IN THE CIRCUIT COURT

TWENTIETH JUDICIALCIRCUIT

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS

 

JEFFREY DEWALT, on behalf of himself   ) and all others similarlysituated,     )

)

Plaintiffs,                                             )

)

vs.                                                                    )           No. 15-L-613

)

CITY OF BELLEVILLE                                )

A Municipal Corporation,                               )

)

Defendant.                                           )

 

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Settlement Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into this 19^th of August, 2024, by and among Jeffrey Dewalt (“Plaintiff”), on behalf of himself and the Class defined below: and Defendant City of Belleville (“Defendant”),by and through their respective counsel. It is hereby agreed between Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the Class, and Defendant, that the class action entitled Dewalt v. City of Belleville, Case No. 15-L-613 in the Circuit Court for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in St. Clair County, Illinois (“the Lawsuit”), in all matters raised therein or that could have been raised therein, are settled, compromised, and dismissed on the merits and with prejudice on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including the release set forth herein, subject to approval of the Court.

 

 

RECITALS

 

1. On October 28, 2015, Plaintiff filed a class action complaint (“Complaint”) asserting claims againstDefendant on behalf of a class of persons alleging that individuals who

paid a Tow Redemption Fee to the Defendant did so in violation of their substantive due process rights.

2. On January 17, 2023 the Court certified a “Class,” defined as “All persons who were cited and arrested for either “Driving under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicating compounds” as set forth in 625 ILCS 5/11-501 or “Driving with suspended or revoked driver’s license” as set for the in 625 ILCS 5/6-303 and/or were assessed a Redemption Fee pursuant to Ordinance 52.10.1 and/or 70.075. Excluded from the Class are Defendant and its subsidiaries and affiliates and all persons charged with a violation of 625 ILCS 5/11-501,or any other delineated offense as stated in defendant’s ordinance, involving any Type A personal injury crash, all persons charged with any felony offense, all persons whose charges include accident reconstruction, all persons where the Belleville Fire Department or EMS are called to respond to the incident; all persons who make a timely election to be excluded from the Class; governmental entities; and the judges to whom this case is assigned and any immediate family members thereof.” To clarify, although a member may be previously convicted or charged with a felony, if the Redemption Fee was charged only due to a misdemeanor or traffic arrest, the member may still participate in the class.
3. The Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the Class, and Defendant recognize that the ultimate outcome in theLawsuit is uncertain and further recognize that achieving a final result through litigation would require substantial additional risk, time, and expense.
4. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the Class, and his counsel have conducted an extensive investigation and evaluation of the facts and law relating to the claims asserted in the Lawsuit, the merits of the claims asserted inthe Lawsuit, the merits of the defenses raised

by Defendant, including ongoing litigation over the course of years and the conduct of arguments, depositionsand extensive discovery, and have conducted extensive arm’s- length negotiations with Defendant, including under the auspices of an experienced neutral mediator, before entering into this Agreement.

5. The Parties desire to compromise and settle all issues and claims that have been or could have been brought in the Lawsuit or on behalf of the Class.
6. The Parties desire and intend to seek the Court’s approval of this Agreement, including a final order and judgment dismissing with prejudice the Lawsuit and the claims of the Class.

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED, by and among

 

the Parties, that, subject to the Court’s approval, the Lawsuit and the Released Claims (as defined below) shallbe fully and finally compromised, settled, and released, and shall be dismissed with prejudice, subject to and on the terms and conditions described below.

 

 

1.     DEFINITIONS:

1. 1. Class Member: “Class member” means a person within the definition of the Settlement

Class and as documented in the Vehicle Release Authorization files maintained by the Defendant and forwarded indiscovery in the underlying Lawsuit. For each instance of a tow during the relevant period only one person may bea Class Member and in the event multiple persons claim to be a Class Member for a specific tow the Settlement Administrator is to determine the Class Member by review of the Vehicle Release Authorization files in a mannerconsistent with the process described in Section 3.2 below. The class consists of 900

persons based on the instances of paying a redemption fee, including that of the class representative. If a classmember paid the redemption fee more than one occasion, that person may submit a claim for each occasion.

1. 2. Class Counsel: “Class Counsel” means Brian L. Polinske and Polinske & Associates,

 

P.C.

 

1. 3. Effective Date: “Effective Date” means, with respect to this Agreement, the later of (a)

 

30 days after the entry of the final order and judgment, if no motion is filed that extends the time for filing a Noticeof Appeal and if no Notice of Appeal is timely filed; (b) if a motion is filed that extends the time for filing an appeal, 30 days after final disposition of such motion if no Notice of Appeal is timely filed; or (c) if a timely appeal is taken from such Final Order and Judgment, the date upon which all appeals, including petitions for review, rehearing or certiorari, and any proceedings resulting therefrom, have been finally disposed of, or the date of the expiration of the time to initiate such petitions or proceedings.

1. 4. Notice: “Notice” means the Notice of Class Action Settlement, without material

 

alteration from the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.

 

1. 5. Opt-Out/Objection Deadline: “Opt-Out/Objection Deadline” will be the first business

day 60 days after the entry of the Preliminary Approval Order. A grace period of seven (7) days shall be allowed for all documents sent by regular mail, including claims, opt-ins, opt- outs, objections and requests for exclusions, forreceipt by the Settlement Administrator and any documents received by mail after this seven (7) day grace period shall be considered untimely.

1. 6. Released Claims: “Released Claims” means any claims, demand, or cause of action of

 

any kind, including but not limited to any Unknown Claim, that was or could have been asserted based upon facts alleged in the Lawsuit.

1. 7. Released Parties: “Released Parties” means Defendant and their agents, heirs, executors,

 

administrators, successors, assigns, associates, and attorneys.

 

1. 8. Settlement Class: “Settlement Class” means all “All persons who were cited and arrested

 

for either “Driving under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicating compounds” as set forth in 625 ILCS 5/11-501 or “Driving with suspended or revoked driver’s license” as set for the in 625 ILCS 5/6-303 and/or were assessed a Redemption Fee pursuant to Ordinance 52.10.1 and/or 70.075. Excluded from the Class are Defendant and its subsidiaries and affiliates and all persons charged with a violation of 625 ILCS 5/11-501, or any other delineated offense as stated in defendant’s ordinance, involving any Type A personal injury crash, all persons charged with any felony offense, all persons whose charges include accident reconstruction, all persons where theBelleville Fire Department or EMS are called to respond to the incident; all persons who make a timely election to be excluded from the Class; governmental entities; and the judges to whom this case is assigned and any immediate family members thereof for the period from January 1, 2014 to February 1, 2023. The Settlement Class does not include those persons who paid the Administrative Tow Fee between January 1, 2014 to February 1, 2023 who returned a properly marked and signed Opt-Out form and who choose to opt-out in connection to Sections 1.5 above and as described 3.8 below. To clarify, although a member may be previously convicted or charged with a felony, ifthe Redemption Fee was charged only due to a misdemeanor or traffic arrest, the member may still participate in the class.

1. 9. Termination Date: “Termination Date” is defined in Paragraph 3.11 of this Agreement.

 

1. 10. Unknown Claims: “Unknown Claims” means any and all Released Claims that any

 

Class Member does not know or suspect to exist against any of the Released Parties but which, if known, mighthave materially altered his or her decision regarding this Agreement that concern the impoundment of vehiclesand/or tow fees during the relevant period of time in the Complaint.

1. 11. Settlement Administrator: “Settlement Administrator” means per appointment of the

 

Court as agreed by the parties, David J. Gerber, Esq. and the Law Office of David J. Gerber, Esq.

 

 

2.     TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT

 

 

 

1. 12. Certification for Settlement Purposes. On January 17, 2023 the Court granted

 

Plaintiff’s motion for class certification and certified the Class. Defendant does not oppose the certification of the Settlement Class for settlement purposes only. No agreements made by Defendant in connection with this Agreement may be used by Plaintiff, any Class Member, or any other person to establish any of the elements ofclass certification other than for Settlement purposes. Preliminary certification of the Settlement Class shall not be deemed a concession that certification of a litigation class is appropriate, nor is Defendant stopped from challenging class certification in further proceedings in this Lawsuit or any other action if the Agreement is not finalized or finally approved. If this Agreement is not

approved, the Parties shall be returned to the status quo ante as of August 20^th, 2024 for all litigation purposes, as if this Agreement has not been negotiated or entered into.

1. 13. Plaintiff Believes Settlement is Fair and Reasonable. Plaintiff believes the Released

 

Claims have merit, but recognizes and acknowledges the expense and length of continued proceedings necessary to prosecute his Released Claims through trial and appeals. Also, Plaintiff has taken into account the uncertain outcome and risk of litigation, especially in complex actions such as the Lawsuit, and the difficulties and delays inherent in such litigation. Plaintiff is mindful of the problems of proof under and possible defenses to, the Released Claims. Plaintiff believes this Agreement will confer substantial benefit upon the Class. Based on hisevaluation of these factors, Plaintiff has determined that this Agreement is in the best interest of the Class and is fair and reasonable.

1. 14. Defendant’s Denial of Liability. Defendant vigorously denies all claims asserted in the

 

Lawsuit, denies all allegations of wrongdoing and liability, and has denied the material allegations and asserted numerous defenses. Defendant nevertheless desires to settle the Lawsuit on the terms and conditions in this Agreement, for the purpose of avoiding the burden, expense, and uncertainty of continuing litigation and for thepurpose of putting to rests the controversies engendered by those actions. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an admission or concession by Defendant of the allegations raised in this Lawsuit, of any fault, wrongdoing, or liability of any kind.

1. 15. Settlement Fund: The Settlement Fund of One Hundred Thirty Two Thousand and Six

 

Hundred and Four Dollars ($132,604.00) is established for resolution is based on a class of 900 class members and an amount of One-Hundred and Forty-Four Dollars ($144.00) per claim before payment of Attorney’s Fees and the fees of the Settlement Administrator and

with an amount of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) included in the Settlement Fund for a service award to the class representative as set forth in Section 2.5 C below. Attorney’s fees shall be paid to Class Counsel for theirrepresentation of the Class out of the Settlement Fund as set forth in Section 2.6 and Section 2.7 below with thePlaintiff seeking and the Defendant not objecting to Attorney’s Fees in the amount of one-third of the Settlement Fund which is Forty-Four Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($44,200.00). The fees of the Settlement Administrator shall be paid out of the Settlement Fund in an amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) as set forth in Section 2.8 below. As set forth in Section 2.5A below each class member who timely files a claim shall receive upto Eighty-One Dollars and Fifty- Six cents ($81.56) and as this amount is a rounding up of a fraction of a cent more than the amount per class member left after the above reductions for Attorney’s Fees and fees for the Settlement Administrator and the service award to the class representative an additional amount of Four Dollars ($4.00) is added to the Settlement Fund, with this amount remaining in the Settlement Fund being Seventy Three Thousand Four Hundred and Four Dollars ($73,404.00). A one-time separate payment of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) will be directly paid to the Settlement Administrator for administrative costs as set forth in Section

2.9 with this payment not being made from the Settlement Fund.

1. 16. Benefits Provided to the Class. Defendant shall agree to pay all class members who

make a claim out of the Settlement Fund from which all payments will be removed.

1. 1. 1. Each class member who timely files a claim shall receive up to Eighty-One Dollars and fifty-six cents($81.56) which represents the amount of One Hundred and Forty-Four Dollars ($144.00) per class member minus the amount of Settlement Administrator fees of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) and an amount of one-third for Plaintiffs’

attorneys fees and costs as reflected in Paragraph 2.6. (After payments of fees to Class Counsel and the Settlement Administrator and payment of the service award to the class representative, the amount remaining in the Settlement Fund is Seventy-Three Thousand Four Hundred and Four Dollars ($73,404.00), which divided by a class of nine hundred members results in a pro rata share of Eighty-One Dollars and fifty-six cents ($81.56)). A disbursement will be made to a class member only upon the class member making a claim by timely returning an executed Notice of Class Action Settlement (Exhibit B) as set forth in the terms of the Notice by either through regular U.S. mail or by timely sending an e-mail requesting payment of a claim to the Settlement Administrator as described on the Settlement Administration website. In order to be timely, the Class Member must properly submit the claim to the Settlement Administrator by the first business day 60 daysafter the entry of the Preliminary Approval Order which is the same date as the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline defined in Section 1.5 above. If the claim is sent by regular mail there is a seven (7) day grace period for receipt by the Settlement

Administrator and any request received by mail after this seven (7) day grace period shall be considered untimely.

 

 

1. 1. 2. The Defendant will not pay more than Eighty-One Dollars and fifty-six cents ($81.56) per each claim with all such payments being made out of the Settlement Fund. All funds remaining after the period for making a claim stated in the Notice of Class Action (Exhibit B) has expired shall revert to the Defendant City of Belleville.

1. 1. 3. A service award shall be paid to the class representative, Jeffrey Dewalt, out of the Settlement Fund in the amount of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00).

 

 

1. 17. Attorney’s Fees and Expenses. Based on the complexity and length of litigation the

 

Plaintiff is seeking Attorney Fees in the amount of one-third of the Settlement Fund. After agreeing to a resolution regarding class relief as set forth in Section 2.4 above, the parties negotiated and agreed that the Defendant wouldnot object to the Class Counsel being paid a sum of Forty-Four Thousand and Two Hundred Dollars ($44,200.00). That amount is separate and apart from the benefits provided to the class in Paragraph 2.5.

1. 18. Payment of Attorney’s Fees and Expenses. The attorney’s fees and expenses paid

 

pursuant to this Agreement and approved by the Court shall be paid by the Defendant out of the Settlement Fund to Class Counsel within 30 days after the Effective Date. Plaintiff and Class Counsel, on behalf of himself and all Class Members, agree that he shall not seek nor be entitled to any additional attorney’s fees or costs from Defendant. Class Counsel shall provide counsel for Defendant with pertinent taxpayer identification number and any other documentation, including a Form W-9, that may be required as by this Agreement or law, Class Counsel and the Class Representative shall alone be responsible for the reporting of any federal, state and/or local incomeor other form of tax on any payment made pursuant to this Agreement. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, Defendant shall not be liable or responsible for any of the attorney’s fees, expenses, or costs of any Plaintiff, Class Representative, or Class Member.

1. 19. Payment of Settlement Administrator Fees: The parties have agreed to David J.

 

Gerber, Esq. and the Law Office of David J. Gerber, Esq. to serve as Settlement

Administrator premised upon entry of an Order of the Court making such an appointment. The SettlementAdministrator is understood to serve according to the terms of this Settlement Agreement and the laws of Illinois, including the Code of Civil Procedure and the statutory provisions for settlement administrators and class actions (735 ILCS 5/2-801 et seq.). As provided for in Section 2.4 and otherwise in this Settlement Agreement, the fees of the Settlement Administrator are Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) total and are to be paid out of the Settlement Fund.

1. 20. Notice and Administrative Costs. A one-time payment of Two Thousand Dollars

 

($2,000.00) will be directly paid to the Settlement Administrator for administrative costs with this payment not being made from the Settlement Fund. This one-time payment of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) shall be made by the Defendant to the Settlement Administrator for administrative costs including the establishment and maintenance of a website and other such items as postage, envelopes, electronic services or any other costs incurred in locating persons or providing notice. The Settlement Administrator may retain all of this payment and the Settlement Administrator will be responsible for any costs in excess of this amount such that the Defendant shall make no other payments for costs and Plaintiff will have no obligation to pay expenses, or costs of providing notice pursuant to Section 2.7

3.      SETTLEMENT APPROVAL AND NOTICE PROCESS

1. 21. Preliminary Approval of This Agreement. On or before August 23rd 2024, the Parties

 

shall file this Agreement with the Court and move for preliminary approval of this Agreement. Through this submission, Plaintiff will request that the Court enter the Preliminary Approval Order substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, preliminarily approving this Agreement, approving and authorizing the sending of the

Notice, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, and thereby scheduling the Fairness Hearing for thepurpose of determining the fairness, adequacy, and reasonableness of this Agreement, granting final approval of this Settlement Agreement, and entering the Final Order and Judgment.

1. 22. Notice to Class Members.    Within 30 days after the entry of the Preliminary Approval

 

Order the Settlement Administrator shall provide individual notice via United States Mail with first class postage fully prepaid and affixed thereto substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Notice”), to each member of the Settlement Class as defined in Section 1.8, above, by mailing a copy of the Notice via regular U.S. mail in an envelope bearing the name and address of the Settlement Administrator. For those Class Members who signed and returned a receipt for the tow as documented in the Vehicle Release Authorization files maintained by the Defendant, the individual notice shall be mailed to the address reflected for that person in the Vehicle ReleaseAuthorization. If a Class Member did not sign and return a receipt, the notice shall be mailed to the person as reflected in the “Release To” line of the Vehicle Release Authorization. If there are multiple persons listed on the “Release To” line or if the “Release To” line is unclear, the individual notice will be mailed to the person identified in the “Person Claiming Vehicle” line. For any member of the Settlement Class for whom an address is not clearly identified on the Vehicle Release Authorization, the Settlement Administrator shall use the last known address as printed on the criminal citation or charge that member was issued by Defendant’s police department on the datethey were arrested (which in turn triggered their payment of the Administrative Tow Fee) to the extent such document is contained in the Vehicle Release Authorization files maintained by the Defendant. If within 30 days after the date of the Preliminary Approval

the initial mailing of Notice is returned and received by the Settlement Administrator, the Settlement Administrator shall take reasonable steps to ascertain an accurate and current address of the member of the Settlement Class and if a single address is revealed to be the accurate and current address the Settlement Administrator is to promptly re-issue the Notice to that member at that address. Reasonable steps include, but are not limited to, a social media search in an effort to ascertain a viable means of contact. The Settlement Administrator is not to send or re-issue any Notice more than 30 days after the date of the Preliminary Approval.

1. 23. Settlement Administration Website: Upon Preliminary Approval, the Settlement

 

Administrator shall post a website that provides electronic access to this Settlement Agreement thereby providing instructions on the procedure to timely file a claim, Opt-Out or otherwise protect the persons rights or act as a ClassMember. The website shall also provide the e-mail address of the Settlement Administrator. This website hasalready been completed and may be located at https://bellevilletowfeeclassaction.com. The contact link will directall

inquiries to the Settlement Administrator’s e-mail.

 

1. 24. Declaration That Notice Was Provided. No later than 7 days before the Fairness

Hearing, the Settlement Administrator shall file with the Court a declaration verifying that Notice has been provided to the Class by U.S. Mail.

1. 25. Class Members and Claimant’s Queries. Class Counsel and Defendant, jointly, will

 

respond to inquiries from Class Members about this Agreement.

 

1. 26. Objection To This Agreement. Any Class Member who wishes to object to the fairness of

 

this Agreement must, by the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline, file any such objection with the Clerk of the Court of St. Clair County, #10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220

and provide copies of the objection to:

 

 

 

For the Class:                                For the Defendant:

 

Brian L. Polinske                          Thomas J. Hunter

Polinske & Associates, P.C.,        Becker, Hoerner & Ysursa, P.C. 701 North Main Street      5111 West Main Street Edwardsville, IL 62025      Belleville, IL 62226

 

 

1. 27. Required Information for Objection. Any objection to this Agreement must include the

 

following:

 

1. a reference to Dewalt v. City of Belleville, Case No. 15-L-613 in the Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, St. Clair County, Illinois;
2. The objector’s full name, address, and telephone number;

 

3. A written statement of all grounds for the objection, accompanied by any legal support;
4. Copies of any papers, briefs, or any other documents upon which the objection is based.
5. A list of all persons who will be called to testify in support of the objection; and
6. A statement of whether the objector intends to appear at the Fairness Hearing (defined below). If the objector intends to appear at the Fairness Hearing through counsel, the objection must also state the identity of allattorneys representing the objector who will appear at the Fairness Hearing.

1. 28. Untimely, Invalid, or Inadequate Objections. Any Class Member who does not file a

 

valid and timely written objection to this Agreement by the Opt-Out/Objection deadline shall be foreclosed from seeking any adjudication or review of this Agreement by appeal or otherwise,

and any Class Member who does not file with the Clerk of the Court a timely notice of his or her intent to appear at the Fairness Hearing shall be foreclosed from speaking at the Fairness Hearing.

1. 29. Request for Exclusion. Any Class Member who wishes to be excluded as a Class Member

 

must submit a written exclusion request to the Settlement Administrator by sending an e-mail to the Settlement Administrator, sending the e-mail either directly at [email protected] or

through the website at https://bellevilletowfeeclassaction.com, or by mailing the same

 

postmarked no later than the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline, to: Settlement Administrator:

Law Office of David J. Gerber, Esq. 22 Illini Dr., Suite G

Glen Carbon, IL 62034

 

 

If the request for exclusion is sent by regular mail there is a seven (7) day grace period for receipt by the SettlementAdministrator and any request received by mail after this seven (7) day grace period shall be considered untimely.

To be effective, the exclusion request must: (a) include the Class Member’s name, address, and the Class Member’stelephone number, and (b) specifically state the Class Member’s desire to be excluded as a Class Member in Dewalt v. City of Belleville, Case No. 15-L-613, in the Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, St. Clair County, Illinois.

1. 30. Failure to Request Exclusion: Any Class Member who does not submit a valid and

 

timely exclusion request shall be subject to and bound by this Agreement, including the release of Class Members’ claims, and every order or judgment entered pursuant to this Agreement.

1. 31. Termination Right. Defendant may, solely at their option, terminate this agreement if 5%

 

or more members of the Settlement Class file valid and timely requests for exclusions. If

Defendant so elects, the date Defendant make that election shall be the Termination Date. Defendant may exercise thisright within 21 business days after the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline. To invoke this right to nullification, Defendant must file with this Court and serve on Class Counsel (by e-mail and U.S. Mail) a document expressly entitled Notice of Nullification of Settlement. This Notice of Nullification of Settlement must state a basis for nullification and provide an affidavit with sufficient factual details to establish Defendant’s right to nullify.

Neither Plaintiff nor any Class Member shall be permitted to seek enforcement of this Agreement or any of its terms against Defendant should Defendant elect to nullify this agreement. In that event, all negotiations and proceedings related to this settlement will be without prejudice of the rights of the Parties, and evidence of the settlement,negotiations, and proceedings will be inadmissible and will not be discoverable.

1. 32. Fairness Hearing. A date for a Fairness Hearing will be set forth in the Preliminary

 

Approval Order, with the scheduled date for the Fairness Hearing being at least 90 days after the Preliminary Approval Order and approximately 30 days after the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline (with the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline defined above in Section 1.5 as 60 days after the entry of the Final Approval Order).

The Fairness Hearing will be held in order for the Court to decide (a) whether to approve this Agreement as fair,reasonable, and adequate; and (b) whether to grant the attorney’s fees/costs award to Class Counsel.

At least 14 days before the Fairness Hearing and consistent with the rules imposed by the Court, Plaintiff shall move the Court for entry of the Final Approval (and the associated entry of Judgment). To the extent possible, the motion seekingentry of the Order of Final Approval shall be noticed for the same day as the Fairness Hearing. The Parties shall take all reasonable efforts

to secure entry of the Order of Final Approval. If the Court rejects in whole or part this Agreement, fails to enter the Order of Final Approval, or fails to enter the Final Order and Judgment, either party can void this Agreement, andDefendant shall have no obligation to pay Settlement Administration fees or Attorney’s Fees and Costs under this Agreement.

1. 33. Final Order and Judgment. If the Court approves this Agreement, a Final Order and

 

Judgment shall be entered substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C

 

1. 34. List of Objectors and Excluded Class Members. No later than 14 days after the Opt-

 

Out/Objection Deadline, the Settlement Administrator shall prepare and serve upon Class Counsel and Defendant’scounsel a list of all persons who objected to the Settlement and a list of all persons who have timely excluded themselves from the Settlement Class. These lists shall also be filed with the Court.

1. 35. Release of Class Members’ Claims. Upon the Effective Date, the Plaintiff, each Class

 

Member who timely submits a claim and each Class Member who did not timely file a claim or exclude himself/herselffrom the Class, including any other person acting on his/her behalf or for his/her benefit, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Final Order and Judgment shall have released, waived, and discharged the Released Parties from the Released Claims as defined above to the fullest extent permitted by law. Plaintiff or Class Members may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those which they now know or believe to be true with respect to the subject matter of the Released Claims, but Plaintiff and each Class Member, upon the Effective Date of the Settlement,shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Final order and Judgment fully, finally, and forever settled, released, and discharged the Released Parties from any and all Released Claims, including any Unknown Claims.

4.     MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

1. 36. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference purpose only and have no

 

independent meaning.

 

1. 37. Effect of Exhibits. The exhibits to this Agreement are an integral part of this Agreement

 

and are expressly incorporated and made part of this Agreement.

 

1. 38. No Admission. This Agreement is for settlement purposes only. Neither the fact of, nor

 

any provision contained in the Agreement, nor any action taken hereunder, shall constitute or be construed as any admission of the validity of any claim or any fact alleged in the Lawsuit and/or of any wrongdoing, fault, violation of law, or liability of any kind on the part of Defendant or any admissions by Defendant of any claim or allegation made in any action or proceeding against Defendant. If this Agreement is terminated and becomes null and void for any reason, this Agreement shall have no further force or effect with respect to any party to the Lawsuit and shall not be offered in evidence or using the Lawsuit or any other proceeding. This Agreement shall not be offered or be admissible in evidence against Defendant or cited or referred to in any action or proceeding, except in an action or proceedingbrought to enforce its terms. Information provided by Defendant to Plaintiff and Class Counsel in connection with negotiation of this Agreement is for settlement purposes only and shall not be used or disclosed for any purposewhatsoever.

1. 39. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding

among the Settling Parties and supersedes all prior proposals, negotiations, agreements, and understandings relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, and all negotiations, considerations, and representations between the Parties have been incorporated and merged herein and may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior or contemporaneousagreement, arrangement, understanding, representation, or negotiation (whether oral or written). The

Settling Parties acknowledge, stipulate, and agree that no covenant, obligation, conditions, representation, warranty,inducement, negotiation, or understanding concerning any part or all of the subject matter of this Agreement has been made or relied on except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. No modification or waiver of any provisions of this Agreement shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the person against whom the enforcement of the Agreement is sought. All Settling Parties hereto shall be considered to be the drafters of this Agreement, and it shall not be interpreted or construed more favorably for any party.

1. 40. Counterparts. This Agreements may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of

 

which shall be deemed an original as against any party who signed it, and all of which shall be deemed a single agreement. Signatures transmitted by e-mail, shall have the same effect as original ink signatures.

1. 41. Arm’s Length Negotiations. The Settling Parties have negotiated all the terms and

 

conditions of this Agreement at arm’s length. All terms, conditions, and exhibits in their exact form are material and necessary to this Agreement and have been relied upon by the Settling Parties in entering into this Agreement.

1. 42. Continuing Jurisdiction. The Court shall retain continuing and exclusive jurisdiction

over the Settling Parties to this Agreement, including all Class Members, for the purpose of the administration and enforcement of this Agreement. The Settling Parties hereto and each Class Member who does not timely exclude himself/herself from this Agreement, hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of CircuitCourt for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in St. Clair County, Illinois for any suit, action, proceeding, or dispute arising of or relating to this Agreement or the applicability of this Agreement and accompanying exhibits. Without

limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is hereby agreed that any dispute concerning the Release as set forth in this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any suit, action, or proceeding by a Class Member in which the provisions of the Release is asserted by Defendant as a defense, constitutes a suit, action, or proceeding arising out of or relating tothis Agreement and accompanying exhibits.

1. 43. Binding Effect of Settlement Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and

 

inure to the benefits of the Settling Parties, including the members of the Settlement Class, and their representatives, heirs, successors, and assigns.

1. 44. Extensions of Time. The Settling Parties may agree upon a reasonable extension of time

 

for deadlines and dates reflected in this Agreement without further notice (except that extensions of Court-set deadlines and dates will be subject to Court approval).

1. 45. Service of Notice. Whenever under the terms of this agreement, a person is required to

 

provide service or written notice to the Settlement Administrator or Defendant’s counsel or Class Counsel, such service or notice shall be directed to the individual’s and addresses specified below, unless those individuals or their successors give notice to the other settling parties in writing:

Settlement Administrator:

Law Office of David J. Gerber, Esq. 22 Illini Dr., Suite G

Glen Carbon, IL 62034

 

 

For the Class:                                For the Defendant:

 

Brian L. Polinske                          Thomas J. Hunter

Polinske & Associates, P.C.,        Becker, Hoerner & Ysursa, P.C. 701 North Main Street      5111 West Main Street Edwardsville, IL 62025      Belleville, IL 62226

1. 46. Authority to Execute Agreement. Each counsel or other person executing this

 

Agreement or any of its exhibits on behalf of any party hereto warrants that such person has the authority to do so.

1. 47. Non-Approval of Settlement. This agreement is conditions upon final approval without

 

material modification by the Court. If this agreement is not so approved, then: (a) either party may elect to return to thestatus quo ante as of August 20^th, 2024, for all litigation purposes, as if this Agreement had not been negotiated or entered into; and (b) this Agreement including its exhibits, and any and all negotiations, documents, and discussionsassociated with it, shall not be deemed or construed to be an admission of any kind of evidence: (1) of any violation of an constitutional right, statute, law, or regulation; (2) of any liability or wrongdoing by Defendant;

(3) of the truth of any of the claims or allegations made in the Lawsuit; or (4) concerning the value of any claims by Plaintiff of the Class Members. If this Agreement is approved without material modifications by the court, but is later reversed, modified, or vacated on appeal, either party shall have the right to withdraw from this Agreement and return tothe status quo ante as of August 20^th, 2024, for all litigation purposes, as if this Agreement had not been negotiated or entered into.

1. 48. Governing Laws. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the

State of Illinois.

1. 49. Dates and Timing. Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement to the contrary, if any

date upon which an action is required by this Agreement falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal or state holiday, such date shall be advanced to the following Monday or next available business day, as the case may be. The parties shallnot be liable for any delay or non-performance of their