No. 15-MD-2599-FAM
General Information
The lawsuit alleges Subaru manufactured, distributed, or sold certain vehicles containing allegedly defective inflators manufactured by Takata Corporation and TK Holdings, Inc. that allegedly could, upon deployment, rupture and expel debris or shrapnel into the occupant compartment and/or otherwise affect the airbag’s deployment, and that the Plaintiffs sustained economic losses as a result.
The lawsuit pursues claims for violations of various state consumer protection statutes, among other claims. Subaru denies that it has violated any law, denies liability, and denies that it engaged in any wrongdoing with respect to the manufacture, distribution, or sale of the Subject Vehicles.
A comprehensive list of the “Subject Vehicles” is available for viewing here.
In a class action, people called “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. All of these people together are the “Class” or “Class Members” if the Court approves this procedure. Once approved, the Court resolves the issues for all Class Members, except for those who exclude themselves from the Class.
Both sides in the lawsuit agreed to a settlement in order to increase recall completion rates and to avoid the cost and risk of further litigation, with the goal of enhanced customer satisfaction. As a result of the Settlement, the Class Members can get the benefits of the Settlement and in exchange, Subaru received a release from liability. The Settlement does not mean that Subaru broke any laws or did anything wrong. Furthermore, the Court did not decide which side was right.
The Subaru Settlement has been filed for preliminarily approval with the Court, which will authorize the issuance of the Notice. The Class Representatives/Named Plaintiffs and the lawyers representing them (called “Settlement Class Counsel”) believe that the Subaru Settlement is in the best interests of all Class Members.
You are part of the Subaru Settlement if you are:
The Subaru Settlement does not relate to claims for personal injury or property damage to any property other than the Subject Vehicles.
Yes.
The following entities and individuals are excluded from the Class:
If you are not sure whether you are included in the Class, you may review important documents regarding the Subaru Settlement on the Documents section of the website or you may contact the Settlement Notice Administrator, toll-free, at 1-888-735-5596.
The Court has directed Patrick A. Juneau of Juneau David APLC to act as the Settlement Special Administrator. Their role in the Subaru Settlement is to oversee and administer the Settlement Fund.
More information is available in the Court Order Appointing Patrick A. Juneau as Settlement Special Administrator here.
Settlement Benefits
If you are a Class Member, what you are eligible to receive depends on several factors. The Settlement benefits are outlined generally below, and more information can be found in the Subaru Settlement Agreement or you may contact the Settlement Notice Administrator, toll-free, at 1-888-735-5596.
The proposed settlement benefits include, among other components:
For additional details on the separate benefits from the Settlement, please click here to download the Settlement Agreement.
Some components of the Settlement may be implemented right away, if Subaru decides to do so. However, except for the initial implementation of the Outreach Program and Rental Car/Loaner Program, benefits do not have to be provided unless and until the Court finally approves the Settlement and only after any appeal period expires or any appeals are resolved in favor of the Settlement.
It is uncertain when the Court will finally approve the Settlement, if it does so, or whether there will be any appeals that would have to be resolved in favor of the Settlement, before certain benefits will be provided. Please check the Subaru Settlement website regularly for updates regarding the Settlement.
If you still own or lease a Subject Vehicle, to be eligible for a payment from the Out-of-Pocket Claims Process or Residual Distribution from the Subaru Settlement Fund you must bring your vehicle to a dealership for the Takata Airbag Recall Remedy, if you have not already done so. If you sold or returned, pursuant to a lease, a Subject Vehicle after April 11, 2013, and before June 9, 2017, you may also submit a claim for a payment.
To receive a payment, you must either (1) file a Registration/Claim for reimbursement of the reasonable expenses you incurred related to the Takata Airbag Recall, or (2) file a Registration/Claim for a Residual Distribution of up to $250.
Please Note: If the total amount of reimbursed Out-of-Pocket Claims in a program year equals or exceeds the amount of money in the Subaru Settlement Fund for that program year, Class Members who filed a Registration/Claim for a Residual Distribution will not receive a Subaru Settlement Payment in that program year, although they will still receive other settlement benefits.
At the end of the four-year Settlement Program, if sufficient funds remain in the Subaru Settlement Fund and it is administratively feasible, the remaining funds will be paid to all Class Members who filed a Registration/Claim for a Settlement Payment, up to a maximum of an additional $250 per Class Member.
If the Settlement becomes final, Class Members who do not exclude themselves from the Class will release Subaru from liability and will not be able to sue Subaru about the issues in the lawsuit.
More information is available in the Subaru Settlement Agreement here or you may contact the Settlement Notice Administrator, toll-free, at 1-888-735-5596.
The Final Approval ("Fairness") Hearing
The Court held a Final Approval, or “Fairness,” Hearing at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on October 25, 2017 at the United States District Courthouse, Southern District of Florida, 400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33128. Final Approval was granted on November 1, 2017.
No. Settlement Class Counsel answered questions on behalf of Class Members. Final Approval was granted on November 1, 2017.
The deadline to submit your Notice of Intent to Appear to the Fairness Hearing has passed. You must have submitted your notice to Settlement Class Counsel, the automotive manufacturer’s Counsel, and the Clerk of the Court so that it was postmarked no later than September 25, 2017.
The Final Order Approving Class Settlement and Certifying Settlement Class and the Final Judgment were entered for the settlement on November 1, 2017.
The appeals have been dismissed by the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Court has established the Effective Date for the Subaru Settlement as July 30, 2018.
Exclusion and Objection
Excluding yourself (or “opting out”) is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the Settlement no longer affects you. Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Class.
If you are a Class Member and you do nothing, you will remain a Class Member and all of the Court’s orders will apply to you, you will be eligible for the Settlement benefits described above as long as you satisfy the conditions for receiving each benefit, and you will not be able to sue Subaru over the issues in the lawsuit.
The deadline to object to the Settlement was on September 25, 2017, and has passed.
If you exclude yourself, you cannot receive settlement benefits. If you ask to be excluded, you cannot object to the Settlement. But, if you timely and properly request exclusion, the Settlement will not prevent you from suing, continuing to sue, or remaining or becoming part of a different lawsuit against Subaru, in the future, about the issues in the lawsuit. If you exclude yourself, you will not be bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit and you may not object to the Settlement.
Unless you exclude yourself, you give up the right to sue Subaru for the claims resolved by this Settlement. If the Settlement is finally approved, you will be permanently enjoined and barred from initiating or continuing any lawsuit or other proceeding against Subaru about the issues in the lawsuit.
The deadline to opt out of the Settlement was on September 25, 2017, and has passed.
Questions About Counsel
Yes. The Court has appointed lawyers to represent you and other Class Members. These lawyers are called “Settlement Class Counsel”: Peter Prieto of Podhurst Orseck, P.A., is Chair Lead Counsel, and David Boies of Boies Schiller & Flexner, L.L.P. and Todd A. Smith of Power, Rogers & Smith, L.L.P. are Co-Lead Counsel for the economic damages track. Roland Tellis of Baron & Budd P.C., James Cecchi of Carella Byrne Cecchi Olstein P.C., and Elizabeth Cabraser of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP are the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee members. If you want to be represented by another lawyer, you may hire one to appear in Court for you at your own expense.
Their contact information is as follows:
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Peter Prieto PODHURST ORSECK, P.A. Suntrust International Center One S.E. 3rd Avenue Suite 2300 Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: (305) 358-2800 Email: pprieto@podhurst.com URL: www.podhurst.com Chair Lead Counsel |
David Boies BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER, L.L.P. 55 Hudson Yards 20th Floor New York, NY 10022 Tel: (212) 446-2300 Email: dboies@bsfllp.com URL: www.bsfllp.com Co-Lead Counsel for the Economic Loss Track |
Todd A. Smith POWER, ROGERS AND SMITH, L.L.P. 70 West Madison Street Suite 5770 Chicago, IL 60602 Tel: (312) 509-8900 Email: TSmith@SmithLacien.com URL: www.SmithLacien.com Co-Lead Counsel for the Economic Loss Track |
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Roland Tellis BARON & BUDD 15910 Ventura Blvd. #1600 Encino, CA 91436 Tel: (818) 839-2333 Email: rtellis@baronbudd.com URL: www.baronandbudd.com Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee |
James E. Cecchi CARELLA, BYRNE, CECCHI, OLSTEIN, BRODY & AGNELLO, PC 5 Becker Farm Road Roseland, NJ 07068 Tel: (973) 994-1700 Email: jcecchi@carellabyrne.com URL: www.carellabyrne.com Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee |
Elizabeth J. Cabraser LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN, LLP 275 Battery Street, 29th Floor San Francisco, CA 94111 Tel: (415) 956-1000 Email: ecabraser@lchb.com URL: www.lieffcabraser.com Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee |
The Parties did not begin to negotiate Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses until after agreeing to the principal terms set forth in the Settlement Agreement. Settlement Class Counsel agrees to file, and Subaru agrees not to oppose, an application for an award of Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses of not more than 30% of the Settlement Amount. This award will be paid from the settlement fund, and it shall be the sole compensation paid by Subaru for all Plaintiffs’ counsel in the Actions.
Settlement Class Counsel may petition the Court for incentive awards of up to $5,000 per Plaintiff. The purpose of such awards is to compensate the Plaintiffs for efforts undertaken by them on behalf of the Class. Any incentive awards made by the Court will be paid from the Settlement Fund within 30 days of the Effective Date.
Subaru will not be liable for, or obligated to pay, any attorneys’ fees, expenses, costs, or disbursements, either directly or indirectly, in connection with the Actions or the Agreement, other than as set forth above.
More Information
Settlement Program Year 1 concluded on July 30, 2019. Year 1 Residual Distribution payments occurred in the first quarter of 2020.
Settlement Program Year 2 concluded on July 30, 2020. Year 2 Residual Distribution payments occurred in the first quarter of 2021.
Settlement Program Year 3 concluded on July 30, 2021. Year 3 Residual Distribution payments occurred in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Settlement Program Year 4 concluded on August 2, 2022. Year 4 Residual Distribution payments occurred in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The last day for checks to be issued or to request a check reissue for the Subaru Settlement was July 15, 2023. All unclaimed payments for the Subaru Settlement are expected to escheat to the most recently-provided state of residence for that claimant in February 2024.
Class Members are not precluded from addressing, contacting, dealing with, or complying with requests or inquiries from any governmental authorities relating to the issues raised in this class action settlement.
Subject Vehicles will be recalled by Coordinated Remedy Program Priority Groups. These priority groups are defined in the Amended Annex A document of the Remedy Order, which is available for download in the Documents section of this website.
Additionally, you may check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website, at www.safercar.gov, to verify if a recall is active on your vehicle.
It is important to note that dealerships may not have information regarding future recalls at this time, and may not perform the recall remedy until your Subject Vehicle has been recalled. If your Subject Vehicle is recalled in the future, you will become eligible to submit a Registration/Claim for a Settlement Payment after you take your Subject Vehicle to a dealership to have the Takata Airbag Recall Remedy performed.
More details are available in the Subaru Settlement Agreement. You can view and/or print a copy of the Subaru Settlement Agreement and other information about the Subaru Settlement and other important documents in this case in the Documents section of the website. You can also contact the Settlement Notice Administrator, toll-free, at 1-888-735-5596 or write to the Settlement Notice Administrator at:
Auto Airbag Settlement
Settlement Notice Administrator
P.O. Box 3207
Portland, OR 97208-3207
Please do not contact Subaru or Subaru’s Dealers about the Settlement. Please direct all questions about the Settlement to the Settlement Notice Administrator.
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