A class action lawsuit was filed against BP due to the  “Deepwater Horizon” oil rig spill in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred on April 20, 2010.  The lawsuit is entitled In re Oil Spill by the Oil Rig “Deepwater Horizon” in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010 and includes anyone who had economic or property damage and those who have medical claims arising from the oil spill.  Please note a class member could possibly fall into both categories of claims. If you recall this incident caused more than  4 million barrels of oil to leak into the ocean.  Th exact settlement amount has yet to be announced but BP estimates it will be around the $7 to $8 billion range.  If you would like to opt out of the settlement you have until October 1, 2012 to do so.  To opt out you must write a letter to Deepwater Horizon Court-Supervised Settlement Program, exclusions Department, P.O. Box 222, Hammond, LA 70404-0222 and make the request electronic signatures will not be accepted).

The Medical Benefits Settlement will provide the following benefits:

1) a compensation program for Specified Physical Conditions;
2) a Periodic Medical Consultation Program; and/or
3) a provision of Back End Litigation Option process for Later-Manifested Physical Conditions.

The Federal Court has appointed Mr. Patrick Juneau as the Claims Administrator.  BP will be responsible for paying all settlement amounts.  You must file a claim in order to receive any type of settlement amount and claim forms will be available at DeepwaterHorizonEconomicSettlement.com beginning on June 4 2012.  Other relevant court documents that can be obtained at the class admin web portal includes the Amended Settlement Agreement, Preliminary Approval Order and the Economic and Property Damages Detailed Notice.  This was a horrible disaster that will affect the Gulf Coast for years and years.  Many people, businesses and wild life will never be the same after this horrible incident.  BP is trying its best to rectify the situation but many believe they are not doing enough.

www.DeepwaterHorizonEconomicSettlement.com

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act is the focus of another class action lawsuit claiming that AllianceOne used an auto dialer with a prerecorded voice message to contact people without their prior consent.  These unauthorized calls took place between the dates of February 8, 2004 and November 30, 2010.  If you received a prerecorded voice message phone call from AllianceOne between these dates you might be eligible for a $40 cash settlement.  The case is entitled Adams, et al., v. AllianceOne Receivables Management, Inc. and is in the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.  A total settlement amount of $9 million dollars has been proposed even though AllianceOne denies any wrong doing in the case.  A class member can submit a claim form online, over the phone or by mail.  Regardless of the method all claims forms are due by August 6, 2012.  Any claim forms received after that date will be deemed void.  If you would like to opt out or object to the settlement terms you have until August 16, 2012 to do so.

A settlement fairness hearing will be held on August 27, 2012, at 2:30 p.m at the U.S. District Court, 940 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92101 to determine if the settlement terms are fair and reasonable.  The claim form, class notice, long form, Order Granting Preliminary Approval and the Stipulation of Settlement and Release are all available to view at the class admin website.  Please note that class members are only allowed to make one claim regardless of how many telephone calls or cellular telephone numbers they received.  It is recommend you file your claim online.  If you file the claim by phone the conversation will be recorded and you will be required to state under penalty of perjury that the information you have submitted is accurate.  This is just another lawsuit in a long line of suits that violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act..  Check back for more information and updates.

www.AllianceOneSettlement.com

If you or someone you know purchased Procera AVH between the dates of January 1, 2005 to March 23, 2012 and are a legal resident of the US you might be a class member in the Procera AVH False Advertising Lawsuit Settlement.  The lawsuit is entitled O’Brien, et al. v. Brain Research Labs, LL and is case number 12-cv-00204.  The lawsuit claims that Procera AVH falsely claimed that the product improved brain function.  The settlement includes a $20 cash payment or 50%-off savings voucher for eligible class members who file a valid claim form.  All claims forms MUST be post marked by 08/10/12 in order to be eligible for a settlement pay out.

BRL has denied all wrong doing in the case but has agreed to terms.  All objections and Opt Out request are due no later than 05/31/12.  A fairness hearing will be held at the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Frank R. Lautenberg United States Post Office & Courthouse, located at 2 Federal Square, Newark, New Jersey 07102 on July 11, 2012 if you wish to attend.  Please note that class members are not required to attend the fairness hearing in order to obtain a settlement.

Some of the statements that were cited in the Procera AVH False Advertising Lawsuit Settlement included that Procera will “will protect the brain following a head injury or stroke”, “will protect the brain or the liver from the harmful byproducts of alcohol”, “are key, vital or brain essential nutrients that cannot be obtained from food” and “will reduce depression”.  Under the settlement terms AVH will not be allowed to use these and other statements when marketing their product.  Claim forms and more information can be found at the administrators web portal.

www.gilardi.com/brlsettlement

Groupon is the target of a class action lawsuit over claims that certain vouchers contained expiration dates and other restrictions that were in violation of state and federal law.  The lawsuit is entitled Groupon Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation and is in the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.  Groupon denies any action of wrongdoing but has agreed in terms to a $8,500,000 settlement to avoid a lengthy court battle.  This is case number 3:11-md-02238.  You could be a class member if you purchased or received a Groupon Voucher issued for redemption anytime between the dates of November 1, 2008 until December 1, 2011.  If you’re a class member and are unhappy with the proposed settlement you have until 07-06-12 to make an objection.  All objections must be filed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.  A settlement fairness hearing will take place on 07-20-12 at 40 Front Street, Courtroom 10, San Diego, California  92101-8900 to determine of the settlement offer is fair and reasonable.

According to the settlement there will be two ways to collect a cash refund:  “(1) If the merchant identified on the unredeemed Groupon Voucher you’re making a claim for is no longer in business, you may submit a claim form requesting a refund of the purchase price; or (2) If any merchant refuses to redeem a valid Settlement Voucher, you may submit a claim form to the Claims Administrator to receive a refund check for the purchase price you paid for the Groupon Voucher, plus 20% of the promotional value of the Voucher. All requests for refunds must be submitted within 185 days of issuance of the Settlement Voucher.”

The Settlement Agreement and the Preliminary Approval Order are available for download at the class administrators web portal.

www.GrouponVoucherSettlement.com

If between the dates of October 11, 1996 through July 19, 2010 you were issued a New Mexico personal lines insurance policy by Allstate Insurance Company or Allstate Indemnity Company you might be interested in this class action lawsuit.  The Ferrell v. Allstate Class Action Lawsuit revolves around claims that Allstate cheated customers when they charged policyholders who pay their premium in installments a fee that is not stated in the official Allstate policy guidelines and exceeds the “Total Premium” stated in the policy terms.  Allstate denies all worng doing in the case and states that all fees were properly charged.  The settlement agreement, the class notice, the online claim form, and the proposed final approval order can be found at the class administrators web portal at ferrellsettlement.com.

The settlement terms call for “an amount equal to 55% of the Installment Fees paid by such Class Member during the first policy term, and 30% of the Installment Fees paid by such Class Member for any subsequent policy term during the Class Period.”  In order to receive a settlement a class member MUST file a claim form no later than 06-26-12.  Any forms received after that date will be void.  If you feel that the settlement terms are unfair it is too late to object.  The deadline was 04-12-12.  A settlement hearing was already held in the Sandoval County Judicial Complex at 1500 Idalia Road, Building A, Bernalillo, New Mexico 87004.

The class counsel assigned to the Ferrell Settlement are the law firms of Robert E. Hanson and Robert E. Hanson.  They can be reached at:

Robert E. Hanson
Peifer, Hanson & Mullins, P.A.
PO Box 25245
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87125-5245
(505) 247-4800

David A. Freedman
Freedman, Boyd, Hollander Goldberg, Ives & Duncan, P.A.
20 First Plaza, Suite 700
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
(505) 842-9960

www.ferrellsettlement.com