“[C]ourts typically 22 calculate 25% of the fund as the ‘benchmark’ for a reasonable fee award, providing adequate 23 explanation in the record of any ‘special circumstances’ justifying a departure.”
How later courts described this case
- “[C]ourts typically 22 calculate 25% of the fund as the ‘benchmark’ for a reasonable fee award, providing adequate 23 explanation in the record of any ‘special circumstances’ justifying a departure.”
- “Notice is 6 satisfactory if it generally describes the terms of the settlement in sufficient detail to alert those 7 with adverse viewpoints to investigate and to come forward and be heard.” (citation and 8 quotations omitted)
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
1
2
3
4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
6
7 GREG FLEMING, et al., Case No. 16-cv-06557-HSG
8 Plaintiffs, ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY
APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT
9 v.
Re: Dkt. No. 110
10 IMPAX LABORATORIES INC., et al.,
11 Defendants.
12
13 Pending before the Court is the unopposed motion for preliminary approval of class action
14 settlement filed by New York Hotel Trades Council & Hotel Association of New York City, Inc.
15 Pension Fund (“New York Hotel Trades Council”) and proposed class representative Sheet Metal
16 Workers’ Pension Plan of Southern California, Arizona and Nevada (“Sheet Metal Workers’
17 Fund” or the “Class Representative” and together with New York Hotel Trades Council, the “Lead
18 Plaintiffs”).1 Dkt. No. 110 (“Mot.”). The parties have reached a settlement regarding Plaintiffs’
19 claims and now seek preliminary approval. On October 14, 2021, the Court held a telephonic
20 hearing on the motion. For the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS Lead Plaintiffs’
21 motion for preliminary approval of class action settlement.
22 I. BACKGROUND
23 A. Factual and Procedural Background
24 New York Hotel Trades Council asserts violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the
25
26
1 The Court named New York Hotel Trades Council Lead Plaintiff in February 2017. Dkt. No. 29.
The pending motion for preliminary approval was brought by both New York Hotel Trades
27
Council and Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund. See Mot. at i. For clarity’s sake, the term “Lead
1 Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b) and Rule 10b-5 against Impax Laboratories Inc. (“Impax”),
2 George Wilkinson, Larry Hsu, Bryan Reasons, and Carole Ben-Maimon (collectively,
3 “Defendants”). On April 17, 2018, New York Hotel Trades Council filed a first amended
4 complaint, raising these claims on behalf of itself and others similarly situated: persons who
5 purchased or otherwise acquired publicly-traded Impax securities between February 20, 2014 and
6 January 11, 2017. Dkt. No. 32 ¶ 2. The Court dismissed the first amended complaint with leave
7 to amend, Dkt. No. 66, after which New York Hotel Trades Council filed a second amended
8 complaint asserting the same claims, Dkt. No. 71 (“SAC”). On August 12, 2019, the Court
9 dismissed the second amended complaint with prejudice, and New York Hotel Trades Council
10 appealed. Dkt. Nos. 86-87.
11 On September 17, 2020, the parties attended an all-day mediation with the Honorable Layn
12 Phillips (Ret.), a mediator with experience in complex securities litigation. Mot. at 1-3. Prior to
13 the mediation, the parties submitted mediation statements. Id. at 3. Though the parties did not
14 reach a resolution at the time, they continued their mediation efforts with the assistance of Judge
15 Phillips. Id.
16 On January 11, 2021, the Ninth Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part the Court’s
17 dismissal order. Dkt. No. 89. On January 25, 2021, Defendants moved for rehearing and
18 rehearing en banc. App. Dkt. No. 42. On February 8, 2021, the Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund
19 jointly moved with New York Hotel Trades Council to allow the Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund to
20 intervene as an additional named plaintiff. App. Dkt. No. 43. On March 24, 2021, the Ninth
21 Circuit denied the petition for rehearing and denied the motion to intervene “without prejudice to
22 seek leave to intervene on remand.” App. Dkt. No. 47-48. On April 1, 2021, the Ninth Circuit’s
23 mandate issued. Dkt. No. 90.
24 On April 5, 2021, New York Hotel Trades Council and the Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund
25 renewed the intervention motion with this Court. Dkt. No. 93. Defendants also moved to dismiss
26 the second amended complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Dkt. No. 96. The Court
27 took the motion to intervene, Dkt. No. 93, and the motion to dismiss the second amended
1 On June 26, 2021, Judge Phillips issued a mediator’s proposal to settle the action for $33
2 million. Mot. at 3. The parties accepted the proposal and filed a joint notice of settlement in
3 principle and asked the Court to defer ruling on the motions to intervene and to dismiss. Id.; Dkt.
4 No. 109. On July 30, 2021, Lead Plaintiffs filed the pending unopposed motion for preliminary
5 approval of the proposed settlement. Dkt. No. 110. On October 14, 2021, the Court held a
6 hearing on the motion, and the parties agreed to raise the minimum payment for every class
7 member to $10.00. See Dkt. No. 116. On October 20, 2021, the parties submitted an amended
8 stipulation of settlement and a supplemental brief explaining the rationale for the proposed cy pres
9 recipient. See Dkt. No. 118. The parties’ initial proposed cy pres recipient, however, was “on
10 pause,” and the Court expressed concern that the proposed cy pres recipient might not exist at the
11 time of the distribution of funds. See Dkt. No. 118 at 1; Dkt. No. 120. On October 28, 2021, the
12 parties submitted a second amended stipulation of settlement and a second supplemental brief
13 proposing a new cy pres recipient. Dkt. No. 121.
14 B. Settlement Agreement
15 Following motion practice, an appeal to the Ninth Circuit, and settlement negotiations, the
16 parties signed a stipulation of settlement on July 30, 2021, Dkt. No. 110, Ex. 1 to Decl. of
17 Theodore J. Pintar, which they amended on October 20, 2021, Dkt. No. 118, Ex. A, and on
18 October 28, 2021, Dkt. No. 121, Ex. A (“Second Amended Settlement Stipulation” or “SASS”).
19 The key terms of the Second Amended Settlement Stipulation are as follows:
20 Class Definition: The Settlement Class is defined as: “all Persons that purchased or
21 acquired Impax common stock or 2% Convertible Senior Notes between February 20, 2014 and
22 August 9, 2016, inclusive.”2 SASS at ¶ 1.4.
23
24
2 Under the Second Amended Settlement Stipulation, excluded from the Class are: (i) Defendants;
(ii) members of the immediate families of the Individual Defendants; (iii) Impax’s subsidiaries;
25
(iv) the officers and directors of Impax during the Class Period; (v) any entity in which any
Defendant has a controlling interest; and (vi) the legal representatives, heirs, successors and
26
assigns of any such excluded person or entity. Also excluded from the Class will be any Person
who timely and validly seeks exclusion from the Class. The Class definition in the Second
27
Amended Settlement Stipulation differs from the one in the Second Amendment Complaint as it
1 Settlement Benefits: Defendants will deposit $33 million into a “Settlement Fund.” Id. at
2 ¶¶ 1.33-34, 2.1. After deduction of all taxes, administrative costs, litigation expenses, attorneys’
3 fees, and any incentive award to Lead Plaintiffs for its costs and expenses, the balance (the “Net
4 Settlement Fund”) will be distributed to the Settlement Class Members under the Plan of
5 Allocation. Id. at ¶ 5.4-5. Defendants shall not have a reversionary interest in the Net Settlement
6 Fund. Id. at ¶ 5.9.
7 According to the Plan of Allocation, which is defined in the Proposed Notice, at least 95%
8 of the Net Settlement Fund will be allocated to Impax common stock and no more than 5% of the
9 Net Settlement Fund will be allocated to 2% Convertible Senior Notes. Dkt. No. 121, Ex. A-1
10 (“Proposed Notice”) at ¶¶ 28-30. A Recognized Loss Amount will be calculated for each
11 purchase or acquisition of Impax common stock and 2% Convertible Senior Notes during the
12 Class Period according to the formulas set forth in the Plan of Allocation. Id. at ¶ 32. The
13 formulas estimate the decline in the stock price – based on when the stock was purchased and sold
14 – that Plaintiffs allege occurred as a result of Defendants’ allegedly false statements and omitted
15 material facts during the Class Period. Id. A claimant’s Recognized Claim is the sum of all the
16 claimant’s Recognized Loss Amounts. Id. at ¶ 35. The Net Settlement Fund will be distributed on
17 a pro rata basis based on the relative size of all the authorized claimants’ Recognized Claims. Id.
18 at ¶ 36. To calculate each claimant’s share, also called a claimant’s “Distribution Amount,” the
19 claimant’s Recognized Claim is divided by the total sum of all Recognized Claims, and this figure
20 is then multiplied by the total amount in the Net Settlement Fund. Id. If any claimant’s
21 Distribution Amount calculates to less than $10.00, the claimant’s Distribution Amount will be
22 increased to $10.00. Id.
23 If after the initial distribution has occurred Lead Counsel, in consultation with the Claims
24 Administrator, determine that it is cost-effective to make a further distribution, the Claims
25 Administrator shall redistribute the funds remaining after payment of any fees and expenses. Id. at
26 ¶ 41. To receive a redistribution payment, a claimant must have cashed their initial distribution
27 check(s). Id. These redistribution processes will repeat until not cost-effective given the
1 Cy Pres Distribution: If (1) any portion of the Net Settlement Fund remains following
2 distribution and any redistributions under the Plan of Allocation; and (2) in the discretion of Lead
3 Counsel in consultation with the Claims Administrator, the remainder is not cost effective or
4 efficient to redistribute to the Settlement Class, then the remaining funds will be contributed to the
5 Investor Protection Trust. Id.
6 Release: Under the Second Amended Settlement Stipulation, all “Released Claims” and all
7 “Released Defendants’ Claims” against all “Released Parties” shall be released. “Released
8 Claims” are defined as follows:
9
[A]ny and all claims, rights, liabilities, and causes of action of every
10 nature and description, including both known claims and Unknown
Claims, whether contingent or absolute, mature or unmature,
11 discoverable or undiscoverable, liquidated or unliquidated, accrued or
unaccrued, including those that are concealed or hidden, regardless of
12 legal or equitable theory, that Lead Plaintiff or any other member(s)
of the Class asserted or could have asserted in any forum that both (i)
13 arise out of, are based upon, or are related in any way to the
allegations, transactions, facts, events, matters, occurrences,
14 disclosures, statements, representations, or omissions referred to in
the Action, and (ii) relate to the purchase or acquisition of Impax
15 common stock or 2% Convertible Senior Notes by the Class during
the Class Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Released Claims”
16 does not include claims relating to the enforcement of the Settlement
17 SASS at ¶ 1.27. “Released Defendants’ Claims” are defined as follows:
18
[A]ll claims and causes of action of every nature and description,
19 including both known claims and Unknown Claims (as defined
below), whether arising under federal, state, common or foreign law,
20 or any other law, that Defendants could have asserted against any of
the Released Plaintiff Parties, including Lead Counsel, that arise out
21 of or relate in any way to the institution, prosecution, or settlement of
the claims in the Action, except for claims relating to the enforcement
22 of the Settlement.
23 Id. at ¶ 1.29. The “Released Parties,” in turn, are “Released Defendant Parties” and
24 “Released Plaintiff Parties.” Id. at ¶ 1.30. “Released Defendant Parties” are defined as
25 Defendants and each and all of their related persons. Id. at ¶¶ 1.26, 1.28. “Released Plaintiff
26 Parties” are defined as follows:
27
partners, employees, contractors, auditors, principals, agents,
1 attorneys, predecessors, successors, assigns, insurers, parents,
subsidiaries, general or limited partners or partnerships, and limited
2 liability companies; and the spouses, members of the immediate
families, representatives, and heirs of any Released Plaintiff Party
3 who is an individual, as well as any trust of which any Released
Plaintiff Party is the settlor or which is for the benefit of any of their
4 immediate family members. Released Plaintiff Parties does not
include any Person who timely and validly seeks exclusion from the
5 Class.
6 Id. at ¶ 1.31.
7 Class Notice: Under the Second Amended Settlement Stipulation, a third-party settlement
8 administrator (or “Claims Administrator”) will mail notice of the class action settlement and a
9 claim form to all potential class members who can reasonably be identified and located. Mot. at
10 21. To help identify the class members, Defendants will provide the Claims Administrator with
11 lists containing the names and addresses, and email addresses (if available), of record holders of
12 Impax common stock or 2% Convertible Senior Notes during the Class Period, to the extent such
13 lists are reasonably available from Impax’s stock transfer agent. Dkt. No. 110, Attach. 3 at ¶ 5.
14 The Claims Administrator will also notify banks, brokers, and other nominees who may hold the
15 securities at issue on behalf of a beneficial purchaser. Id. at ¶ 6. The Claims Administrator will
16 ask that the nominees either forward the settlement notice and a claim form to the potential class
17 members or provide the potential class members’ names and contact information to the Claims
18 Administrator. Id. at ¶¶ 6-9. In addition to sending out the notice packets, the Claims
19 Administrator will (1) publish a summary notice in the Wall Street Journal and over PR
20 Newswire, id. at ¶ 11; (2) design and maintain a website (www.ImpaxSecuritiesSettlement.com)
21 with information for potential class members, id. at ¶ 12; (3) establish and staff a toll-free
22 telephone number and email address to answer questions about the settlement, id. at ¶ 13; and (4)
23 send the Depository Trust Company a notice and claim form to publish on its Legal Notice
24 System, id. at ¶ 8.
25 Opt-Out Procedure: If the settlement is approved by the Court, any member of the
26 Settlement Class who does not submit a timely written request for exclusion will be bound by the
27 terms of the Second Amended Settlement Stipulation and by any judgment or determination
1 by submitting a valid and timely written request via first-class mail to the Claims Administrator,
2 which request must include “the number of shares of Impax common stock or the 2% Convertible
3 Senior Notes that the Person requesting exclusion (i) owned as of the opening of trading on
4 February 20, 2014; and (ii) purchased, acquired and/or sold from February 20, 2014 through
5 August 9, 2016, inclusive, as well as the number of shares, dates and prices for each such
6 purchase, acquisition and sale.” Id. at ¶ 56. All persons who submit valid and timely requests for
7 exclusion will not be eligible to receive any benefit from the Settlement but will retain the right to
8 be a part of any other lawsuit against any of the Released Defendant Parties with respect to any of
9 the Released Claims. Id. at ¶ 54. The notice sent to Settlement Class Members will note the date
10 by which the exclusion request must be received by the Claims Administrator, and the parties
11 suggest this date be set at twenty-one days prior to the Final Approval Hearing. Dkt. No. 110,
12 App. A at 5.
13 Incentive Award: According to the Second Amended Settlement Stipulation, Lead
14 Plaintiffs may submit an application for an award from the Settlement Fund pursuant to 15 U.S.C.
15 § 78u-4(a)(4) in connection with their representation of the class. SASS at ¶ 6.1. In their motion
16 for preliminary approval, Lead Plaintiffs state they intend to request an amount not to exceed a
17 total of $15,000. Mot. at 4.
18 Attorneys’ Fees and Costs: The Second Amended Settlement Stipulation states that any
19 attorneys’ fees and expenses, as awarded by the court, shall be paid from the Settlement Fund.
20 SASS at ¶ 6.1-2. Lead Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval states that Lead Counsel will
21 request (a) an award of attorneys’ fees not greater than 30% of the Settlement Amount, (b)
22 payment of expenses or charges resulting from the prosecution of the Action not in excess of
23 $250,000, and (c) interest on such amounts at the same rate and for the same period as earned by
24 the Settlement Fund. Mot. at 4.
25 C. Supplemental Agreement
26 The parties reference a confidential supplemental agreement as part of the class action
27 settlement. SASS at ¶ 7.3. The supplemental agreement details the conditions under which
1 settlement class exceed a certain threshold. See id.; see also Mot. at 4.
2 As directed by the Court during the preliminary approval hearing, the parties submitted the
3 supplemental agreement for in camera review on October 15, 2021.
4 II. PROVISIAL CLASS CERTIFICATION
5 The plaintiff bears the burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that class
6 certification is appropriate under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v.
7 Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 350–51 (2011). Class certification is a two-step process. First, a plaintiff
8 must establish that each of the four requirements of Rule 23(a) is met: numerosity, commonality,
9 typicality, and adequacy of representation. Id. at 349. Second, it must establish that at least one of
10 the bases for certification under Rule 23(b) is met. Where, as here, a plaintiff seeks to certify a
11 class under Rule 23(b)(3), it must show that “questions of law or fact common to class members
12 predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class action is
13 superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the controversy.” Fed.
14 R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3).
15 “The criteria for class certification are applied differently in litigation classes and
16 settlement classes.” In re Hyundai & Kia Fuel Econ. Litig., 926 F.3d 539, 556 (9th Cir. 2019)
17 (“Hyundai II”). When deciding whether to certify a litigation class, a district court must consider
18 manageability at trial. Id. However, this concern is not present in certifying a settlement class.
19 Id. at 556–57. In deciding whether to certify a settlement class, a district court “must give
20 heightened attention to the definition of the class or subclasses.” Id. at 557.
21 A. Rule 23(a) Certification
22 i. Numerosity
23 Rule 23(a)(1) requires that the putative class be “so numerous that joinder of all members
24 is impracticable.” The Court finds that numerosity is satisfied here because as of August 4, 2016,
25 the start of the Class Period, there were 73,859,323 Impax common shares outstanding. Mot. at
26 17. Joinder of potentially hundreds of thousands of class members would be impracticable.
27 ii. Commonality
1 contention is sufficiently common where “it is capable of classwide resolution — which means
2 that determination of its truth or falsity will resolve an issue that is central to the validity of each
3 one of the claims in one stroke.” Dukes, 564 U.S at 350. Commonality exists where “the
4 circumstances of each particular class member vary but retain a common core of factual or legal
5 issues with the rest of the class.” Parra v. Bashas’, Inc., 536 F.3d 975, 978–79 (9th Cir. 2008).
6 “What matters to class certification . . . is not the raising of common ‘questions’ ― even in droves
7 — but rather the capacity of a classwide proceeding to generate common answers apt to drive the
8 resolution of the litigation.” Dukes, 564 U.S at 350. Even a single common question is sufficient
9 to meet this requirement. Id. at 359.
10 Common questions of law and fact in this action include (1) whether Defendants’ alleged
11 misrepresentations and omissions violated the Exchange Act and/or were materially false and
12 misleading, (2) whether Defendants acted knowingly or recklessly, (3) whether the individual
13 Defendants controlled Impax and its alleged violations of the securities laws, (4) whether the
14 market prices of Impax common stock and 2% Convertible Senior Notes were artificially inflated
15 as a result of Defendants’ alleged misrepresentations and omissions, (5) whether Defendants’
16 alleged misrepresentations and omissions caused class members to suffer a compensable loss, and
17 (6) whether class members have sustained damages, and the proper measure of damages.
18 Although the amount to which each class member is entitled will differ, the issues described above
19 are common to the proposed Settlement Class. Accordingly, the Court finds that the commonality
20 requirement is met in this case.
21 iii. Typicality
22 Rule 23(a)(3) requires that “the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical
23 of the claims or defenses of the class.” “The test of typicality is whether other members have the
24 same or similar injury, whether the action is based on conduct which is not unique to the named
25 plaintiffs, and whether other class members have been injured by the same course of conduct.”
26 Hanon v. Dataproducts Corp., 976 F.2d 497, 508 (9th Cir. 1992) (quotation omitted). That said,
27 under the “permissive standards” of Rule 23(a)(3), the claims “need not be substantially identical.”
1 Here, the Court finds that Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund’s claims are both factually and
2 legally similar to those of the putative class. Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund alleges that both it and
3 other class members acquired Impax securities during the Class Period at artificially inflated
4 prices due to Defendants’ misstatements and omissions, and were damaged when the truth
5 emerged. Mot. at 18; see also SAC at ¶ 1, 448-49. These similarities satisfy the typicality
6 requirement.
7 iv. Adequacy
8 Rule 23(a)(4) requires that the “representative parties will fairly and adequately represent
9 the interests of the class.” The Court must address two legal questions: (1) whether the named
10 Plaintiffs and their counsel have any conflicts of interest with other class members and (2) whether
11 the named Plaintiffs and their counsel will prosecute the action vigorously on behalf of the class.
12 See In re Mego Fin. Corp. Sec. Litig., 213 F.3d 454, 462 (9th Cir. 2000). This inquiry “tend[s] to
13 merge” with the commonality and typicality criteria. Gen. Tel. Co. of Sw. v. Falcon, 457 U.S.
14 147, 158 n.13 (1982). In part, these requirements determine whether “the named plaintiff’s claim
15 and the class claims are so interrelated that the interests of the class members will be fairly and
16 adequately protected in their absence.” Id.
17 The Court is unaware of any actual conflicts of interest in this matter and no evidence in
18 the record suggests that either Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund or Lead Counsel have a conflict with
19 other class members. In early 2021, the New York Hotel Trades Council, which has vigorously
20 prosecuted this action on behalf of the class and was previously named Lead Plaintiff by the
21 Court, jointly moved with Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund to allow Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund to
22 intervene as an additional named plaintiff, both before the Ninth Circuit and before this Court.
23 App. Dkt. No. 43; Dkt. No. 93. Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund’s interests are directly aligned with
24 the interests of other class members, as both purchased Impax Securities during the Class Period
25 and suffered losses as a result of Defendants’ alleged misconduct. As the Court has previously
26 recognized, Lead Counsel have extensive experience with complex securities litigation, including
27 as lead counsel in PSLRA cases litigated in this district, and have been praised by numerous
1 Court finds that Lead Counsel have prosecuted this action vigorously on behalf of the class to date
2 and will continue to do so. The adequacy of representation requirement is therefore satisfied.
3 B. Rule 23(b)(3) Certification
4 To certify a class, a plaintiff must satisfy the two requirements of Rule 23(b)(3). First,
5 “questions of law or fact common to class members [must] predominate over any questions
6 affecting only individual members.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3). And second, “a class action [must
7 be] superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the controversy.” Id.
8 i. Predominance
9 The “predominance inquiry tests whether proposed classes are sufficiently cohesive to
10 warrant adjudication by representation.” Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo, 136 S. Ct. 1036, 1045
11 (2016) (quotations omitted). The Supreme Court has defined an individualized question as one
12 where “members of a proposed class will need to present evidence that varies from member to
13 member.” Id. (quotations omitted). A common question, on the other hand, is one where “the
14 same evidence will suffice for each member to make a prima facie showing [or] the issue is
15 susceptible to generalized, class-wide proof.” Id. (quotations omitted).
16 Here, the Court concludes that, for purposes of settlement, common questions raised by
17 Lead Plaintiffs’ claims predominate over questions affecting only individual members of the
18 proposed class. Lead Plaintiffs allege that both they and other class members acquired Impax
19 securities during the Class Period at artificially inflated prices due to Defendants’ misstatements
20 and omissions, and were damaged when the truth emerged. Mot. at 18; see also SAC at ¶ 1, 448-
21 49. The Court finds that whether Defendants violated the Exchange Act, made misrepresentations
22 and omissions that were materially false and misleading, acted knowingly or with deliberate
23 recklessness, and caused damages to the Settlement Class are all questions susceptible to
24 generalized, class-wide proof. And although class members will need to rely upon individual
25 evidence to some extent to calculate their individual damages, the “mere fact that there might be
26 differences in damage calculations is not sufficient to defeat class certification.” Hyundai II, 926
27 F.3d at 560 (quotations omitted). Therefore, the Court finds the predominance requirement is met
ii. Superiority
1
The superiority requirement tests whether “a class action is superior to other available
2
methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the controversy.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3). The
3
Court considers four non-exclusive factors: (1) the interest of each class member in individually
4
controlling the prosecution or defense of separate actions; (2) the extent and nature of any
5
litigation concerning the controversy already commenced by or against the class; (3) the
6
desirability of concentrating the litigation of the claims in the particular forum; and (4) the
7
difficulties likely to be encountered in the management of a class action. Id.
8
The Court concludes that a class action enables the most efficient use of Court and attorney
9
resources and reduces costs to the class members by allocating costs among them. Further, this
10
forum is appropriate, and there are no obvious difficulties in managing this class action.
11
The Court finds that the predominance and superiority requirements of Rule 23(b)(3) are
12
met.
13
C. Class Representative and Class Counsel
14
Because the Court finds that Sheet Metal Workers’ Fund meets the commonality,
15
typicality, and adequacy requirements of Rule 23(a), the Court appoints the Sheet Metal Workers’
16
Fund as Class Representative. When a court certifies a class, it must also appoint class counsel.
17
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(1)(B). Factors that courts must consider when making that decision include:
18
(i) the work counsel has done in identifying or investigating potential
19 claims in the action;
(ii) counsel’s experience in handling class actions, other complex
20 litigation, and the types of claims asserted in the action;
(iii) counsel’s knowledge of the applicable law; and
21 (iv) the resources that counsel will commit to representing the class.
22
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g)(1)(A).
23
Lead Counsel have efficiently investigated and litigated this case. As the Court explained
24
in the order appointing Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP as Lead Counsel, the firm has
25
extensive experience as lead counsel in securities class actions. See Dkt. No. 29. Accordingly, the
26
Court appoints Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP as Class Counsel.
27
III. PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT APPROVAL
1
Finding that provisional class certification is appropriate, the Court considers whether it
2
should preliminarily approve the parties’ class action settlement.
3
A. Legal Standard
4
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e) provides that “[t]he claims, issues, or defenses of a
5
certified class—or a class proposed to be certified for purposes of settlement—may be settled . . .
6
only with the court’s approval.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e). “The purpose of Rule 23(e) is to protect
7
the unnamed members of the class from unjust or unfair settlements affecting their rights.” In re
8
Syncor ERISA Litig., 516 F.3d 1095, 1100 (9th Cir. 2008). Accordingly, before a district court
9
approves a class action settlement, it must conclude that the settlement is “fundamentally fair,
10
adequate and reasonable.” In re Heritage Bond Litig., 546 F.3d 667, 674–75 (9th Cir. 2008).
11
Where the parties reach a class action settlement prior to class certification, district courts
12
apply “‘a higher standard of fairness’ and ‘a more probing inquiry than may normally be required
13
under Rule 23(e).’” Dennis v. Kellogg Co., 697 F.3d 858, 864 (9th Cir. 2012) (citation omitted).
14
Such settlement agreements “must withstand an even higher level of scrutiny for evidence of
15
collusion or other conflicts of interest than is ordinarily required under Rule 23(e) before securing
16
the court’s approval as fair.” Roes, 1-2 v. SFBSC Mgmt., LLC, 944 F.3d 1035, 1048–49 (9th Cir.
17
2019) (quoting In re Bluetooth Headset Prods. Liab. Litig., 654 F.3d 935, 946 (9th Cir. 2011)). A
18
more “‘exacting review’ is warranted ‘to ensure that class representatives and their counsel do not
19
secure a disproportionate benefit at the expense of the unnamed plaintiffs who class counsel had a
20
duty to represent.’” Id. (citations and quotations omitted).
21
Courts may preliminarily approve a settlement and notice plan to the class if the proposed
22
settlement: (1) appears to be the product of serious, informed, non-collusive negotiations; (2) does
23
not grant improper preferential treatment to class representatives or other segments of the class;
24
(3) falls within the range of possible approval; and (4) has no obvious deficiencies. In re Lenovo
25
Adware Litig., No. 15-MD-02624-HSG, 2018 WL 6099948, at *7 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 21, 2018)
26
(citation omitted). Courts lack the authority, however, to “delete, modify or substitute certain
27
provisions. The settlement must stand or fall in its entirety.” Hanlon v. Chrysler Corp., 150 F.3d
1 1011, 1026 (9th Cir. 1998).
2 B. Analysis
3 i. Evidence of Conflicts and Signs of Collusion
4 The first factor the Court considers is whether there is evidence of collusion or other
5 conflicts of interest. See Roes, 944 F.3d at 1049. The Ninth Circuit has directed district courts to
6 look for “subtle signs of collusion,” which include whether counsel will receive a disproportionate
7 distribution of the settlement, whether the parties negotiate a “‘clear sailing’ arrangement (i.e., an
8 arrangement where defendant will not object to a certain fee request by class counsel),” and
9 whether the parties agree to a reverter that returns unclaimed funds to the defendant. Id.
10 a. Attorneys’ Fees
11 As discussed above, the proposed settlement is non-reversionary with all unclaimed funds
12 awarded to a cy pres recipient. See SASS at ¶ 5.9. It also does not contain a clear sailing
13 provision and is not conditioned on any award of attorneys’ fees or expenses. See id. at ¶ 6.1-3;
14 Mot. at 5. Any attorneys’ fees will be paid from the Settlement Fund itself. See SASS at ¶ 6.1.
15 Lead Counsel intends to request an attorneys’ fee award no greater than 30% of the
16 settlement amount ($9,900,000) and reimbursement of its costs and expenses not to exceed
17 $250,000. See Mot. at 4. When deciding to award attorneys’ fees and costs, the Court has
18 discretion in a common fund case to choose either (1) the lodestar method or (2) the percentage-
19 of-the-fund method. Vizcaino v. Microsoft Corp., 290 F.3d 1043, 1047 (9th Cir. 2002). Under the
20 percentage-of-recovery method, twenty-five percent of a common fund is the benchmark for
21 attorneys’ fees award. See, e.g., In re Bluetooth Headset, 654 F.3d at 942 (“[C]ourts typically
22 calculate 25% of the fund as the ‘benchmark’ for a reasonable fee award, providing adequate
23 explanation in the record of any ‘special circumstances’ justifying a departure.”).
24 The Court recognizes that Lead Counsel obtained significant results for the prospective
25 class members, as discussed below in Section III.B.iii. Further, the agreement does not
26 contemplate a disproportionate cash allocation between counsel and the class. Cf. Roes, 944 F.3d
27 at 1051 (“Here, more of the available $2 million in settlement cash ultimately went to attorneys’
1 to award 30% in attorneys’ fees, the majority of the monetary settlement would still be distributed
2 to class members. Given the motion practice in this case so far and the successful appeal of the
3 dismissal of the second amended complaint with prejudice, the Court finds that it is reasonable for
4 Lead Counsel to indicate that they will request an attorneys’ fee no greater than 30% of the
5 settlement amount. The Court is cognizant of its obligation to closely review class fee awards and
6 at the final approval stage will scrutinize the record to determine what attorneys’ fees award is
7 appropriate in this case. Accordingly, given that Counsel will not request a disproportionate
8 amount of the settlement agreement and that the settlement is non-reversionary, the Court finds
9 that this factor does not weigh against preliminary approval.
10 b. Cy Pres Distribution
11 The Court must also evaluate whether the proposed cy pres recipient is appropriate.
12 A cy pres award must qualify as “the next best distribution” to giving the funds to class
13 members. Dennis, 697 F.3d at 865. “Not just any worthy recipient can qualify as an
14 appropriate cy pres beneficiary,” and there must be a “driving nexus between the plaintiff class
15 and the cy pres beneficiaries.” Id. (quotation omitted). That is to say, a cy pres award must be
16 “guided by (1) the objectives of the underlying statute(s) and (2) the interests of the silent class
17 members, and must not benefit a group too remote from the plaintiff class.” Id. (quotation
18 omitted). A cy pres distribution is not appropriate if there is “no reasonable certainty that any
19 class member would benefit from it.” Id. (quotation omitted).
20 Here, the parties intend to select the Investor Protection Trust as its cy pres recipient. See
21 Proposed Notice at ¶ 41. The Investor Protection Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to
22 investor education and protection. Dkt. No. 121 at 1. The primary mission of the Investor
23 Protection Trust is “to provide independent, objective information needed by consumers to make
24 informed investment decisions.” Id. The organization also provides online tools and information
25 “to help investors recognize and avoid investment fraud and financial exploitation.” Id. The
26 Court preliminarily finds that the Investor Protection Trust shares the interests of the class
27 members in protecting investors and preventing fraud. Accordingly, the Court preliminarily finds
ii. Preferential Treatment
1
The Court next considers whether the settlement agreement provides preferential treatment
2
to any class member. The Ninth Circuit has instructed that district courts must be “particularly
3
vigilant” for signs that counsel have allowed the “self-interests” of “certain class members to
4
infect negotiations.” In re Bluetooth, 654 F.3d at 947. For that reason, courts in this district have
5
consistently stated that preliminary approval of a class action settlement is inappropriate where the
6
proposed agreement “improperly grant[s] preferential treatment to class representatives.” Lenovo,
7
2018 WL 6099948, at *8 (quotations omitted).
8
Although Lead Plaintiffs intend to seek awards not to exceed $15,000 in the aggregate, the
9
Court ultimately will determine whether Lead Plaintiffs are entitled to such an award and the
10
reasonableness of the amount requested. Incentive awards “are intended to compensate class
11
representatives for work done on behalf of the class, to make up for financial or reputational risk
12
undertaken in bringing the action.” Rodriguez v. West Publ’g Corp., 563 F.3d 948, 958–59 (9th
13
Cir. 2009). Plaintiffs must provide sufficient evidence to allow the Court to evaluate their award
14
“individually, using ‘relevant factors includ[ing] the actions the plaintiff has taken to protect the
15
interests of the class, the degree to which the class has benefitted from those actions, . . . [and] the
16
amount of time and effort the plaintiff expended in pursuing the litigation . . . .’” Stanton v.
17
Boeing Co., 327 F.3d 938, 977 (9th Cir. 2003). The Court will consider the evidence presented at
18
the final fairness hearing and evaluate the reasonableness of any incentive award requests.
19
Nevertheless, because incentive awards are not per se unreasonable, the Court finds that this factor
20
weighs in favor of preliminary approval. See Rodriguez, 563 F.3d at 958.
21
iii. Settlement within Range of Possible Approval
22
The third factor the Court considers is whether the settlement is within the range of
23
possible approval. To evaluate whether the settlement amount is adequate, “courts primarily
24
consider plaintiffs’ expected recovery balanced against the value of the settlement offer.” Lenovo,
25
2018 WL 6099948, at *8. This requires the Court to evaluate the strength of Plaintiffs’ case.
26
Here, the total value of the settlement offer is $33 million. SASS at ¶ 1.33, 2.1. Lead
27
Plaintiffs contend that this amount represents 12.5% of the class’s estimated reasonably
1 recoverable damages. Mot. at 10. The Court agrees with Lead Plaintiffs that this recovery is in a
2 range consistent with the median settlement recovery in class actions. See In re Volkswagen
3 “Clean Diesel” Mktg., Sales Practices, & Prod. Liab. Litig., 2019 WL 2077847, at *2 n.2. (N.D.
4 Cal. May 10, 2019) (noting that “the median settlement recovery from 2009 to 2017 was only five
5 percent of damages in securities class actions”); Mot. at 10. Moreover, “[i]t is well-settled law
6 that a cash settlement amounting to only a fraction of the potential recovery does not per se render
7 the settlement inadequate or unfair.” Officers for Justice v. Civil Serv. Comm’n of City & County
8 of S.F., 688 F.2d 615, 628 (9th Cir. 1982).
9 Lead Plaintiffs also explain the risks they would face in continuing to litigate this case.
10 For example, Lead Plaintiffs note that Defendants dispute that their alleged misstatements were
11 false, that any misstatements were made with scienter, and that any misstatements caused
12 compensable damages to the class. See Mot. at 9-10; Proposed Notice at ¶ 18. And Lead
13 Plaintiffs explain that Defendants are of the view that recoverable damages are significantly lower
14 than Lead Plaintiffs’ projection. See Mot. at 10. Moreover, Lead Plaintiffs note the risks in
15 prevailing at summary judgment, pretrial motions, trial, and subsequent appeals in a complex case
16 that is likely to be expensive and lengthy to try. See id. Even if Plaintiffs were to prevail, their
17 recovery—after class certification, trial, and appeals—could come years in the future. The Court
18 finds that, given these risks, the settlement amount also weighs in favor of granting preliminary
19 approval.
20 iv. Fairness of Supplemental Agreement
21 The Court must also review the fairness of the parties’ confidential Supplemental
22 Agreement. See S.A. ¶ 12.2. The existence of a termination option triggered by the number of
23 class members or shares that opt out of the Settlement does not by itself render the Settlement
24 unfair. See, e.g., Hefler v. Wells Fargo & Co., No. 16-CV-05479-JST, 2018 WL 6619983, at *7
25 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 18, 2018). Having reviewed the Supplemental Agreement, the Court concludes
26 that the termination provision is fair and reasonable.
27 v. Obvious Deficiencies
1 deficiencies. The Court finds no obvious deficiencies and therefore finds that this factor weighs in
2 favor of preliminary approval.
3 * * *
4 Having weighed the relevant factors, the Court preliminarily finds that the Settlement
5 Agreement is fair, reasonable, and adequate, and GRANTS preliminary approval. The Court
6 DIRECTS the parties to include both a joint proposed order and a joint proposed judgment when
7 submitting their motion for final approval.
8 IV. PROPOSED PLAN OF ALLOCATION
9 The Court also must preliminarily approve the Plan of Allocation. Such a distribution plan
10 is governed by the same legal standards that apply to the approval of a settlement: the plan must
11 be fair, reasonable, and adequate. See, e.g., In re Citric Acid Antitrust Litig., 145 F. Supp. 2d
12 1152, 1154 (N.D. Cal. 2001). “A settlement in a securities class action case can be reasonable if it
13 fairly treats class members by awarding a pro rata share to every Authorized Claimant, but also
14 sensibly makes interclass distinctions based upon, inter alia, the relative strengths and weaknesses
15 of class members’ individual claims and the timing of purchases of the securities at issue.” Vinh
16 Nguyen v. Radient Pharms. Corp., No. 11-cv-00406, 2014 WL 1802293, at *5 (C.D. Cal. May 6,
17 2014) (quotation omitted). “[C]ourts recognize that an allocation formula need only have a
18 reasonable, rational basis, particularly if recommended by experienced and competent counsel.”
19 Id.
20 The Plan of Allocation here uses a “recognized loss” value that tailors the recovery of each
21 class member to the timing and sale of Impax securities during periods of alleged artificial
22 inflation and corrective disclosures, as well as the number of shares at issue in each class
23 member’s claim. See SASS at ¶ 5.8; Proposed Notice at ¶¶ 28-43. The Settlement Fund will be
24 distributed on a pro rata basis according to each class member’s recognized loss. The Court
25 therefore finds that the Plan of Allocation treats the class members fairly and preliminarily
26 approves it.
27 V. PROPOSED CLASS NOTICE PLAN
1 is practicable under the circumstances, including individual notice to all members who can be
2 identified through reasonable effort.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B). Individual notice must be sent
3 to all class members “whose names and addresses may be ascertained through reasonable effort.”
4 Eisen v. Carlisle & Jacquelin, 417 U.S. 156, 173 (1974).
5 With respect to the content of the notice itself, the notice must clearly and concisely state
6 in plain, easily understood language:
7 (i) the nature of the action;
(ii) the definition of the class certified;
8 (iii) the class claims, issues, or defenses;
(iv) that a class member may enter an appearance through an attorney if
9 the member so desires;
(v) that the court will exclude from the class any member who requests
10 exclusion;
(vi) the time and manner for requesting exclusion; and
11 (vii) the binding effect of a class judgment on members[.]
12 Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B).
13 As an initial matter, Lead Plaintiff asks the Court to approve the appointment of JND
14 Legal Administration (“JND”) as Claims Administrator. See Mot. at 3; Dkt. No. 110, Attach. 3 at
15 ¶ 1-2. The Court finds that JND has extensive experience implementing notification and claims
16 administration programs in class actions and approves its appointment as Claims Administrator in
17 this case. See Dkt. No. 110, Attach. 3 at ¶ 3.
18 Lead Plaintiffs next ask the Court to approve its class notice plan. Under this plan, JND
19 will mail a copy of the Notice and Claim Form (together, the “Notice Packet”) to all potential class
20 members who can reasonably be identified and located. Mot. at 21. To help identify the class
21 members, Defendants will provide the Claims Administrator with lists containing the names and
22 addresses, and email addresses (if available), of record holders of Impax common stock or 2%
23 Convertible Senior Notes during the Class Period, to the extent such lists are reasonably available
24 from Impax’s stock transfer agent. Dkt. No. 110, Attach. 3 at ¶ 5. JND will mail a copy of the
25 Notice Packet to all persons and entities identified as potential class members by Impax’s stock
26 transfer agent within twenty (20) calendar days of the Court’s preliminary approval of the
27 Settlement. Id. The Court understands that most class members are likely beneficial purchasers
1 securities at issue in the name of the nominee on behalf of the beneficial purchaser. Id. at ¶ 6.
2 Accordingly, JND will also mail a copy of the Notice Packet to approximately 4,000 nominees
3 based on JND’s proprietary database listing names, mailing addresses, and email addresses of
4 banks, brokers, and other nominees (the “Nominee List”). Id. JND will instruct the nominees to
5 either (a) forward the Notice Packet to potential class members or (b) provide the names,
6 addresses, and, if available, email addresses of potential class members to JND so that JND may
7 forward the Notice Packet directly. Id. JND will follow-up with the largest nominees on the
8 Nominee List to prompt them to take the requested action. Id. at ¶ 7. For any Notice Packets that
9 are returned as undeliverable, JND will check for alternative or updated addresses with the U.S.
10 Postal Services or through a third-party vendor to which JND subscribes. Id. at ¶ 10. Notice
11 Packets will be re-mailed where updated or alternative addresses are available. Id.
12 JND attests that this process is “similar to notice plans typically utilized for securities class
13 action settlements.” Id. at ¶ 14. JND notes that, in securities class actions, corporate entities often
14 do not know the identity of all their shareholders because many shareholders are beneficial
15 purchasers whose securities are held by a nominee. Id. at ¶ 15. Despite this limitation, JND
16 believes, based on its experience administering settlements of similar size involving companies
17 with similar market capitalizations, that it will mail approximately 40,000 Notice Packets. Id.
18 JND will also maintain a case-specific website dedicated to this settlement, publish a summary
19 version of the notice in The Wall Street Journal and PR Newswire, establish a toll-free number and
20 dedicated email address, and send the Depository Trust Company a Notice and Claim Form to
21 publish on its Legal Notice System. Id. at ¶¶ 8-13. The Court finds that the proposed notice
22 process is “reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise all class members of the
23 proposed settlement.” Roes, 944 F.3d at 1045 (quotation omitted).
24 The Court also finds that the content of the proposed notice describes the information
25 required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. The parties have attached a copy of their
26 proposed class notice, which includes the proposed notice that will be mailed to the class
27 members, the Proof of Claim Form that will be mailed to the class members, and the Summary
1 Proposed Notice. Among other things, the proposed notice apprises class members of the nature
2 of the Action, the definition of the Settlement Class to be certified, the class claims and issues, and
3 the claims that will be released.3 And it does so in plain, easily understood language. The Court
4 therefore finds that the content of the proposed notice provides sufficient information about the
5 case and conforms with due process requirements. See Hyundai, 926 F.3d at 567 (“Notice is
6 satisfactory if it generally describes the terms of the settlement in sufficient detail to alert those
7 with adverse viewpoints to investigate and to come forward and be heard.” (citation and
8 quotations omitted)).
9 VI. CONCLUSION
10 The Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval of class action settlement.
11 The parties are DIRECTED to stipulate to a schedule of dates for each event listed below, which
12 shall be submitted to the Court within seven days of the date of this Order:
Event Date
13
Deadline for Settlement Administrator to mail
14 notice to all putative Class Members
Filing deadline for attorneys’ fees and costs motion
15 Filing deadline for incentive payment motion
Deadline for Class Members to opt out or object to
16
settlement and/or application for attorneys’ fees and
costs and incentive payment, at least 45 days after
17
18
3 Additionally, the Notice: (1) describes the Settlement, Settlement amount and potential recovery
19
both on an aggregate basis and an average per-share basis; (2) explains that the parties disagreed
regarding whether any damages were recoverable and includes a brief description of why the
20
parties are proposing the Settlement; (3) includes a brief description of the maximum amount of
fees and expenses that Lead Counsel will seek; (4) describes the Plan of Allocation; (5) advises of
21
the binding effect of a Judgment on Settlement Class Members under Rule 23(c)(3); (6) advises
that a Settlement Class Member may enter an appearance through counsel if desired; (7) states that
22
the Court will exclude from the Settlement Class any Settlement Class Member who requests
exclusion (and sets forth the procedures and deadline for doing so); (8) describes how to object to
23
the proposed Settlement and/or requested attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses and/or the request
for an award to Lead Plaintiffs for its costs and expenses; (9) describes how to make a Claim; (10)
24
provides the names, addresses and telephone numbers of Lead Counsel and the mailing address of
the Claims Administrator; (11) includes instructions on how to access the case docket via PACER
25
or in person at the court; (12) will state the date, time and location of the Final Approval Hearing,
states that the date may change without further notice to the Settlement Class, and advises
26
Settlement Class Members to check the settlement website or the Court’s PACER site to confirm
that the date has not been changed; and (13) will include the deadlines for submitting Claim
27
Forms, opting out of the Settlement, and objecting to the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, Lead
1 the filing of the motions for attorneys’ fees and
incentive payments
2 Filing deadline for final approval motion Ps
Final fairness hearing and hearing on motions PO
3
The parties are further DIRECTED to implement the proposed class notice plan.
4
IT IS SO ORDERED.
5
Dated: 11/22/2021 □
7 HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR.
3 United States District Judge
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