Opinion
21-CV-1386 (RWL)
07-13-2022
ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ, Plaintiff, v. MOUNT SINAI MORNINGSIDE, et al. Defendants.
ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT
ROBERT W. LEHRBURGER, United States Magistrate Judge.
This case is an action for damages under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. (“FLSA”) and the New York Labor Law. Before the Court is the parties' joint request that the Court approve their settlement agreement, a fully executed copy of which was submitted on July 12, 2022. A federal court is obligated to determine whether settlement of an FLSA case under the court's consideration is fair and reasonable and the subject of an arm's length negotiation, not an employer's overreaching. See Cheeks v. Freeport Pancake House, 796 F.3d 199 (2d Cir. 2015).
The Court assisted in mediating the settlement of this action and has carefully reviewed the Settlement Agreement as well as the parties' letter. The Court has taken into account, without limitation, prior proceedings in this action; the attendant risks, burdens, and costs associated with continuing the action; the range of possible recovery; whether the Settlement Agreement is the product of arm's length bargaining between experienced counsel or parties; the amount of attorney's fees; and the possibility of fraud or collusion. Among other attributes of the Settlement Agreement, there are no confidentiality restrictions; the non-disparagement provision is mutual and contains appropriate exceptions; the release is narrowly tailored to wage and hour claims; and the attorneys' fees are within a fair, reasonable, and acceptable range.
The Court does, however, modify the Settlement Agreement as follows: the last sentence of Paragraph 5 - i.e, the “Nothing herein” qualification -- shall also be deemed to apply to Paragraph 6 and 8.
Considering all the circumstances, the Court finds that the Settlement Agreement, with the noted modification, is fair and reasonable and hereby approved. This case, having resolved by settlement, is hereby dismissed and discontinued in its entirety, with prejudice, without costs or fees to any party, except as provided for in the parties' settlement agreement. The Clerk of Court is respectfully requested to terminate all motions and deadlines, and close this case.
SO ORDERED.