Meyer v. Spanish Dance Arts Company
- Garnett
- 1:25-cv-02782
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 2
Counsel of record per CourtListener. Firm names are approximate.
In Meyer v. Spanish Dance Arts, Judge Garnett approved a $120,000 settlement, approved one-third fees and costs, and dismissed the case with prejudice.
Olivia Meyer and the defendants affected by the approved settlement, including Spanish Dance Arts Company, Inc., and others named in the case.
What happened
In Olivia Meyer v. Spanish Dance Arts Company, Inc., et al., the parties settled claims under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Title VII, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and several New York laws. Because the settlement resolved Fair Labor Standards Act claims, the court reviewed the agreement and the parties’ fairness submission.
The court found the settlement fair and reasonable, considering the claims, the risks and costs of further litigation, the agreement’s non-disparagement provision, its releases, and the settlement payment. The court also found that one-third of the recovery was appropriate for attorneys’ fees and costs.
Judge Margaret M. Garnett approved the settlement subject to court approval of any modification, dismissed the case with prejudice, declared all pending motions moot, canceled all conferences, and directed the Clerk to close the case.
The detailed version
- Meyer v. Spanish Dance Arts Company · No. 1:25-cv-02782
- Garnett
- July 20, 2026
Background
Olivia Meyer brought this action against Spanish Dance Arts Company, Inc., and others under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the New York Labor Law, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law. The parties informed the court that they had reached a settlement in principle. Because the settlement included Fair Labor Standards Act claims, the court required the parties to submit the settlement agreement and a memorandum addressing its fairness.
Settlement Review
After reviewing the agreement and the parties’ joint letter, the court found the settlement fair and reasonable in light of the nature and scope of the claims, and the risks and expenses of continued litigation. The court noted that the non-disparagement provision contained the required exception allowing Meyer to discuss the litigation. It also found that the mutual releases were appropriate even though they covered some future claims unrelated to wage-and-hour matters, given the range of claims in the lawsuit and the parties’ mutual agreement. The court further noted that the settlement payment exceeded Meyer’s likely recovery on the Fair Labor Standards Act claim, that Meyer no longer worked for the defendants, and that she had been represented by competent counsel throughout the litigation.
Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
Meyer sought approval of attorneys’ fees and costs equal to roughly 33.3% of the $120,000 settlement amount. The court stated that courts in the circuit typically approve fees ranging from 30% to 33.33% and concluded that fees equal to one-third of the recovery were appropriate under the circumstances.
Ruling
The court approved the settlement subject to a condition that any modification of the agreement must receive court approval, regardless of any provision allowing the parties to modify it without court approval. The court dismissed the case with prejudice. It also ruled that all pending motions were moot, canceled all conferences, and directed the Clerk of Court to close the case.
Read the full 2-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.