1. Home
  2. Browse Decisions
  3. BLUME v. INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, INC.
 

BLUME v. INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, INC.

No. 4:12 CV 165 DDN.

CHARLES BLUME, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, INC., et al., Defendants.

United States District Court, E.D. Missouri, Eastern Division.

September 2, 2014.

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Ole Dam, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Richard Dickieson, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Richard Dierback, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Vincent Donato, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Charlotte Gallagher, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Steven Goodfriend, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

John Hartman, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Fred Kendall, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Larios, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Frederick Melenchuk, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Carol Ritchie, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Gary Sadavage, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Brian Sharf, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Richard Steinhoff, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Glen Bernstein, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Alan Braun, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Hawkens, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Allan Jr. Kitterman, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Kenneth Miller, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Thomas Peace, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Donna Pryor Kelsick, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Steven Douglas Johnson, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Arnold Robert Dick, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Kevin Scott Wilson, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Charles Blume, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Jesse James Lee, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Lloyd Sherman, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Mark Myers, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Mark Zaksheske, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Gaston Gomez, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Peter Smith Kautzmann, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Daniel Rutledge, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Howard Melvin Wayland, Jr., Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Marcus Anderson, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Everett Archie, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Kenneth Bator, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Konrad Baumeister, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Patricia Biel, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Blomquist, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Kenneth Butte, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Neil Campbell, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Bill Chambers, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Kent Crago, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

David Decker, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Richard Dolence, Jr., Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Terrance Evitts, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

John D. Field, III, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Marc Frye, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

William Gary, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Thomas Graff, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Ikebal Gill, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

William Green, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Ray Griffin, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

David Griffith, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Hahn, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Charles Hall, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Cynthia Holcomb, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Ronald Howell, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Terry Harris, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

David Kachelein, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Cindy Leddicotte, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Yoram Lehavdt, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Timothy Lloyd, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Jack Locker, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Loya, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

James McQuaid, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Edward Mullin, III, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Todd Napolitano, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Brian Nicotero, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Ronald Paradis, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Russell Parker, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

David Peters, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

John Pursell, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Peter Quigley, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Lawrence Reid, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Raymond Rivera, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

William Rodgers, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

David Roth, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Lawrence Rytter, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Steven Savluk, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Steven Thompson, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Vanderveen, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Ren Verasco, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Paul Wakeland, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Thomas Warda, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

John Willis, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

James Yanus, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Daniel Beach, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Richard Danfy, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Albert Dolezal, Jr., Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

James Duffy, Jr., Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Philip Herr, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Jamison, Jr., Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Karrie Kai, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Samuel Lamia, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Barry Lay, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Jeffrey Marzendorfer, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert H. Moore, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Mark Steven Myers, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Jon Owens, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Bill Sadak, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

David Seaman, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Allen P. Smith, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Barry Strom, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Sughrue, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Gower Talley, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Stephen Watzek, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Martin Wilbanks, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

John A. Wood, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Dennis Woolley, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Ishmael Baiza, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Noel Gimbel, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Don Green, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

R. Bryan Harrison, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Robert Lawson, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Kenneth Morrow, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Peter Nuzzo, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Cary Prejean, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Richard Rabin, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Catherine Roberts, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Barkley Sample, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Jerry Schulte, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Gary Shelton, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

James Single, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Jeaneen Spinelli, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Joseph Taylor III, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Edward Wiesner Jr., Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Douglas Ellis, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Keith Allen Evans, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Thomas Nelson Tunstall, Plaintiff, represented by Bradford B. Lear , LEAR WERTS LLP & Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Joseph Angelo, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Michael Bull, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Glenn Byus, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Milan Callis, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Chris Drucker, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Christopher Ewald, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Neil Friedman, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Franklin Henriquez, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

John Kozub, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

David MacGill, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Mark Madeira, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Kevin Martin, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Kevin McDonough, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

David Modica, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Hamid Mohyi, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

James O'Brien, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Joseph Pirosko, III, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Neal Pleasant, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Kyle Ramsey, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Carol Janice Robison, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Thomas Rusco, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Michael Sallows, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Joel Shapiro, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Gregory Smith, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

James DeMartino, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Rhett W. Fornof, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Martin Jerry Kliment, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Jeffrey Kolikof, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Scott Little, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Don Sander, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Matthew Straker, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

James Bonner, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Marcus Cooper, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Howard Davis, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Arnold Dick, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Geoffrey Jarvis, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

William Korner, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

Randal Schmidt, Plaintiff, represented by Todd C. Werts , LEAR WERTS LLP.

International Services, Inc., formerly known as International Profit Associates, Inc. also known as I.P.A., Defendant, represented by Gary J. Wojtan , WOJTAN AND VALLONE, Jennifer A. Mueller , BAIRD AND LIGHTNER, P.C. & John R. Lightner , BAIRD AND LIGHTNER, P.C..

ROI-North America, Inc., Defendant, represented by Gary J. Wojtan , WOJTAN AND VALLONE, Jennifer A. Mueller , BAIRD AND LIGHTNER, P.C. & John R. Lightner , BAIRD AND LIGHTNER, P.C..

GPS USA, Inc., Defendant, represented by Gary J. Wojtan , WOJTAN AND VALLONE, Jennifer A. Mueller , BAIRD AND LIGHTNER, P.C. & John R. Lightner , BAIRD AND LIGHTNER, P.C..

Integrated Business Analysis, Inc., Defendant, represented by Gary J. Wojtan , WOJTAN AND VALLONE, Jennifer A. Mueller , BAIRD AND LIGHTNER, P.C. & John R. Lightner , BAIRD AND LIGHTNER, P.C..

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT

DAVID D. NOCE, Magistrate Judge.

This matter came before the court on August 29, 2014 for a hearing on plaintiff's unopposed motion (Doc. 81) for approval of the settlement of this case and the approval of the release of claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The parties have consented to the exercise of plenary authority by the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).

The court has considered the materials filed in support of the motion and the undisputed factual information presented at the hearing, and from this record makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

FACTS

1. This is a collective class action, brought under 29 U.S.C. § 216(b),1 in which plaintiff Charles Blume represents a class of 166 current and former employees of International Services, Inc. (ISI plaintiff class), all of whom have opted into the class. The plaintiff class alleged that defendants violated the FLSA by failing to pay them overtime wages to which they were entitled and failed to pay them for all the hours they actually worked.

2. The issues presented in this action involved the classification of the subject employees as not exempt or exempt from the relevant provisions of the FLSA; and the action involved the method of calculation of the relevant hours and damages. These issues were strongly contested by the parties. Previously, the defendants reviewed this issue with the United States Department of Labor, which stated that defendants' position was incorrect; defendants disputed this determination. The amount in controversy between the class and the defendants substantially exceeded $1 Million.

3. The parties negotiated in good faith during the progress of this action to achieve a mediated,2 reasonable proposed settlement agreement and release of claims. The determination of the number of hours upon which the settlement was achieved involved a survey of employees for information and consideration of whether they worked part-time or full-time. The settlement also involved consideration of service awards to the lead class member, Charles Blume, and to two other class members, who cooperated and actively participated in the litigation. The terms of the settlement and the proposed distribution of funds are described in the exhibits attached to filed Document 81. The court has carefully reviewed these documents and finds their provisions fair, reasonable, and adequate to the class members. Further, the method of payment of the settlement amounts and class counsel attorneys' fees over time is fair and reasonable, given the relevant economic circumstances.

4. The settlement agreement also provides for reasonable attorney's fees and expenses for the ISI plaintiff class counsel, which are to be paid by the defendant employer. The ISI plaintiff class has been fairly and competently represented by the Lear Werts LLP law firm during the court proceedings and during the Alternative Dispute Resolution proceedings which led to the settlement of the action. Class counsel have expended monies, described in the exhibits to the settlement agreement, on behalf of the class. These expenditures and the amount of counsel hours recorded are fair and reasonable and are properly reimbursable from the settlement proceeds. In this common fund case the agreed upon percentage-of-recovery method is preferable to the usual lodestar method for determining reasonable attorney's fees and expenses. West v. PSS World Med., Inc., 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57150, at 3-4 (E.D. Mo. 2014). Class counsel have agreed to receive a lesser percentage fee (33%) than they originally agreed to (35%). In originally agreeing to a contingency fee, class counsel originally took the substantial risk that it would receive nothing or substantially less at the conclusion of this action.

5. The parties have proposed a third-party administrator to notify the class members of the settlement and to distribute the settlement funds from an escrow account established for this purpose. This arrangement is acceptable and fair.

6. Given the agreement of the parties that distribution of the settlement amounts will occur over time, the parties have agreed that this federal district court would retain both personal and subject matter jurisdiction over the enforcement of the parties' settlement agreement.

DISCUSSION

The court's duty in reviewing the agreement between the ISI plaintiff class and the defendants is to determine whether the settlement of this collective class action (a) resulted from contested litigation to resolve an actual controversy between the employees and the employer, and (b) is fair, reasonable, and adequately protects the best interests of the ISI plaintiff class members and the defendants. See Fry v. Accent Mktg. Servs., LLC, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9464 (E.D. Mo. 2014) (Perry, C.J.) ("A district court may only approve a settlement agreement in a case brought under § 216(b) after it determines that the litigation involves a bona fide dispute and that the proposed settlement is fair and equitable to all parties."); Lynn's Food Stores, Inc. v. United States by and through U.S. Dept. of Labor, 679 F.2d 1350, 1353 (11th Cir. 1982)("When employees bring a private action for back wages under the FLSA, and present to the district court a proposed settlement, the district court may enter a stipulated judgment after scrutinizing the settlement for fairness.").

The facts set forth above express the court's belief and conclusions that the litigation that led to the settlement was an actual dispute that was strongly contested; the settlement is fair, reasonable, and protects the best interests of the parties; and the amounts of the agreed upon attorney's fees and expenses for the plaintiff class counsel are reasonable.

Therefore,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the unopposed motion of the Plaintiff Class for approval of the settlement of this action and the release of the plaintiffs' claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (Doc. 81) is sustained. The parties' Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims (Doc. 81-1) is hereby approved and incorporated by reference as part of this Memorandum and Order.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties execute the provisions of their Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims, including the funding of the escrow account, the distribution of proceeds therefrom, and the payment of the reasonable attorney's fees and expenses of class counsel as the parties have agreed.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this court retain both personal and subject matter jurisdiction over the enforcement of the parties' Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims (Doc. 81-1) and this Memorandum and Order. Nevertheless, the Clerk of Court shall administratively terminate this action.

FootNotes


1. Under 29 U.S.C. § 216(b), an action may be brought to recover unpaid and owing wages by a group of employees who have given their consent to be a party to the action. Section 216(b) also provides, "The court in such action shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff or plaintiffs, allow a reasonable attorney's fee to be paid by the defendant, and costs of the action." 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).
2. The court appreciates the successful efforts of the mediator, John R. Phillips, Esq., in bringing the parties to a settlement of this action. The record of the court establishes that the parties engaged in substantial Alternative Dispute Resolution efforts and proceedings in good faith.

Comment

1000 Characters Remaining

Leagle.com reserves the right to edit or remove comments but is under no obligation to do so, or to explain individual moderation decisions.

User Comments

Listed below are the cases that are cited in this Featured Case. Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case.

Cited Cases

  • No Cases Found

Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case.

Citing Cases