cir.) , cert. d ni , Cotl Drugs

In c . v . C has Pf zer & C ., 04 U S. 8 1, 92 S.Ct 8 3 L Ed d 5 ( 97 ); e

2 I m m o pe L t 89 F R.D a t 28 (discu ng ev ral i ta

w s m n a r j c by cour l h v p if i

r ecov r y be le s t h an t h pro osed s tlem nt).


12/14

I the pr n ma t , i sndi t a a nge n a ts avexpl yd n w ongd i g b i yn h bo def a ts v cr ib

e e la if msTher f , ont ued l g o r4 co o , so d a o w ct t il y 5 each a ty spe ia yPla ubj d a 6 b a s a b r en o o g c s .

S of s i ta t o a a

hi a e di A e cou i S oug B s ni258 F Sup .

9 54, 6 - 1 ( D N Y 3) o :

I E n f a a o w w ngto a al l r ks o s i h c or gh h rl ioa ri ,

ofi w d n o u to e r k t m ]d s b ec d i gh o e mv

o o y k c es v l b t hi c n .co

*8 p 0( t ng o ot er c sIn Agent

Oan e L b. t g61 F.Sup 39 405 E . 985"[M] c fte al ue of a s lement li s in the ab liy to make nds a vailab l e prom tly.")

As d cu s b ov , d pit p rceiv d st en g h of Pl n f c ase f h r

l gat on w u d like ybe p otrac dand complex, nd o e gr sk P if s

2 p ssible eco . Thes f c o wei h v lyin vo of p r ng

l men .

5 3 T o t th t t p ov l he e

7 S e n ih sa on q at onand ao so $ 2 m i li on in c u ns r a Se a s s r It s ou b n d


13/14

r

. t Sea coup nsr i a k s to ttlem sthat , d

. lWby il0 f0 ! 1 c Hnd P h : rp oif .h:nqe at :

anchise of u m v op

4 T h e Se lem nt was achiev d d sp t sub a i resista nce fo h ,5 D e f nd a n t s . Giv en th e d f c u l y o br g nthis Set lem n to fruit o , the

l genef sof cou s l and ev an as law, theC u t th e

7 f s l m ti q a a r a ab .

O

4 Th moun fdi h g

h ca vor p ro f l m" x to v y b ] va e ng h a quay f

p ar ' w dg he ca N '!R F.R D 527(q M lr m l x i t ,(T d) 30 42 19 5 )."'A u mo k y

14 a v as nm d co y cq b caus it g e t a5 hep r a at c mp oms b d a un ersta di g of g al a

fc u l ssues suro undi g he c se ."' Id. (quot ing 5 M o re' s F eder a l Pract ce,17 23.85[ ] (Ma thew Be nd r 3d .)

As ndic a ted above, t i s tiga n ha nvolved u s aJti al l

20 m d i co e . Mer ts d cov e y in c t i n had n t ye begun, at t

h S tleme wa a , P a d b en g in th act on ar y

y a a s ow well ov t o years n the comp w as f led. It i se :sib 23 o be v tha P i f a d he w fe a r as na le u r ndi g f

24 b o h t st r eng h n eak s o f th respect ve s,as l as a a al

id a f th p oten t i a l m unts of (any) recove abl d m g s. Thi c r s onglyf v o rs pp vg the ttl m n .

28

-


14/14

- 5) Experi ed co un se] ' s in vo l e m e t i n th s ac ont -i

w e ights in v r of approving he S ttl m r: '

" 'Gr at ight a d h reco m ndati f c u s l,w at s, .4 osely acq ai t dw t thef c s he u r yl ti a on."' N '/R "2 1

F R D t528(q oti g P F.R D 104,(S D N Y 1997)pr s mp n c e s sa d o a l ss

7 l e ea d ar' - ng hn g s e wee e e e ced ca8 u s a er m a g l cov ."Manuel C p ex t g ioTh

30.42(1 5 ;se al M. Ber n o C ,. uH k tp c I

10 67 F Sup 8 8(D Ma ) "W rhe o edclas

1 e nas e r ache a er e n o e y, a e a 'en

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Keener v Sears 13-6