Knowles v. Dr. Emil Nutrition, LLC

Background

On April 23, 2025, the parties notified the court that they had reached an agreement in principle resolving all issues. The order does not describe the agreement’s terms.

Court’s Order

The court canceled all previously scheduled conferences and other deadlines. It dismissed the case with prejudice and without costs, including attorneys’ fees, to either party. The clerk was directed to terminate all open motions and close the case.

The order permitted the parties to apply within 30 days to reopen the case. Such an application had to show good cause for keeping the case open in light of the settlement, and an application filed after 30 days or without a showing of good cause could be denied on that basis alone.

The parties could also ask the court to retain jurisdiction—the power to enforce the settlement agreement—if, within the same 30-day period, they submitted the agreement under the court’s individual practices and requested an order expressly retaining jurisdiction.

Putative Class Members

The court directed the clerk to remove from the caption the language stating that Carlton Knowles sued individually and on behalf of all other similarly situated persons. Because the parties had not told the court that they intended to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e), which governs certain class settlements and dismissals, the dismissal and any settlement were operative only between Knowles and Dr. Emil Nutrition, LLC. They did not bind absent putative class members.

Disposition

Judge Valerie Caproni dismissed the case with prejudice and without costs, terminated the open motions, and closed the case. The order did not decide the underlying claims on their merits.