De Rosa v. Sicilian Sage LLC

Background

Maurizio De Rosa brought this action under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law against Sicilian Sage and other defendants. The parties consented to the court’s authority under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). After reaching an agreement in principle, they submitted a proposed settlement and a letter explaining why they believed the agreement was fair, reasonable, and adequate.

Settlement Review

Because the action included Fair Labor Standards Act claims, the court reviewed the proposed settlement for fairness. The court considered the parties’ submissions, their representations, and the agreement’s terms. It found that the settlement was fair, reasonable, and adequate both to address De Rosa’s claims and to compensate his counsel for legal fees. The opinion does not state the settlement amount or describe the agreement’s specific financial terms.

Ruling and Effect

Judge Jennifer E. Willis approved the proposed settlement. At the parties’ request, the court retained jurisdiction to enforce the agreement if necessary. The court ordered that the action be discontinued with prejudice and without costs, but provided that De Rosa could apply by letter within 30 days to restore the action to the active calendar if any part of the written settlement documentation was not completed. The Clerk of Court was requested to close the case.