The purpose of a lodestar cross-check is to determine whether a proposed fee award is excessive relative to the hours reportedly worked by counsel, or whether the fee is within some reasonable multiplier of the lodestar

The Court also has conducted a lodestar cross-check that compares the requested contingent fee award against a fee calculated based on hours spent at prevailing market rates.

—noting attorney's fees awarded under the percentage of the fund method "are generally between twenty-five (25) and thirty (30) percent of the fund

Therefore, some district courts within this circuit believe that "[t] he Fourth Circuit has not yet identified the factors for district courts to apply when using the `percentage of recovery'method. "

Therefore, the court is unable to assess the reasonableness of the time claimed to have been expended in connection with the work said to have been done.

The fact that no class member objected supports final approval of the Settlement as fair, adequate, and reasonable

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, to certify a class action, the class must meet the four Rule 23 (a) prerequisites and fit within one of the three Rule 23 (b) categories.

Then again, our review of numerous (although many unreported) cases from the federal trial courts reveals that they undertake the analogous Rule 23 (e) analysis in widely varying levels of detail, depending on the facts and circumstances of each case.

"The proposed allocation need not meet standards of scientific precision, and given that qualified counsel endorses the proposed allocation, the allocation need only have a reasonable and rational basis."

"To establish commonality, the party seeking certification must `demonstrate that the class members have suffered the same injury'and that their claims `depend upon a common contention.'"