Source: http://cookcountystripsearch.com/mainpage/CommonlyAskedQuestions.aspx
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 01:58:49+00:00

Document:
1. Where can I get more information?
You can email info@cookcountystripsearch.com, call the Claims Administrator at Toll-Free Number: 1-800-315-2291 or direct dial: 312-273-4088, or choose the Settlement Agreement or Other Documents section of this website, where you will find copies of the Settlement papers and the Attorneys’ Fee Petition once it is filed. If you wish to speak to Class Counsel, you can contact Michael Kanovitz or Scott Rauscher at Loevy & Loevy by calling 1-877-722-2928 or emailing mailto:stripsearch@loevy.com.
3. What is the Settlement about?
The Young Insurance Litigation involved allegations that Cook County was entitled to additional payments from the Defendants’s insurers in relation to the Young v. Cook County lawsuit. As part of the settlement of Young v. Cook County, the County assigned certain claims to the class members. Class Counsel has handled the litigation against the insurers on behalf of the Class. You may review a copy of all the Young Insurance Litigation pleadings in person at the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court of Cook County, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602.
5. Who is eligible to participate in the settlement?
You are a part of this settlement if you submitted a valid claim form in the Young v. County of Cook settlement, including everyone who received a payment in Young v. County of Cook.
6. Is anyone excluded from the class?
There is no one excluded who submitted a valie claim for in the Young v. County of Cook settlement. If you filed a valid claim and received a check from phase 1, you are automatically included in phase 2.
7. Can I read a copy of the court documents?
You can visit the Settlement Agreement and Other Documents section of this website to find copies of the Settlement Papers and the Attorneys’ Fee Petition once it is filed. You may also view the Court documents at the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court of Cook County, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602.
9. How can I file a claim?
You do not need to take any action to request a payment. Persons who previously submitted a valid Claim Form in the 2010 Young v. County of Cook Settlement will automatically receive a payment.
11. How can I exclude myself from the Settlement?
You cannot. If you did not previously exclude yourself from the settlement of Young v. County of Cook, all of the decisions by the Court in this matter will similarly bind you.
12. What if I do nothing?
You do not need to take any action to request a payment. Payments will be automatically issued to class members who are eligible to receive them. You must have submitted a valid Claim Form for payment from the 2010 Young v. County of Cook Settlement to be eligible for a payment from the additional monies recovered from the insurers.
13. What is the release?
If you did not previously exclude yourself from the settlement of Young v. County of Cook, all of the decisions by the Court in this matter will similarly bind you. You are not giving up your right to sue Defendants for claims other than those at issue in the lawsuit.
14. What does the Settlement provide?
Persons who previously submitted a valid Claim Form in Young v. County of Cook will automatically receive a pro rata share of the $32,500,000.00 common fund, after deducting costs of administering the settlement, as well as any court awarded fees and expenses of the attorneys who pursued the assigned claims for the Class and incentive awards to the Class Representatives.
15. How are payments calculated?
Funds available to pay class members will be distributed evenly to all class members who qualify. The Settlement Agreement in Young v. County of Cook explains in further detail how payments will be calculated. To get a copy, go to www.cookcountystripsearch.com.
16. When will I be paid?
The first payments will be mailed on January 26, 20108. Delivery times may vary, please be patient.
17. How much will I receive?
You will automatically receive a pro rata share of the $32,500,000.00 common fund, after deducting costs of administering the settlement, as well as any court awarded fees and expenses of the attorneys who pursued the assigned claims for the Class and incentive awards to the Class Representatives. At this time, we anticipate that payments will be made in two distributions, so that you will get two separate checks.
18. Do I need to hire my own attorney?
You may hire your own attorney at your own expense if you choose to do so, but you are already represented by Class Counsel as set forth in the Notice.
19. Who is the attorney representing the class?
The Court has designated Loevy & Loevy, Attorneys at Law, to act as Class Counsel in this case. The firm has represented the Class through all phases of this case and will continue to represent the Class in the administration of the Settlement and on any appeals.
20. Do I have to pay attorney’s fees?
The only way that you would have to pay attorneys’ fees is if you choose to hire your own attorney.
21. Who pays attorney’s fees?
You do not need to pay for Class Counsel’s services. Attorney’s fees will be paid from the Common Fund.
22. How much are the attorneys receiving?
Class Counsel will ask the Court to approve an award of one third of the $32,500,000.00 common fund as fees and reimbursement of the out-of-pocket costs they have incurred in pursuing the claims against the insurers. Class Counsel will also ask the Court to award up to one third of any subsequent recovery in County of Cook v. USI Insurance Services. The fees will compensate Class Counsel for investigating the facts, litigating the case, representing the class at trial, negotiating the Settlement, and for any appeals. The Court may award less than the amount Class Counsel seeks.
23. Who are the class representatives?
The Class Representatives are Kim Young, Ronald Johnson, William Jones, Allen Gorman, Gerrad Lamour, Lee Mercado, Bradley Hytrek, Carl Gray, and Matthew Liptak.
24. What will the class representatives receive?
The Class Representatives will petition the Court for payment of an incentive award not to exceed $10,000.00 each for their work representing the Class.
26. Where/when is the Final Approval Hearing?
The Court will have a Fairness Hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlement on September 13, 2017, at 9:30 a.m., before Judge Kennelly at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60604.
28. May I speak at / object to the Final Approval Hearing?
If you file an objection you may attend and you may ask to speak, but you don’t have to.
29. I have recently changed my name (I got married/divorced) what do I need to do?
You will need to provide documentation stating why your name was changed, such as a copy of your marriage certificate/divorce decree or a copy of a court approved name change document. Please mail this documentation along with a letter of explanation to the Claims Administrator at Young v Cook County II – 5614, PO BOX 2599, Faribault, MN 55021-9599.
30. The claimant is no longer living I am the beneficiary/executor of the estate and would like the payment sent to me. What do I do?
You will need to provide a copy of their death certificate and court documents that list you as the beneficiary, estate executor or equivalent. If such documents are not available, please provide us with an explanation of why they are not available and any evidence that is available as to why the payment should be issued to you. We will then determine whether the evidence is sufficient to issue the payment to you and notify you of our determination.
31. I have moved and need to update my address, what do I need to do?
You may call either 1-800-315-2291 or 1-312-273-4088 to make your request. You can mail your request to the Claims Administrator at Young v Cook County II – 5614, PO BOX 2599, Faribault, MN 55021-9599.
32. Will I be notified of updates?
Unless instructed to by the Parties or the Court, we generally do not send regular updates regarding the status of the Settlement. If you wish to obtain updates, you may call either 1-800-315-2291 or 1-312-273-4088 and we will provide you with any information we have available, or you may go to www.cookcountystripsearch.com, which also may post updates. Please keep in mind that we may not have any new information until the distributions have occurred.
33. How will my settlement payment be taxed?
You may have to pay tax on your settlement income. The Claims Administrator will be responsible for all tax withholding and reporting as required by law, including for issuing any necessary IRS 1099 form(s) to Class Members, if applicable.

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