In re Twitter Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 4:2016cv05314 - Document 671 (N.D. Cal. 2022)
Court Description: FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE. Signed by Judge Jon S. Tigar on November 21, 2022. (mll, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/21/2022)
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In re Twitter Inc. Securities Litigation Doc. 671 Case 4:16-cv-05314-JST Document 671 Filed 11/21/22 Page 1 of 8 1 ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP DANIEL S. DROSMAN (200643) 2 TOR GRONBORG (179109) ELLEN GUSIKOFF STEWART (144892) 3 LUCAS F. OLTS (234843) J. MARCO JANOSKI GRAY (306547) 4 CHRISTOPHER R. KINNON (316850) HEATHER G. SCHLESIER (322937) 5 655 West Broadway, Suite 1900 San Diego, CA 92101-8498 6 Telephone: 619/231-1058 619/231-7423 (fax) 7 MOTLEY RICE LLC 8 GREGG S. LEVIN (admitted pro hac vice) LANCE V. OLIVER (admitted pro hac vice) 9 MEGHAN S.B. OLIVER (admitted pro hac vice) MAX N. GRUETZMACHER (admitted pro hac vice) 10 CHRISTOPHER F. MORIARTY (admitted pro hac vice) MEREDITH B. WEATHERBY (admitted pro hac vice) 11 28 Bridgeside Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 12 Telephone: 843/216-9000 843/216-9450 (fax) 13 Co-Class Counsel for the Class 14 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 15 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 16 OAKLAND DIVISION 17 In re TWITTER INC. SECURITIES ) Case No. 4:16-cv-05314-JST (SK) 18 LITIGATION ) ) CLASS ACTION 19 ) ) [PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND This Document Relates To: 20 ) ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE ) ALL ACTIONS. 21 ) 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Dockets.Justia.com Case 4:16-cv-05314-JST Document 671 Filed 11/21/22 Page 2 of 8 1 This matter came before the Court for hearing pursuant to the Order of this Court, dated 2 August 5, 2022, on the application of the Settling Parties for approval of the Settlement set forth in 3 the Stipulation of Settlement dated January 5, 2022 (the “Stipulation”), and for approval of the 4 Stipulation of Dismissal and Mutual Release of Claims between the Class Representatives and 5 defendants Richard Costolo and Anthony Noto dated January 5, 2022 (the “Agreement”). Due and 6 adequate notice having been given to the Class as required in the Order, the Court having considered 7 all papers filed and proceedings held herein and otherwise being fully informed in the premises and 8 good cause appearing therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that: 9 1. This Judgment incorporates by reference the definitions in the Stipulation and the 10 Agreement, and all terms used herein shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Stipulation 11 and the Agreement, unless otherwise stated herein. 12 2. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Litigation and over all 13 parties to the Litigation, including all members of the Class. 14 3. Excluded from the Class is any Person who timely and validly sought exclusion from 15 the Class, as identified in Exhibit 1 hereto. 16 4. Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this Court hereby 17 approves the Settlement set forth in the Stipulation, and the Agreement, and finds that: 18 (a) in light of the benefits to the Class and the complexity and expense of further 19 litigation, the Stipulation and the Settlement described therein, and the Agreement, are, in all 20 respects, fair, reasonable, and adequate and in the best interest of the Class; 21 (b) there was no collusion in connection with the Stipulation or the Agreement; 22 (c) Class Representatives and Class Counsel have adequately represented the (d) the Stipulation and the Agreement were the product of informed, arm’s-length 23 Class; 24 25 negotiations among competent, able counsel; 26 (e) the relief provided for the Class is adequate, having taken into account (i) the 27 costs, risks and delay of trial and appeal; (ii) the effectiveness of any proposed method of 28 distributing relief to the Class, including the method of processing Class Members’ claims; (iii) the [PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE - 4:16-cv- 05314-JST (SK) -1- Case 4:16-cv-05314-JST Document 671 Filed 11/21/22 Page 3 of 8 1 terms of any proposed award of attorneys’ fees, including timing of payment; and (iv) any agreement 2 required to be identified under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e)(3); 3 (f) the proposed Plan of Allocation treats Class Members equitably relative to 4 each other; and 5 (g) the record is sufficiently developed and complete to have enabled Class 6 Representatives, Defendant Twitter and the Individual Defendants to have adequately evaluated and 7 considered their positions. 8 5. Accordingly, the Court authorizes and directs implementation and performance of all 9 the terms and provisions of the Stipulation and the Agreement, as well as the terms and provisions 10 hereof. Except as to any individual claim of those Persons who have validly and timely requested 11 exclusion from the Class (identified in Exhibit 1 hereto), the Litigation and all claims contained 12 therein are dismissed with prejudice as to the Class Representatives, and the other Class Members 13 and as against each and all of the Released Defendant Parties, as defined in each of the Stipulation 14 and the Agreement. 15 6. No Person shall have any claim against the Class Representatives, Class Counsel, or 16 the Claims Administrator, or any other Person designated by Class Counsel, based on determinations 17 or distributions made substantially in accordance with the Stipulation and the Settlement contained 18 therein, the Plan of Allocation, or further order(s) of the Court. 19 7. Upon the Effective Date, the Class Representatives, and each of the Class Members 20 shall be deemed to have, and by operation of this Judgment shall have, fully, finally, and forever 21 waived, released, discharged, and dismissed each and every one of the Released Claims, as defined 22 in each of the Stipulation and the Agreement, against each and every one of the Released Defendant 23 Parties, as defined in each of the Stipulation and the Agreement, with prejudice on the merits, 24 whether or not the Class Representatives, or such Class Member executes and delivers the Proof of 25 Claim and whether or not the Class Representatives, or each of the Class Members ever seeks or 26 obtains any distribution from the Settlement Fund. Claims to enforce the terms of the Stipulation 27 and the Agreement are not released. 28 [PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE - 4:16-cv- 05314-JST (SK) -2- Case 4:16-cv-05314-JST Document 671 Filed 11/21/22 Page 4 of 8 1 8. Upon the Effective Date, Twitter, the Individual Defendants, and each and every 2 Released Defendant Party, as defined in each of the Stipulation and the Agreement, shall be deemed 3 to have, and by operation of this Judgment shall have, fully, finally and forever waived, released, 4 discharged, and dismissed the Class Representatives, Class Representatives’ Counsel, and each and 5 every Class Member from all Released Defendants’ Claims (including, without limitation, Unknown 6 Claims), as defined in each of the Stipulation and the Agreement. Claims to enforce the terms of the 7 Stipulation and the Agreement are not released. 8 9. Upon the Effective Date, the Class Representatives, all Class Members and anyone 9 claiming through or on behalf of any of them are forever barred and enjoined from commencing, 10 instituting, or continuing to prosecute any action or proceeding in any court of law or equity, 11 arbitration tribunal, administration forum or other forum of any kind asserting any of the Released 12 Claims (including, without limitation, Unknown Claims), as defined in each of the Stipulation and 13 the Agreement, against any of the Released Defendant Parties, as defined in each of the Stipulation 14 and the Agreement. 15 10. The distribution of the Notice and publication of the Summary Notice as provided for 16 in the Preliminary Approval Order constituted the best notice practicable under the circumstances, 17 including individual notice to Class Members who could be identified through reasonable effort. 18 The notice provided was the best notice practicable under the circumstances of those proceedings 19 and of the matters set forth therein, including the proposed Settlement set forth in the Stipulation, 20 and the terms of the Agreement, to all Persons entitled to such notice, and said notice fully satisfied 21 the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, due process and any other applicable law, 22 including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. No Class Member is relieved from 23 the terms of the Settlement and the Agreement, including the releases provided for therein, based 24 upon the contention or proof that such Class Member failed to receive actual or adequate notice. A 25 full opportunity has been offered to the Class Members to object to the proposed Settlement and the 26 Agreement and to participate in the hearing thereon. The Court further finds that the notice 27 provisions of the Class Action Fairness Act, 28 U.S.C. Section 1715, were fully discharged and that 28 [PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE - 4:16-cv- 05314-JST (SK) -3- Case 4:16-cv-05314-JST Document 671 Filed 11/21/22 Page 5 of 8 1 the statutory waiting period has elapsed. Thus, it is hereby determined that all members of the Class 2 are bound by this Judgment, except those persons listed on Exhibit 1 to this Judgment. 3 11. Any Plan of Allocation submitted by Class Counsel or any order entered regarding 4 any Fee and Expense Application shall in no way disturb or affect this Judgment and shall be 5 considered separate from this Judgment. Any order or proceeding relating to the Plan of Allocation 6 or any order entered regarding any Fee and Expense Application, or any appeal from any order 7 relating thereto or reversal or modification thereof, shall not affect or delay the finality of the Final 8 Judgment in this Litigation. Separate orders shall be entered regarding approval of the Plan of 9 Allocation and the Fee and Expense Application. 10 12. Neither the Stipulation, nor the Settlement contained therein, nor the Agreement, nor 11 any act performed or document executed pursuant to or in furtherance of the Stipulation, the 12 Settlement, or the Agreement: (a) is or may be deemed to be or may be used as an admission of, or 13 evidence of, the validity of any Released Claim, as defined in each of the Stipulation and the 14 Agreement, or of any wrongdoing or liability of the Released Defendant Parties, as defined in each 15 of the Stipulation and the Agreement; or (b) is or may be deemed to be or may be used as an 16 admission of, or evidence of, any fault or omission of any of the Released Defendant Parties, as 17 defined in each of the Stipulation and the Agreement; or (c) is or may be deemed to be or may be 18 used as an admission or evidence that any claims asserted by Class Representatives were not valid or 19 that the amount recoverable would not have exceeded the Settlement Amount in any civil, criminal 20 or administrative proceeding in any court, administrative agency or other tribunal. The Released 21 Defendant Parties, as defined in each of the Stipulation and the Agreement, may file the Stipulation, 22 the Agreement, and/or this Judgment in any other action that may be brought against them in order 23 to support a defense or counterclaim based on principles of res judicata, collateral estoppel, release, 24 good faith settlement, judgment bar or reduction, or any other theory of claim preclusion or issue 25 preclusion or similar defense or counterclaim. 26 13. The Court finds that Twitter has satisfied its financial obligations under the 27 Stipulation by paying or causing to be paid $809,500,000.00 to the Settlement Fund, in accordance 28 with ¶2.2 of the Stipulation. [PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE - 4:16-cv- 05314-JST (SK) -4- Case 4:16-cv-05314-JST Document 671 Filed 11/21/22 Page 6 of 8 1 14. Without affecting the finality of this Judgment in any way, this Court hereby retains 2 continuing jurisdiction over: (a) implementation of the Settlement and any award or distribution of 3 the Settlement Fund, including interest earned thereon; (b) disposition of the Settlement Fund; (c) 4 hearing and determining any Fee and Expense Application; and (d) all parties hereto for the purpose 5 of construing, enforcing and administering the Settlement. 6 15. The Court finds that during the course of the Litigation, the Settling Parties, the 7 Individual Defendants, and their respective counsel at all times complied with the requirements of 8 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11. 9 16. In the event that the Settlement does not become effective in accordance with the 10 terms of the Stipulation, or the Effective Date does not occur, or the Agreement does not become 11 effective in accordance with its terms, or in the event that the Settlement Fund, or any portion 12 thereof, is returned to Twitter, then this Judgment shall be rendered null and void to the extent 13 provided by and in accordance with the Stipulation and the Agreement and shall be vacated; and in 14 such event, all orders entered and releases delivered in connection herewith shall be null and void to 15 the extent provided by and in accordance with the Stipulation and the Agreement, and the Settling 16 Parties and the Individual Defendants shall revert to their respective positions in the Litigation as of 17 September 19, 2021, as provided in the Stipulation and the Agreement. 18 17. The Settling Parties and the Parties to the Agreement shall bear their own costs and 19 expenses except as otherwise provided in the Stipulation, the Agreement, or in this Judgment. 20 18. The Settling Parties and the Parties to the Agreement are hereby authorized, without 21 further approval of the Court, to unanimously agree to and adopt in writing amendments, 22 modifications, and expansions of the Stipulation and the Agreement, respectively, provided that such 23 amendments, modifications, and expansions of the Stipulation and the Agreement are not materially 24 inconsistent with this Judgment, and do not materially limit the rights of the Members of the Class 25 under the Stipulation and the Agreement, respectively. 26 19. Without further order of the Court, the Settling Parties and the Parties to the 27 Agreement may agree to reasonable extensions of time to carry out any of the provisions of the 28 Stipulation and the Agreement, respectively. [PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE - 4:16-cv- 05314-JST (SK) -5- Case 4:16-cv-05314-JST Document 671 Filed 11/21/22 Page 7 of 8 1 20. The Court directs immediate entry of this Judgment by the Clerk of the Court. 2 21. The Court’s orders entered during this Litigation relating to the confidentiality of 3 information shall survive the Settlement and resolution and dismissal of the Litigation. 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. November 21, 2022 5 DATED: _________________________ 6 ____________________________________ THE HONORABLE JON S. TIGAR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 [PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE - 4:16-cv- 05314-JST (SK) -6- Case 4:16-cv-05314-JST Document 671 Filed 11/21/22 Page 8 of 8 EXHIBIT 1 In re Twitter Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No. 4:16-cv-05314-JST (SK) INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE VALIDLY AND TIMELY REQUESTED EXCLUSION FROM THE CLASS 1. Frederick W. Taubert 2. Leo P. Suski 3. Jonathan Sato 4. Ronald P. Schmidt 5. Steven Salevan 6. Robert and Karen Naylor 7. Zhi Zhao 8. Gregory E. Ewald 9. Quan Michael Ha 10. Frank and Constance Barlamas 11. Jinji and Helen Kobayashi 12. Charles A. Leeds Ill 13. Kurt Muscanell 14. Adrian Jude Koss 15. Denice I. Selvaggi 16. Allan A. Viele 17. Dee Ann Michelle Tuscher 18. Jeremie Catagna 19. Joshua Karp 20. Katie Wink
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