Williams, et al., v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

Welcome to the Williams, et al. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. website
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Case No. 4:11-00749-JMM
This is not a solicitation from a lawyer

As a result of a court-ordered mediation in the Williams Action, the parties reached a settlement agreement whereby State Farm agreed to reimburse all “Qualifying Insureds” who meet the following criteria:

Residents of the State of Arkansas who, during the Class Period of October 14, 2006 through November 3, 2015, (a) were covered under a contract of automobile insurance with State Farm that includes or included an optional “med pay” and/or “PIP” coverage, (b) received a payment from State Farm under such coverage, (c) recovered money through settlement or otherwise from a third-party tortfeasor, without the assistance of counsel, and (d) had a portion of such recovery taken by State Farm as subrogation or reimbursement without (i) a judicial determination that the insured was made whole or (ii) any documentation in the claim file of an agreement that the insured was made whole.

To determine who meets this criteria, further review of State Farm’s claims files is currently being undertaken. It is anticipated that this process will take approximately six to nine months to complete.

If it is determined that the insured meets the criteria, a payment check will be mailed to the insured at the completion of the claims review process.. The insured will not need to take further action to receive this payment nor will the insured have released State Farm of any claims. The settlement process will also include resolution of an attorney’s fee and cost reimbursement to be paid to the Plaintiffs’ counsel, by Magistrate Judge Patricia Harris. The attorney fee will be based, in part, on a percentage of the total amounts paid to those who meet the criteria and will not exceed thirty-three percent of the total amount distributed. The exact amount of the payment check is not currently known and will not be calculated until the claims review has been completed and the court resolves the issue of attorney’s fees as described above.

If it is determined that the insured does not meet the requirements above, the insured will not be eligible to receive a payment check. A letter will be sent to the insured notifying him/her of this determination, providing the reason or reasons supporting the determination, and informing the insured of his/her rights.

As a result of State Farm’s agreement to issue payment checks to all Qualifying Insureds, the parties agree that continued certification of the Class will be unnecessary. Accordingly, it is anticipated that, upon completion of the claims review process, the parties will request that the Court decertify the Class.

If an insured has questions or needs additional information, he/she may call Bill Horton at 1-800-709-5297 or review a copy of the Agreement setting forth the claims review process on this website. Please do not call or write the Court or the Clerk’s office regarding this Notice.