Order | Filed: August 25, 2026
Piney et al v. City Of New York et al
Labor: Fair Standards | New York Southern
Order
ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS AND COLLECTIVE ACTION SETTLEMENT On July 23, 2026, Plaintiff Devon Dawkins ("Dawkins"), on behalf of himself and the proposed Class (collectively, "Plaintiffs"), filed a motion for preliminary approval of Plaintiffs' Settlement with Defendant Best Buy Co. Inc. ("Best Buy" or "Defendant") (together with Plaintiffs, the "Parties"). In doing so, Plaintiffs requested certificati on of a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 ("Rule 23") class action and final certification of the FLSA collective action, for settlement purposes only, and sought approval of a settlement on behalf of these putative class members (& quot;Class Members"). The Court has considered Plaintiffs' request for approval of a Rule 23 class pursuant to Rule 23(e) and collective certification for settlement purposes only, and the Best Buy Settlement Agreement and Release ( "Best Buy Agreement"), filed in its final form on July 23, 2026, and the Declaration of Innessa M. Huot ("Huot Decl."), and hereby finds and orders as follows: I. Preliminary Approval of Settlement 1. Unless otherw ise defined herein, all terms used in this Order (the "Preliminary Approval Order") will have the same meaning as defined in the Best Buy Agreement, filed on July 23, 2026. 2. The Court finds on a preliminary basis that the settlement m emorialized in the Best Buy Agreement falls within the range of reasonableness and, therefore, meets the requirements for preliminary approval such that notice to the Class is appropriate. 3. The Court finds that the Best Buy Agreement is the r esult of extensive, arm's length negotiations by counsel well versed in the prosecution of wage and hour class actions. 4. The Court grants Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary approval of the Best Buy Agreement, Certification of the Be st Buy Settlement Class, Appointment of Class Counsel, and Approval of Plaintiffs' Notice of Settlement and Claim Form. II. Certification of the Proposed Class and Collective for Settlement Purposes Only 5. Preliminary approval of the Se ttlement, class and collective certification for settlement purposes, and appointment of class counsel have several practical purposes, including avoiding the costs of litigating class status while facilitating a global settlement, ensuring all c lass members are notified of the terms of the proposed Best Buy Agreement, and setting the date and time of the final approval hearing. 6. Pursuant to Rule 23(e), the Court certifies, for settlement purposes only, a Rule 23 class consisting of al l current and former NYPD Officers, Detectives, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, and Inspectors who performed work at Best Buy Locations in New York State, through the Paid Detail Program (the "PDP"), at any time from January 23, 201 9 through May 4, 2025. 7. For settlement purposes only, the Court also grants final certification of the FLSA collective action consisting of all current and former NYPD Officers, Detectives, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, and Inspectors wh o performed work at Best Buy Locations in New York State, through the PDP, at any time from January 23, 2022 through May 4, 2025. As further set forth in this Order, The Court will conduct a Fairness Hearing pursuant to Rule 23(e)(2) on February 9, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. ET in Courtroom 18A, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 for the purposes of: (a) hearing any timely and properly filed objections; (b) making a final determination as to the fairness, adequacy, and reasonableness of the Best Buy Agreement terms and procedures; (c) fixing the amount of attorneys' fees and litigation costs and expenses to Class Counsel and the service payment to Plaintiff Faysal; and (d) entering Judgment, if appropriate. The Fairness Hearing may be c ontinued without further notice to the Class Members. Plaintiffs shall file their motion for final approval of the Best Buy Settlement, and Class Counsel shall file their motion for attorneys' fees and litigation costs and expenses, and service payment within 150 days of this Order. 21. The following dates shall govern the schedule in this action: September 24, 2026 Mailing of Settlement Notices and Claim Forms. November 23, 2026 Last day for Class Members to qualify as Authorized Claimants by filing Claim Forms to join the Settlement. Also, the last day for Class Members to submit written objections to the Settlement. December 8, 2026 Last day for Class Members who did not timely receive the Settlement Notice or were unable to file th e Claim Form within 60 days due to extraordinary circumstances to qualify as Authorized Claimants by filing Claim Forms to join the Settlement. January 22, 2027 Filing of all papers in support of final settlement approval with the Court. February 9, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. ET in Courtroom 18A, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 Fairness Hearing. IT IS S... (truncated)
Order | Filed: August 25, 2026
Piney et al v. City Of New York et al
Labor: Fair Standards | New York Southern
Order
ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS AND COLLECTIVE ACTION SETTLEMENT On July 23, 2026, Plaintiffs Devon Dawkins ("Dawkins") and Alexis Yanez ("Yanez") on behalf of themselves and the proposed Class (collectively, &qu ot;Plaintiffs"), filed a motion for preliminary approval of Plaintiffs' Settlement with Defendant Color Image Apparel, Inc. d/b/a Alo Yoga ("Alo Yoga or "Defendant") (together with Plaintiffs, the "Parties"). In d oing so, Plaintiffs requested certification of a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 ("Rule 23") class action and final certification of the FLSA collective action, for settlement purposes only, and sought approval of a settlement on behal f of these putative class members ("Class Members"). The Court has considered Plaintiffs' request for approval of a Rule 23 class pursuant to Rule 23(e) and collective certification for settlement purposes only, and the Alo Yoga Sett lement Agreement and Release ("Alo Yoga Agreement), filed in its final form on July 23, 2026, and the Declaration of Innessa M.Huot ("Huot Decl."), and hereby finds and orders as follows: I. Preliminary Approval of Settlement 1. Unless otherwise defined herein, all terms used in this Order (the "Preliminary Approval Order") will have the same meaning as defined in the Alo Yoga Agreement, filed on July 23, 2026. 2. The Court finds on a preliminary basis that the se ttlement memorialized in the Alo Yoga Agreement falls within the range of reasonableness and, therefore, meets the requirements for preliminary approval such that notice to the Class is appropriate. 3. The Court finds that the Alo Yoga Agreement is the result of extensive, arm's length negotiations by counsel well versed in the prosecution of wage and hour class actions. 4. The Court grants Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary approval of the Alo Yoga Agreement, Certification of the Alo Yoga Settlement Class, Appointment of Class Counsel, and Approval of Plaintiffs' Notice of Settlement and Claim Form. II. Certification of the Proposed Class and Collective for Settlement Purposes Only 5. Preliminary approval of the Settle ment, class and collective certification for settlement purposes, and appointment of class counsel have several practical purposes, including avoiding the costs of litigating class status while facilitating a global settlement, ensuring all class m embers are notified of the terms of the proposed Alo Yoga Agreement, and setting the date and time of the final approval hearing. 6. Pursuant to Rule 23(e), the Court certifies, for settlement purposes only, a Rule 23class consisting of all curren t and former NYPD Officers, Detectives, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, and Inspectors performed worked for Alo Yoga in New York State, through the Paid Detail Program (the "PDP"), at any time from January 23, 2019 through April 17, 202 6. 7. For settlement purposes only, the Court also grants final certification of the FLSA collective action consisting of all current and former NYPD Officers, Detectives, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, and Inspectors who performed worked for A lo Yoga in New York State, through the PDP, at any time from January 23, 2022 through April 17, 2026. As further set forth in this Order, The Court will conduct a Fairness Hearing pursuant to Rule 23(e)(2) on February 9, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. ET in Courtroom 18A, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 for the purposes of: (a) hearing any timely and properly filed objections; (b) making a final determination as to the fairness, adequacy, and reasonableness of the Alo Yoga Agreement terms and pr ocedures; (c) fixing the amount of attorneys' fees and litigation costs and expenses to Class Counsel and the service payments to Plaintiffs Dawkins and Yanez; and (d) entering Judgment, if appropriate. The Fairness Hearing may be continued wi thout further notice to the Class Members. Plaintiffs shall file their motion for final approval of the Alo Yoga Settlement, and Class Counsel shall file their motion for attorneys' fees and litigation costs and expenses, and service payment within 150 days of this Order. 21. The following dates shall govern the schedule in this action: September 24, 2026 Mailing of Settlement Notices and Claim Forms. November 23, 2026 Last day for Class Members to qualify as Authorized Claimants by fi ling Claim Forms to join the Settlement. Also, the last day for Class Members to submit written objections to the Settlement. December 8, 2026 Last day for Class Members who did not timely receive the Settlement Notice or were unable to file the Cl aim Form within 60 days due to extraordinary circumstances to qualify as Authorized Claimants by filing Claim Forms to join the Settlement. January 22, 2027 Filing of all papers in support of final settlement approval with the Court. February 9, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. ET in Courtroom 18A, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 Fairness Hearing. IT IS SO... (truncated)