Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-02092/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-02092-17/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract

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JOINT STIPULATION TO FORM OF NOTICE

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MCGUIREWOODS LLP

DAVID S. REIDY SBN #225904

Two Embarcadero Center

Suite 1300

San Francisco, CA 94111-3821

Telephone: (415) 844-9944

Facsimile: (415) 844-9922

K. Issac deVyver (appearing pro hac vice)

Karla L. Johnson (appearing pro hac vice)

Tower Two-Sixty

260 Forbes Avenue, Suite 1800

Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3142

Telephone: (412) 667-6000

Facsimile: (412) 667-6050

Sara F. Holladay-Tobias (appearing pro hac vice)

50 North Laura Street, Suite 3300

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Telephone: (904) 798-3200

Facsimile: (904) 798-3207

Attorneys for Defendant

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OAKLAND DIVISION

VANA FOWLER, individually and on 

behalf of all others similarly situated,

Plaintiff,

vs.

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

Defendant.

CASE NO. 4:17-cv-02092-HSG

JOINT STIPULATION TO FORM OF 

NOTICE

The Hon. Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr.

Case 4:17-cv-02092-HSG Document 89 Filed 08/27/18 Page 1 of 9
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JOINT STIPULATION TO FORM OF NOTICE

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Plaintiffs Vana Fowler and Michael Peters and Defendant Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. jointly 

stipulate to, and request the Court to approve, non-substantive revisions to the form of the shortform (“postcard”) notice approved by the Court in the Order Granting Preliminary Approval of 

Class Settlement (“Preliminary Approval Order”) [D.E. 85], as follows: 

1.

Plaintiffs submitted a proposed postcard notice to be provided to class members as Exhibit 

A to the Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Settlement (“Preliminary Approval Motion”)

[D.E. 80]. 

2.

After filing of the Preliminary Approval Motion, the class administrator Garden City 

Group recommended that the notice be shortened, so as to fit on a standard postcard in 7.5 point 

font (compared to 7 point font).

3.

In consultation with Garden City Group, counsel agreed to non-substantive changes 

shortening the postcard notice and submitted a revised form of notice to the Court via e-mail on 

August 3, 2018. The proposed revised postcard notice is attached as Exhibit 1. A comparison of 

the original and revised postcard notices is attached as Exhibit 2. 

4.

The Preliminary Approval Order approved the form of the original postcard notice

submitted with the Preliminary Approval Motion. D.E. 85 at 12. Counsel now understand that the 

Court does not consider e-mail submissions. 

5.

The parties file this joint stipulation for the purpose of submitting the revised postcard 

notice attached as Exhibit 1 for the Court’s consideration and approval for distribution to the class. 

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

Case 4:17-cv-02092-HSG Document 89 Filed 08/27/18 Page 2 of 9
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JOINT STIPULATION TO FORM OF NOTICE

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DATED: August 24, 2018

/s/ Adam L. Hoipkemier______________ /s/ K. Issac deVyver 

Adam L. Hoipkemier

Epps Holloway DeLoach & Hoipkemier LLP

6 Concourse Parkway, Suite 2920

Atlanta, GA 30328

Counsel for Plaintiff Vana Fowler

K. Issac deVyver 

McGuireWoods LLP

Tower Two-Sixty

260 Forbes Avenue, Suite 1800

Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3142

Counsel for Defendant Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 

Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr.

United States District Judge

8/27/2018

Case 4:17-cv-02092-HSG Document 89 Filed 08/27/18 Page 3 of 9
Claimant ID: MMMMM011111111

Control No: 1234567890

1234567890

JANE CLAIMANT

123 4TH AVE

APT 5

SEATTLE, WA 67890 

*MMMMM0218032624*

Important Notice About 

Mortgage Pre-Payment Settlement

If You Prepaid an FHA-Insured Loan 

With Wells Fargo on a Day Other Than 

the First of the Month, You May Be 

Eligible For a Payment from a Class 

Action Settlement.

THIS NOTICE MAY AFFECT YOUR 

LEGAL RIGHTS. PLEASE READ IT 

CAREFULLY.

This is an official court notice from the 

United States District Court for the 

Northern District of California, 

Fowler, et al. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 

Case No. 4:17-cv-02092-HSG

Fowler, et al v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

c/o GCG

PO Box 10644

Dublin, OH 43017-9244

This Notice is only a summary of your legal rights and choices. For more complete information, 

please read the full Notice, which you can obtain by visiting www.FHASettlement.com.

Case 4:17-cv-02092-HSG Document 89 Filed 08/27/18 Page 4 of 9
A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit about the collection of interest by Wells Fargo Bank, N .A. (“WFB”) on 

FHA-insured loans paid off early for which WFB served as mortgagee. Fowler, et al. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., is pending in the 

United States District Court (“USDC”) for the Northern District of California and alleges that WFB breached the promissory notes 

underlying class member’s FHA-insured home loans when it collected post-payment interest (i.e., interest for the remainder of the 

month during which the loan was paid off) without providing a certain type of disclosure to borrowers. To settle the case and avoid 

the costs and risks of litigation, the parties have agreed to a settlement.

Please go to www.FHA Settlement.com to obtain more information about the Settlement and to see the Settlement 

Agreement.

Why am I being contacted? WFB’s records show that you are likely a member of the Settlement Class. The Class generally 

includes all persons nationwide who had an FHA-Insured Loan that was originated beginning June 1, 1996 and ending January 20, 

2015, where (i) WFB, its agent, or its predecessor was the mortgagee as of the date the total amount due on the FHA-Insured Loan 

was brought to zero, (ii) WFB collected Post-Payment Interest on the FHA-insured Loan during the applicable Limitations Period, 

and (iii) the borrower made a prepayment inquiry, request for payoff figures, or tender of prepayment but did not receive a Payoff 

Statement containing certain language.

What are the Settlement terms? WFB has agreed to deposit $30,000,000 into an escrow fund for payment of settlement expenses, 

attorneys’ fees and costs, awards to class representatives, and distribution to Class Members.

How much will my Settlement payment be? If you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement (see Your Rights May Be 

Affected, below), you will automatically receive a check. To determine the amount of each Settlement Class Member ’s distribution, 

the “Net Settlement Fund” will be calculated by deducting the costs of settlement administration, attorneys’ fees, class representative 

awards, and expenses authorized by the Court, from the Settlement Fund. For each Settlement Class Member, the Administrator will 

divide the amount of Post-Payment Interest WFB collected from that Settlement Class Member by the total amount of Post-Payment 

Interest that collected from all Settlement Class Members, to arrive at a pro rata percentage. For each Settlement Class Member, the 

Administrator will multiply the pro rata percentage by the Net Settlement Fund, with the calculation constituting the distribution for 

that Settlement Class Member. The Net Settlement Fund remaining following the first round of payments will be re -apportioned and 

distributed to Settlement Class Members who cashed their first check, again on a pro rata basis.

Your Rights May Be Affected. If you do not take action to exclude yourself, you will be bound by the terms of the Settlement 

Agreement, including its Releases. If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, you must ask (in writing) to be 

excluded, postmarked by [date xx,xxxx]. If you stay in the Settlement Class, you may object to the settlement (in writing) by [date 

xx,xxxx]. The Court will schedule a hearing to consider whether to approve the Settlement and a request for attorneys’ fees, costs, 

and expenses, plus a special payment to the Class Representatives. You can appear at the hearing, but you do not have to. You can 

hire your own attorney, at your own expense, to appear or speak for you at the hearing. Visit www.FHASettlement.com to learn 

more about how to exclude yourself from or object to the Settlement.

When will the hearing be held to determine approval of the Settlement, and where? The USDC for the Northern District of 

California will schedule the final fairness hearing to take place at the United States Courthouse at 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, 

California 94612, to decide whether to approve: (1) the Settlement, (2) Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and 

a service payment to the Class Representatives. Once the date and time are determined, it will be available on the settlement website.

Who are the lawyers for the Class? The Court has appointed Epps Holloway DeLoach & Hoipkemier LLP and Robins Kaplan 

LLP as Class Counsel.

Case 4:17-cv-02092-HSG Document 89 Filed 08/27/18 Page 5 of 9
Fowler, et al v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

[Address] c/o GCG

PO Box 10644

Dublin, OH 43017-9244

POSTAGE

Important Notice About 

Mortgage Pre-Payment Settlement

If You Prepaid an FHA-Insured Loan With 

Wells Fargo on a Day Other Than the 

First of the Month, You May Be Eligible 

For a Payment from a Class Action 

Settlement.

THIS NOTICE MAY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS. PLEASE 

READ IT CAREFULLY.

This is an official court notice from the United States District 

Court for the Northern District of California, Fowler, et al. v. 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 

Case No. 3:17-cv-02092-HSG

 Address Block

A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit about the collection of interest by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells FargoWFB”) on FHA-insured loans paid off early for 

which Wells FargoWFB served as mortgagee or servicer. The lawsuit, Fowler, et al. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., is pending in the United States District Court (“USDC”) for the 

Formatted: Different first page header

Case 4:17-cv-02092-HSG Document 89 Filed 08/27/18 Page 6 of 9
This Notice is only a summary of your legal rights and choices. For more complete information, please read the full Notice, which you can obtain by visiting 

www.FHASettlement.com.

Northern District of California. This lawsuit and alleges that Wells FargoWFB breached the promissory notes underlying the class member’s FHA-insured home loans when it 

collected post-payment interest (i.e., interest for the remainder of the month during which the loan was paid off) without providing a certain type of disclosure to borrowers. To 

settle the case and avoid the costs and risks of litigation, the parties have agreed to a settlement.

Please go to [webaddress]www.FHA Settlement.com to obtain more information about the Settlement and to see the Settlement 

Agreement.

Why am I being contacted? Wells FargoWFB’s records show that you are likely a member of the Settlement Class. With some limited exceptions, described below, tThe 

Class generally includes all persons nationwide who had an FHA-Insured Loan that was originated beginning June 1, 1996 and ending January 20, 2015, where (i) Wells 

FargoWFB, its agent, or its predecessor was the mortgagee as of the date the total amount due on the FHA-Insured Loan was brought to zero, (ii) Wells FargoWFB collected 

Post-Payment Interest on the FHA-insured Loan during the applicable Limitations Period, and (iii) the borrower made a prepayment inquiry, request for payoff figures, or tender of 

prepayment but did not receive a Payoff Statement containing certain language.

What are the Settlement terms? Wells FargoWFB has agreed to deposit $30,000,000 into an escrow fund for payment of settlement expenses, attorneys’ fees and costs, 

awards to class representatives, and distribution to Class Members by Garden City Group, the Settlement Administrator. .

How much will my Settlement payment be? If you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement (see Your Rights May Be Affected, below), you will automatically receive a 

check from the Settlement Administrator. To determine the amount of each Settlement Class Member’s distribution, the Settlement Administrator will calculate the “Net 

Settlement Fund” will be calculated by deducting the costs of settlement administration, attorneys’ fees, class representative awards, and expenses authorized by the Court, from 

the Settlement Fund. For each Settlement Class Member, the Settlement Administrator will divide the amount of Post-Payment Interest Wells FargoWFB collected from that 

Settlement Class Member by the total amount of Post-Payment Interest that Wells FargoWFB collected from all Settlement Class Members, to arrive at a pro rata percentage. 

For each Settlement Class Member, the Settlement Administrator will multiply the pro rata percentage by the Net Settlement Fund, with the calculation constituting the distribution 

for that Settlement Class Member. The Net Settlement Fund remaining following the first round of payments will be re-apportioned and distributed to Settlement Class Members 

who cashed their first check, again on a pro rata basis.

This Notice is only a summary of your legal rights and choices. For more complete information, please read the full Notice, which you can obtain by visiting 

www.---,com.

Your Rights May Be Affected. If you do not take action to exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will be bound by the terms of the Settlement Agreement, including its 

Releases. If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, you must ask (in writing) to be excluded from the Settlement class, postmarked by [date xx, xxxx]. If you 

stay in the Settlement Class, you may object to the settlement (in writing) by [date xx, xxxx]. The United States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaCourt

will schedule a hearing to consider whether to approve the Settlement and a request for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, plus a special payment to the Class 

Representatives. You can appear at the hearing, but you do not have to. You can hire your own attorney, at your own expense, to appear or speak for you at the hearing. Visit 

[webaddress]www.FHASettlement.com to learn more about how to exclude yourself from or object to the Settlement.

When will the hearing be held to determine approval of the Settlement, and where? The United States District CourtUSDC for the Northern District of California will 

schedule the final fairness hearing to take place at the United States Courthouse at 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, California 94612, to decide whether to approve: (1) the Settlement, 

(2) Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and a service payment to the Class Representatives. Once the date and time are determined, it will be available on 

the settlement website.

Who are the lawyers for the Class? The Court has appointed the law firms of Epps Holloway DeLoach & Hoipkemier LLP and Robins Kaplan LLP as Class Counsel. 

Case 4:17-cv-02092-HSG Document 89 Filed 08/27/18 Page 7 of 9
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