Mejia v. Boca Restaurant & Steak House Corp

Background

The court stated that the parties had notified it that they reached a settlement in this Fair Labor Standards Act case. The opinion does not provide the settlement amount, the claims’ specific allegations, or the agreement’s terms.

Settlement-approval requirements

The court advised that the parties could not dismiss the action with prejudice unless the settlement agreement was approved by either the court or the Department of Labor. It directed the parties to file a letter motion or stipulation together with the settlement agreement on the public docket.

The filing must explain why the proposed settlement is fair and reasonable. The court identified these subjects for discussion: the plaintiff’s possible recovery; the burdens and expenses the settlement would avoid; the seriousness of the parties’ litigation risks; whether experienced counsel reached the agreement through arm’s-length bargaining; and the possibility of fraud or collusion. The filing must also address whether a genuine dispute exists about the number of hours worked or the compensation owed, and how much of the settlement the plaintiff’s attorney will seek as fees.

The court stated that, absent special circumstances, it would not approve a settlement filed under seal or in redacted form.

Order

Judge J. Paul Oetken directed the parties to file the required materials by March 4, 2024. This order did not approve or reject the settlement. It also postponed all other filing deadlines, conference dates, and the trial date without setting new dates.