Elliot v. China Green Agricultures, Inc. et al, No. 3:2010cv00648 - Document 166 (D. Nev. 2014)
Court Description: ORDER AND FINAL JUDGMENT OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE. Signed by Judge Larry R. Hicks on 8/12/14. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - JC)
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Elliot v. China Green Agricultures, Inc. et al Doc. 166 Case 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC Document 165-1 Filed 08/07/14 Page 1 of 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEVADA 1 2 3 FREDRIC ELLIOTT, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, 4 Plaintiff, 5 vs. 6 CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC., et 7 al., 8 9 Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC CLASS ACTION ORDER AND FINAL JUDGMENT OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Dockets.Justia.com Case 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC Document 165-1 Filed 08/07/14 Page 2 of 8 This matter came before the Court to determine whether a proposed settlement (the 1 2 “Settlement”) as set forth in a Stipulation of Settlement, dated March 17, 2014 (the 3 “Stipulation”),entered into, on the one hand, by the Court-appointed lead plaintiffs in this action (the 4 “Litigation”) Thomas Johnston, Giuliano Lazzeretti, Thuan Ly, Christina Galbraith, and Charles 5 White (“Lead Plaintiffs”), on behalf of themselves and all members of the putative class, and, on the 6 other hand, defendants China Green Agriculture, Inc. (“CGA”), Tao Li, Ying Yang, Yu Hao, 7 Lianfu Liu, Yizhao Zhang and Barry Raeburn (collectively, “Defendants”), should be finally 8 approved as fair, reasonable and adequate pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil 9 Procedure. Having considered all papers filed and proceedings held herein, including a hearing (the 10 “Settlement Hearing”) held on July 22, 2014, and good cause appearing therefor, the Court has 11 determined that the Settlement as set forth in the Stipulation should be approved as fair, reasonable 12 and adequate. The Court hereby enters this Order and Final Judgment (the “Judgment”) dismissing 13 the Litigation as to all claims and all Defendants with prejudice and on the merits.1 14 NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 15 1. The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Litigation and over 16 Defendants, Lead Plaintiffs and all members of a class (the “Settlement Class”) of all persons or 17 entities who purchased or otherwise acquired shares of CGA securities from May 12, 2009 through 18 January 4, 2011, inclusive (the “Settlement Class Period”), and who were allegedly damaged thereby 19 (“Settlement Class Members”). Excluded from the Settlement Class are Defendants and all officers 20 and directors of CGA, and all such excluded persons’ immediate family members, legal 21 representatives, heirs, predecessors, successors and assigns, and any entity in which any excluded 22 person has or had a controlling interest. Also excluded from the Settlement Class are the persons 23 identified in Exhibit A hereto who have filed valid and timely requests for exclusion. 2. 24 For purposes of the Settlement only, the Court finds that the Settlement Class satisfies 25 the prerequisites for a class action under Rule 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil 26 27 1 Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Stipulation. 28 -1- Case 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC Document 165-1 Filed 08/07/14 Page 3 of 8 1 Procedure in that: (a) the number of Settlement Class Members is so numerous that joinder of all 2 members is impracticable; (b) there are questions of law and fact common to Settlement Class 3 Members; (c) Lead Plaintiffs’ claims are typical of the claims of the Settlement Class that they seek 4 to represent; (d) Lead Plaintiffs will fairly and adequately represent the interests of the Settlement 5 Class with respect to the claims asserted against Defendants; (e) the questions of law and fact 6 common to Settlement Class Members predominate over any questions affecting only individual 7 Settlement Class Members; and (f) a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair 8 and efficient adjudication of the claims asserted against the Defendants. 9 3. Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for purposes of the 10 Settlement only, Lead Plaintiffs are certified as Settlement Class Representatives and Lead 11 Plaintiffs’ counsel, Saxena White P.A., is certified as Settlement Class Counsel. 12 4. Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court hereby 13 approves the Settlement set forth in the Stipulation and finds that the Settlement is, in all respects, 14 fair, reasonable, and adequate to, and in the best interests of, Lead Plaintiffs, the Settlement Class, 15 and each of the Settlement Class Members. The Court further finds that the Settlement set forth in 16 the Stipulation is the result of arm’s-length negotiations between experienced counsel representing 17 the interests of Lead Plaintiffs, Settlement Class Members and Defendants. Accordingly, the 18 Settlement set forth in the Stipulation is hereby approved in all respects, and Lead Plaintiffs and 19 Defendants are hereby directed to consummate the Settlement in accordance with the terms of the 20 Stipulation. 21 5. The Litigation and all claims contained therein, including all of the Released Claims, 22 are hereby dismissed with prejudice as against each and all of the Released Persons. The parties are 23 to bear their own fees and costs, except as otherwise provided for in the Stipulation. 24 6. Lead Plaintiffs and all Settlement Class Members, on behalf of themselves, their 25 current and future heirs, executors, administrators, successors, attorneys, insurers, agents, 26 representatives, and assigns, and any person they represent, hereby fully, finally and forever release, 27 relinquish and discharge any and all Released Claims against any and all Released Persons, whether 28 or not such Lead Plaintiff or Settlement Class Member executes the Proof of Claim and Release. -2- Case 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC Document 165-1 Filed 08/07/14 Page 4 of 8 1 7. Lead Plaintiffs and all Settlement Class Members, on behalf of themselves, their 2 current and future heirs, executors, administrators, successors, attorneys, insurers, agents, 3 representatives, and assigns, and any person they represent, waive and relinquish, to the fullest 4 extent permitted by law, the provisions, rights, and benefits of California Civil Code §1542, which 5 provides: 6 7 8 A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR. 9 Lead Plaintiffs and all Settlement Class Members, on behalf of themselves, their current and future 10 heirs, executors, administrators, successors, attorneys, insurers, agents, representatives, and assigns, 11 and any person they represent, waive and relinquish, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and 12 all provisions, rights, and benefits conferred by any law of any state or territory of the United States, 13 or principle of common law or international or foreign law, which is similar, comparable, or 14 equivalent to California Civil Code §1542. Lead Plaintiffs and Settlement Class Members may 15 hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those which he, she or it now knows or 16 believes to be true with respect to the subject matter of the Released Claims, but each Lead Plaintiff 17 and each Settlement Class Member fully, finally, and forever settles and releases any and all 18 Released Claims, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, contingent or non-contingent, 19 whether or not concealed or hidden, which now exist, or heretofore have existed, upon any theory of 20 law or equity now existing or coming into existence in the future, including, but not limited to, 21 conduct which is negligent, intentional, with or without malice, or a breach of any duty, law or rule, 22 without regard to the subsequent discovery or existence of such different or additional facts. 23 8. Each of the Released Persons fully, finally, and forever releases, relinquishes, and 24 discharges Lead Plaintiffs, all Settlement Class Members and Settlement Class Counsel from all 25 claims arising out of, relating to, or in connection with, the institution, prosecution, assertion, 26 settlement, or resolution of the Litigation or the Released Claims. 27 9. Lead Plaintiffs and all Settlement Class Members, on behalf of themselves, their 28 current and future heirs, executors, administrators, successors, attorneys, insurers, agents, -3- Case 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC Document 165-1 Filed 08/07/14 Page 5 of 8 1 representatives, and assigns, and any person they represent, are forever barred and enjoined from 2 commencing, instituting, prosecuting or continuing to prosecute any action or other proceeding in 3 any court of law or equity, arbitration tribunal, or administrative forum asserting, any and all 4 Released Claims against any and all Released Persons, whether or not such Lead Plaintiff or 5 Settlement Class Member executes the Proof of Claim and Release. 6 10. Nothing in this Judgment shall in any way impair or restrict the rights of Lead 7 Plaintiffs or Defendants to enforce the terms of the Stipulation. 8 11. The Court finds that the manner of providing notice of the Settlement to the 9 Settlement Class meets the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 and due process, 10 satisfies Section 21D(a)(7) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. 78u-4(a)(7), as 11 amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995; is the best notice practicable under 12 the circumstances; and constitutes due and sufficient notice to all persons entitled thereto. No 13 Settlement Class Member shall be relieved or excused from the terms of the Settlement, including 14 the releases of claims provided for thereunder, based upon the contention or proof that such 15 Settlement Class Member failed to receive actual or adequate notice. The Court finds that a full 16 opportunity has been afforded to Settlement Class Members to object to the Settlement and/or to 17 participate in the Settlement Hearing. It is therefore determined that all Settlement Class Members 18 are bound by this Judgment, except those persons listed on Exhibit A hereto. 19 12. The Court finds that the Plan of Allocation is a fair and reasonable method to 20 distribute the Settlement Fund to the Settlement Class. 21 13. The Escrow Agent shall continue to serve as such for the Settlement Fund, until such 22 time as all funds in the Settlement Fund are distributed pursuant to the terms of the Stipulation or 23 further order of the Court. 24 14. Neither the Stipulation nor the Settlement, whether or not consummated, nor any 25 negotiations, discussions, proceedings, acts performed or documents executed pursuant to or in 26 furtherance of the Stipulation or the Settlement, is or may be: 27 (a) deemed to be, or used as, an admission of, or evidence of, the validity or lack 28 thereof of any Released Claim, or of any wrongdoing or liability of any Defendant; -4- Case 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC Document 165-1 Filed 08/07/14 Page 6 of 8 (b) 1 offered or received against any Defendant as evidence of a presumption, 2 concession, admission of any fault, misrepresentation, or omission with respect to any statement or 3 written document approved or made by any Defendant, or against Lead Plaintiffs or any Settlement 4 Class Member as evidence of any infirmity in the claims of Lead Plaintiffs and the Settlement Class; (c) 5 deemed to be, or used as, an admission of, or evidence of, any fault or 6 omission of any Defendant in any civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding in any court, 7 administrative agency, or other tribunal, other than such proceedings as may be necessary to 8 effectuate the provisions of the Stipulation, including the releases therein; (d) 9 construed against Defendants, Lead Plaintiffs or the Settlement Class as an 10 admission or concession that the consideration provided for in the Stipulation represents the amount 11 that could be or would have been recovered after trial. 12 15. Without affecting the finality of this Judgment in any way, the Court hereby retains 13 continuing jurisdiction over (a) implementation of the Settlement and any award or distribution of 14 the Settlement Fund, including interest earned thereon; (b) disposition of the Settlement Fund; 15 (c) hearing and determining applications for attorneys’ fees and expenses; and (d) all parties hereto 16 for the purpose of construing, enforcing, and administering the Stipulation. 17 16. The Court finds that an award of attorneys’ fees to Settlement Class Counsel in the 18 amount of $833,333.33 is fair and reasonable. In addition, the Court grants the amount of 19 $48,562.76 to Settlement Class Counsel as reimbursement of reasonable litigation expenses, and the 20 amount of $5,000.00 to Lead Plaintiffs as reimbursement of their reasonable costs and expenses 21 directly relating to their representation of the Settlement Class. The foregoing amounts shall be paid 22 from the Settlement Fund in accordance with the terms of the Stipulation. Any appeal from the 23 portion of this Judgment that relates solely to the fees and expenses granted hereunder shall have no 24 effect on the finality of this Judgment or the Effective Date as provided for in the Stipulation. 25 17. In the event that the Settlement does not become effective in accordance with the 26 terms of the Stipulation, this Judgment shall be rendered null and void to the extent provided by and 27 in accordance with the Stipulation and shall be vacated and, in such event, all orders entered and 28 -5- Case 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC Document 165-1 Filed 08/07/14 Page 7 of 8 1 releases delivered in connection therewith shall be null and void to the extent provided by and in 2 accordance with the Stipulation. 3 18. The Court finds that Lead Plaintiffs and Defendants and their respective counsel 4 complied at all times with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 during the course 5 of this Litigation. 6 19. There is no just reason for delay in the entry of this Judgment and immediate entry by 7 the Clerk of the Court is directed pursuant to Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. 9 DATED this 12th day of August, 2014. 10 DATED: _______________________________ THE HONORABLE LARRY R. HICKS LARRY R. HICKS DISTRICT JUDGE UNITED STATES UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -6- Case 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC Document 165-1 Filed 08/07/14 Page 8 of 8 1 EXHIBIT A 2 Elliott v. China Green Agriculture, Inc., et al. No. 3:10-cv-00648-LRH-WGC (D. Nev.) 3 PERSONS WHO FILED TIMELY REQUESTS FOR EXCLUSION 4 5 (1) Kozue Ishii; 6 (2) Cheng Han Kuo; 7 (3) Louis J. Floch; 8 (4) Daniel P. Gans; 9 (5) Michael A. Acosta and Patricia A. Acosta; and 10 (6) Daryl C. Hill 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -7-
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