June 5, 1998 Last Day to `Opt-Out' of Nationwide Class Action Against State Farm
5 May 1998
June 5, 1998 Last Day to `Opt-Out' of Nationwide Class Action Against State FarmMARION, Ill., May 5 -- Class members in the ongoing non-OEM "crash parts" class action against State Farm have only until June 5, 1998 to decide whether to remain in or opt-out of the class. The case, titled Tammy Snider and Michael Avery, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, was certified by the Circuit Court for the First Judicial Circuit, Williamson County Illinois on December 5, 1997 for trial as a class action. The provision of Notice of the Class Certification decision and the opt-out deadline began on February 25, 1998. Class members are those U.S. residents (except people residing in Arkansas and Tennessee) who were insured by a vehicle casualty insurance policy issued by State Farm and who made a claim for vehicle repairs under their policy and had certain non-factory-authorized and/or Non-OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) crash parts installed on their vehicles or received monetary compensation determined in relation to the cost of such parts. Crash parts are those vehicle components typically repaired or replaced as a result of crash damage rather than as a result of normal vehicle usage. Excluded from the Class are employees of State Farm, its officers, its directors, its subsidiaries, or its affiliates and persons who resided or garaged their vehicles in Illinois, and whose Illinois insurance policies were issued/executed prior to April 16, 1994, and persons who resided in California and whose policies were issued/executed prior to September 26, 1996. The Plaintiffs allege that State Farm violated the terms of its policies and breached its contract with its policyholders by using non-OEM crash parts to repair their vehicles. The Plaintiffs also allege violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages as well as injunctive relief. State Farm denies Plaintiffs' allegations and that it is liable to the Plaintiffs. Class members who wish to remain members of the class, need not do anything at this time. By remaining part of the class, class members will be bound by all orders and judgments of the court and will be eligible to share in any recovery obtained on behalf of the class. Class members may exclude themselves by sending a letter postmarked by June 5, 1998, expressly stating they wish to be excluded from the class, to the following address: Snider, et al. v. State Farm, Plaintiffs' Class Counsel, P.O. Box 1500, Marion, Illinois 62959. Class members who exclude themselves from the class cannot participate in any recovery obtained on behalf of the class, and will not be bound by any court orders or judgment issued by the Court. Class counsel appointed to represent the interests of the class include G. Patrick Murphy of Marion, Illinois, Barrett Law Offices of Lexington, Mississippi, the Rose Law Firm of Little Rock, Arkansas, Much Shelist Freed Denenberg Ament Bell & Rubenstein, P.C. of Chicago, Illinois and Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP of San Francisco, California. Plaintiffs will be required to prove the class claims at trial which has been scheduled to commence on February 2, 1999. For more information, class members may call toll free at 1-888-299-9777 or visit the web site at http://www.sfparts.com. Class members are asked not to contact the Court. SOURCE The Circuit Court for the First Judicial Circuit, Williamson County