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READY TO HELP
Speak with an experienced SGB person today at 1.800.809.2234 or contact us to discuss your case.
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DISTRICT COURT APPROVES SETTLEMENT OF DWLS IMPOUND CLASS ACTION AGAINST CITY OF SEATTLE
On July 9, 2007, the United States District Court in Seattle gave final approval to the settlement of a class action against the City of Seattle arising out of the City’s impoundment of vehicles for Driving with License Suspended (DWLS) violations between March 20, 2000 and December 27, 2002 (the “Class Period”). Plaintiffs in the class action alleged that the City conducted these impounds under an unlawful mandatory impound policy.
The lawsuit has been pending since March 20, 2003. During the course of the lawsuit, the district court has held that:
1) the City is liable for conversion of class members’ vehicles by impounding them during the Class Period;
2) the class is limited to those registered owners whose vehicles were impounded only for DWLS violations, as indicated on the SPD Vehicle Reports accompanying the impounds;
3) the class is limited to those registered owners who redeemed their vehicles from impound; and
4) the damages recoverable in the class action are limited to reimbursement of fees paid to redeem impounded vehicles. (Class members previously received notice on how to pursue individual actions for loss of use of impounded vehicles and for loss of vehicles auctioned following impound.)
The settlement provides for reimbursement of towing, storage, and administrative fees paid by class members to redeem their vehicles from impound during the Class Period. The settlement creates a $1.3 million fund for payment of such fees. More details about the settlement can be found in the settlement agreement and class notices linked below.
Class members must submit claims forms by August 31, 2007 in order to receive any reimbursement under the settlement. Download the claim forms here or contact the Impound Class Action hotline at 1-800-424-5259.
> Download a Claim Form (English)
> Download a Claim Form (Español)
> Read the Class Notice (English)
> Read the Class Notice Summary (Español)
> Read the Settlement Agreement (English)
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Schroeter Goldmark & Bender Seattle, Washington Personal Injury and Criminal Defense Attorneys
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