DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A CLAIM: MARCH 10, 2018
DEADLINE TO OPT-OUT OR OBJECT: SEPTEMBER 1, 2018
THE PENSACOLA JAIL EXPLOSION
POTENTIAL SETTLEMENT
THIS IS A CLOSED SETTLEMENT ONLY FOR THOSE PERSONS AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION AS DESCRIBED BELOW.
THIS IS ONLY A POTENTIAL SETTLEMENT.
This is the website for THE PENSACOLA JAIL EXPLOSION POTENTIAL SETTLEMENT. This potential Settlement arose from the lawsuit Clarke Allen, et al. v. A.E. New Jr., Inc., et al., pending in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit Court, In and For Escambia County, Florida, case number 2015-CA-000722.
On this website, you will find information about the potential Settlement, important dates and documents, as well as Settlement Forms you may print and submit to the Settlement Administrator.
A potential Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit that arose from the explosion at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Facility (the "CDB") in Pensacola, Florida. This potential Settlement is limited to those persons who were at the scene of the CDB during the April 30, 2014, fire and explosion at the CBD in Pensacola, Florida (the "Explosion"), or subsequent evacuation therefrom and emergency responses thereto; anyone who was married to such a claimant at the time of any of the foregoing events; in the case of a claimant who is deceased, the wrongful death beneficiaries or heirs of said claimant; or anyone who is related to the claimant and has a claim through the claimant due to said relationship.
A Settlement Fund consisting of Seventeen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($17,500,000) in cash is being established in the Action. Class Counsel believes that the Fund will allow for distribution to members of the Class, as the Net Settlement Fund. The Fund, including accrued interest, after payment of any taxes, expenses, approved attorneys' fees and costs, and a Case Contribution Award to the Named Plaintiffs (after deductions, the "Net Settlement Fund"), will be allocated to potential Settlement Class members according to a Plan of Allocation to be approved by the Court. The estimated amount of the Net Settlement Fund is $17,500,000.
For more information regarding your potential eligibility, please see the Notice and Claim Form section.
Claim Forms must be postmarked by March 10, 2018.
The deadline to Opt-Out or Object to the Settlement is September 1, 2018.
The Court has scheduled a hearing to consider Named Plaintiffs' Motion for Final Approval of the Settlement and Class Counsel's Motions for Attorneys' Fees and Expenses and for a Case Contribution Award to the Named Plaintiffs. That hearing has been scheduled for February 11, 2019 at 9:00 a.m., before the Honorable Jan Shackelford, in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida for Escambia County, at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, Courtroom 404 or such other Courtroom as may be designated, 190 Governmental Center, Pensacola, Florida 32502.
Please check this site often to ensure you are aware of important Settlement developments and deadlines.
Copyright © Gentle, Turner, Sexton & Harbison, LLC. All rights reserved.