Dulcey v. Comprehensive Health Services, Inc.
Dulcey v. Comprehensive Health Services, Inc.
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA CASE NO. 19-24860-CIV-UNGARO/O’SULLIVAN GILDA DULCEY, Plaintiff, v. COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES, INC., a Florida corporation, Defendant. / ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RECOMMENDING THAT THE CASE BE DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE THIS MATTER came before the Court following a settlement conference before the undersigned and the Court having conducted a hearing concerning the settlement. THE COURT has heard from counsel and considered the terms of the settlement agreement, the pertinent portions of the record, and is otherwise fully advised in the premises. This case involve a claim for unpaid overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act,
29 U.S.C. §201, et seq. ("FLSA"). In reviewing a settlement of an FLSA private claim, a court must "scrutiniz[e] the settlement for fairness," and determine that the settlement is a "fair and reasonable resolution of a bona fide dispute over FLSA provisions." Lynn Food Stores v. United States,
679 F.2d 1350, 1352-53 (11th Cir. 1982). A settlement entered into in an adversarial context where both sides are represented by counsel throughout litigation "is more likely to reflect a reasonable compromise of disputed issues." Id. The district court may approve the settlement in order to promote the policy of encouraging settlement of litigation. Id. at 1354. In this case, there is a factual dispute as to whether the plaintiff was entitled to overtime. The terms of the settlkement were announced on the record in open Court. The Court has reviewed the terms of the settlement agreement including the amount to be received by the plaintiff and the attorney's fees and costs to be received by counsel and finds that the settlement amount is a fair and reasonable resolution of the case. Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the parties’ settlement agreement (including attorney’s fees and costs) is hereby APPROVED. It is further RECOMMENDED that this case be dismissed with prejudice and that the Court retain jurisdiction until April 4, 2020 to enforce the terms of the settlement. DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers At Miami, Florida, this 18th day of February, 2020. GL. J J. O}SULLIVAN CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Reference
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