Policao v. Fresh Superette Inc.

Background

The case included one or more claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The parties reached a settlement at a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron on August 11, 2025. They later consented to have all proceedings handled by him.

The court required the parties to submit the settlement agreement and explain why it was fair, reasonable, and adequate. The parties filed a motion seeking approval of the settlement. Plaintiff also provided additional information about service costs, and plaintiff’s counsel clarified the amount of attorney’s fees and costs requested.

Court’s Analysis

The court found that the proposed settlement was fair and reasonable in light of the nature and scope of Plaintiff’s claims and the risks and expenses of continued litigation. It also found that the settlement did not raise concerns about overbroad releases or restrictive confidentiality provisions.

Plaintiff requested approval of $12,154.48 in attorney’s fees and costs, described as approximately one-third of the settlement amount plus costs, under a contingency-fee agreement. The court found the contingency-fee agreement reasonable and approved the requested attorney’s fees.

The court also found the requested costs reasonable. Those costs consisted of $405 in filing fees and $84.15 in service-of-process costs.

Disposition

The court approved the settlement. It dismissed the action with prejudice and without costs except as stated in the settlement agreement. The Clerk of Court was requested to close the case.