Lawrence v. A-1 Cleaning & Septic Systems, LLC et al, No. 4:2019cv03526 - Document 29 (S.D. Tex. 2020)

Court Description: ORDER granting 18 Motion to Certify Class. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Andrew M Edison) Parties notified. (wbostic, 4)

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Lawrence v. A-1 Cleaning & Septic Systems, LLC et al Doc. 29 United States District Court Southern District of Texas ENTERED )# ( '( ( ' '(& ( $)&( '$)( &# '(& ( $ ( , ' $)'($# * ' $# )'( # ! +& # %<19>D966 *' ! # # ' %( '-'( "' !! ( ! 565>41>DC K K K K K K K K K K April 28, 2020 David J. Bradley, Clerk * ! ( $# #$ * (89C 9C 1 19B !12?B 'D1>41B4C 3D N !' O 31C5 %5>49>7 256?B5 =5 9C %<19>D966QC "?D9?> D? ?>49D9?>1<<I 5BD96I 1 !' ?<<53D9F5 3D9?> @@B?F5 #?D935 1>4 H@549D54 ?>C945B1D9?> N"?D9?> 6?B !' 5BD96931D9?>O ## ;D 6D5B 3?>C945B9>7 D85 =?D9?> D85 B53?B4 1>4 D85 1@@<9312<5 <1G 3?>49D9?>1<<I 35BD96I 1 !' 3?<<53D9F5 13D9?> 6?B D85 B51C?>C 5H@B5CC54 25<?G 565>41>D <51>9>7 '5@D93 'ICD5=C !! 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D85 1@@B?@B91D5 >?D935 @B?354EB5 N(? ;55@ D85 ?@D 9> @B?35CC 5669395>D 49CDB93D 3?EBDC 81F5 49C3B5D9?> D? 6139<9D1D5 >?D935 D? @?D5>D91< @<19>D966C O + .# ,.% + & /# , 4 D8 9B 9>D5B>1< AE?D1D9?> =1B;C 2B13;5DC 1>4 39D1D9?> ?=9DD54 N#?D935 9C @1BD93E<1B<I 9=@?BD1>D 6?B !' 3?<<53D9F5 13D9?>C 1C @?D5>D91< @<19>D966CQ CD1DED5C ?6 <9=9D1D9?>C 3?>D9>E5 D? BE> E><5CC 1>4 E>D9< 1 @<19>D966 P79F5C 89C 3?>C5>D 9> GB9D9>7 D? 253?=5 1 @1BDI 1>4 CE38 3?>C5>D 9C 69<54 9> D85 3?EBD 9> G8938 CE38 13D9?> 9C 2B?E78D QO .,+#$#)" 2 +0#%. 0#" .," #.2/ +! #? * +! 1D + (5H @B AE?D9>7 ) ' K 2 !1GB5>35 @B?@?C5C D81D 85 C8?E<4 25 @5B=9DD54 D? 49CC5=9>1D5 >?D935 2I 69BCD 3<1CC =19< 5=19< 1>4 D5HD =5CC175 C5>4 B5=9>45B >?D935C 256?B5 D85 5>4 ?6 D85 ?@D 9> @5B9?4 =1;5 B5=9>45B 31<<C D? D8?C5 G8? 81F5 >?D B5C@?>454 D? D85 9>9D91< >?D935 1>4 B5AE9B5 565>41>DC D? @?CD D85 >?D935 9> 1 3?>C@93E?EC @<135 9> D859B ?66935C G9<< 144B5CC D85C5 9CCE5C ?>5 2I ?>5 (85 69BCD 9CCE5 =ECD D13;<5 9C G8938 45<9F5BI =5D8?4C C8?E<4 25 ED9<9J54 D? 9>6?B= @ED1D9F5 3<1CC =5=25BC ?6 D85 @B5C5>D <1GCE9D (85 @1BD95C 17B55 D81D 3<1CC >?D935 C8?E<4 25 49CDB92ED54 2I 2?D8 69BCD 3<1CC =19< 1>4 5=19< (85 49C@ED5 1D 81>4 35>D5BC ?> G85D85B C8?E<4 1<C? @5B=9D >?D935 2I D5HD =5CC175 !1GB5>35 =19>D19>C D81D D5HD =5CC179>7 9C 1 3?==?> 6?B= ?6 3?==E>931D9?> D81D 9C =?B5 56653D9F5 D81> 3<1CC >?D935 C5>D 59D85B 2I 5=19< ?B D85 )>9D54 'D1D5C @?CD1< CICD5= 5 3?>D5>4C D81D N.G/89<5 .@ED1D9F5 3<1CC/ =5=25BC 1B5 >?D 1C <9;5<I D? B57E<1B<I EC5 1 3?=@ED5B D? 3853; D859B 5=19< >51B<I 5F5BI?>5 9> D?41IQC C?395DI 9C 9> 3?>CD1>D @?CC5CC9?> ?6 1 35<< @8?>5O 1>4 =1>I NB5<I ?> 35<< @8?>5C 1C D859B C?<5 =51>C ?6 3?==E>931D9?> O ;D 1D $> D85 ?D85B 81>4 %<19>D966C ?2:53D D? 49CDB92ED9>7 >?D935 2I D5HD 1B7E9>7 D81D 9D 9C C?=58?G N=9C<5149>7O 1>4 NE>G1BB1>D54 O ;D 1D <D8?E78 49CDB93D 3?EBDC 13B?CC D85 >1D9?> 1B5 49F9454 1C D? G85D85B 1 @<19>D966 C8?E<4 25 @5B=9DD54 D? C5>4 >?D935 D? @?D5>D91< 3<1CC =5=25BC 9> !' 13D9?>C 2I D5HD =5CC175 9> 1449D9?> D? ?D85B =?B5 DB149D9?>1< >?D935 =5D8?4C 1= 1 69B= 25<95F5B D81D D5HD =5CC175 >?D935 9C 1@@B?@B91D5 ## '!(#+/&##0/ 2 .! .'+# 000 'E@@ 4 000 +! 1D ' (5H 52 (85 @EB@?C5 ?6 3<1CC >?D935 9C D? 5>CEB5 D81D @?D5>D91< @<19>D966C NB5359F.5/ 133EB1D5 1>4 D9=5<I >?D935 3?>35B>9>7 D85 @5>45>3I ?6 D85 3?<<53D9F5 13D9?> C? D81D D85I 31> =1;5 9>6?B=54 4539C9?>C 12?ED G85D85B D? @1BD939@1D5 O ,$$* ++ ,!&# +! 2 -#.)'+% ) ' C 1 :E49391< ?66935B 9D 9C =I F95G D81D C8?E<4 5H5B39C5 =I @?G5B D? 5>3?EB175 45<9F5BI =5D8?4C D81D G9<< =1;5 9D =?B5 <9;5<I D81D @ED1D9F5 3<1CC =5=25BC B5359F5 >?D935 (85 B51<9DI ?6 =?45B> 41I <965 9C D81D C?=5 @5?@<5 >5F5B ?@5> D859B 69BCD 3<1CC =19< 1>4 ?D85BC B?ED9>5<I 97>?B5 D859B 5=19<C "?CD 6?<;C 8?G5F5B 3853; D859B D5HD =5CC175C B57E<1B<I ?B 3?>CD1>D<I '9>35 1= 3?>F9>354 D81D D5HD =5CC179>7 G9<< 9>3B51C5 D85 <9;5<98??4 D81D 3<1CC =5=25BC G9<< <51B> 12?ED D89C <1GCE9D 1@@B?F5 D85 EC5 ?6 D5HD =5CC175 >?D935 9> D89C 31C5 ## '!(#+/&##0/ +! 1D N 69>4 D81D @B?F949>7 >?D935 F91 D5HD =5CC175 9> 1449D9?> D? ?D85B DB149D9?>1< >?D935 =5D8?4C G9<< 1<=?CD 1<G1IC 25 1@@B?@B91D5 9> =?45B> C?395DI O (? 1<<5F91D5 1>I 3?>35B> 12?ED 1 =9C<5149>7 ?B 9>3?=@<5D5 D5HD =5CC175 D85 D5HD C5>D D? @?D5>D91< 3<1CC =5=25BC =ECD 9>3<E45 1 3?@I ?6 D85 3<1CC >?D935 E<D9=1D5<I 1@@B?F5 6?B 49CDB92ED9?> #5HD 565>41>DC ?2:53D D? !1GB5>35QC B5AE5CD D? C5>4 1 B5=9>45B >?D935 D? @?D5>D91< 3<1CC =5=25BC 565>41>DC =19>D19> D81D B5=9>45B >?D935 9C E>>535CC1BI 1>4 N=1I 79F5 D85 1@@51B1>35 D81D D85 3?EBD 9C 5>4?BC9>7 @<19>D966QC @?C9D9?> O ;D 1D 3B?CC D85 3?E>DBI D85B5 9C 1 C@<9D ?6 1ED8?B9DI ?> G85D85B B5=9>45B >?D935C C8?E<4 25 1<<?G54 ,*- .# ,..'/ 2 #00'.# ,+/0 ,.- 'E@@ 4 ' # - &5=9>45B >?D935C 6EBD85B D85 !' QC 5H@B5CC @EB@?C5 D? N9>6?B= 1C =1>I @?D5>D91< @<19>D966C 1C @?CC92<5 ?6 D85 3?<<53D9F5 13D9?> 1>4 D859B B978D D? ?@D 9> O 3'0& , #.0/ 2 #)"'+% #? * +! 1D # (5H 53 69>49>7 D81D B5=9>45B >?D935C G?E<4 25 E>>535CC1BI 1>4 3?E<4 @?D5>D91<<I 25 9>D5B@B5D54 1C 1> 5>4?BC5=5>D 2I D85 3?EBD D? ?@D 9>D? D85 <1GCE9D B535>D<I 144B5CC54 G85D85B 1 B5=9>45B >?D935 9C 1@@B?@B91D5 9> 3?<<53D9F5 13D9?> 31C5C ## '!(#+/&##0/ +! 1D > 1@@B?F9>7 D85 EC5 ?6 B5=9>45B >?D935C 5H@<19>54 (? =5 D85 25>569DC D? 25 719>54 2I C5>49>7 1 B5=9>45B >?D935 61B ?EDG5978 1>I @?D5>D91< 49C14F1>D175C B5=9>45B >?D935 @B?F945C 1 C53?>4 381>35 D? @?D5>D91< @<19>D966C G8? 6?B G81D5F5B B51C?> 4? >?D B5359F5 ?@5> ?B F95G D85 9>9D91< <5DD5B 5=19< ?B D5HD =5CC175 @B?F949>7 >?D935 B5=9>45B >?D935 1<C? 85<@C 5>CEB5 D81D D8?C5 @?D5>D91< @<19>D966C G8? B514 D85 ?B979>1< >?D935 2ED 6?B75D 12?ED 9D 9> D85 8ECD<5 1>4 2ECD<5 ?6 419<I <965 1B5 B5=9>454 1D <51CD ?>35 12?ED D859B ?@@?BDE>9DI D? :?9> D85 <1GCE9D 565>41>DCQ 3?>35B> D81D 1 B5=9>45B >?D935 31> 79F5 1> 9>133EB1D5 9=@B5CC9?> D81D D85 ?EBD 13D9F5<I @B?=?D5C @1BD939@1D9?> 9> D85 3?<<53D9F5 13D9?> 31> 25 51C9<I C?<F54 (85 3<1CC >?D935 31> C9=@<I 9>3<E45 <1>7E175 5H@B5CC<I CD1D9>7 D81D D85 ?EBD 4?5C >?D 5>3?EB175 ?B 49C3?EB175 @1BD939@1D9?> 9> D85 31C5 69>4 D81D 1 B5=9>45B >?D935 9C 1 B51C?>12<5 G1I D? C55 D81D @?D5>D91< 3<1CC =5=25BC B5359F5 >?D935 ?6 D85 13D9?> 1>4 81F5 1 381>35 D? 453945 G85D85B D? @1BD939@1D5 9> D85 31C5 C55 >? 4?G>C945 D? 1 B5=9>45B >?D935 1C 565>41>DC G9<< >?D 25 E>4E<I 2EB45>54 ?B @B5:E49354 " > B571B4C D? 565>41>DCQ 1B7E=5>D D81D 1 B5=9>45B >?D935 =1I 9=@<I D85 ?EBDQC @B?=?D9?> ?6 D85 3?<<53D9F5 13D9?> 1= 3?>6945>D 565>41>DCQ 3?>35B> 31> 25 51C9<I B5C?<F54 (85 3<1CC >?D935 31> C9=@<I 9>3<E45 <1>7E175 5H@B5CC<I CD1D9>7 D81D D85 ?EBD 4?5C >?D 5>3?EB175 ?B 49C3?EB175 @1BD939@1D9?> 9> D85 31C5 D85B56?B5 3?>3<E45 D81D B5=9>45B >?D935C 1B5 1> 1@@B?@B91D5 =5D8?4 D? 5>CEB5 D85 @?D5>D91< @<19>D966C 1B5 =145 6E<<I 1G1B5 ?6 D85 3?<<53D9F5 13D9?> <1GCE9D (85 B5=9>45B >?D935 =1I 25 C5>D 2I 69BCD 3<1CC =19< 5=19< 1>4 D5HD =5CC175 > 1449D9?> D? C5>49>7 B5=9>45B >?D935C 2I 69BCD 3<1CC =19< 5=19< 1>4 D5HD %<19>D966C G1>D D? 6?<<?G E@ G9D8 1 B5=9>45B @8?>5 31<< D? D8?C5 3<1CC =5=25BC G8? 81F5 >?D B5C@?>454 D? D85 9>9D91< >?D935 9F5> D81D !' >?D935 9C 9>D5>454 D? 9>6?B= 1C =1>I @?D5>D91< @<19>D966C 1C @?CC92<5 ?6 D85 3?<<53D9F5 13D9?> 1>4 D859B B978D D? ?@D 9> 3?=@<5D5<I E>45BCD1>4 !1GB5>35QC 45C9B5 D? 144 1 B5=9>45B @8?>5 31<< D? D85 B5@5BD?9B5 ED 1= >?D @5BCE1454 81F5 1<B514I 17B554 D? >?D935 2I 69BCD 3<1CC =19< 5=19< 1>4 D5HD =5CC175 81F5 1<C? 17B554 D? B5=9>45B >?D935C EC9>7 D85 C1=5 =5D8?4C ?6 45<9F5BI D 1 35BD19> @?9>D 5>?E78 9C 5>?E78 (?? =1>I B5=9>45B >?D935C 253?=5 4E@<931D9F5 1>4 81B1CC9>7 81F5 D? 4B1G D85 <9>5 C?=5G85B5 33?B49>7<I 69>4 D81D B5=9>45B 31<<C 1B5 9>1@@B?@B91D5 G85> 1 49CDB93D 3?EBD 81C 1<B514I 1ED8?B9J54 B5=9>45B >?D935C F91 69BCD 3<1CC =19< 5=19< 1>4 D5HD =5CC175 ## '%1#/ 2 # .# ,*#/ +! #? * +! 1D + !1 $3D N(85 ?EBD 4?5C >?D 69>4 D81D D5<5@8?>5 31<<C 1B5 1@@B?@B91D5 O ,5('+ 2 + " .(, #0.,)#1* ,.- #? L3FL L"' L'(* +! 1D ?<? "1B 453<9>9>7 D? 1ED8?B9J5 B5=9>45B D5<5@8?>5 31<<C G9D8?ED @B??6 D81D =19< 1>4 5 =19< >?D935 81C 255> CE2CD1>D91<<I 9>56653D9F5 1D B51389>7 @?D5>D91< 3<1CC =5=25BC #5HD !1GB5>35 B5AE5CDC D81D ?B45B 565>41>DC D? @?CD >?D935 9> D85 G?B;@<135 G85B5 9D 31> 25 C55> 2I 3EBB5>D 5=@<?I55C <D8?E78 81F5 >5F5B 144B5CC54 CE38 1 B5AE5CD @B5F9?EC<I 81F5 >? AE1<=C G9D8 ?B45B9>7 565>41>DC D? @?CD >?D935 N ?EBDC B?ED9>5<I 1@@B?F5 B5AE5CDC D? @?CD >?D935 ?> 5=@<?I55 2E<<5D9> 2?1B4C 1>4 9> ?D85B 3?==?> 1B51C 5F5> G85B5 @?D5>D91< =5=25BC G9<< 1<C? 25 >?D96954 2I =19< O &'0#&,.+ 2 ,)$% +%7/ 0# (&,1/# +! 'E@@ 4 ' # - 3?<<53D9>7 31C5C N%?CD9>7 >?D935 9> D85 G?B;@<135 =1H9=9J5C @?D5>D91< @<19>D966CQ ?@@?BDE>9D95C D? 25 9>6?B=54 ?6 D85 @5>45>3I ?6 D85 <9D971D9?> 1>4 3?>C945B G85D85B D? ?@D 9> O #+",6 2 /&'5 1/&' +! #? 9F +! 1D ' # - '5@ "?B5?F5B 9D 9C B5<1D9F5<I 51CI 6?B D85 5=@<?I5B D? D1@5 E@ 1 >?D935 6?B 1<< D? C55 9> 1 3?==?> 1B51 1>4 D85B5 9C <9DD<5 96 1>I 4?G>C945 9> @?CD9>7 CE38 >?D935 ## .'+'" " 2 .#0 +%#. 0" 'E@@ 4 ' # - B5:53D9>7 1C NE>@5BCE1C9F5O 4565>41>DQC 1B7E=5>D D81D @?CD9>7 >?D935 NG9<< 25 E>>535CC1B9<I 49CBE@D9F5 1>4 G9<< CD1BD 1 3?>F5BC1D9?> 1=?>7 5=@<?I55CO 1>4 >?D9>7 D81D N.1/ @EB@?C5 ?6 >?D935 '/ D? CD1BD 1 3?>F5BC1D9?> 1=?>7 5=@<?I55C C? 1C D? 5>CEB5 D81D D85I 1B5 >?D96954 12?ED @?D5>D91< F9?<1D9?>C ?6 D85 !' 1>4 =51>9>76E<<I 12<5 D? F9>4931D5 D859B CD1DED?BI B978DCO 33?B49>7<I 7B1>D !1GB5>35QC B5AE5CD D81D 565>41>DC @?CD >?D935 9> 1 3?>C@93E?EC 3?==?> 1B51 1D D85 <51>9>7 6139<9DI !1GB5>35 81C =145 1 CE669395>D C8?G9>7 1D D89C @B5<9=9>1BI CD175 D? G1BB1>D D85 9CCE1>35 ?6 >?D935 D? @5B=9D 6E<< 49C3?F5BI 1>4 D? 1<<?G D85 ?EBD D? 3?>4E3D 1 =?B5 B97?B?EC 1>1<IC9C 1D D85 69>1< 4535BD96931D9?> CD175 G85> 9D 81C D85 25>569D ?6 =?B5 9>6?B=1D9?> C CE38 %<19>D966QC "?D9?> 6?B !' 5BD96931D9?> ;D 9C ?>49D9?>1< 35BD96931D9?> 9C 7B1>D54 6?B 1 3<1CC 4569>54 1C 6?<<?GC << C5@D93 B5@19B D538C 1>4 4B9F5BC 5=@<?I54 2I <51>9>7 '5@D93 'ICD5=C !! 1>4 1=5C '85@@51B4 G8? G?B;54 ?F5B 6?BDI 8?EBC 9> 1 G?B;G55; 1D 1>I D9=5 4EB9>7 D85 D8B55 I51B @5B9?4 256?B5 D89C ?B45B @B9< D8B?E78 @B9< ?B45B D85 @1BD95C D? 3?>65B 1>4 69<5 1> 17B554 %B?@?C54 #?D935 1>4 1> 17B554 %B?@?C54 ?>C5>D D? ?9> 6?B= 2I "1I 81F5 @B5@1B54 1 6?B= !' 3?>49D9?>1< 35BD96931D9?> >?D935 D81D 9C 1F19<12<5 ?> =I G52C9D5 8DD@C GGG DHC EC3?EBDC 7?F @175 E>9D54 CD1D5C =179CDB1D5 :E475 1>4B5G = 549C?> 1>4 D85 @1BD95C 1B5 5>3?EB1754 D? ED9<9J5 9D 9> 4B16D9>7 D85 69>1< >?D935 6?B D89C 31C5 565>41>DC C81<< @B?F945 !1GB5>35 G9D8 1 <9CD ?6 1<< 5=@<?I55C 69DD9>7 D85 45C3B9@D9?> ?6 D85 3?>49D9?>1<<I 35BD96954 3<1CC 9> 1 EC12<5 5<53DB?>93 6?B=1D 2I "1I (89C <9CD C81<< 9>3<E45 5138 9>49F94E1<QC 6E<< >1=5 <1CD ;>?G> =19<9>7 144B5CC 5 =19< 144B5CC 96 ;>?G> =?29<5 D5<5@8?>5 >E=25B 1>4 41D5 C ?6 5=@<?I=5>D !1GB5>35 C81<< 81F5 6?EBD55> 41IC 6B?= D85 B5359@D ?6 D89C 9>6?B=1D9?> D? C5>4 >?D935 D? D85 @?D5>D91< 3<1CC =5=25BC 2I 69BCD 3<1CC =19< 5=19< 1>4 D5HD =5CC175 (85 ?@D 9> @5B9?4 C81<< 25 C9HDI 41IC 6B?= D85 41D5 D85 >?D935 9C C5>D B5=9>45B >?D935 =1I 25 C5>D D? @?D5>D91< 3<1CC =5=25BC 2I 69BCD 3<1CC =19< 5=19< 1>4 D5HD =5CC175 D89BDI 41IC 16D5B D85 9>9D91< >?D935 9C C5>D #?D935 C81<< 1<C? 25 @?CD54 9> 1 3?>C@93E?EC @<135 1D 565>41>DCQ =19> ?66935C C? D81D 3EBB5>D 5=@<?I55C =1I B5359F5 >?D935 ?6 D85 <1GCE9D ' # 9> ?ECD?> (5H1C ?> D89C D8 41I ?6 @B9< 00000000000000000000000000000000000000 # & + " '$# )# ( '( ( ' " '(& ( )

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