Case 5:16-cv Document 152 Filed 10/15/18 Page 1 of 4 PageID #: 1489

Transcription

1 Case 5:16-cv Document 152 Filed 10/15/18 Page 1 of 4 PageID #: 1489 LUCENDA NICHOLES, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA BECKLEY DIVISION Plaintiff, Civil Action No. 5:16-CV v. Hon. Irene C. Berger COMBINED INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA, Defendant. UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT, CONDITIONAL CLASS CERTIFICATION AND ENTRY OF SCHEDULING ORDER following: Lucenda Nicholes ("Ms. Nicholes") submits this unopposed motion and requests the 1. That the Court enter an order preliminarily approving the proposed Settlement Agreement, attached as Exhibit A, and directing the parties, Ms. Nicholes and Combined Insurance Company of America ("Combined") to carry out their obligations pursuant to the Settlement Agreement. 2. That the Court enter an order conditionally certifying this case as a class action for settlement purposes only and defining the "Class" as: All policyholders who, between August 23, 2014 and October 1, 2016 ("Class Period"), were both (a) first issued in West Virginia a new Combined Accident Protector, Accident & Sickness Protector, Cancer Care Protector, and/or Critical Care Protector insurance policy (policy forms 14035, 14036, 16302, and 16608) ("Policy" or "Policies"), and (b) were Medicaid recipients at any time during the Class Period and while their Policies were in effect.

2 Case 5:16-cv Document 152 Filed 10/15/18 Page 2 of 4 PageID #: 1490 Settlement Class Members shall not include Combined policyholders who, during the Class Period and while they were Medicaid recipients: a) filed a claim and were paid and accepted benefits equal to or exceeding the amount of premiums paid during the Class Period and while they were Medicaid recipients; b) received a Medicaid verification letter from Combined, elected to cancel coverage, and were paid and accepted a premium refund for the period they were on Medicaid; or c) filed a claim, received a Medicaid verification letter from Combined, and elected to retain coverage. 3. Designating Ms. Nicholes as the representative for the Class and designating her attorneys as Lead Counsel and Class Counsel. 4. Approving the form and manner of class notice. 5. That the Court adopt the following proposed schedule, the Court's calendar permitting, for completion of remaining tasks: a. Class Notice Mailed: 60 days after preliminary approval; b. Objection/Exclusion Date: 30 days after the mailing of class notice; c. Final Approval Submissions: 15 days after objection/exclusion date; 6. Pending the outcome of the final fairness hearing, preliminarily enjoining all members of the Class from commencing, prosecuting, or maintaining any claim against Combined already asserted in and encompassed by the Action as defined in the Settlement Agreement. 7. Combined does not oppose this motion. 8. Plaintiff is contemporaneously filing a declaration of Christa L. Collins attached hereto as Exhibit B, and an accompanying memorandum in support of this motion. Attached to this motion are the following Exhibits: Exhibit A: Class Action Settlement Agreement and Exhibits; -2-

3 Case 5:16-cv Document 152 Filed 10/15/18 Page 3 of 4 PageID #: 1491 Exhibit B: Declaration of Christa L. Collins This the 15th day of October, LUCENDA NICHOLES By Lead Counsel /s/ Christa L. Collins Christa L. Collins PHV (FL Bar #038129) clc@harmonparkerlaw.com HARMON PARKER, P.A. 110 North 11 th Street 2 nd Floor Tampa, FL Plaintiff s Counsel Damon Ellis, Esq. WV Bar No MANI, ELLIS & LAYNE, PLLC P.O. Box 1266 Charleston, WV dlellis@mel-law.com J. Andrew Meyer, Esq. Pro Hac Vice J. ANDREW MEYER, P.A Gulf Blvd. Redington Beach, FL andrew@jandrewmeyer.com -3-

4 Case 5:16-cv Document 152 Filed 10/15/18 Page 4 of 4 PageID #: 1492 LUCENDA NICHOLES, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA BECKLEY DIVISION Plaintiff, Civil Action No. 5:16-CV v. Hon. Irene C. Berger COMBINED INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA, Defendant. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on the15th day of October, 2018, I electronically filed the foregoing UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT, CONDITIONAL CLASS CERTIFICATION AND ENTRY OF SCHEDULING ORDER via the District Court s CM/ECF, which will provide notification to all counsel of record. There are no unrepresented parties. /s/ Christa L. Collins CHRISTA L. COLLINS -4-

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