Martinez et al v. Gaby Food Services Inc et al, No. 2:2014cv01930 - Document 25 (N.D. Ala. 2015)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OF OPINION. Signed by Judge L Scott Coogler on 8/6/2015. (PSM)

Download PDF
Martinez et al v. Gaby Food Services Inc et al Doc. 25 FILED 2015 Aug-06 AM 09:58 U.S. DISTRICT COURT N.D. OF ALABAMA IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION JESUS MARTINEZ, et al., Plaintiffs; vs. GABY FOOD SERVICES, INC., et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 2:14-cv-01930-LSC Memorandum of Opinion Before the Court is the parties’ joint motion for approval of settlement. (Doc. 24.) This suit was brought by Plaintiffs Jesus Martinez and Francisco Salas to collect alleged unpaid wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). See 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. Plaintiffs assert that their pay was less than the statutorily required minimum and overtime wages. Plaintiffs further assert that, as “tipped employees,” they were wrongfully required to contribute cash tips to fellow employees who did not hold a position that regularly received such tips. In the “context of suits brought directly by employees against their employer . . . to recover back wages for FLSA violations,” parties must present any Page 1 of 2 Dockets.Justia.com proposed settlement to the district court, which “may enter a stipulated judgment after scrutinizing the settlement for fairness.” Lynn’s Food Stores, Inc. v. U.S. Dep’t of Labor, 679 F.2d 1350, 1353 (11th Cir. 1982). Having considered the guidelines set forth by the Eleventh Circuit for approval of an FLSA settlement, the Court finds that the proposed settlement agreement is fair, as it reflects a reasonable compromise of issues actually in dispute. The settlement was reached in an adversarial context in which Plaintiffs were represented by competent and experienced counsel, and the totality of the proposed settlement is fair and reasonable. See id. at 1354. For the reasons stated above, the joint motion for approval of settlement agreement (Doc. 24) is due to be granted. Done this 6th day of August 2015. L. SCOTT COOGLER UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 177822 Page 2 of 2

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.