Source: http://www.wellsfargopreforeclosureclassaction.com/faq
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 16:31:51+00:00

Document:
Rhodes v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
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Wells Fargo’s records show that at some time since December 12, 2012 you owned real property in the state of Washington subject to a deed of trust or mortgage securing a loan serviced by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The notice explains that the parties have reached an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit that may affect you. You have legal rights and options that you may exercise before the Court decides whether to approve the Settlement. Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr. of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington, is overseeing this class action. The lawsuit is known as Valerie Rhodes v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Civil Action No. 2:17-cv-0093-SMJ.
Plaintiff alleges that Wells Fargo, without authorization, entered upon Plaintiff’s property for the purpose of changing locks, performing winterizations, or removing items from the property before completing a foreclosure sale in violation of Washington law. Plaintiff also alleges that Wells Fargo wrongfully charged property owners or others fees for doing these things.
3. What is a class action and who is involved?
In a class action lawsuit, one or more people called “Class Representatives” (in this lawsuit Valerie Rhodes) sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. The people together are a “Class” or “Class Members.” The property owner who sued—and all the Class Members like her—are called the Plaintiffs. The company she sued (in this case Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.) is called the Defendant. One lawsuit resolves the issues for everyone in the Class—except for those people who choose to exclude themselves from the Class by opting out.
The Court did not decide in favor of Plaintiff or Wells Fargo. Instead, both sides agreed to a settlement. This way, they avoid the cost and risk associated with a trial, and the people affected will receive compensation. The Class Representative and her attorneys think the Settlement is best for the Settlement Class.
5. How do I know if I am a part of the Settlement?
You are in the Settlement Class if at some time since December 12, 2012 you owned real property in the state of Washington subject to a deed of trust or mortgage securing a loan serviced by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., or its agents, without authorization, entered your property to change locks, remove items from the property, or conduct winterizations, all before completing a foreclosure sale.
If you have questions about whether you are part of the Settlement Class, you may review this website, or call 1-888-730-7196, for more information.
6. What does the Settlement provide?
To settle this lawsuit, Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $26,305,000 into a Settlement Fund which will provide individual payments to all Settlement Class Members, an incentive award payment to the Class Representative, attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of out-of-pocket litigation costs, and costs related to settlement administration.
Those Settlement Class Members for whom Class Counsel has identified as having a removal of personal property service performed shall receive $100 as compensation for the personal property removal.
7. How much will my payment be?
The total amount of your Settlement payment depends on the number of lock changes conducted on your property, the amount of time your locks were changed prior to completion of a foreclosure, and whether you were charged a fee by Wells Fargo for property removals prior to completion of a foreclosure. In no event will you receive less than $80 for a lock change and your proportionate share of compensation for the reasonable fair market rental value of your home during the period of time a lock was installed and maintained on your home prior to foreclosure.
8. Why is my payment different than what was on the notice?
In accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement and upon agreement by the parties, Notices including an estimated settlement award were sent to members of the Settlement Class (see FAQ 5 for additional information about the Settlement Class). If the loan that was subject to a deed of trust or mortgage had more than one borrower or signer, each individual associated with the loan as a borrower, co-borrower, or co-signer received an equal share of the Settlement Award.
9. How do I make a claim?
If you received a Notice you will automatically receive a payment if this Settlement is finally approved by the Court. You do not need to submit a claim form or contact anyone.
10. When will I get my payment?
The Rhodes v. Wells Fargo Settlement checks were mailed on February 22, 2019. Please be advised you have until May 23, 2019, to cash or negotiate your check.
11. What am I giving up to get a payment and stay in the Settlement Class?
Unless you exclude yourself, you are staying in the Settlement Class and you will be a Settlement Class Member. That means you can’t sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against Wells Fargo and additional released parties regarding its practice of entering upon your property, without authorization, for the purpose of inspecting the property, changing locks, performing winterization and other maintenance, and posting notices before completing a foreclosure sale in violation of Washington law. It also means that all of the Court’s orders will apply to you and legally bind you.
The Settlement Agreement describes the claims you are releasing (the “Released Claims”) and against whom you are releasing claims (Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and the Released Parties) in detail, so read it carefully.
12. How can I request a check reissue?
To request a check reissue, you must write to the Settlement Administrator and include your full name, address, claim number (if available), a phone number in case we need to contact you, and a statement explaining the reason for your reissue. You may email your request to info@wellsfargopreforeclosureclassaction.com or write to: Wells Fargo Settlement Administrator, c/o GCG, P.O. Box 9349, Dublin, OH 43017-4249.
If you don’t want a payment from this Settlement or if you want to keep the right to sue or continue to sue Wells Fargo and the Released Parties, then you must take steps to remove yourself from the Settlement Class. This is called excluding yourself – or is sometimes referred to as “opting out” of the Settlement Class.
13. How do I opt out of the Settlement?
If you ask to be excluded, you will not get any payment, and you cannot object to the Settlement. You will not be legally bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit.
14. Why would I ask to be excluded?
If you already have your own lawsuit against Wells Fargo alleging the same or similar claims as are alleged in this lawsuit and you want to continue with it, you need to ask to be excluded from the Class. If you exclude yourself from the Class—which also means to remove yourself from the Class, and is sometimes called “opting-out”—you won’t get any money or benefits from the settlement between Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Plaintiffs. However, you may be able to sue or continue to sue Wells Fargo on your own. If you exclude yourself, you will not be legally bound by the Court’s judgments in this class action.
15. If I exclude myself, can I get anything from this Settlement?
No. You will not receive a payment if you exclude yourself.
16. Do I have a lawyer in this lawsuit?
17. Should I get my own lawyer?
You do not need to hire your own lawyer because Class Counsel is working on your behalf. But, if you want to hire your own lawyer, you will have to pay that lawyer. For example, you can ask a lawyer to appear in Court for you if you want someone other than Class Counsel to speak for you.
18. How will the lawyers be paid?
Class Counsel asked the court to approve payment of $3,288,125.00 to them for attorneys' fees and out-of-pocket expenses. These payments would pay Class Counsel for investigating the facts, litigating the case, and negotiating the Settlement. Class Counsel also requested a service award of $10,000 for named Plaintiff, Ms. Rhodes, to compensate her for her time and effort during the litigation. Class Counsel's complete request for fees, costs, and the incentive awards to the named Plaintiff was posted to the Documents section of this website on October 2, 2018. The Court approved Class Counsel's request for these amounts.
19. How do I object to the Settlement?
20. What is the difference between objecting and excluding myself from the Settlement?
Objecting simply means telling the Court that you don’t like something about the Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Settlement Class. Excluding yourself from the Settlement Class is telling the Court that you don’t want to be part of the Settlement Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the case no longer affects you.
21. When and where will the Court hold a hearing on the fairness of the Settlement?
The Court held the Final Fairness Hearing on December 18, 2018 at 10:30 a.m., before the Honorable Salvador Mendoza, Jr. at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 920 West Riverside Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201, Room 755. The purpose of the hearing is for the Court to determine whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interest of the Class. At the hearing, the Court heard any objections and arguments concerning the fairness of the proposed Settlement, including those related to the amount requested by Class Counsel for attorneys’ fees and expenses and the incentive award to the Class Representative. The Court approved the Settlement on December 19, 2018.
22. Do I have to come to the hearing?
No. Class Counsel answered any questions the Court had. The hearing took place on December, 18, 2018, and the Court approved the Settlement on December 19, 2018. You were welcome to come to the hearing at your own expense.
23. May I speak at the hearing?
The hearing took place on December 18, 2018, and the Court approved the Settlement on December 19, 2018. If you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you may ask the Court for permission to speak at the hearing concerning any part of the proposed Settlement Agreement. If you filed an objection (see Question 17 above) and intend to appear at the hearing, you must state your intention to do so in your objection. To speak, you must send a letter saying that it is your “Notice of Intention to Appear” in “Rhodes v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 2:14-cv-0093-SMJ.” Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, that you are a Class Member, and your signature. Your Notice of Intention to Appear must be received at the address in Question 17, no later than December 8, 2018. You cannot speak at the hearing if you exclude yourself.
24. What happens if I do nothing at all?
If you do nothing, you will be a member of the Settlement Class and you will be sent a payment if the Court finally approves the Settlement. The hearing took place on December 18, 2018, and the Court approved the Settlement on December 19, 2018.
25. Are there more details about the Settlement?
This website summarizes the proposed Settlement. More details are in the Settlement Agreement. You may review and download or print a copy of the Settlement Agreement via the Documents section of this website. You can also get a copy of the Settlement Agreement by writing to the Wells Fargo Settlement Administrator at Rhodes v. Wells Fargo, c/o GCG, P.O. Box 9349, Dublin, OH 43017-4249.
26. How do I get more information?
For additional information on this Settlement, you can call 1-888-730-7196 toll free; write to the Wells Fargo Administrator: Rhodes v. Wells Fargo, c/o GCG, P.O. Box 9349, Dublin, OH 43017-4249; or review this website where you will find answers to common questions about the Settlement, the Settlement Agreement, Complaint for Class Action and Damages, Class Counsel’s motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs, and other information.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, THE JUDGE, OR THE DEFENDANTS WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT.
December 18, 2018 at 10:30 a.m.

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