Friday, March 20, 2009

FINAL JUDGMENT RECEIVED :: CLASS IS FAIR! MONEY TO BE DISBURSED ACCORDINGLY

JUDGMENT

This cause came on for hearing before this Court on December 15,2008 from a Joint Motion to Approve Settlement in the captioned case.

Proceeding from December 15, 2008 through December 19, 2008 the Court conducted a Fairness Hearing pursuant to a stipulation of settlement entered into by the parties and previously reviewed by the Court on October 1, 2008.

Present were:
Madro Bandaries, Gregory P. DiLeo, Jeffery Berniard, and Ray Orrill, Attorneys for Plaintiffs;

John T. Culotta, Darren A. Patin, and Rick Simmons, Attorneys for Defendants: and

Fred Herman, Stephen Herman, Robert Ates and Wiley Beevers, Attorneys for Objectors.

After considering the evidence presented, including the testimony of expert and lay witnesses, upon review of the class objections, and on oral argument of

IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Parties to the settlement have met their burden of proof upon presentation of evidence at the trial of the Fairness Hearing, including adequate and timely submission of notice to the members of the class, all as is fully addressed in this Court's Reasons For Judgment, attached hereto and made a part hereof.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Stipulation of Settlement of the parties to this litigation, is hereby confirmed as fair

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the settlement parties shall take all actions necessary to enforce and/or comply with the terms of the "Settlement Stipulation" filed in this matter on October 1, 2008.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that, as per the "Settlement Stipulation," legal fees and costs are hereby awarded to Madro Bandaries, Gregory P. DiLeo, Jeffery Berniard, and Ray Orrill, Attorneys for Plaintiffs, all as fully discussed in the "Reasons For Judgment" attached hereto and

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Class Representatives, Toni Orrill, Oscar Magee and Vicki Ruiz are awarded $ 15,000.00, as per the "Settlement Stipulation and as fully discussed in the "Reasons for Judgment" attached hereto and made a part hereof.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED, that the Joint Motion to Approve Settlement is hereby GRANTED, after trial on the Fairness Hearing; the settlement now being approved as a matter of law, is a final and definitive judgment on the merits rendered in this class action and concludes the claims of all members of the class, whether joined in the action or not, with the Court finding that Plaintiffs' Counsel fairly and adequately represented of all members of

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED, that this Court shall retain jurisdiction over this matter for any additional rulings, adjudications or actions which may arise for full resolution of this litigation, including but not limited to the award of additional costs relative to the prosecution and administration of the settlement.

New Orleans, Louisiana 19th day of March, 2009.
JUDGE KERN REESE

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Important NEW Information

CIVIL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ORLEANS
STATE OF LOUISIANA
NO:2005-11720 DIVISION “L”

TONI SWAIN ORRILL, Individually
and on behalf of the Class
vs.
LOUISIANA CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION

FILED:____________________ __________________________
Deputy Clerk

COURT ORDER


On November 21, 2008, the court for the settlement class, with the Honorable Kern A. Reese presiding, determined that a curative notice is necessary in this matter.

The only attorneys authorized to contact class members are the ones named below. Contact by any others has been prohibited by the Court.

After a hearing, the Court ordered that this curative notice be directed to all potential members of the class settlement within three days of the judgement of this Court. The only attorneys appointed as class counsel in this proceeding are:

Madro Bandaries
Gregory P. DiLeo
Jeffrey Berniard

If you have been contacted by attorneys other than those named above, you are to diregard that contact. If you are contacted by attorneys other than those named above, immediately notify the claims administrator.

You are again reminded that if you wish to receive a cash payment of up to a $1,000.00, you have until December 11, 2008 to submit your claim form. If you do not wish to participate in the settlement class, you must opt out of the class settlement by December 1, 2008.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Louisiana Citizens Class Action Claim Center, c/o The Claims Administrator, Bourgeois Bennett, LLC, P.O. Box 60600, New Orleans, LA 70160; phone number (504) 840-3850; 1-877-840-3850.

Signed this 26th day of November, 2008.

s/s Kern A. Reese, Judge
Hon. Kern A. Reese

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

LOUISIANA CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION KATRINA/RITA CLASS ACTIONS SETTLED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5 P.M. CST, October 14, 2008
LOUISIANA CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION
KATRINA/RITA CLASS ACTIONS SETTLED

Counsel for the “Louisiana Citizens’ Class Action Claims Center” in conjunction with counsel for Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, announced a proposed settlement of their Hurricanes Katrina and Rita class action lawsuits today. “Louisiana Citizens’ Class Action Claims Center” counsel, Madro Bandaries, Gregory P. DiLeo, Jeffrey Berniard, and R. Ray Orrill, in coordination with Louisiana Citizens’ counsel, Hailey, McNamara, L.L.P., announced that on October 1, 2008, they filed a “Stipulation of Settlement” with the Honorable Judge Kern Reese in Civil District Court in New Orleans. The Court has scheduled a fairness hearing on the settlement on Monday, December 15, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.

Plaintiffs’ counsel’s fees and costs will be paid from the settlement proceeds. Each member of the Class who provides a timely claim form with the proper documentation will be eligible to receive payment from the settlement proceeds.

The claim forms were mailed to class members today and should be received within the next three to seven business days.

The Louisiana Citizens Board of Directors has reviewed the proposed settlement. Plaintiffs’ counsel and counsel for Louisiana Citizens agree that the meaningful settlement is fair and equitable and brings an end to three years of costly litigation.

The mailing address for class members is Louisiana Citizens Class Action Claims Center, P.O. Box 56833, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70156.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

New Class Notice To Go Out

A few months ago, Chalona Class Counsel sent out an "Informational Notice" in which we described a few of the things going on in the Class Action.

Even though we are waiting for the Louisiana Supreme Court to rule on whether to deny or accept the "writ" (an appeal of sorts) filed by Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in which they ask the Louisiana Supreme Court to overturn the class, we are still moving forward in order to keep you as informed as possible.

Please note that our address has changed. Our Post Office Box is now located in New Orleans.

Our 800 number remains the same, though :: 1 (800) 580-1154. If you still have not called to give us your information, and you fit the class definition found here ::

Class Definition

... then you may still call and we will send a packet out to you to gather your information and start a file.

Please keep on the lookout for the NEW CLASS NOTICE.

Check back regularly for more updates.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Did you receive a Class Notice?

You may have recently received a class notice in the mail that looks like this ::


INFORMATIONAL NOTICE TO POTENTIAL CLASS MEMBERS
Chalona, et al v Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Company


If you did and have not already contacted us, you should do so.

Please call 1(800)580-1154.

They will walk you through a few questions in order to make a preliminary determination of your eligibility to participate in the class action. If it looks like you may be eligible, a packet will be mailed to you. You should fill out the packet as fully as you can and return the documents requested to us.

A second class notice will be going out in a few weeks. With this Notice will be an "opt-out" form, for those people who do not want to participate in the class action. People who fall under this category will vary.

Keep checking back here for more information as the litigation progresses.