Tavarez-Vargas v. New SGC LLC

Background

The caption identified Carmen Tavarez-Vargas as suing New SGC LLC individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated. On March 18, 2022, the parties notified the court that they had reached an agreement in principle resolving all issues.

Court’s Orders

The court ordered that all previously scheduled conferences and other deadlines were canceled. 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 parties were allowed to apply to reopen the case within 30 days. Any such application had to show good cause for keeping the case open despite the parties’ settlement. A request filed after 30 days, or without a showing of good cause, could be denied on that basis alone.

If the parties wanted the court to retain jurisdiction—continuing authority to enforce their settlement agreement—they had to submit the agreement and request an order expressly retaining jurisdiction within the same 30-day period.

Putative Class Members

The court directed the clerk to remove the words “individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated” from the caption. Because the parties had not notified the court that they intended to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e), the dismissal and any settlement applied only between Tavarez-Vargas and New SGC LLC. They did not bind absent putative class members.

Disposition

Judge Valerie Caproni dismissed the case with prejudice, canceled the scheduled proceedings and deadlines, directed the clerk to close the case, and limited the effect of the dismissal and any settlement to the individual plaintiff and defendant.