UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI EASTERN DIVISION

KATHERINE WALDEN, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) Case No. 4:23-cv-01067-MTS ) PERFORMANCE DOOR AND ) HARDWARE GROUP, LLC, et al., ) ) Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER This matter is before the Court on the Joint Motions for Approval of Settlement. Docs. [30], [31]. Though it is unsettled whether federal law requires judicial approval of all settlements under the Fair Labor Standards Act, see Barbee v. Big River Steel, LLC,

, 1026–27 (8th Cir. 2019), the Court will review the settlement at the parties’ request so as to not leave them in an “uncertain position,” Doc. [30] at 4. See, e.g., Tanner v. Empire Financing, Co., 4:19-cv-0825-SEP,

, at *1 (E.D. Mo. Dec. 11, 2020); Van Winkle v. Mick Keane’s Express Delivery Serv., Inc., 4:21-cv-1213-NCC,

, at *1 (E.D. Mo. Apr. 14, 2022); Moore v. Nat’l Vision, Inc., 4:23-cv-0593-MTS,

, at *1 (E.D. Mo. Sept. 22, 2023). After examining the settlement agreements and the parties’ filings, the Court concludes that the litigation involves a bona fide dispute and the settlements the parties propose is fair and equitable to each side. See Tanner,

at *1–2; see also Williams v. BPV Mkt. Place Invs., LLC, 4:14-cv-1047-CAS,

, at *2 (E.D. Mo. Oct. 7, 2014). Thus, the Court will approve the parties’ joint proposed settlements. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff and Defendants Performance Door and Hardware Group, LLC, Comarco Complete Door Systems, LLC, and PC Hardware, LLC’s Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement, Doc. [30], is GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the that Plaintiff and Defendant James G. Stethem’s Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement, Doc. [31], is GRANTED. IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that the parties shall file appropriate dismissal papers in this action, or a status update on the progress of the execution of the settlement, no later than February 20, 2024. Failure to do so timely may result in dismissal of this action without further notice. Dated this 29th day of January 2024. ) | (Lil MATTHEW T. SCHELP UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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