Reyes De Paulino v. Extended At Home Care, Inc

Background

Plaintiff Apolonia Reyes de Paulino sued Extended At Home Care, Extended Nursing Personnel CHAA, LLC, and Extended Holding Company, LLC, doing business under several listed names. The opinion identifies Reyes de Paulino as proceeding individually and on behalf of other similarly situated persons.

On March 14, 2024, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal as to Defendant Extended Nursing Personnel CHAA, LLC. The stipulation stated that Reyes de Paulino voluntarily dismissed all claims and causes of action against that defendant with prejudice under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The opinion states that the dismissal was made under an agreement between the parties, but it does not describe the agreement or expressly state that the entire case had settled.

Court’s Order

The court ordered the parties to submit a joint letter no later than May 6, 2024, clarifying whether they had reached a settlement. If they had, the parties also had to explain why the approval requirements discussed in Cheeks v. Freeport Pancake House, Inc. did not apply. Those requirements generally concern settlements resolving claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the federal wage-and-hour law; the opinion states that such stipulated dismissals with prejudice require approval by the district court or the U.S. Department of Labor to take effect.

The order did not decide the underlying claims, approve a settlement, or otherwise state a final disposition of the case beyond addressing the requested clarification.