A. Do Nothing.
If you want to participate in the settlement and receive a settlement payment, do nothing. A check will be mailed to you if the Court grants final approval of the settlement. If you do nothing, you will stay in the Settlement Class, be bound by any judgment entered by the Court, and you will release your claims against Defendant about collection of your biometric information.
B. Exclude yourself from the Settlement Class and the settlement.
You can exclude yourself from the class action and the settlement by mailing a written request that states you would like to be excluded from the settlement. This request must be postmarked on or before May 15, 2023, and it must list your name, fax number(s) (if any), telephone number, street address, the case name and case number (listed at the top of this document), and a statement that you would like to be excluded. You must mail your request for exclusion to:
Melendez v. Euro USA, Inc.
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799
C. Object to the settlement in writing.
If you object to the settlement, and wish to file an objection rather than excluding yourself, you must submit your objection in writing to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Cook County, Illinois. Your objection must be postmarked by May 15, 2023. You must also serve copies of your objection and any supporting memoranda or materials on the attorneys for the Settlement Class, Roberto Luis Costales, Beaumont Costales LLC, 107 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 209, Chicago, IL 60605 and the attorneys for Defendant, Jacob Radecki, McDonald Hopkins LLC, 300 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60654, postmarked by the same date. Your objection must be signed under penalties of perjury and must identify (1) your name and address, (2) all attorneys who assisted you in the preparation and filing of your objection, (3) a list of all other class action cases in which you or your attorneys have submitted an objection to a settlement, (4) a statement of the reasons why you believe the Court should find that the proposed settlement is not fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of the Settlement Class, and (5) a statement indicating whether you intend to appear at the Final Approval Hearing (either personally or through counsel). If your objection does not comply with these requirements, the Court will strike and disregard your objection. It is not enough to say that you object. You must state the reasons why you believe the Court should reject the settlement.
The Court appointed Plaintiff to be the “Class Representative” and appointed Roberto Luis Costales and William H. Beaumont of Beaumont Costales LLC, located at 107 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 209, Chicago, IL 60605, as “Class Counsel.” At the fairness hearing, Class Counsel will request that the Court approve a service award of $3,500 from the Settlement Fund for the Class Representative for her service on behalf of the Settlement Class. And, Class Counsel will request that the Court award 35% of the Settlement Fund ($24,412.50) for attorneys’ fees and for out-of-pocket litigation expenses—to be paid from the Settlement Fund.
The Court will hold a hearing to decide whether the proposed settlement is fair and reasonable and should be approved. At that fairness hearing, the Court will hear any objections and arguments about the proposed settlement, including about the attorneys’ fees and expenses requested by Class Counsel and the incentive award requested for the Class Representative. The fairness hearing will take place on June 13, 2023 at 1:30 pm at the Cook County Courthouse, 50 West Washington Street Chicago, IL 60602 via Zoom [Meeting ID: 366 9558 1801; Passcode: 160424]. You do not need to attend this hearing unless you object. The fairness hearing may be continued to a future date without further notice. If the Court does not approve the settlement, the litigation will proceed as if no settlement has been attempted. If the settlement is not approved, there is no assurance that the Settlement Class will recover more than is provided in the settlement, or anything at all.
This description of the litigation is general and does not cover all of the issues and proceedings. If you have specific questions, you may contact Class Counsel, Roberto Luis Costales and William H. Beaumont of Beaumont Costales LLC by phone at 773-831-8000, by email at rlc@beaumontcostales.com. Include the case number, your name, your fax number, and your telephone number. Or, you may contact the Settlement Administrator, Simpluris, Inc., by calling (888) 369-3780. A copy of the settlement agreement, the Plaintiff’s motion for approval of the settlement, and other court documents are available on the Home page of this website under Case Documents. You may also view documents related to the case by visiting the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Cook County, Illinois where files relating to this Lawsuit will be available for inspection and copying at your own expense.
Please do not contact the Clerk of the Court, the Judge, or the Judge’s staff, because they cannot answer your questions or give you advice about this settlement.
BY ORDER OF THE COURT