United Life Insurance class action settlement hearing reset to Aug. 25

The initial hearing on the settlement of a nine year-old class action case over the alleged sales fraud of credit insurance sold to car buyers has been pushed off.

Madison County Circuit Judge David Hylla had been set to hear the settlement arguments Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

According to an order signed by Hylla the day before, the parties have until Aug. 17 to submit the appropriate documents. Hylla will then hear the arguments in favor of the settlement at his next case management day, Aug. 25 at 9:30 a.m.

Details of the settlement between the class led by lead plaintiff Christopher Booher and United Life Insurance Company are not yet available.

Booher claims he and class members were cheated when they bought United Life's credit insurance when they purchased cars.

The case was originally certified by then-Madison County Circuit Judge Phillip Kardis as a nationwide suit.

After then-Madison County Circuit Judge Don Weber trimmed the suit to an Illinois-only class, the suit eventually found its way to Hylla.

Booher has been a lead plaintiff in at least one other Madison County class action suit.

He is also a former high school class mate of Bradley Lakin, the managing attorney of the firm that represents him, LakinChapman LLC.
Booher and the class are represented by Daniel Cohen.

United Life is represented by Richard Boyle and others.

The party's announced their settlement earlier this year after a December 2009 mediation.

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

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