ATTENTION PURCHASERS OF PANASONIC 2002 OR 2004 LC-SERIES TELEVISIONS
If you purchased in the United States a 2002 or 2004 Model Year Panasonic television set bearing one of the following Model Numbers: PT-40LC12, PT-45LC12, PT-43LC-14, PT-50LC14 or PT-60LC14 (“TVs at Issue”),
PLEASE READ THIS LEGAL NOTICE!
YOU ARE NOT BEING SUED. IF YOU OWN A TV AT ISSUE, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO
SETTLEMENT BENEFITS.
The purpose of this notice is to inform you of a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit, Hilton, et al. v. Panasonic Corporation of North America, Case No. 2:07-CV-01536 (FSH/PS), in the United States District Court for the District Court of New Jersey (“the Lawsuit”). The settlement is explained in detail in a Notice of Class Action Settlement (“Class Notice”), which can be obtained from the Official Settlement Website www.LC-SeriesTelevisionsSettlement.com. You are encouraged to obtain the Class Notice and read it in its entirety.
In the Lawsuit, plaintiffs alleged that the TVs at Issue were defective, breached their implied warranties and contract, and were sold on the basis of misrepresentations regarding the expected life of their lamps (also called bulbs) in violation of New Jersey’s consumer protection statute. Defendant denied each of these allegations, and continues to do so. After extensive negotiations, the parties agreed to a settlement of these claims and defenses.
The goal of the settlement is to provide relief to persons who experienced performance problems with lamps in the TVs at Issue. Specifically, the settlement provides for:
A. An extended twenty-four (24) month warranty;
B. Reimbursement of monies that Settlement Class Members actually spent to replace up to one failed lamp (“the Lamp Cost Reimbursement Remedy”), up to $299.00, plus the cost of shipping, upon completion and timely submission of a Claim Form with required documents; and
C. A release of all claims against Defendant relating to the subject matter of the Lawsuit.
On August 7, 2008 at 11:00 a.m., a Fairness Hearing will be held at the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey located at Frank R. Lautenberg U.S.P.O. Court House Building, Courtroom 10, Newark, New Jersey, 07101, before United States Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz to determine: (1) whether the proposed settlement of this action is fair, reasonable and adequate; (2) whether a final judgment should be entered dismissing the litigation with prejudice on the merits as to Panasonic Corporation of North America (the “Defendant”), and certain parties associated with the Defendant; and (3) whether applications to be made by Class Counsel for payment of $200,000 in attorneys’ fees and expenses should be approved by the Court.
The proposed settlement is not deemed or construed to be an admission or evidence of any violation of any statute or law or any liability or wrongdoing by the Defendant or the truth of any allegations of the lawsuit.
You have a right to be excluded from the Settlement Class as detailed in the Notice of Proposed Class Settlement. If you wish to be excluded from the Settlement Class, you must send in an Opt Out Notice by mail, postmarked no later than July 9, 2008, stating: (1) your name, address, and telephone number; (2) the Model Number of each TV at Issue owned by you and affected by the opt out decision; and (3) a statement that you wish to be excluded from the Settlement Class. Opt Out Notices must be sent to: Sherri Hilton, et al. vs. Panasonic Corporation of North America, c/o The Garden City Group, Inc., PO Box 91032, Seattle, WA 98111-9132. If you properly request exclusion, the terms of the settlement will not be binding as to you. IF YOU DO NOT REQUEST EXCLUSION FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS AND THE SETTLEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE, YOU WILL BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT, WHETHER FAVORABLE OR NOT.
You also have a right to object to the proposed settlement if you elect to remain a Settlement Class Member, and to enter an appearance through counsel if you so desire. A written notice of appearance must be served on both Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel by mail, postmarked no later than July 9, 2008. If you do not enter an appearance, you will be represented by Class Counsel.
If you choose to remain in the Settlement Class and receive the Lamp Cost Reimbursement Remedy if the proposed settlement is finally approved, you must complete a Claim Form and return it with the required supporting documentation no later than July 9, 2008 to the Claims Administrator at the following address: Sherri Hilton, et al. vs. Panasonic Corporation of North America, c/o The Garden City Group, Inc., P.O. Box 91032, Seattle, WA 98111-9132.
************************************************************************************************************************************
Questions about this settlement should be directed to the Claims Administrator by the following means:
Phone: 1-866-342-7726
Mail: Sherri Hilton, et al. vs. Panasonic Corporation of North America
c/o The Garden City Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 91032
Seattle, WA 98111-9132
Email: LC-SeriesTelevisionsSettlement@gardencitygroup.com.
Class Counsel are Jeffrey W. Herrmann, Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP, Park 80 Plaza West-One, Saddle Brook, New Jersey 07663, JWH@NJLAWFIRM.COM, and Michael S. Green, Green & Pagano, LLP, 522 Route 18, P.O. Box 422, East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816, GREEN@LAWGP.COM.
This is a summary notice only. To obtain the Notice of Class Action Settlement & Claim Form, call the Claims Administrator at 1-866-342-7726 or visit www.LC-SeriesTelevisionsSettlement.com.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT