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Legal Notice
If You Are Or Were An AT&T Mobility Customer Whose Contract Included
A Provision For A Flat-Rate Early Termination Fee,
A Class Action Settlement Could Affect Your Rights.
Para ver este aviso en espanol, visita www.ATTMETFSettlement.com/espanol
- A proposed settlement is pending in a class action entitled Hall, et al., v.
AT&T Mobility LLC, Case No. 07-05325 (JLL) in the United States District Court
for the District of New Jersey. The lawsuit alleges that AT&T Mobility LLC ("AT&T
Mobility") and its predecessors violated state and federal laws by charging customers
a flat-rate early termination fee ("ETF") in their wireless telephone service contracts.
AT&T Mobility strongly denies any wrongdoing, but has agreed to settle to avoid
the burden and cost of further litigation.
- You may be part of the lawsuit if you are a current or former AT&T Mobility wireless
subscriber who paid or was charged a flat-rate ETF, or whose contract included a
flat-rate ETF provision, at any time between and including January 1, 1998 and November
4, 2009.
Your Legal Rights Are Affected Even If You Do Not Act. Read This Notice Carefully.
A Summary of Your Rights and Choices:
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You May:
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Summary:
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Due Date:
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Submit a Claim
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Submit a Claim.
You remain in the Settlement. You may be eligible for money or compensation if approved.
You will be bound by the terms of the Settlement and give up your right to sue regarding
issues in the case.
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December 13, 2010.
This deadline has passed |
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Ask to be Excluded
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Get out of the Settlement.
You cannot object to the Settlement and will not be eligible for money or compensation
from the Settlement. But you keep your right to sue on your own regarding issues
in the case.
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March 24, 2010.
This date has passed, unless you received a Spanish-language postcard notice on
or after April 7, 2010, in which case your deadline has been extended to May 18,
2010. This deadline has passed |
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Submit an Objection
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Object to the Settlement.
You remain in the Settlement. You may appear and speak at the Fairness Hearing on
your own or through your own lawyer to object to or comment on the Settlement.
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March 24, 2010.
This date has passed, unless you received a Spanish-language postcard notice on
or after April 7, 2010, in which case your deadline has been extended to May 18,
2010. This deadline has passed |
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Submit an Objection to Attorneys' Fees
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Object to Attorneys' Fees.
You remain in the Settlement. You may appear and speak at the Fairness Hearing on
your own or through your own lawyer to object to attorneys' fee, expenses, and incentive
awards.
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June 17, 2010
This deadline has passed |
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Do Nothing
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You remain in the Settlement. You get no money or compensation and give up your
right to sue regarding issues in the case.
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N/A |
THESE RIGHTS AND OPTIONS
– AND THE DEADLINES TO EXERCISE THEM –
ARE EXPLAINED IN THIS NOTICE.
BASIC INFORMATION
- What is this Notice about?
- What is a class action and who is involved?
- What is this lawsuit about?
- Why are these lawsuits class actions?
- Am I a member of the Class?
TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT
- What are the terms of the Settlement?
- Is there any money available now?
YOUR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS
- What happens if I do nothing?
- If I remain in the Class, what claims am I giving up?
- Why would I ask to be excluded?
- How do I exclude myself from the Class?
- Can I object to the Settlement?
- When is the Settlement Fairness Hearing?
- Do I have to attend the Fairness Hearing?
- May I speak at the Fairness Hearing?
THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU
- Does the Settlement Class have a lawyer?
- Should I get my own lawyer?
- How will the lawyers be paid?
GETTING MORE INFORMATION
- Where can I get more information?
- May I contact AT&T Mobility directly?
1. What is this Notice about?
You received this Notice because you may be a current or former AT&T Mobility customer
who had a wireless telephone service contract that contained a flat-rate ETF provision.
This Notice explains:
- What the lawsuit and the Settlement are about.
- Who the Settlement affects.
- Who represents the Class Members in the lawsuit.
- What your legal rights and choices are.
- How and by when you need to act.
2. What is a class action and who is involved?
In a class action lawsuit, one or more people called “Class Representatives” sue
on behalf of people who have similar claims. The people together are called the
“Class” or “Class Members.” In this case, the people who initiated the lawsuit (“Plaintiffs”)
and the company being sued, AT&T Mobility, have reached a proposed Settlement. The
Court has allowed, or “certified,” a class action for purposes of settlement, and
all decisions made concerning the Settlement will affect everyone in the Class.
3. What is this lawsuit about?
The lawsuit claims that AT&T Mobility violated state and federal laws by imposing
a flat-rate ETF. The suit seeks monetary damages and restitution, and declaratory
and injunctive relief. AT&T Mobility strongly denies any wrongdoing, but has agreed
to settle to avoid the burden and cost of further litigation. The Settlement resolves
claims in several other cases and arbitrations that challenge AT&T Mobility’s flat-rate
ETF, including:
- Hall, et al. v. AT&T Mobility LLC, et al., Case No. 07-05325 (JLL) (U.S.
District Court, D.N.J.);
- Sasik, et al. v. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., Case No. 2:05-CV-2346-ABC
(CWx) (U.S. District Court, C.D. Cal.);
- Waldmann, et al. v. Cingular Wireless LLC, Case No. 2:07-CV-05087-ABC (CWx)
(U.S. District Court, C.D. Cal.);
- Dias, et al. v. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., et al., No. BC316195 (Calif.
Super. Ct., L.A. County);
- Kinkel v. Cingular Wireless LLC, AAA WIA No. 11 494 02646 06 (American Arbitration
Association Arbitration);
- Cherrigan et al. v. AT&T Wireless Services, et al., JCCP 4332 (Calif. Super.
Ct., Alameda County);
- Ayyad, et al. v. Cingular Wireless LLC, et al., JCCP 4332 (Calif. Super.
Ct., Alameda County); and
- Graber v. AT&T Wireless PCS, LLC, et al., Case No. 50 2004CA004650MB(AI)
(Florida Circuit Ct., Palm Beach County).
4. Why are these lawsuits class actions?
These lawsuits are class actions for purposes of settlement because they meet the
requirements of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In order to be
considered a class action, Rule 23 requires the following:
- That there are too many Class Members to be joined in a single action;
- That there are common questions of law or fact;
- That claims of the class representative are typical of other class members and their
counsel can protect the interest of the whole Class; and
- That a class action is the best way to resolve the claims and disputes in the action.
5. Am I a Class Member?
You are a Class Member if you are a Person in the United States who:
- Was a party to a contract for a wireless telephone account with AT&T Mobility and/or
its predecessors and was billed a flat-rate ETF by AT&T Mobility and/or its predecessors
on or after January 1, 1998 until November 4, 2009; OR
- Was or is a party to a contract for a wireless telephone account with AT&T Mobility
and/or its predecessors that included or includes a provision for a flat-rate ETF
on or after January 1, 1998 until November 4, 2009, and who has not paid or been
billed a flat-rate ETF.
6. What are the terms of the Settlement?
AT&T Mobility will pay $16,000,000.00 in cash and $2,000,000 in non-cash benefits
into a settlement fund for the benefit of Class Members. Relief is as follows:
- If you can prove you paid a flat-rate ETF, or AT&T Mobility’s records indicate you
paid a flat-rate ETF, you may submit a Claim Form to receive up to $140.
- If you certify under penalty of perjury that you paid in full a flat-rate ETF, but
cannot prove it and AT&T Mobility’s records do not indicate you paid in full a flat-rate
ETF, you may submit a Claim Form to receive up to $25.
- If you were charged a flat-rate ETF, or AT&T Mobility’s records indicate you were
charged a flat-rate ETF, but did not pay in full and/or did not receive a full credit
within 30 days, you may submit a Claim Form to receive up to $25.
- Non-cash benefits, up to $2,000,000, will be provided for Persons who are parties
to contracts for a wireless telephone accounts with AT&T Mobility as of the date
that the court preliminarily approved the settlement. Non-cash benefits include:
(1) an AT&T Prepaid Long Distance Card with up to 200 minutes; or (2) converting
a flat-rate ETF to a prorated ETF. The actual amount received or non-cash benefits
available (other than the prorated ETF benefit) will vary depending on the number
of claims received.
For full details on the distribution of the Settlement benefits, please review the
"Plan of Allocation" available at
www.ATTMETFSettlement.com/planofallocation.
All costs of administering the Settlement, certain costs of notice, attorneys’ fees,
and litigation costs, will be paid from the settlement fund before distribution
to the Class. The Settlement does not relieve Class Members from any existing or
future obligation to pay ETFs owed to AT&T Mobility.
7. Is there any money available now?
No. No money or benefits are available now because the Court has not yet decided
whether to approve the Settlement and it has not become Final. There is no guarantee
that money or benefits ever will be distributed; however, if you want to participate
in the Settlement you must submit a Claim Form. The deadline to submit Claim Forms
is December 13, 2010.
You need to decide whether or not to participate in the Settlement.
8. What happens if I do nothing?
If you do nothing, you will automatically be considered part of the Settlement Class.
However, in order to receive any benefit from the Settlement, you must submit a
valid Claim Form.
9. If I remain in the Class, what claims am I giving up?
If you remain in the Class, you give up your right to sue in court or arbitration
or be part of any other lawsuit or arbitration against AT&T Mobility regarding any
issues relating to the flat-rate ETF or the propriety of its assessment or collection.
10. Why would I ask to be excluded?
You want to exclude yourself from this Settlement if you already have (or intend
to file) a lawsuit or arbitration against AT&T Mobility for the claims described
above and want to continue that lawsuit or arbitration individually on your own
behalf. If you do not exclude yourself, you will be legally bound by all Court orders
in this case and will lose your right to sue in court or arbitration regarding the
issues in this case. If you received notice informing you that you are a member
of the certified class in the Ayyad or Cherrigan cases, defined above, and
if you do not exclude yourself from this Settlement, you will be giving up your
rights to participate as a class member in those cases, as well as any other cases
relating to the issues in this case.
11. How do I exclude myself from the Class?
You may have excluded yourself (“opted-out”) from the Settlement by sending a written
request to the Claims Administrator postmarked no later than March 24, 2010 unless
you received a Spanish-language postcard notice on or after April 7, 2010, in which
case your deadline has been extended to May 18, 2010.
AT&T Mobility ETF Settlement Claims Administrator
c/o Rust Consulting
P.O. Box 2266
Faribault, MN 55021-2386
If you want to exclude yourself from the Class, you will not get any money or other
benefits from the Settlement. However, you keep your right to sue or continue to
sue or arbitrate against AT&T Mobility in a separate case on an individual basis
on your own behalf for issues relating to flat-rate ETFs.
12. Can I object to the Settlement?
Yes. If you remain in the Settlement, you may object to all or part of the Settlement.
Objecting is simply telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement.
You will still be bound by all Court orders, even if your objection is rejected.
All objections will be considered at the Fairness Hearing on June 29, 2010. If you
do not file an objection, you waive your right to appeal the Settlement.
To object, you must send a letter saying that you object to the Settlement in Hall,
et al. v. AT&T Mobility LLC. Your request should include your:
- Name and address.
- Contact telephone number.
- AT&T Mobility mobile telephone number.
- Your or your representative’s signature.
- Reasons for the objection
Objections must have been sent to all the addresses below postmarked no later than
March 24, 2010 unless you received a Spanish-language postcard notice on or after
April 7, 2010 in which case your deadline has been extended to May 18, 2010.
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Court
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Class Counsel
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Defense Counsel
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Clerk of the Court
U.S. District Court for the
District of New Jersey
50 Walnut Street
Newark, New Jersey 07101
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Brian R. Strange, Esq.
Strange & Carpenter
12100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1900
Los Angeles, California 90025
James E. Cecchi, Esq.
Carella, Byrne, Bain, Gilfillan, Cecchi, Stewart & Olstein
5 Becker Farm Road
Roseland, New Jersey 07068
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Andrew B. Joseph
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
500 Campus Drive
Florham Park, New Jersey 07932
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You have the right to consult and/or retain an attorney at your own expense to advise
you regarding the Settlement, your rights, and the Fairness Hearing. You have the
right, either personally or through an attorney hired by you, to seek to intervene
in the lawsuit.
Attorneys’ fees and Class Representative incentive awards will be paid from the
settlement fund. Class Counsel’s fee requests will be available at
www.ATTMETFSettlement.com/courtdocuments. You may object to any fee request
by mailing your objection to the Court and Class Counsel at the addresses listed
above in Question 12 so that it is received by June 17, 2010.
13. When is the Settlement Fairness Hearing?
The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing on June 29, 2010 at 2:00 p.m., in the United
States District Court for the District of New Jersey, located at 50 Walnut Street,
Newark, New Jersey 07101. The Court will consider if:
- The Settlement fair, reasonable, and adequate;
- The Settlement should be approved;
- Attorneys’ fees up to $6,000,000.00, plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses,
should be awarded;
- Incentive awards up to $2,000 to each of the Class Representatives should be awarded;
and
- There are any objections to the Settlement.
14. Do I have to attend the Fairness Hearing?
No. Your attendance at the Fairness Hearing is not required even if you submit a
written objection or comment. Class Counsel is prepared to respond to questions
on your behalf. However, you or your attorney may attend the hearing at your own
expense.
15. May I speak at the Fairness Hearing?
Yes. You may speak at the Fairness Hearing to object to the Proposed Settlement
or application for attorneys’ fees and expenses and incentive awards, but only if
you filed a written objection as described above. Your objection must include a
statement that you intend to appear and be heard at the Fairness Hearing. You may
also enter an appearance through an attorney hired at your own expense. If you do
not do so, Class Counsel will represent you. Until the Court makes a decision on
whether the Settlement should be approved, neither you nor your representatives
can pursue or file a lawsuit or arbitration against AT&T Mobility that relates to
flat-rate ETFs.
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THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU
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16. Do the Settlement Class have a lawyer?
Yes. The Court appointed the law firms of Strange & Carpenter and Carella, Byrne,
Bain, Gilfillan, Cecchi, Stewart & Olstein to represent you and other Class Members.
They are called “Class Counsel.” More information about these law firms, their practices,
and their lawyers is available at
www.strangeandcarpenter.com and
www.carellabyrne.com.
17. Should I get my own lawyer?
You do not need to hire your own lawyer because Class Counsel is working on your
behalf. However, you may hire an attorney at your own expense to represent you and
speak on your behalf.
18. How will the lawyers be paid?
Class Counsel will ask the Court for reimbursement of fees and expenses incurred
as a result of this lawsuit. The money will be paid from the $16,000,000 settlement
fund established by AT&T Mobility. Class Counsel have agreed not to seek more than
$6,000,000 in fees plus reimbursement of expenses. Class Counsel also intend to
seek $2,000 in incentive awards to each of the Class Representatives, Barry Hall,
Roman Sasik, David Dickey, Steven Wright, Jane Waldmann, Robert Wise, Jackie Thurman,
Richard Chisolm, Mary Pitsikoulis, Debra Lively, Jacqueline Sims, and Kiisha Orr.
19. Where can I get more information?
This notice is only a summary of relevant court documents. Complete copies of case-related
documents are available at www.ATTMETFSettlement.com/courtdocuments.
If you have further questions, you may:
- Call the toll free number: 1-888-228-0885;
- Visit the Settlement website at www.ATTMETFSettlement.com;
- Write to the Settlement Claims Administrator:
AT&T Mobility ETF Settlement Claims Administrator
c/o Rust Consulting, Inc.
P.O. Box 2266
Faribault, MN 55021-2386; or
- Contact Class Counsel identified above.
20. May I contact AT&T Mobility directly?
No. Please do not contact the Court or AT&T Mobility’s attorneys. They are not in
a position to give you any advice. However, customers may always call AT&T Mobility’s
customer service to discuss billing concerns.
Disclaimer
Please do not contact either AT&T or the court about this settlement. Any and all
callers will be directed to this website. If you have questions, please refer to
the FAQs and the other information posted on this site or contact the Settlement
Claims Administrator by calling 1-888-228-0885 or writing to AT&T Mobility ETF Claims
Administrator, P.O. Box 2266, Faribault, MN 55021-2386.
This site is not operated by AT&T. This class action settlement is supervised by
the court and is administered by a claims administration firm that handles all aspects
of claims processing. AT&T is not authorized to respond to questions from members
of the plaintiff class regarding the settlement.
View our Privacy Statement
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