Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action and PAGA Settlement
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privilege against self-incrimination or undermines the integrity of ongoing criminal investigations and prosecutions. Nor have defendants shown that alleged harm to their professional reputations and client relationships warrant sealing these records. “While commercial harm or embarrassment of a party does not alone justify sealing the entire record of a case [citation], it is appropriate to seal certain records when those particular records contain highly sensitive and potentially embarrassing personal information about individuals.” People v. Jackson (2005) 128 Cal.App.4th 1009, 1024. Jackson affirmed a trial court's order sealing certain records to protect the privacy of minors regarding alleged sexual misconduct. Id. at 1021-24.
Defendants have not demonstrated that the records they seek to seal contain the type of highly sensitive and potentially embarrassing personal information courts have found supports sealing court records. Defendants also have not demonstrated that the proposed sealing is narrowly tailored. Defendants’ proposed sealing of at least 15 entire court filings, including 3 court orders, is decidedly not narrowly tailored. Defendants’ contention that only wholesale sealing of these records will suffice is not convincing, but defendants also have not in any event, as discussed above, demonstrated that sealing these court records is otherwise appropriate. Clerk to give notice.
Status Conference
The court has reviewed the parties’ joint status conference statement filed June 4, 2026 (ROA 81), and based thereon continues the June 18, 2026 status conference to September 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in Department CX105. The parties are ordered to file a joint status conference statement at least 5 court days before the hearing. Clerk to give notice. 9 Turner v. Amada America, Inc.
2023-01328405 Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action and PAGA Settlement
The court has reviewed and considered the papers, including the supplemental papers, filed in support of plaintiff’s motion for preliminary approval of a $1,300,000 class action and PAGA settlement. Subject to plaintiff’s submission of the documents identified below, the court grants the motion as follows: $2,500.00 for enhancement award to plaintiff (not to exceed); $390,000.00 for attorneys’ fees (not to exceed); $26,500.00 for attorneys’ costs (not to exceed); $12,000.00 for settlement administration fees (not to exceed); and $25,000.00 total PAGA penalties ($18,750.00 to LWDA).
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Plaintiff is ordered to file and serve by June 25, 2026 a revised proposed order (stating the above amounts) with all exhibits attached as follows: Exhibit 1, fully executed copies of the settlement agreement and addendums thereto; and Exhibit 2, the notice packet (in English and Spanish). The citations to the exhibits in the proposed order should be updated accordingly. In addition, the notice should be revised as follows:
1. The PAGA Period start date on page 2 of the notice and page 3 of the proposed order differs from the PAGA Period start date on page 3 of the notice. The parties should determine the correct state date for the PAGA Period and ensure that the correct date is stated in the notice and in the proposed order.
2. In the second sentence of the third paragraph on page 4 of the notice, the phrase “faxed or” should be inserted before “postmarked.”
3. In the third sentence of the sixth paragraph on page 4 of the notice, the phrase “faxed or” should be inserted before “postmarked.”
4. Next to the second check box on the objection form, the phrase “THE REVERSE SIDE” should be removed.
The final approval hearing is scheduled for November 5, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in Department CX105. The motion for final approval shall be filed at least 16 court days before the hearing. See Department CX105 Guidelines for Approval of Class Action Settlements and PAGA Settlements (www.occourts.org). Plaintiff is ordered to give notice, including to the LWDA, and to file a proof of service. No earlier hearing date is available for this motion. 10
Yeganeh v. Amerisave Mortgage Corporation
2022-01274803 Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action and PAGA Settlement
The court has reviewed and considered the papers filed in support of plaintiff’s motion for preliminary approval of an $873,500 class action and PAGA settlement. The court has the following questions and comments:
1. Were the motion papers served on the LWDA? While counsel’s declaration states the motion papers were submitted electronically to the LWDA (Payton Decl. (ROA 134) ¶ 68), the proof of service (ROA 142) does not include the LWDA. Plaintiff must file with the court a proof of service identifying the specific documents served on the LWDA, when plaintiff served the documents and how service was effected.
2. Plaintiff filed an overlong brief without obtaining leave of court. Plaintiff should not do so again. Failure to comply