THIS IS A LEGAL NOTICE FOUND IN THE ST LOUIS POST DISPATCH THE WEEK OF JANUARY 10, 2022.
If you paid a $3.00 fee or surcharge designated for Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System imposed as part of court costs to resolve a municipal citation and/or costs in associate circuit or circuit court between August 28, 2013 and August 1, 2021, you may be eligible for a payment from a class action settlement.
A settlement has been reached in two class action lawsuits filed against the Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System (“MSRS”) relating to a $3.00 fee or surcharge designated to MSRS collected as an element of court costs imposed to resolve municipal citations and/or costs imposed by associate circuit and circuit courts. MSRS denied all of the claims and states it did not do anything wrong. This class Settlement has been preliminarily approved by the Court.
WHO IS INCLUDED? You are included in the Settlement as a “Settlement Class Member” if you paid a $3.00 fee or surcharge designated for the MSRS on one or more occasions as a part of court costs to resolve a municipal citation between August 28, 2013 and August 1, 2021, and/or costs in associate or circuit court between June 7, 2016 and August 1, 2021.
SETTLEMENT BENEFITS. The Settlement provides payments to Settlement Class Members who submit valid claims: $4.50 for each $3.00 fee or surcharge paid. The total amount of money to be paid by MSRS for the Settlement shall not exceed $18,000,000.00. In the event the total amount of money claimed exceeds the amount available for distribution (after payment of the costs of notice and settlement administration, approved fees, and expenses of Settlement Class Counsel, and named representative awards), each claim made under the Settlement Agreement shall be reduced on a pro rata basis.
THE ONLY WAY TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION IS TO FILE A CLAIM. You may file a claim by mail or electronically. To file a Claim Form online or to get a Claim Form online, visit the website at www.MSRSsettlement.com. Or, you may submit a paper Claim Form by first-class mail to the address provided on the Claim Form. The claim deadline is March 7, 2022.
OTHER OPTIONS. If you do nothing, you will remain in the Class, you will not be eligible for benefits, and you will be bound by the decision of the Court and give up your rights to the MSRS for the claims resolved by this Settlement. If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, you must exclude yourself by February 20, 2022. If you stay in the Settlement, you may object to it by February 20, 2022. A more detailed Notice is available to explain how to exclude yourself of object. Please visit the website at www.MSRSsettlement.com for a copy of the more detailed Notice.
On February 24, 2022, the Court will hold a Fund Fairness Hearing to determine whether to approve the Settlement, Settlement Class Counsel’s request for payment of attorneys’ fees and expenses and a named representative incentive award for the Representative Plaintiffs. The lawsuits, known as Daven Fowler and Jerry Keller, and individually and on behalf of other similarly situated v. Missouri Retirement System, Case No. 1716-cv18662 and Ann White, individually and on behalf of the others similarly situated v. Missouri Retirement System, Case No. 2116-cv12259, are pending in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri.
Questions? Visit www.MSRSsettlement.com or call 1-855-786-1038.