A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit brought in the Court of Common Pleas for Geauga County, Ohio against Grange Mutual Casualty Company. The lawsuit is about Plaintiffs' claim concerning Grange's sale of uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance in Ohio on more than one household vehicle at any time between October 5, 1994 and September 2, 1997. Grange denies that it is liable to Plaintiffs.
(back to top)
If you are a Class Member and you timely submitted a signed and completed Claim Form postmarked by December 3, 2007, you may be entitled to a payment. The settlement will pay eligible Class Members who timely filed claims an amount equal to approximately 186% of the total uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance premiums paid by each Class Member for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on more than one vehicle at the same time during the Class Period, as reflected in Grange's records, up to a maximum amount of $35 Million (the "Settlement Fund"). The Settlement Agreement provides that any unclaimed portion of the Settlement Fund will be paid, up to $30 Million, to charities approved by the Court. The terms of the settlement are more fully described in the Settlement Agreement between the parties.
(back to top)
The Court has certified a Class for settlement purposes. Members of the Class include: "All Grange named insureds, who from October 5, 1994, through September 2, 1997, for any time period were charged multiple premiums on the line 'UM coverage' (i.e., a premium after the first vehicle)."
(back to top)
To receive a payment, you must have completed and signed a Claim Form, and mailed it to the Settlement Administrator with a postmark date no later than December 3, 2007. If your Claim Form was not postmarked by this date, you will not receive a payment. The Claim Form must have been mailed to the Settlement Administrator at the following address:
Grange UM Class Action Settlement
c/o The Garden City Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 9190
Dublin, OH 43017-4190
If you changed your address or telephone number after having returned a Claim Form, please immediately write to the Settlement Administrator and provide your name, new mailing address, including zip code, and telephone number.
The Settlement Agreement provides that any unclaimed portion of the Settlement Fund will be paid, up to $30 Million, to charities approved by the Court.
(back to top)
The deadline to request exclusion from the Settlement Class was December 3, 2007.
(back to top)
The deadline to comment on or object to the settlement was December 3, 2007.
(back to top)
A Settlement Approval Hearing was held on February 13, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. at the Geauga County Courthouse, Courtroom No. 2-A, 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, OH 44024, before the Honorable Forrest W. Burt. At the hearing, the Court granted final approval to the settlement.
(back to top)
Plaintiffs applied to the Court for an award of attorneys' fees and expenses not to exceed a total of $16 Million on behalf of the counsel who have represented Plaintiffs and the Class in this class action. The amount paid to Class Members who timely filed eligible claims or to charity will not be reduced by the payment for attorneys' fees.
(back to top)
You may contact the Settlement Administrator at:
Grange UM Class Action Settlement
c/o The Garden City Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 9190
Dublin, OH 43017-4190
Toll-Free: (800) 495-5737
(back to top)
| 
