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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hylla to hear arguments for approving United Life Insurance class action settlement

Hylla

Madison County Circuit Judge David Hylla is again set to hear arguments in favor of settling a nine year-old insurance class action suit.

Hylla will hear the move to settle a case against United Life Insurance Company at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 8.

United Life Insurance Company was sued in 2001 by lead plaintiff Christopher Booher of Wood River.

According to the motion for settlement approval, a fund of $160,000 is to be set up to compensate the class.

Booher, a high school classmate of Bradley Lakin, the managing partner of LakinChapmann LLC, contended he and a class of car buyers were cheated when they bought United Life Insurance policies after purchasing cars.

The class action was originally certified by then-Madison County Circuit Judge Phillip Kardis.

A previously scheduled July hearing was pushed off until the parties could file the appropriate settlement documents.

The deadline for filing those documents was Aug. 17.

The motion seeking the settlement's approval was filed Oct. 1.

While the class will be compensated from the $160,000 attorneys for LakinChapman and additional counsel Paul Weiss of Freed & Weiss will net legal fees up to 40 percent of the recovery.

Booher will receive $2,500 as class representative.

United Life will administer the settlement.

Any unclaimed monies will be donated to Equip for Equality.

Booher has also helmed at least one other Madison County class action.

Robert Schmieder II represents Booher and the class.

James Garrison represents United Life Insurance.

Another defendant in the suit, Four Flags Motors, was dropped from the case.

The case is Madison case number 01-L-1824.

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