Honda Civic Hybrid Settlement

 

Settlement Update: Posted March 20, 2012 On March 16, 2012, the Hon. Timothy Taylor of the San Diego Superior Court entered a 43-page order reviewing the written submissions and oral presentations made by the parties and various objectors, and granted final approval of the class action settlement in Lockabey v. American Honda.  A copy of the Court’s order can be viewed and downloaded from the Court Documents link. Please note that the settlement will not become effective until the appeals period has run and any/all appeals have been resolved (the “Effective Date”), which will not occur before May 16, 2012, but may occur later if an appeal is taken.  Please check this site periodically.  As there are further developments in this matter we shall provide updates to this site. The proposed settlement described on this website supersedes the prior proposed settlement in John True, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. 5:07-cv-287-VAP-OP (C.D. Cal.), which was described in a notice mailed in October 2009.  Please disregard the prior notice.

Welcome to the Honda Civic Hybrid (“HCH”) settlement website. This website provides information regarding a proposed Settlement of several lawsuits concerning Honda Civic Hybrid model year 2003 through 2009 vehicles, including the True lawsuit reference above.  If you purchased or leased a Honda Civic Hybrid model year 2003 through 2009, you are a member of the Settlement Class and you may be entitled to a cash payment and other benefits.

This proposed settlement was preliminarily approved by the Court.  If the Court approves the proposed settlement at the Final Approval Hearing currently scheduled for March 16, 2012 and the settlement becomes Final, American Honda Motor Co. (“AHM”) will provide cash payments and other benefits to the Settlement Class.  Settlement Class Members must timely complete and submit Claim Forms to receive certain of these benefits (including cash payments).  Claim Forms will not be processed until after the settlement becomes Final, and no benefits will issue to the Settlement Class until the settlement becomes Final.  Claim Forms may be submitted up until 6 months after the settlment becomes Final.  The exact due date for Claims Forms will be posted on this website after the settlement becomes Final. 

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT 

• Remain in the Settlement Class and claim benefits:  Settlement Class Members must complete and submit a Claim Form to receive the monetary benefits under the settlement. Other settlement benefits, such as warranty extensions for those who are eligible, do not require you to do anything. 
• Opt-Out of the Settlement Class: If you validly and timely request exclusion from the Settlement Class, you will not be bound by the Final Order and Judgment entered in this Lawsuit. Excluding yourself means you cannot receive any of the settlement benefits or comment upon the settlement, but you will be able to file a lawsuit on your own behalf. To Opt-Out of the Settlment Class, you must follow the procedures outlined in the Notice. 
• Object to or comment upon the settlement: If you wish to object to or comment on any part of this settlement, you must file your objection with the Court and serve it on counsel by February 11, 2012.  To object to the settlement, you must follow the procedures outlined in the Notice.
• Attend the Final Approval Hearing:   At the Final Approval Hearing, the Court will consider whether to grant final approval to the settlement.  The Court will also consider Class Counsel's motion for attorneys' fees and Plaintiffs' incentive awards.  The attorneys' fees awarded to Class Counsel will be paid directly by AHM and will not reduce the benefits available to the Settlement Class Members.  Attendance at the Final Approval Hearing is not mandatory or necessary.  Any member of the Settlement Class may attend the hearing, however, if he or she wishes to do so.  Settlement Class Members who wish to be heard at the Final Approval Hearing must follow the procedures outlined in the Notice.

These rights and options – and the deadlines to exercise them – are explained in the Notice. While the settlement has been preliminarily approved by the Court in charge of this case, the Court still has to decide whether to grant final approval to the settlement at the Final Approval Hearing currently scheduled for March 16, 2012.  No benefits will issue unless and until the settlement becomes Final.  Please be patient because this process will take time.  Please check this websites regularly for updates.