`
`
`
`THE LAW OFFICE OF JACK FITZGERALD, PC
`JACK FITZGERALD (SBN 257370)
`jack@jackfitzgeraldlaw.com
`TREVOR M. FLYNN (SBN 253362)
`trevor@jackfitzgeraldlaw.com
`MELANIE PERSINGER (SBN 275423)
`melanie@jackfitzgeraldlaw.com
`Hillcrest Professional Building
`3636 Fourth Avenue, Suite 202
`San Diego, California 92103
`Phone: (619) 692-3840
`Fax: (619) 362-9555
`JACKSON & FOSTER, LLC
`SIDNEY W. JACKSON, III (pro hac vice)
`sid@jacksonfosterlaw.com
`75 St. Michael Street
`Mobile, Alabama 36602
`Phone: (251) 433-6699
`Fax: (251) 433-6127
`Class Counsel
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`
`
`DEBBIE KROMMENHOCK and STEPHEN
`HADLEY, on behalf of themselves, all others
`similarly situated, and the general public,
`
`
`
`
`
`POST FOODS, LLC,
`
`
`
`v.
`
`Case No. 3:16-cv-04958-WHO
`
`PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR
`PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS
`ACTION SETTLEMENT
`
`
`Judge:
`Hearing Date:
`Location:
`
`
`Hon. William H. Orrick
`Feb. 24, 2021, 2:00 p.m.
`Courtroom 2
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`
`
`
`
`Defendant.
`
`
`
`
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
`MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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`Case 3:16-cv-04958-WHO Document 285 Filed 01/18/21 Page 2 of 37
`
`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ........................................................................................................................ iii
`
`NOTICE OF MOTION ...................................................................................................................................1
`
`ISSUES TO BE DECIDED ............................................................................................................................1
`
`MEMORANDUM OF POINTS & AUTHORITIES ......................................................................................1
`
`I.
`
`II.
`
`INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................1
`
`PROCEDURAL HISTORY & SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS ......................................2
`
`III.
`
`THE SETTLEMENT ..............................................................................................................5
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`E.
`
`F.
`
`G.
`
`H.
`
`The Settlement Class...................................................................................................5
`
`Benefits for the Settlement Class ................................................................................5
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Post will Establish a $15 Million Non-Reversionary Settlement
`Fund ................................................................................................................5
`
`Post will Make Substantial Labeling Commitments, Saving the
`Class Millions .................................................................................................6
`
`Class Notice and Claims Administration ....................................................................7
`
`The Settlement’s Release ............................................................................................7
`
`Opting Out ..................................................................................................................8
`
`Objecting .....................................................................................................................8
`
`Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, and Service Awards ..............................................................8
`
`Timeline ......................................................................................................................9
`
`V.
`
`ARGUMENT ........................................................................................................................10
`
`A.
`
`The Court Should Certify the Settlement Class ........................................................10
`
`i
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
`MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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`Case 3:16-cv-04958-WHO Document 285 Filed 01/18/21 Page 3 of 37
`
`1.
`
`The Requirements of Rule 23(a) are Satisfied ..............................................10
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`Numerosity ........................................................................................10
`
`Commonality.....................................................................................10
`
`Typicality ..........................................................................................10
`
`Adequacy ..........................................................................................11
`
`2.
`
`The Requirements of Rule 23(b)(3) are Satisfied .........................................11
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`Predominance ....................................................................................11
`
`Superiority.........................................................................................15
`
`B.
`
`The Court Should Approve the Proposed Settlement ...............................................15
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`The Settlement is the Product of Serious, Informed, Non-Collusive
`Negotiations ..................................................................................................15
`
`The Settlement Does Not Grant Preferential Treatment Improperly ............17
`
`The Settlement Falls within the Range of Possible Approval ......................17
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`The Churchill Village Factors Favor Preliminary Approval ............18
`
`The Monetary Relief is Fair in Relation to Potential
`Damages ............................................................................................21
`
`The Injunctive Relief is Appropriate and Meaningful ......................22
`
`The Court will be Empowered to Determine Reasonable
`Fees, Costs, and Service Awards ......................................................23
`
`4.
`
`The Settlement has No Obvious Deficiencies ..............................................24
`
`C.
`
`The Court Should Approve the Class Notice and Notice Plan .................................25
`
`VI.
`
`CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................................25
`
`
`
`
`
`ii
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
`MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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`
`Case 3:16-cv-04958-WHO Document 285 Filed 01/18/21 Page 4 of 37
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`
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Cases
`
`Allen v. ConAgra Foods, Inc.,
`
`2019 WL 5191009 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 15, 2019).......................................................................................... 19
`
`Alvarez v. Farmers Ins. Exch.,
`
`2017 WL 2214585 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 18, 2017) .......................................................................................... 24
`
`Amchem Prods., Inc. v. Windsor,
`
`521 U.S. 591 (1997) ........................................................................................................................... 11, 12
`
`Boeing Co. v. Van Gemert,
`
`444 U.S. 472 (1980) ................................................................................................................................. 23
`
`Bolton v. U.S. Nursing Corp.,
`
`2013 WL 5700403 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 18, 2013).......................................................................................... 24
`
`Bradach v. Pharmavite, LLC,
`
`735 Fed. Appx. 251 (9th Cir. 2018) ......................................................................................................... 13
`
`Briseno v. ConAgra Foods, Inc.,
`
`844 F.3d 1121 (9th Cir. 2017) ................................................................................................................. 25
`
`Broomfield v. Craft Brew Alliance, Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 1972505 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 5, 2020) ........................................................................................... 13
`
`Bruno v. Quten Research Inst., LLC,
`
`2013 WL 990495 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 13, 2013) ........................................................................................... 23
`
`Butler v. Porsche Cars N. Am., Inc.,
`
`2017 WL 1398316 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 19, 2017) ......................................................................................... 14
`
`Campbell v. Facebook, Inc.,
`
`951 F.3d 1106 (9th Cir. 2020) ........................................................................................................... 15, 16
`
`Carter v. XPO Logistics, Inc.,
`
`2019 WL 5295125 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 18, 2019).......................................................................................... 21
`
`Castro v. Paragon Indus., Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 1984240 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 27, 2020).......................................................................................... 12
`
`Chambers v. Whirlpool Corp.,
`
`980 F.3d 645 (9th Cir. 2020) ................................................................................................................... 23
`
`Chevron Envt’l. Mgmt. Co. v. BKK Corp.,
`
`2013 WL 5587363 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 10, 2013) .......................................................................................... 21
`
`iii
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
`MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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`
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`Case 3:16-cv-04958-WHO Document 285 Filed 01/18/21 Page 5 of 37
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`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`Churchill Village v. Gen. Elec.,
`
`361 F.3d 566 (9th Cir. 2004) ................................................................................................................... 18
`
`Cortes v. Nat’l Credit Adjusters, L.L.C.,
`
`2020 WL 3642373 (E.D. Cal. July 6, 2020) ............................................................................................ 12
`
`Custom LED, LLC v. eBay, Inc,
`
`2014 WL 2916871 (N.D. Cal. June 24, 2014) ......................................................................................... 22
`
`Daugherty v. Am. Honda Motor Co.,
`
`144 Cal. App. 4th 824 (2006) .................................................................................................................. 14
`
`Dennis v. Kellogg Co.,
`
`697 F.3d 858 (9th Cir. 2012) ..................................................................................................................... 6
`
`Deposit Guar. Nat’l Bank v. Roper,
`
`445 U.S. 326 (1980) ................................................................................................................................. 15
`
`Dickey v. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.,
`
`2019 WL 4918366 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 4, 2019)............................................................................................ 25
`
`Edwards v. Nat’l Milk Producers Fed’n,
`
`2017 WL 3623734 (N.D. Cal. June 26, 2017) ................................................................................... 19, 25
`
`Gaudin v. Saxon Mortg. Servs., Inc.,
`
`2015 WL 4463650 (N.D. Cal. July 21, 2015) .......................................................................................... 21
`
`Hadley v. Kellogg Sales Co.,
`
`324 F. Supp. 1084 (N.D. Cal. 2018) ........................................................................................................ 11
`
`Hale v. Manna Pro Prod., LLC,
`
`2020 WL 3642490 (E.D. Cal. July 6, 2020) ............................................................................................ 16
`
`Hanlon v. Chrysler Corp.,
`
`150 F.3d 1011 (9th Cir. 1998) ..................................................................................................... 11, 12, 14
`
`Haralson v. U.S. Aviation Servs. Corp.,
`
`383 F. Supp. 3d 959 (N.D. Cal. 2019) ..................................................................................................... 25
`
`Harris v. Vector Mktg. Corp.,
`
`2011 WL 1627973 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 29, 2011) ............................................................................. 16, 17, 18
`
`Harvey v. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC,
`
`2019 WL 4462653 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 5, 2019) .......................................................................................... 20
`
`Harvey v. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC,
`
`2020 WL 1031801 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 3, 2020) ..................................................................................... 16, 22
`
`iv
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
`MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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`Case 3:16-cv-04958-WHO Document 285 Filed 01/18/21 Page 6 of 37
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`Heim v. Heim,
`
`2014 WL 1340063 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 2, 2014) ........................................................................................... 21
`
`Hesse v. Sprint Corp.,
`
`598 F.3d 581 (9th Cir. 2010) ..................................................................................................................... 8
`
`Hilsley v. Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 520616 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 31, 2020) ............................................................................................. 13
`
`Hodsdon v. Mars, Inc.,
`
`891 F.3d 857 (9th Cir. 2018) ................................................................................................................... 14
`
`In re Atmel Corp. Derivative Litig.,
`
`2010 WL 9525643 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 31, 2010) ......................................................................................... 23
`
`In re Bluetooth Headset Prods. Liability Litig.,
`
`654 F.3d 935 (9th Cir. 2011) ................................................................................................................... 17
`
`In re Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Prods. Liability Litig.,
`
`424 F. Supp. 3d 456 (E.D. La. 2020) ................................................................................................. 15, 17
`
`In re Endosurgical Prod. Direct Purchaser Antitrust Litig.,
`
`2008 WL 11504857 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 31, 2008) ....................................................................................... 22
`
`In re Google Referrer Header Privacy Litig.,
`
`869 F.3d 737 (9th Cir. 2017) ................................................................................................................... 24
`
`In re Hyundai & Kia Fuel Economy Litig.,
`
`926 F.3d 539 (9th Cir. 2019) ............................................................................................................. 12, 13
`
`In re Janney Montgomery Scott LLC Fin. Consulting Litig.,
`
`2009 WL 2137224 (E.D. Pa. July 16, 2009) ............................................................................................ 12
`
`In re Lidoderm Antitrust Litig.,
`
`2018 WL 4620695 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 20, 2018) ........................................................................................ 23
`
`In re Linerboard Antitrust Litig.,
`
`296 F. Supp. 2d 568 (E.D. Pa. 2003) ....................................................................................................... 22
`
`In re Linerboard Antitrust Litig.,
`
`305 F.3d 145 (3d Cir. 2002)..................................................................................................................... 12
`
`In re Mego Fin. Corp. Sec. Litig.,
`
`213 F.3d 454 (9th Cir. 2000) ................................................................................................................... 22
`
`In re Mercury Interactive Corp. Secs. Litig.,
`
`618 F.3d 988 (9th Cir. 2010) ..................................................................................................................... 9
`
`v
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
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`Case 3:16-cv-04958-WHO Document 285 Filed 01/18/21 Page 7 of 37
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`
`
`In re Nissan Motor Corp. Antitrust Litig.,
`
`552 F.2d 1088 (5th Cir. 1977) ................................................................................................................. 25
`
`In re NJOY, Inc. Consumer Class Action Litig.,
`
`120 F. Supp. 3d 1050 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 14, 2015) .................................................................................... 14
`
`In re Online DVD-Rental Antitrust Litig.,
`
`779 F.3d 934 (9th Cir. 2015) ................................................................................................................... 25
`
`In re Optical Disk Drive Prod. Antitrust Litig.,
`
`2016 WL 7364803 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 19, 2016) ........................................................................................... 9
`
`In re Pacific Enters. Sec. Litig.,
`
`47 F.3d 373 (9th Cir. 1995) ..................................................................................................................... 23
`
`In re Pharm. Indus. Average Wholesale Price Litig.,
`
`252 F.R.D. 83 (D. Mass. 2008) ................................................................................................................ 20
`
`In re Tableware Antitrust Litig.,
`
`484 F. Supp. 2d 1078 (N.D. Cal. 2007) ................................................................................................... 15
`
`In re TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litig.,
`
`2011 WL 7575004 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 27, 2011) ........................................................................................... 9
`
`In re Tobacco II Cases,
`
`46 Cal. 4th 298 (2009) ............................................................................................................................. 13
`
`In re Toys R Us-Del., Inc.-Fair & Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) Litig.,
`
`295 F.R.D. 438 (C.D. Cal. 2014) ............................................................................................................. 21
`
`In re Valeant Pharms. Int’l, Inc. Secs. Litig.,
`
`2020 WL 3166456 (D.N.J. June 15, 2020) .............................................................................................. 12
`
`In re Yahoo Mail Litig.,
`
`2016 WL 4474612 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 25, 2016) ........................................................................................ 21
`
`In re Yahoo! Inc. Customer Data Sec. Breach Litig.,
`
`2019 WL 387322 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 30, 2019) ...................................................................................... 15, 25
`
`In re Yahoo! Inc. Customer Data Sec. Breach Litig.,
`
`2020 WL 4212811 (N.D. Cal. July 22, 2020) ............................................................................................ 9
`
`In re Zynga Inc. Secs. Litig.,
`
`2015 WL 6471171 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 27, 2015).......................................................................................... 16
`
`Jabbari v. Farmer,
`
`965 F.3d 1001 (9th Cir. 2020) ................................................................................................................. 12
`
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`
`Jimenez v. Allstate Ins. Co.,
`
`765 F.3d 1161 (9th Cir. 2014) ................................................................................................................. 11
`
`Johns v. Bayer Corp.,
`
`280 F.R.D. 551 (S.D. Cal. 2012) ............................................................................................................. 13
`
`Knapp v. Art.com, Inc.,
`
`283 F. Supp. 3d 823 (N.D. Cal. 2017) ............................................................................................... 19, 20
`
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC,
`
`2018 WL 1335867 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 15, 2018) ........................................................................................... 3
`
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC,
`
`2018 WL 4203660 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 30, 2018) .......................................................................................... 3
`
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC,
`
`2020 WL 2322993 (N.D. Cal. May 11, 2020) ........................................................................... 3, 4, 11, 19
`
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC,
`
`2020 WL 5793454 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 25, 2020) .......................................................................................... 4
`
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC,
`
`255 F. Supp. 3d 938 (N.D. Cal. 2017) ....................................................................................................... 2
`
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC,
`
`334 F.R.D. 552 (N.D. Cal. 2020) ...................................................................................................... passim
`
`Kutzman v. Derrel’s Mini Storage, Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 406768 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 24, 2020) ............................................................................................ 12
`
`Lambert v. Nutraceutical Corp.,
`
`870 F.3d 1170 (9th Cir. 2017) ................................................................................................................... 7
`
`Larsen v. Trader Joe’s Co.,
`
`2014 WL 3404531 (N.D. Cal. July 11, 2014) .............................................................................. 19, 20, 21
`
`Linner v. Cellular Alaska P’ship,
`
`151 F.3d 1234 (9th Cir. 1998) ................................................................................................................. 20
`
`Martin v. Monsanto Co.,
`
`2017 WL 1115167 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 24, 2017) ......................................................................................... 11
`
`Mazza v. Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc.,
`
`666 F.3d 581 (9th Cir. 2012) ................................................................................................................... 20
`
`McCabe v. Six Continents Hotels, Inc.,
`
`2015 WL 3990915 (N.D. Cal. June 30, 2015) ......................................................................................... 22
`
`vii
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`Miller v. Ghirardelli Chocolate Co.,
`
`2014 WL 4978433 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 2, 2014).............................................................................................. 9
`
`Moreno v. Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 1139672 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 9, 2020) ........................................................................................... 12
`
`Morris v. Lifescan, Inc.,
`
`54 F. App’x 663 (9th Cir. 2003) .............................................................................................................. 23
`
`Philips v. Munchery Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 6135996 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 19, 2020).......................................................................................... 23
`
`Reed v. 1-800 Contacts, Inc.,
`
`2014 WL 29011 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 2, 2014) ................................................................................................. 22
`
`Rodriguez v. Bumble Bee Foods, LLC,
`
`2018 WL 1920256 (S.D. Cal. Apr. 24, 2018) .......................................................................................... 20
`
`Rodriguez v. W. Publ’g Corp.,
`
`563 F.3d 948 (9th Cir. 2009) ............................................................................................................. 17, 19
`
`Roes, 1-2 v. SFBSC Mgmt., LLC,
`
`944 F.3d 1035 (9th Cir. 2019) ................................................................................................................. 23
`
`Schneider v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 511953 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 31, 2020) ...................................................................................... 13, 23
`
`Sherman v. CLP Res., Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 2790098 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 30, 2020) .............................................................................. 13, 16, 17
`
`Shin v. Plantronics, Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 1934893 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 31, 2020) .......................................................................................... 13
`
`Sonner v. Premier Nutrition Corp.,
`
`971 F.3d 834 (9th Cir. 2020) ..................................................................................................................... 4
`
`Staton v. Boeing Co.,
`
`327 F.3d 938 (9th Cir. 2003) ............................................................................................................. 17, 23
`
`Torres v. Mercer Canyons Inc.,
`
`835 F.3d 1125 (9th Cir. 2016) ..................................................................................................... 11, 12, 14
`
`Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo,
`
`--- U.S. ----, ----, 136 S. Ct. 1036 (2016) ........................................................................................... 11, 12
`
`Vasquez v. Coast Valley Roofing, Inc.,
`
`670 F. Supp. 2d 1114 (E.D. Cal. 2009).................................................................................................... 18
`
`viii
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
`MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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`
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`Villafan v. Broadspectrum Downstream Servs., Inc.,
`
`2020 WL 6822908 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 20, 2020) ........................................................................................ 23
`
`Vincent v. Reser,
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`2013 WL 621865 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 19, 2013) ........................................................................................... 24
`
`Vinole v. Countrywide Home Loans,
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`571 F.3d 935 (9th Cir. 2009) ................................................................................................................... 13
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`Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes,
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`564 U.S. 338 (2011) ................................................................................................................................. 10
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`Walsh v. CorePower Yoga LLC,
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`2017 WL 589199 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 14, 2017) ........................................................................................... 15
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`Warner v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.,
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`2016 WL 8578913 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 2, 2016) ........................................................................................... 20
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`Wolf v. Permanente Med. Group, Inc.,
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`2018 WL 5619801 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 14, 2018) ........................................................................................ 24
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`Yamada v. Nobel Biocare Holding AG,
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`825 F.3d 536 (9th Cir. 2016) ................................................................................................................... 24
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`Zinser v. Accufix Research Inst., Inc.,
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`253 F.3d 1180 (9th Cir. 2001) ........................................................................................................... 13, 15
`
`
`Statutes
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`28 U.S.C. § 1715(b) ......................................................................................................................................... 7
`
`
`Rules
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`Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(2) .................................................................................................................................. 10
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`Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(3) .................................................................................................................................. 11
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`Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(4) .................................................................................................................................. 11
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`Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3)(A)-(D) ..................................................................................................................... 15
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`Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B) ............................................................................................................................ 25
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`Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(h) ...................................................................................................................................... 24
`
`
`ix
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
`MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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`Case 3:16-cv-04958-WHO Document 285 Filed 01/18/21 Page 11 of 37
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`Regulations
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`21 C.F.R. § 1.21(a)(2) .................................................................................................................................... 14
`
`
`Other Authorities
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`Manual for Complex Litigation (Second) § 30.44 ......................................................................................... 15
`
`
`x
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
`MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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`Case 3:16-cv-04958-WHO Document 285 Filed 01/18/21 Page 12 of 37
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`NOTICE OF MOTION
`TO THE COURT, ALL PARTIES, AND THEIR COUNSEL OF RECORD:
`PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e) and the Northern District of
`California’s Procedural Guidelines for Class Action Settlements (“Settlement Guidelines”), on February 24,
`2021, at 2:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard, Plaintiffs will move the Court, the Honorable
`William H. Orrick presiding, for an Order preliminarily approving a proposed nationwide class action
`settlement (the “Settlement”). The Motion is based on this Notice of Motion, the below Memorandum, the
`concurrently-filed declarations of Jack Fitzgerald (“Fitzgerald Decl.”), Colin B. Weir (“Weir Decl.”), and
`Brandon Schwartz (“Schwartz Decl.”), and all exhibits thereto, including the parties’ January 15, 2021
`Settlement Agreement;1 all prior pleadings and proceedings; and any additional evidence and argument
`submitted in support of the Motion.
`Plaintiffs seek an Order certifying the Settlement Class, granting preliminary approval to the proposed
`Settlement, approving the proposed Notice Plan and directing Class Notice to be made, and setting schedules
`and procedures for Class Notice, claims, opting out, objecting, and conducting a Final Approval Hearing.
`ISSUES TO BE DECIDED
`Whether to certify the Settlement Class, grant the proposed Settlement preliminary approval, and set
`a schedule and procedures for Class Notice, claims, opting out, objecting, and a Final Approval Hearing.
`MEMORANDUM OF POINTS & AUTHORITIES
`INTRODUCTION
`After more than four years of hotly-contested litigation and less than five months away from trial,
`Plaintiffs have obtained a $15,000,000 non-reversionary common fund to compensate members of a
`nationwide Settlement Class, along with substantial, valuable injunctive relief. The Settlement covers Post
`products challenged in Plaintiffs’ original Complaint including Raisin Bran, Bran Flakes, Great Grains (and
`its predecessor, Selects), Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal and Granola, Shredded Wheat Honey Nut and
`Crunch!, Alpha-Bits, Golden Crisp, Honeycomb, and Waffle Crisp (the “Class Products”). Its injunctive
`relief applies to any Class Product if more than 10% of the cereal’s calories come from added sugar, and
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`I.
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`1 Attached to the Fitzgerald Declaration as Exhibit 1, and cited as “SA.” Capitalized terms used in this brief
`have the same meaning as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
`1
`Krommenhock v. Post Foods, LLC, No. 16-cv-4958-WHO
`MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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`Case 3:16-cv-04958-WHO Document 285 Filed 01/18/21 Page 13 of 37
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`includes Post’s agreement to remove—if not previously removed—and refrain from using labeling claims
`like “Less Processed,” “No High Fructose Corn Syrup,” “Natural,” “