Opinion
Case No: 2:14-cv-286-FtM-38DNF
02-12-2015
AMBER REYES, on her behalf and all similarly situated individuals, Plaintiff, v. COLOSSEUM, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, DAVID TOWNSEND, individually, and LYNN PIPPENGER, individually, Defendants.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
TO THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
This cause is before the Court on the parties' Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement (Doc. 34) filed on February 6, 2015. The parties are requesting that the Court approve their settlement of Plaintiff's Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") claim. For the reasons explained below, the Court recommends that the parties' motion be GRANTED.
To approve the settlement, the Court must determine whether the settlement is a "fair and reasonable resolution of a bona fide dispute" of the claims raised pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"). Lynn's Food Store, Inc. v. United States, 679 F.2d 1350, 1355 (11thCir. 1982), and 29 U.S.C. §216. There are two ways for a claim under the FLSA to be settled or compromised. Id. at 1352-3. The first is under 29 U.S.C. § 216(c), providing for the Secretary of Labor to supervise the payments of unpaid wages owed to employees. Id. at 1353. The second is under 29 U.S.C. § 216(b) when an action is brought by employees against their employer to recover back wages. Id. When the employees file suit, the proposed settlement must be presented to the district court for the district court review and determination that the settlement is fair and reasonable. Id. at 1353-54.
The Eleventh Circuit has found settlements to be permissible when the lawsuit is brought by employees under the FLSA for back wages because the lawsuit
provides some assurance of an adversarial context. The employees are likely to be represented by an attorney who can protect their rights under the statute. Thus, when the parties submit a settlement to the court for approval, the settlement is more likely to reflect a reasonable compromise of disputed issues than a mere waiver of statutory rights brought about by an employer's overreaching. If a settlement in an employee FLSA suit does reflect a reasonable compromise over issues, such as FLSA coverage or computation of back wages that are actually in dispute; we allow the district court to approve the settlement in order to promote the policy of encouraging settlement of litigation.Id. at 1354.
Plaintiff worked for Defendant from approximately September of 2011 to October of 2013 as a bartender. The parties have agreed to settle this matter. Under the settlement agreement, Plaintiff will receive $1,750.00 in full settlement of her wage claims and $1,750.00 as liquidated damages. (Doc. 34-1 p. 2-3). Plaintiff's counsel will receive $6,500.00 as compensation for its fees and costs. (Doc. 34-1 p. 2-3). The parties represent that Plaintiff's attorney's fees were agreed upon separately and without regard to the amount paid to Plaintiff. (Doc. 23 p. 2). Pursuant to Bonetti v. Embarq Management Company, 715 F. Supp.2d 1222, 1228 (M.D. Fla. 2009), "the best way to insure that no conflict [of interest between an attorney's economic interests and those of his client] has tainted the settlement is for the parties to reach agreement as to the plaintiff's recovery before the fees of the plaintiff's counsel are considered. If these matters are addressed independently and seriatim, there is no reason to assume that the lawyer's fee has influenced the reasonableness of the plaintiff's settlement." Judge Presnell concluded that
In sum, if the parties submit a proposed FLSA settlement that, (1) constitutes a compromise of the plaintiff's claims; (2) makes full and adequate disclosure of the terms of settlement, including the factors and reasons considered in reaching same and justifying the compromise of the plaintiff's claims; and (3) represents that the plaintiff's attorneys' fee was agreed upon separately and without regard to the amount paid to the plaintiff, then, unless the settlement does not appear reasonable on its face or there is reason to believe that the plaintiff's recovery was adversely affected by the amount of fees paid to his attorney, the Court will approve the settlement without separately considering the reasonableness of the fee to be paid to plaintiff's counsel.Id.
Here, although the parties do not represent that the Plaintiff's attorney's fees were agreed upon separately in this matter, the Court does not find that the fees to be paid to Plaintiff's counsel make the Settlement Agreement unreasonable on its face. Defendants do not contest the fees to be paid to Plaintiff's counsel and have joined in the instant motion to approve the settlement agreement. The Court has reviewed Plaintiff's counsel's time sheets (Doc. 34-2) and case expense report (Doc. 34-3) and finds that the amount to be paid to Plaintiff's counsel is reasonable in this case. For these reasons, the Court finds the parties' Settlement Agreement (Doc. 34-1) to be fair and reasonable.
IT IS RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEDED:
That the parties' Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement (Doc. 34) be GRANTED and the Settlement Agreement (Doc. 34-1) be approved by the Court as a "fair and reasonable resolution of a bona fide dispute" of the FLSA issues. The Court further recommends the Clerk be directed to dismiss this action with prejudice and close the file if the District Court adopts this Report and Recommendation.
Failure to file written objections to the proposed findings and recommendations contained in this report within fourteen (14) days from the date of its filing shall bar an aggrieved party from attacking the factual findings on appeal.
Respectfully recommended in Chambers in Ft. Myers, Florida on February 12, 2015.
/s/_________
DOUGLAS N. FRAZIER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Copies furnished to: Counsel of Record
Unrepresented Parties