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Philips C Pap Settlement
Philips C Pap Settlement
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1
II. HISTORY OF THE LITIGATION AND PROPOSED CLASS SETTLEMENT ............ 4
A. The Litigation......................................................................................................... 4
B. Motions to Dismiss ................................................................................................ 5
C. Discovery ............................................................................................................... 5
D. Mediation and Settlement ...................................................................................... 6
III. NOTABLE SETTLEMENT TERMS ................................................................................ 8
A. Proposed Settlement Class ..................................................................................... 8
B. Payments Available to Settlement Class Members ............................................... 9
1. Device Payment Awards ............................................................................ 9
2. Device Return Awards ............................................................................. 10
3. Device Replacement Awards ................................................................... 10
4. Payer Awards ........................................................................................... 11
C. Funding of Settlement Payments ......................................................................... 11
1. Device Payment Awards .......................................................................... 12
2. Device Return Awards ............................................................................. 13
3. Device Replacement Awards ................................................................... 13
4. Payer Awards ........................................................................................... 14
D. Additional Benefits .............................................................................................. 14
1. Accelerated Implementation Option (“AIO”) .......................................... 14
2. Extended Warranties ................................................................................ 15
E. Settlement Administration and Claims Submissions ........................................... 15
1. Settlement Administration ....................................................................... 15
2. Claims Submissions ................................................................................. 16
F. Releases................................................................................................................ 19
G. Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses ............................................................................. 20
H. The Notice Plan.................................................................................................... 20
IV. ARGUMENT ................................................................................................................... 20
A. Legal Standards For Settlement Approval ........................................................... 20
B. Preliminary Approval of the Proposed Settlement Is Warranted......................... 24
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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Page(s)
Cases
Cole’s Wexford Hotel, Inc. v. UPMC & Highmark Inc. (“Cole’s Wexford I”),
2016 WL 6919773 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 6, 2016) (Conti, J.)............................................................ 21
Cole’s Wexford Hotel, Inc. v. UPMC & Highmark Inc. (“Cole’s Wexford II”),
2016 WL 6236892 (W.D. Pa. July 29, 2016) (Conti, J.) .............................................. 24, 26, 30
Girsh v. Jepson,
521 F.2d 153 (3d Cir. 1975)...................................................................................................... 23
Gonzalez v. Corning,
885 F.3d 186 (3d Cir. 2018)...................................................................................................... 40
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In re Gen. Motors Corp. Pick-Up Truck Fuel Tank Prod. Liab. Litig.
(“In re GMC”), 55 F.3d 768 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 824 (1995) .................. 24, 30, 36
In re JUUL Labs, Inc. Mktg. Sales Pracs. & Prod. Liab. Litig.,
609 F. Supp. 3d 942 (N.D. Cal. 2022) ...................................................................................... 36
In re Nat’l Football League Players Concussion Injury Litig. (“In re NFL I”),
775 F.3d 570 (3d Cir. 2014)................................................................................................ 24, 46
In re Nat’l Football League Players Concussion Injury Litig. (“In re NFL II”),
821 F.3d 410 (3d Cir.),............................................................................................ 24, 32, 38, 42
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Statutes
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Rules
Other Authorities
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I. INTRODUCTION
Settlement Agreement and Release of Economic Loss Claims against the Philips Defendants and
other Released Parties.1 The Settlement confers substantial benefits upon the proposed Settlement
Class,2 was negotiated in good faith and at arm’s length by experienced counsel, and should be
preliminarily approved under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e)(1)(B) because the Court will likely be able to
find after a Final Fairness Hearing that it is fair, reasonable, and adequate. The Court should also
conditionally certify the proposed Settlement Class to which the Parties have stipulated.
The proposed Settlement resolves the Economic Loss Claims of Users and Payers3 with
respect to approximately 10.8 million CPAPs, BiPAPs, and ventilator devices with polyester
polyurethane (“PE-PUR”) foam that were recalled by Philips RS beginning on June 14, 2021 due
to potential health risks caused by the degradation of the foam. The Settlement is the result of a
year of extensive negotiations that began in September 2022 when the first of four in-person
Mediator, Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.). As explained in her Declaration,4 the Parties were very
1
The “Philips Defendants” are, collectively, Philips RS North America LLC (“Philips RS”),
Koninklijke Philips N.V. (“KPNV”), Philips North America LLC, Philips Holding USA, Inc., and
Philips RS North America Holding Corporation. The Released Parties also include, among others,
Defendants Polymer Technologies, Inc. and Polymer Molded Products LLC.
2
Unless otherwise noted, capitalized terms have the same meaning herein that they have in the
proposed Class Settlement Agreement and Release of Economic Loss Claims, attached hereto as
Ex. “A” (“Settlement Agreement” or “SA”), at §1.
3
“Users” are persons or entities who purchased, leased, rented, or paid for (in whole or part), or
were prescribed a Recalled Device. Id. §§1.51, 1.59. “Payers” are entities that reimbursed (in
whole or part) a User’s payment to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise pay for a Recalled Device,
including insurers, self-funded employers, and other third-party payers. Id. §§1.34, 1.51.
4
The Declaration of Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.) in Support of Proposed Economic Loss Claims
Settlement dated July 26, 2023, is attached hereto as Ex. “B” (“Welsh Decl.”).
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213 Filed 09/07/23 Page 9 of 56
well-informed before entering into the Settlement – they exchanged comprehensive mediation
statements that addressed the many complex factual and legal issues relating to the Economic Loss
Claims and engaged in targeted discovery of documents and information relevant to the mediation
discussions. During this time, the Parties also engaged in extensive briefing on the Defendants’
motions to dismiss, further clarifying some of the key legal issues in this litigation.
Mediation efforts culminated in a signed Term Sheet on May 24, 2023. Thereafter, the
Parties engaged in protracted negotiations over the complex terms of the Settlement Agreement
and accompanying exhibits, with the Agreement ultimately executed on September 7, 2023.
Importantly, the Parties’ negotiations focused solely on relief for the Settlement Class, and they
did not negotiate attorneys’ fees during the mediation process or during their subsequent
Pursuant to this proposed Settlement, the Philips Defendants will pay a minimum of $479
million into non-reversionary Settlement Funds, with a minimum of $445,000,000 for Device
Payment Awards and Device Return Awards to Eligible Users (“User Settlement Fund”) and
$34,000,000 for Payer Awards to Eligible Payers (“Payer Settlement Fund”). As necessary, the
Philips Defendants will replenish the User Settlement Fund to pay additional Device Payment and
Device Return Awards to Eligible Users that exceed the prefunded baseline thresholds. The Philips
Defendants have also agreed to pay up to $15,000,000 for Device Replacement Awards to Eligible
Users.
Eligible Users will receive Device Return Awards of $100 for each Recalled Device they
return to Philips RS, and they will also receive Device Payment Awards ranging from $55.63 to
$1,552.25 per Recalled Device, depending on the Recalled Device at issue. These cash payments
will not be reduced, regardless of how many claims are filed. A fixed amount of $34,000,000 will
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be available for Payer Awards to pay Eligible Payers. This amount will not increase or decrease
based on the number or amount of Eligible Payers or submissions for Payer Awards. SA §2.10.1.
In addition to the Settlement Funds for Settlement Class Members, the Philips Defendants
have agreed to pay separately any attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded by the Court to
Settlement Class Counsel, as well as Service Awards of $5,000 to each of the five Settlement Class
Counsel and the Settlement Class Representatives will not diminish the recovery of Settlement
Class Members. Moreover, the Settlement Fund will not be reduced on account of the cost of
Notice and Settlement Administration, as the Philips Defendants have likewise agreed to pay those
reasonable expenses in addition to and separately from the payments to Settlement Class Members.
Another important feature of the Settlement is that Settlement Class Members who enroll
their Recalled Devices in the Settlement (or register them in a Philips RS recall program) and
timely return their Recalled Devices to Philips RS will automatically receive Device Payment
Awards and Device Return Awards for each returned device without having to complete and
submit a claim form. Another signature feature of the Settlement is the “Accelerated
Implementation Option” (“AIO”), which enables Eligible Users who have enrolled or registered
their Recalled Devices and returned them before the Claims Period Deadline to obtain their Device
Payment Award and Device Return Award even before any appeals from the Final Judgment have
In sum, the proposed Settlement confers very substantial benefits upon Settlement Class
Members, was negotiated in good faith and at arm’s length by highly experienced counsel on both
sides, and avoids the considerable risks, delays, expense, and burdens of continued class action
litigation of Plaintiffs’ Economic Loss Claims. Significantly, Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury claims and
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Medical Monitoring claims are expressly excluded from the scope of this proposed settlement.
Settlement Class Counsel respectfully submit that preliminary approval is warranted, and notice
A. The Litigation
On June 14, 2021, Philips RS announced recalls of approximately 10.8 million of its CPAP,
BiPAP, and ventilator devices sold, leased, rented or otherwise distributed in the United States.
Shortly thereafter, litigation related to the Recalled Devices was commenced against the Philips
Defendants in various federal and state courts involving claims for economic loss, medical
monitoring and personal injury. On October 8, 2021, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
(“JPML”) granted a Motion for Transfer and Coordination or Consolidation Under 28 U.S.C.
§1407 thereby establishing this MDL (“the MDL”), assigned the MDL to this Court (“the MDL
Court”), and transferred all then-pending federal lawsuits to the MDL for coordinated or
On October 10, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Third Amended Class Action
Complaint for Economic Losses on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated. ECF No.
785 (“Economic Loss Complaint” or “EL Compl.”).5 Plaintiffs alleged that the PE-PUR foam in
the Recalled Devices is susceptible to hydrolysis, causing it to degrade and expose patients to toxic
particles and VOCs, EL Compl. ¶¶214-17, 255-71, some of which are known or suspected
carcinogens. Id. ¶¶272-88. As a result, Plaintiffs allege, among other things, the Recalled Devices
were defective and worthless at the time of purchase. Id. ¶254. Plaintiffs allege that if Settlement
5
In subsequent weeks, Plaintiffs also filed a Consolidated Second Amended Class Action
Complaint for Medical Monitoring (ECF No. 815) and an Amended Master Long Form Complaint
for Personal Injuries and Damages and an accompanying Short Form Complaint (ECF No. 834).
Medical Monitoring and Personal Injury Claims are excluded from this Settlement and preserved.
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Class Members had been aware that the Recalled Devices were defective and worthless, they
would not have spent money on them. See, e.g., id. ¶¶20, 22-150.
B. Motions to Dismiss
Five separate motions to dismiss were filed attacking Plaintiffs’ Economic Loss Complaint.
ECF Nos. 902, 911, 913, 915, 918. In particular, the Philips Defendants challenged Plaintiffs’
allegations that they suffered economic harm because of the purchase or acquisition of Recalled
Devices, arguing that Plaintiffs lacked standing and had failed to state a claim upon which relief
may be granted. See ECF No. 912. The Philips Defendants, other than Philips RS, argued that
Plaintiffs had not alleged specific conduct on the part of those entities and had not alleged sufficient
facts to establish an alter ego or agency theory of liability. ECF No. 919. KPNV argued that the
Court lacked personal jurisdiction on all claims other than in Pennsylvania on the negligent recall
claim. ECF No. 914. Plaintiffs filed briefs in opposition to these motions, ECF Nos. 1527, 1531,
1566, 1743, and 1745, and the motions are still pending.
C. Discovery
Discovery began shortly after the litigation commenced. Plaintiffs served discovery
requests in early March of 2022. The Rule 26(f) meeting was held on or about April 5, 2022, and
in the months following, the Parties negotiated an ESI protocol, a Protective Order, search terms,
and Plaintiffs otherwise continued to serve discovery. Beginning as early as April of 2022, the
Philips Defendants began to produce documents, and periodic document productions have
Microsoft Teams chats, and mobile text messages produced by the Philips Defendants and third
parties, that are relevant to issues such as liability, organizational structure, insurance, and sales
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and marketing. In addition, using various e-discovery tools, Plaintiffs have been able to prioritize
review of the most highly relevant documents. Plaintiffs also engaged in discovery to develop a
factual record related to KPNV’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and with
respect to the liability of the various Philips Defendants. Finally, Plaintiffs engaged experts during
the discovery process, including experts on class damages, providing further insight into the
strengths and weaknesses of the Economic Loss Claims. Some of the experts provided substantial
assistance to Settlement Class Counsel in connection with their Science Day presentation to the
The proposed Settlement was the product of hard-fought, arm’s-length negotiations and a
mediation process that was ordered by the Court. On May 26, 2022, the Court appointed the
Honorable Diane M. Welsh (Ret.) to serve as a Settlement Mediator in this litigation. ECF No. 588
(Pretrial Order No. 16). Shortly after her appointment, on June 24, 2022, Judge Welsh held a Zoom
meeting with counsel for the Parties and subsequently corresponded with counsel to discuss the
general issues in the case and the logistics for the mediation. See Welsh Decl. ¶6. Over the course
of the next 13 months, Judge Welsh presided over an intensive mediation and settlement
negotiation process that resulted in the proposed Settlement of the Economic Loss Claims. Id. ¶¶6-
20.
Beginning before the first mediation session, the Parties exchanged detailed mediation
statements that addressed the factual issues pertaining to the Economic Loss Claims and the key
legal issues relating to those claims as well as initial settlement proposals. Id. ¶7. On September
15, 2022, under the supervision of Judge Welsh, the Parties held their first in-person mediation
session, which was attended by Settlement Class Counsel, outside counsel for the Philips
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Defendants, and senior representatives of the Philips Defendants with settlement authority. Id. ¶8.
The mediation session consisted of joint sessions with all participants, and breakout sessions with
each side individually where counsel for both sides made multiple presentations regarding various
During the first mediation session, the Parties discussed how to prioritize targeted
discovery to facilitate and inform the mediation discussions. Id. ¶9. As a result, certain document
discovery, specific interrogatories, and other discovery requests were prioritized. Id. Responses to
that discovery enabled the Parties to become fully informed of the relevant facts and allowed them
to carefully evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their respective positions. Id.
On November 15, 2022, the Parties held a second in-person mediation session where they
continued to discuss the structure of a proposed settlement and a draft Settlement Term Sheet. Id.
¶11. During this time period, the Parties continued to exchange information and documents. Under
the continued supervision and guidance of Judge Welsh, the Parties held two more in-person
In addition to the in-person mediation sessions, the Parties negotiated extensively over the
phone, via Zoom, by email, and in person, and involved Judge Welsh from time-to-time to help
resolve disputes as they arose. Id. ¶¶13-15. Over the next three and a half months, the Parties
engaged in extensive negotiations over the terms of the Settlement Agreement and the many
exhibits thereto, exchanging numerous drafts, engaging in extensive back and forth, and calling
upon Judge Welsh to resolve certain disputes from time to time. Id. ¶15. Ultimately, the Parties
Throughout the Settlement negotiation process, the Parties refrained from negotiating
attorneys’ fees and costs for Settlement Class Counsel. Id. ¶16. Settlement Class Counsel
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aggressively sought meaningful and substantial benefits for the Settlement Class while recognizing
both the risks that would be faced if litigation of the Economic Loss Claims proceeded and the
substantial costs and delays in pursuing the matter through fact and expert discovery, class
certification, summary judgment, trial, and appeal. Id. ¶18. For their part, counsel for the Philips
Defendants pushed back on many of the demands advanced by Settlement Class Counsel and
articulated the obstacles Plaintiffs and the putative class would face in litigation, while at the same
time recognizing the risks, expenses, and burdens of such litigation for their own clients. Id. ¶19.
Simply put, the proposed Settlement is one that is the result of good faith, fair, thorough, and fully-
Plaintiffs and all other individuals or entities in the United States [including its
Territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the District of Columbia], including individuals
who are United States citizens, residents, United States military, diplomatic
personnel and employees living or stationed overseas, who or which, prior to the
announcement of the Recalls, either (a) purchased, leased, rented, or paid for (in
whole or part), or were prescribed a Recalled Device (“Users”), or (b) reimbursed
(in whole or part) a User’s payment to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise pay for a
Recalled Device, including insurers, self-funded employers, and other third-party
payers (“Payers”). Individuals or entities whose payment obligations with respect
to a particular Recalled Device preceded the announcement of the relevant Recall
are part of the Settlement Class even if certain of their payment obligations post-
dated the Recall (e.g., certain renters and lessees).
EXCLUDED from the Settlement Class are: (a) Defendants and their officers,
directors, and employees; (b) the MDL Court, Settlement Mediator, Claims
Appeals Special Master, and Special Masters assigned to the MDL; (c) individuals
who have already released Released Claims against one or more of the Defendants
pursuant to individual settlements or other resolutions; (d) DMEs [Durable Medical
Equipment providers]; (e) the federal government and any federal government
payers, including the United States Department of Health and Human Services
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Department of Defense, and the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and (f) Settlement Class Counsel.
The Settlement will provide four categories of substantial monetary payments to Settlement
Class Members: (1) compensation to Eligible Users for payments made to purchase, rent, or lease
a Recalled Device (“Device Payment Awards”); (2) compensation to Eligible Users for returning
a Recalled Device to Philips RS (“Device Return Awards”); (3) compensation to Eligible Users
for money spent out-of-pocket to replace their Recalled Devices between the June 14, 2021
announcement of the Recall and the September 7, 2023 Execution Date of the Settlement (“Device
Replacement Awards”); and (4) compensation to Eligible Payers for reimbursing (in whole or in
part) Users for payments made to purchase, lease, rent or otherwise pay for a Recalled Device
(“Payer Awards”). Id. §§3.2-3.4, 3.6. In addition, Users may be eligible for extended warranties
on certain Remanufactured Devices (i.e., the repaired, refurbished or new devices that Philips
Respironics provided to Users under its recall programs with the FDA). Id. §3.5.
All Users are eligible for Device Payment Awards if they purchased, leased, rented, or paid
for (in whole or part) a Recalled Device and they did not receive their full payment back pursuant
to a warranty before the Recall was announced. Id. §§3.2.1, 3.2.6, 6.4. The amounts of these
Awards for Users vary for each type of Recalled Device. Id. §3.2. Significantly, these Device
Payment Award amounts are fixed, and will not be reduced, regardless of how many claims are
filed. Id. §2.7.1. In the event multiple Users make valid Device Payment Award claims with respect
to the same Recalled Device (e.g., a rented Recalled Device), the Device Payment Award for that
Recalled Device will be allocated on a pro rata basis in accordance with each User’s total
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In addition to Device Payment Awards, the proposed Settlement provides for a Device
Return Award of $100 per Recalled Device for all Eligible Users who have either (1) already
returned a Recalled Device to Philips RS pursuant to a Recall Program or (2) return a Recalled
Device to Philips RS by the Claims Period Deadline pursuant to either the terms of the Settlement
or a Recall Program.7 Id. §3.3. Only one Device Return Award is available for each Recalled
Device. Id. As is the case with Device Payment Awards, the $100 payment for Device Return
Awards is fixed and will not be reduced, regardless of how many claims are filed. Id. §2.7.1.
Receipt of a Device Return Award for a particular Recalled Device does not affect a User’s
eligibility to also receive a Device Payment Award. Id. §3.3.6. Users who receive a Device Return
Award may also receive a Device Replacement Award under certain conditions. Id. §§3.4.6, 3.4.7.
The proposed Settlement also provides for Device Replacement Awards to Eligible Users.
Users who paid out of pocket for a comparable Replacement Device on or after the Recall was
announced on June 14, 2021 and prior to the September 7, 2023 Execution Date of the Settlement
without having received, or prior to receiving, a Remanufactured Device from the Philips RS
Recall Program are eligible for a Device Replacement Award. Id. §3.4. The amount of the Device
Replacement Award for a particular User will be based on the amount actually paid by the User8
6
Receipt of a Device Payment Award does not affect a User’s eligibility, if applicable, for a Device
Return Award and/or a Device Replacement Award with respect to that same device. SA §3.2.7.
7
Philips RS agrees to make prepaid labels available on the Settlement website so as to allow Users
to return their Registered or Enrolled Recalled Devices to Philips RS. Id. §3.3.4.
8
The amounts of a Device Replacement Award will not be based on any payment made by
insurance or another third-party payer on behalf of or for the benefit of the User. Id. §1.46.
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to purchase, lease, or rent the Replacement Device; the value of the replaced Philips RS Recalled
Device; and the total valid claims for Replacement Awards that are submitted, subject to the
funding limitations for this Award. Id. §3.4.1. Only one Device Replacement Award is available
4. Payer Awards
The proposed Settlement also provides for Payer Awards to Eligible Payers. Payer Awards
will be determined based on each Eligible Payer’s relative market share (aggregated among all
Eligible Payers) based on the number of insured lives covered by the Eligible Payer in the United
States and the dollar amount of direct premiums written by the Eligible Payer in the United States
for Calendar Years 2021 and 2022. Id. §6.7, et seq. The Settlement Administrator will determine
each Eligible Payer’s Market Share Percentage based on industry data and the information
Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Settlement Funds will be established
with payments made by the Philips Defendants. There will be a User Settlement Fund and a Payer
Settlement Fund. Id. §1.54. Subject to Court approval, the Parties agree that Huntington Bank
should serve as Settlement Fund Escrow Agent. Id. §1.55. Each Settlement Fund will be
established and initially funded through deposits by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants, no
later than 14 days after execution of the Settlement Agreement, of the Initial Payment for Class
Notice and Settlement Administration, in the amounts of $7,350,000 into the User Settlement Fund
and $100,000 into the Payer Settlement Fund. Id. §§2.3.2, 2.4.1. The Philips Defendants will make
additional payments for Settlement Administration separate and apart from their payments for
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Payments for Device Payment Awards, Device Return Awards, and Payer Awards will be
a minimum of $479 million, with no maximum for Device Payment Awards and Device Return
Awards, and there will be no reversion of the prefunded payments to the Philips Defendants. Id.
§§2.5.1, 2.7.1., 2.10.1., 2.12. In addition to the prefunded amounts, the Philips Defendants will
pay up to $15,000,000 for Device Replacement Awards. Id. §§2.8.1., 6.6.2.4. These funds will be
paid as follows:
The Initial Device Payment Amount will be calculated based on total Device Payment
Awards for all Registered Recalled Devices as of the Execution Date plus an amount equal to the
total Device Payment Awards for 5% of the remaining Recalled Devices that have not been
registered by that time. Id. §2.5.1. The Initial Device Payment Amount will be paid in two
installments by wire transfer into the User Settlement Fund: (1) 25% of the Initial Device Payment
Amount (“first installment”) will be paid no later than 14 days following MDL Court Final
Approval; and (2) 75% of the Initial Device Payment Amount (“second installment”) will be paid
no later than 14 days following the Effective Date.9 Id. In the event the first installment of the
Initial Device Payment Amount is insufficient to pay Device Payment Awards to Users electing
the AIO, discussed below, the Philips Defendants shall deposit additional funds from the second
installment to make sure the User Settlement Fund is large enough to make those payments. Id.
The combined first and second installment payments for the Initial Device Payment
Amount will be no less than $309 million. Id. The Settlement Agreement provides for additional
9
“Effective Date” is the date when the Settlement becomes Final (i.e., after the MDL Court enters
the Final Order and Judgment, and all appeals have been exhausted or resolved in a manner that
upholds the Final Order and Judgment). SA §1.17.
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payments to be made by the Philips Defendants, on a monthly basis, if the Initial Device Payment
Amount and the Initial Device Return Amount are not sufficient to make all Device Payment
Awards and Device Return Awards required by the Settlement. Id. §2.7, et seq.
The Initial Device Return Amount will be an amount equal to $100 for each and every
Registered and Enrolled Recalled Device returned by Users to Philips RS pursuant to the Recall
Programs or the Settlement as of the date of MDL Court Final Approval.10 Id. §2.6.1. The Initial
Device Return Amount will be paid in two installments by wire transfer into the User Settlement
Fund: (1) 25% of the Initial Device Return Amount (“first installment”) will be paid no later than
14 days following MDL Court Final Approval; and (2) 75% of the Initial Device Return Amount
(“second installment”) will be paid no later than 14 days following the Effective Date. Id. In the
event the first installment of the Initial Device Return Amount is insufficient to pay Device Return
Awards to Users electing the AIO, discussed below, the Philips Defendants shall deposit additional
funds from the second installment to make sure the User Settlement Fund is large enough to make
The combined first and second installment payments for the Initial Device Return Amount
The Philips Defendants will also pay up to $10,000,000 (the “Device Replacement
Amount”) by wire transfer into the User Settlement Fund no later than 14 days after the Settlement
Administrator determines the total number and amount of valid claims for Device Replacement
10
Users who still possess Trilogy 100/200 Recalled Devices and wish to return them cannot
“enroll” their devices in the Settlement. They need to register their Trilogy 100/200 with Philips
RS pursuant to a Recall Program and follow the retrieval process under that program. Id. §3.3.4.
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Awards. Id. §2.8.1. The determination of the Device Replacement Amount will not occur until
after the Claims Period Deadline. Id. If the total amount needed to satisfy claims for Device
Replacement Awards exceeds $10,000,000, the balance of any funds remaining in the User
Settlement Fund after payment of all Device Payment Awards and Device Return Awards
(“Balance of Funds in User Settlement Fund”) will be used to make Device Replacement Awards.
Id. §6.6.2.3. To the extent that the Device Replacement Amount plus the Balance of Funds in User
Settlement Fund are insufficient to pay at least 50% of the total amount of claims for Device
Replacement Awards, the Philips Defendants will pay an additional amount into the User
Settlement Fund sufficient to pay 50% of the total amount of claims for Device Replacement
4. Payer Awards
The Philips Defendants will pay the Payer Amount of $34,000,000 into the Payer
Settlement Fund no later than 14 days following the Effective Date. Id. §2.10.1. The Payer
Amount, plus accrued interest in the Payer Settlement Fund, will be used to pay Payer Awards (id.
§2.11) and is non-reversionary (id. §2.12) and fixed, meaning it will not increase or decrease based
upon the number of claims that are made by Payers (id. §2.10.1). In light of the calculations and
allocations that must be made after all Payer claims are submitted, Payer Awards will not be paid
until after the Claims Period Deadline or the Effective Date, whichever is later. Id. §6.7.2.
D. Additional Benefits
A valuable aspect of the Settlement is that Users who return their Recalled Device before
the Effective Date of the Settlement (including those who have already returned their Recalled
Devices) may receive their Device Payment Award and Device Return Award on an accelerated
basis before any appeals have been decided if they meet certain conditions set forth in Section
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6.3.2 of the Settlement Agreement.11 These payments will be made within 60 days after the later
of (1) MDL Court Final Approval, (2) Philips RS’s receipt of the Recalled Device, or (3) the
completion of each of the steps identified in Section 6.3.2. Id. §§6.3.3., et seq.
Payments made under the AIO are non-reversionary, meaning that Users who elect AIO
get their payments without having to wait for the appeals process to run its course, and get to keep
the money even if the Settlement is not upheld on appeal. Id. §2.12.
2. Extended Warranties
Philips RS agrees to provide extended warranties to Users who receive (or have received)
a Remanufactured Device from Philips RS as part of a Recall Program. Id. §3.5, et seq. Philips RS
agrees to provide the following extended warranties: (1) two years for materials and workmanship
for Remanufactured Devices that have a different Serial Number from the associated Recalled
Device; and (2) two years for materials and workmanship on the repair work that was performed
by Philips RS pursuant to the Recall Programs (not the entire Remanufactured Device) on
Remanufactured Devices that have the same Serial Number as the associated Recalled Device (i.e.,
the Remanufactured Device and the Recalled Device are the same device by Serial Number). Id.
1. Settlement Administration
The Philips Defendants are responsible for paying all reasonable costs of Notice and
Settlement Administration. Id. §6.1.1. These payments are in addition to the Settlement Fund
payments being made to Settlement Class Members, and thus will not reduce the amounts to be
11
To participate in AIO, Users must complete an individual release and an individual assignment
of their claims against manufacturers of ozone cleaning products to Philips RS. Id. §§6.3.2.1,
6.3.2.2. This is required because they will be receiving Settlement benefits before the class-wide
release and class-wide assignment have gone into effect (i.e., AIO benefits will be received before
the period for appealing the Final Order and Judgment has expired). Id. §6.3.3. The form of each
document is attached to the Settlement Agreement as Exhibit 6.
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received by Class Members. Subject to Court approval, the Parties agree that Angeion Group, LLC
payments (and withholdings) based on the plan of allocation set forth in the Settlement Agreement,
determining Additional Amounts that the Philips Defendants need to pay into the Settlement Fund
for Device Payment Awards and Device Return Awards, creating a Settlement website, reviewing
the validity of claim submissions and distributing funds to Eligible Settlement Class Members,
withholding and paying applicable taxes, and other duties as provided in any agreement entered
into between the Parties and the Settlement Administrator. See, e.g., id. §6.1.2. The Settlement
Administrator may make necessary adjustments to claims and notice processes as circumstances
may dictate, subject to the approval of Settlement Class Counsel and the Philips Defendants. Id.
§6.1.3. The Settlement Administrator will also receive and process objections and opt-out requests
by Settlement Class Members, which must be submitted no later than 60 days after the
2. Claims Submissions
The Claims Period will begin when the Settlement Administrator disseminates Notice to
the Settlement Class (i.e., 60 days following entry of this Court’s Preliminary Approval Order)
and conclude on the Claims Period Deadline, which is 120 days after the date of the Final Fairness
Automatic Payments for Users who return their Registered or Enrolled Recalled Device.
To date, over 3 million Users have registered for the Philips RS Recall Programs, and over 1.3
million of the Users have returned their Registered Recalled Device to Philips RS pursuant to a
Recall Program. All Users who have already returned or subsequently return their Registered or
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Enrolled Recalled Device to Philips RS by the Claims Period Deadline will be paid the Device
Payment Award associated with the returned Recalled Device and their $100 Device Return
Award, without the need to submit a claim form, within 60 days after the later of (1) the Effective
Date or (2) receipt of the Recalled Device by Philips RS. Id. §§6.4.1.1, 6.4.2.1.
Streamlined Online Confirmation Process for Users Who Previously Registered for a
Recall Program but Who Do Not or Cannot Return their Registered Recalled Device. To receive
a Device Payment Award, Users who registered for a Recall Program prior to the Settlement’s
Execution Date but do not or cannot return their Registered Recalled Device to Philips RS must,
prior to the Claims Period Deadline, complete a simple process confirming their contact
information and the Serial Number and Registration Number of their Recalled Device (if
available), which may be done online (or, the User may complete a written confirmation form that
is attached to the Settlement Agreement as Exhibit 7). Id. §6.4.2.2. Such Users will not be required
to submit any supporting documentation as part of this process, and payment of their Device
Payment Award will be made within 60 days after the latter of (1) the Effective Date, or (2)
Claim Submission Process for all other Settlement Class Members (Users and Payers).
To receive a Device Payment Award, all other Users must submit a completed Claim Form
(attached to the Settlement Agreement as Exhibit 4) by the Claims Period Deadline and provide
sufficient documentation that the User purchased, leased, rented, or otherwise paid for one or more
Recalled Devices. 12 Id. §6.4.3.1. To receive a Payer Award, Payers must submit a Payer
12
With respect to rental Recalled Devices, the Device Payment Award for that Device will be
allocated by the Settlement Administrator (after the Claims Period Deadline) among Eligible
Settlement Class Members on a pro rata basis, taking into consideration the number of Eligible
Settlement Class Members for the rental Recalled Device and the respective portion of their
payments for that rental Recalled Device. Id. §6.4.4.1. In light of the allocation that must be made
Footnote continued on next page
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Declaration and Claim Form supported by sufficient information and documentation as to the
number of insured lives in the United States covered by the Payer and the dollar amount of direct
premiums written by the Payer in the United States in the Calendar Years 2021 and 2022 (attached
to the Settlement Agreement as Exhibit 8) by the Claims Period Deadline. Id. §6.7.1. Users and
Payers can make their submissions online via a custom portal developed by the Settlement
Administrator, or by mailing paper claim forms and supporting documentation to the Settlement
Administrator. All valid claims will be paid to Users after the Effective Date within 60 days after
they are processed and approved by the Settlement Administrator. Id. §6.4.3.2. Valid claims for
Eligible Payers will be paid within 180 days after the Claims Period Deadline or the Effective
Date, whichever is later, following processing and approval by the Settlement Administrator and
an opportunity for appeals of Payer Claims Determinations. Id. §§6.7.2, et seq., 6.8.1, 6.8.2.
Users Seeking Device Replacement Awards. Device Replacement Awards are intended to
compensate Eligible Users who, on or after June 14, 2021 and prior to the Execution Date, paid
out of pocket (in whole or in part) for a Replacement Device without having received or prior to
receiving from a Recall Program a Remanufactured Device associated with the User’s Recalled
Device. Id. §3.4. Users seeking a Device Replacement Award must submit a completed Device
Replacement Award Claim Form (in the form attached to the Settlement Agreement as Exhibit 5),
before the Claims Period Deadline, supported by the required documentation. Id. §6.6.1. After the
Claims Period Deadline, the Settlement Administrator will calculate the total valid claims for
Device Replacement Awards submitted during the Claims Period, which will trigger the payment
with respect to rental Recalled Devices, no Device Payment Award shall be made with respect to
rental Recalled Devices until after the Effective Date. Id. §6.4.4.2.
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obligations by the Philips Defendants as set forth above.13 Id. §6.6.2, et seq. Eligible Users will be
paid Device Replacement Awards within 60 days after the Settlement Administrator performs that
Claims Appeals. Any Settlement Class Member whose claim is denied (in whole or in part)
by the Settlement Administrator for any reason shall be provided with a written notice explaining
the deficiency and a period of 30 days to resubmit the claim to attempt to cure the deficiency. Id.
§6.8.1. The Settlement Agreement also provides a process by which any Settlement Class Member
or Defendant who believes that a claim for a payment under the Settlement has not been paid or
processed in accordance with the Agreement or with any applicable orders of the MDL Court, can
appeal Claims Determinations by the Settlement Administrator to the Claims Appeals Special
Master. Id. §6.8, et seq. Subject to Court approval, the Parties propose the Honorable Thomas J.
Rueter (Ret.) as the Claims Appeals Special Master.14 Id. §1.5. The decision of the Claims Appeals
Special Master with respect to such appeals shall be final and binding on the Class Member or
F. Releases
By virtue of the Settlement, the Parties agree to mutual releases. Id. §4, et seq. Settlement
Class Members agree to release their Economic Loss Claims against the Released Parties. Id.
§§1.16, 1.42, 1.43, 4.6. The Release does not include claims against Defendants or other Released
Parties for Medical Monitoring and Personal Injury Claims. Id. §§4.1, 4.2. Also, Settlement Class
Members do not release their Economic Loss Claims against Ozone Cleaning Companies. Id. §4.3.
13
Depending upon the amount of claims submitted for Device Replacement Awards and the
amount of funds available to pay them from the User Settlement Fund, the Philips Defendants have
agreed to pay up to $15,000,000 to satisfy these claims. Id. §6.6.3.
14
Judge Rueter is a retired U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District
of Pennsylvania and is currently affiliated with JAMS in their Philadelphia office.
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Instead, Settlement Class Members assign those claims to Philips RS. Id. §§4.3, 5.1.
The Philips Defendants have agreed to pay separately the amount of attorneys’ fees and
costs awarded to Settlement Class Counsel in any final Order of the MDL Court in addition to the
compensation provided to Settlement Class Members under this Settlement. Id. §18.1.
Accordingly, any award of attorneys’ fees and costs shall not diminish the recovery of Settlement
Class Members. To date, the Parties have not reached agreement on the amount of attorneys’ fees
and costs to be paid to Settlement Class Counsel. Attorneys’ fees and costs are discussed in detail
The proposed Notice is described in the Settlement, and the Notice Plan and Forms of
Notice are attached to the Settlement Agreement as Exhibits 2 and 3(a)-3(h). See also Declaration
of Steven Weisbrot, Esq. of Angeion Group, LLC dated September 5, 2023, attached hereto as Ex.
“C” (“Angeion Decl.”), at ¶¶17, 20-58. Details of the Notice are set forth in Section IV.D, infra.
IV. ARGUMENT
Approval of a class action settlement involves a two-step process. First, at the preliminary
approval stage, the Court decides whether it will be likely to ultimately approve the settlement and
certify the settlement class, thus warranting the dissemination of notice to the proposed settlement
class. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e)(1)(B); Cole’s Wexford Hotel, Inc. v. UPMC & Highmark Inc.
15
Settlement Class Counsel will recommend, subject to approval by the Court, that each
Settlement Class Representative receive a Service Award in the amount of $5,000 in recognition
for their service as a Settlement Class Representative, and the Philips Defendants agree not to
oppose such request. SA §18.2. If approved, these payments will be in addition to the
compensation provided to Settlement Class Members under this Settlement and will not diminish
the recovery of Settlement Class Members under the Settlement. Id.
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(“Cole’s Wexford I”), 2016 WL 6919773, at *1-2 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 6, 2016) (Conti, J.) (finding that
proposed settlement “falls within the range of reasonableness meriting possible final approval”
and directing the dissemination of notice). Second, after notice has been disseminated and class
members have had the opportunity to object to or opt out of the settlement, the Court conducts a
final fairness hearing and decides whether to approve the settlement. Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e)(2);
Hickton v. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company, 2013 WL 12137092, at *3 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 29, 2013)
(Conti, J.) (same); see also Calhoun v. Invention Submission Corp., 2023 WL 2411354, at *5-6
The Third Circuit has a “strong judicial policy in favor of class action settlement.” Ehrheart
v. Verizon Wireless, 609 F.3d 590, 595 (3d Cir. 2010). When reviewing a settlement, the Third
Circuit has repeatedly stressed that “we favor the parties reaching an amicable agreement and
avoiding protracted litigation. We do not wish to intrude overly on the parties’ hard-fought
bargain.” In re: Google Inc. Cookie Placement Consumer Priv. Litig., 934 F.3d 316, 326 (3d Cir.
2019) (“In re: Google Inc.”) (internal citation omitted). “Settlement agreements are to be
encouraged because they promote the amicable resolution of disputes and lighten the increasing
load of litigation faced by the federal courts.” Ehrheart, 609 F.3d at 595. Thus, “the settlement of
class actions is preferred to protracted litigation: ‘there is an overriding public interest in settling
class action litigation, and it should therefore be encouraged.’” Murphy v. Le Sportsac, Inc., 2023
WL 375903, at *9 (W.D. Pa. Jan. 24, 2023) (quoting In re Warfarin Sodium Antitrust Litig. (“In
To grant preliminary approval and disseminate notice of the proposed settlement to the
Settlement Class, a court must find that it “will likely be able to: (i) approve the proposal under
Rule 23(e)(2); and (ii) certify the class for purposes of judgment on the proposal.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
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23(e)(1)(B) (emphasis added). Courts within this District recognize that “[a]t the preliminary
approval stage, the bar to meet the fair, reasonable and adequate standard is lowered,” and a court’s
focus should be on whether the proposed settlement “discloses grounds to doubt its fairness or
segments of the class, or excessive compensation of attorneys, and whether it appears to fall within
the range of possible approval.” Torres v. BrandSafway Indus. LLC, 2023 WL 346667, at *2 (W.D.
Pa. Jan. 20, 2023) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also McRobie v. Credit Prot.
Assoc., 2020 WL 6822970, at *3 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 20, 2020) (“Preliminary approval of a proposed
class action settlement is not binding on the Court and is generally granted unless a proposed
Under Rule 23(e)(2), in determining whether it will likely be able to find that a proposed
(A) the class representatives and class counsel have adequately represented the
class;
(C) the relief provided for the class is adequate, taking into account:
(ii) the effectiveness of any proposed method of distributing relief to the class,
including the method of processing class-member claims;
(iii) the terms of any proposed award of attorney’s fees, including timing of
payment; and
(D) the proposal treats class members equitably relative to each other.
The 2018 Advisory Committee Notes to Subdivision 23(e)(2) explain that the “core concerns”
listed in the text of Rule 23(e)(2) and set forth above do not “displace” a court’s consideration of
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the other factors that have been adopted by each Circuit Court to assess the fairness of a class
settlement.
In the Third Circuit, courts have traditionally considered nine factors when determining the
fairness of a proposed settlement, as set forth in Girsh v. Jepson, 521 F.2d 153, 157 (3d Cir. 1975).
These Girsh factors significantly overlap with the Rule 23(e)(2) factors: “(1) the complexity,
expense and likely duration of the litigation; (2) the reaction of the class to the settlement; (3) the
stage of the proceedings and the amount of discovery completed; (4) the risks of establishing
liability; (5) the risks of establishing damages; (6) the risks of maintaining the class action through
the trial; (7) the ability of the defendants to withstand a greater judgment; (8) the range of
reasonableness of the settlement fund in light of the best possible recovery; [and] (9) the range of
reasonableness of the settlement fund to a possible recovery in light of all the attendant risks of
litigation.”16 Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also In re: Google Inc., 934
F.3d at 322 n.2 (quoting Girsh factors); In re Prudential Ins. Co. Am. Sales Practice Litig., 148
F.3d 283, 323 (3d Cir. 1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1114 (1999) (listing additional factors that
In addition, the Third Circuit has stated clearly that “[w]e apply an initial presumption of
fairness in reviewing a class settlement when: (1) the negotiations occurred at arm’s length; (2)
there was sufficient discovery; (3) the proponents of the settlement are experienced in similar
litigation; and (4) only a small fraction of the class objected.” In re Nat’l Football League Players
Concussion Injury Litig., 821 F.3d 410, 436 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 591 (2016) (“In re
16
Courts in this District have differed as to whether the Girsh factors should be considered at both
the preliminary and final approval stages, or just at final approval. Compare Murphy v. Hundreds
is Huge, Inc., 2022 WL 2110202 at *8-13 (W.D. Pa. June 10, 2022) (applying Girsh at preliminary
approval stage) with Copley v. Evolution Well Servs. Operating LLC, 2023 WL 1878581, at *2,
n.1 (W.D. Pa. Feb. 10, 2023) (stating that Girsh applies only at final approval stage).
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NFL II”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also In re: Google Inc., 934 F.3d at
326; In re Railway Indus. Empl. No-Poach Antitrust Litig., 2020 WL 13852931, at *2 (W.D. Pa.
Aug. 26, 2020) (Conti, J.) (“In re Railway Antitrust”); Cole’s Wexford Hotel, Inc. v. UPMC &
Highmark Inc. (“Cole’s Wexford II”), 2016 WL 6236892, at *2 (W.D. Pa. July 29, 2016) (Conti,
J.).
If the preliminary approval criteria are met, a court must also consider whether it is likely
to certify a class for settlement purposes. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e)(1)(B)(ii). The Third Circuit has
long held that the certification of a settlement class serves “the core purpose of Rule 23(b)(3),
which is to vindicate the claims of consumers and other groups of people whose individual claims
would be too small to warrant litigation.” See, e.g., Sullivan v. DB Invs., Inc., 667 F.3d 273, 312
(3d Cir. 2011) (en banc), cert. denied, 566 U.S. 923 (2012) (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted); In re Gen. Motors Corp. Pick-Up Truck Fuel Tank Prod. Liab. Litig. (“In re GMC”), 55
F.3d 768, 777-78 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 824 (1995). The Manual for Complex Litigation
advises that “[i]f the case is presented for both class certification and settlement approval, the
certification hearing and preliminary fairness evaluation can usually be combined. The judge
should make a preliminary determination that the proposed class satisfies the criteria set out in
Rule 23(a) and at least one of the subsections of Rule 23(b).” Manual for Complex Litigation
(Fourth) §21.632 (2004); see also In re Nat’l Football League Players Concussion Injury Litig.,
775 F.3d 570, 582 (3d Cir. 2014) (“In re NFL I”) (quoting §21.632 of Manual with approval).
The Settlement should be preliminarily approved under Rule 23(e)(1)(B) because, upon
consideration of all of the relevant factors, the Court will likely be able to approve the Settlement
as “fair, reasonable, and adequate” after a Final Fairness Hearing. In addition, the Court should
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find that a presumption of fairness applies because the proposed Settlement was negotiated at
arm’s length before Judge Welsh by experienced counsel who had the benefit of sufficient
discovery and thus could fully evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their respective positions.
and the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Settlement Committee, who were appointed by the Court
after a thorough interview and vetting process (ECF No. 395, Pretrial Order No. 8). They have
decades of experience litigating complex products liability and other class action litigation, and
have negotiated favorable settlements in many such cases. Since the inception of this litigation,
the Court has been able to observe first-hand the vigorous and skilled litigation of this matter by
Settlement Class Counsel. They used their skills, prior experience, and familiarity with the facts
and law in this case to negotiate the best possible settlement for the Settlement Class, with the
assistance of a Court-appointed Settlement Mediator. See Rossini v. PNC Fin. Servs. Grp., Inc.,
2020 WL 3481458, at *13 (W.D. Pa. June 26, 2020) (“The ‘proponents’ of the settlement—most
supports a presumption that counsel knew what they were doing when negotiating the
settlement.”); Zanghi v. Freightcar Am., Inc., 2016 WL 223721, at *15 (W.D. Pa. Jan. 19, 2016)
(“[S]ignificant weight should be attributed to the belief of experienced counsel that settlement is
in the best interest of the class.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Class Representatives. The proposed Settlement Class Representatives have fulfilled their
responsibilities on behalf of the Settlement Class by working closely with Settlement Class
Counsel on the litigation of the Economic Loss Claims, reviewing pleadings, and responding to
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Court-appointed mediator, that took a year from the initial negotiations to the time the Agreement
was signed, as discussed in significant detail above. The Declaration of Judge Welsh independently
corroborates that “the negotiations between the parties were protracted, hard fought and conducted
at arm’s-length and in good faith,” and the “highly capable and experienced parties and counsel
[had] a strong command of relevant facts and legal principles.” Welsh Decl. ¶¶2, 19. Importantly,
the Parties’ negotiations “focused exclusively on benefits for the Settlement Class, and there was
no discussion or negotiation of attorneys’ fees for Settlement Class Counsel” during the mediation
or in connection with the negotiations over the terms of the Settlement Agreement. Id. ¶16.
All relevant considerations demonstrate that these negotiations were at arm’s length. See 4
William B. Rubenstein, Newberg and Rubenstein on Class Actions §13:50, Westlaw (6th ed.
Database updated June 2023) (hereinafter “Newberg and Rubenstein”) (describing factors relevant
to whether negotiations are arm’s length); In re All-Clad Metalcrafters, LLC v. Cookware Mktg.
& Sales Practices Litig., 2023 WL 2071481 at *6 (W.D. Pa. Feb. 17, 2023) (“In re All-Clad”)
original); Cole’s Wexford II, 2016 WL 6236892, at *2 (“a presumption of fairness applies because
the Settlement was negotiated at arm’s length with an accomplished neutral at a Court-ordered
mediation”) (Conti, J.); Copley, 2023 WL 1878581, at *4 (finding negotiations at arm’s length
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Complexity, Expense, Delay, and Risks of Continued Litigation. Absent a settlement, the
Parties would remain engaged in motion practice, discovery, and adversarial litigation for years
regarding the Economic Loss Claims. While Settlement Class Counsel believe their case is strong,
they acknowledge the risks of continuing to litigate the numerous and complex legal and scientific
issues in this litigation. See, e.g., Solak v. Ford Motor Co., 2023 WL 4628456, at *3-5 (E.D. Mich.
July 19, 2023) (dismissing claims for economic damages because the automaker conducted a
voluntary recall to fix the defective airbags free of charge). The highly experienced counsel
representing the Philips Defendants have vigorously defended this litigation every step of the way.
To prevail, Plaintiffs would have to complete fact and expert discovery, obtain class certification,
potentially litigate Rule 23(f) appeals regarding the certification order or subsequent motions for
decertification, successfully defend against summary judgment or other dispositive motions, defeat
Daubert motions, prevail at trial on liability and damages, and then prevail on any subsequent
appeals. The litigation would be protracted and expensive, to say nothing of the inherent risks and
uncertain outcomes attendant to each step along the way. In contrast to those risks, the proposed
Mercedes-Benz Emissions Litig., 2021 WL 8053614, at *4 (D.N.J. July 12, 2021) (finding that
settlement approval was appropriate where “[e]ven if [plaintiffs] did win at trial and on appeal,
relief for the Class was likely years away as a result of the lengthy litigation process. The Mercedes
Settlement eliminates these risks, cuts through the delay, and provides immediate and significant
benefits to Class Members.”); Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *13 (finding that “certainty and
immediacy of a recovery through settlement and the benefits that the Settlement Class Members
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discovery, third-party discovery, jurisdictional discovery, and the targeted discovery related to the
mediation process. In addition, Plaintiffs have engaged experts to help evaluate numerous aspects
of the case. While these efforts are discussed in greater detail above, what is important is that the
amount of discovery enabled Settlement Class Counsel to fully evaluate the strengths and
weaknesses of the Parties’ respective positions. See Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *11 (granting
preliminary approval where parties had “engaged in sufficient discovery to inform their
preliminary approval where “[t]he record establishes extensive and costly investigation, research,
and discovery have been conducted such that the attorneys for the parties are reasonably able to
evaluate the benefits of settlement.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Stage of the Proceedings. The MDL proceedings were far enough along that Settlement
Class Counsel had an “adequate appreciation of the merits of the case before negotiating.” In re
Prudential Ins., 148 F.3d at 319 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In addition to the
substantial discovery discussed above, the Parties extensively briefed five motions to dismiss,
made comprehensive Science Day presentations to the Court, and exchanged comprehensive
mediation statements at the outset of their negotiations. Welsh Decl. ¶¶7-8, 11-12. Thus, as
confirmed by Judge Welsh, the parties were “fully informed” and able to carefully analyze the risk
of future litigation in comparison to the substantial and prompt relief offered by the Settlement. Id.
¶19; see In re All-Clad, 2023 WL 2071481, at *7 (finding that this factor weighed in favor of
preliminary approval where “class counsel worked with consulting experts to evaluate the alleged
defect in All-Clad’s cookware. Some written discovery proceeded for over a year. And the motions
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to dismiss and three days of mediation before retired judges provided ample insight into each side’s
positions, including strengths and weaknesses of claims and defenses.”) (citations omitted).
obtaining and keeping a class certification if the action were to proceed to trial,” In re Warfarin,
391 F.3d at 537, and weighs heavily in favor of approval. As stated very recently by another court
within this District when it granted preliminary approval of a settlement, “[e]ven if certification of
a class is achieved, continued discovery and resolution of legal issues could lead to decertification
or modification of the class. . . . In turn, this inevitably would result in further delay and expense,
as well as an uncertain outcome. Moreover, if a class is not certified, it is uncertain that individual
settlement class members possess the resources and financial ability to pursue their claims.”
Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *14 (citing Carnegie v. Household Int’l, Inc., 376 F.3d 656, 661
(7th Cir. 2004) (“The realistic alternative to a class action is not 17 million individual suits, but
zero individual suits …”)); see also In re All-Clad, 2023 WL 2071481, at *7 (granting preliminary
approval because, inter alia, “[m]aintaining [a class] throughout lengthy litigation would also be
challenging, . . . If Plaintiffs failed at any stage, there would be no nationwide relief to the
settlement class.”). This is particularly true here, where the maximum out-of-pocket costs for any
Recalled Device purchased, rented, or leased is a few thousand dollars, and in many cases, less
than $100.
of the best possible recovery and reasonableness in light of the risks the parties would face if the
case went to trial.” In re Warfarin, 391 F.3d at 538. To make that assessment, courts must compare
“the present value of the damages plaintiffs would likely recover if successful, appropriately
discounted for the risk of not prevailing” with “the amount of the proposed settlement.” In re GMC,
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55 F.3d at 806 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also In re Baby Products
Antitrust Litig., 708 F.3d 163, 174 (3d Cir. 2013) (“The Court must determine whether the
compromises reflected in the settlement – including those terms relating to the allocation of
settlement funds – are fair, reasonable, and adequate when considered from the perspective of the
class as a whole.”).
The proposed Settlement here plainly falls within the range of reasonableness “in light of
the best possible recovery and attendant risks of litigation.” Cole’s Wexford II, 2016 WL 6236892,
at *2; see also Hickton, 2013 WL 12137092 at *1 (same). The main measure of damages that
Plaintiffs sought for their Economic Loss Claims was full restitution of the amount they paid to
acquire a Recalled Device. E.g., EL Compl. ¶660 (Recalled Devices had no value at time of
purchase). The Philips Defendants fought this position vigorously, arguing, among other things,
that Users had received a working device and got what they paid for, and lacked standing unless
each User could plead and prove that the foam in their specific device had degraded. See, e.g., ECF
No. 912 at 5-8. Similarly, the Philips Defendants argued that hospitals and third-party payers (i.e.,
insurers) were not injured because they either profited from the Recalled Devices (in the case of
hospitals) or were required to pay for a device for the consumer under contractual obligations
(third-party payers). See, e.g., id. at 8-10. While Plaintiffs vehemently disagree with the Philips
Defendants’ position, there was substantial risk that even if Plaintiffs prevailed on liability, the
Users’ and Payers’ damages would be significantly reduced from full restitution (and even possibly
to zero). See Solak, 2023 WL 4628456, at *3-5. While it is impossible at this time to calculate the
maximum amount Plaintiffs could receive if they were to achieve full restitution, there was a real
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The Initial Device Payment Amount, Initial Device Return Amount, and Payer Amount are
that will not be reduced, regardless of the number of claims that are filed. Users’ Device Payment
Awards and Device Return Awards are set in fixed amounts and will not be reduced based on the
number of claims filed.17 None of the User or Payer Awards will be reduced on account of an
award of attorneys’ fees and costs to Settlement Class Counsel or the cost of Notice and Settlement
Administration, which are being paid by the Philips Defendants separately. In addition, Users who
registered for a Recall Program or enroll in the Settlement and timely return their Recalled Devices
to Philips RS will be paid automatically, without having to complete and submit a claim form;
Eligible Users can receive Device Payment Awards for multiple Recalled Devices; Eligible Users
can obtain Device Return Awards for multiple returned Devices, as well as Device Payment
Awards and under certain circumstances, a Device Replacement Award; Eligible Users can take
advantage of the “Accelerated Implementation Option,” which enables them to obtain their
Settlement payments after Final Approval of the Settlement by this Court but before and regardless
of the resolution of any appeals, which would entail considerable delay and potential risk and
uncertainty; and the Settlement also provides that certain Users will receive significant benefits in
the form of Extended Two Year Warranties on all Remanufactured Devices provided by Philips
RS.18 It also bears emphasis that the $100 Device Return Awards incentivize Users to return their
17
There is an exception for rental Recalled Devices. See n.12, supra.
18
See Granillo v. FCA US LLC, 2019 WL 4052432, *9 (D.N.J. Aug. 27, 2019) (“Given the
combined value of the extended warranty, . . . and cash payments, and the settlement’s benefit was
substantial”); In re Volkswagen & Audi Warranty Extension Litig., 89 F. Supp. 3d 155, 169 (D.
Mass. 2015) (finding the retail value of extended warranty “is a more sensible measure of what
the class members gained from free extended coverage”); Vaughn v. Am. Honda Motor Co., 627
F. Supp. 2d 738, 746 (E.D. Tex. 2007) (valuation of settlement benefits include “warranty
extensions”).
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Recalled Devices to Philips RS, which serves the important public policy of promoting health and
well-being. Payers will also be able to qualify for a Payer Award from the fixed $34,000,000 non-
On balance, the substantial monetary awards, along with additional benefits provided by
the Settlement, militate strongly in favor of preliminary approval particularly when compared
against the uncertainties, delays, expenses, and risks of continued litigation, including the risks
associated with damages discussed above. See In re NFL II, 821 F.3d at 440 (finding that the
“settlement represents a fair deal for the class when compared with a risk-adjusted estimate of the
value of plaintiffs’ claims” where a “pending motion to dismiss and other available affirmative
defenses could have left retired players to pursue claims in arbitration or with no recovery at all”);
uncertainty and risks of continued litigation); Zanghi, 2016 WL 223721, at *20 (same); Palamara
v. King’s Family Restaurants, 2008 WL 1818453, at *4 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 22, 2008) (same).
The method for distributing payments to Settlement Class Members is described in detail
above. In short, the process is designed to get funds into the hands of Settlement Class Members
quickly and efficiently. In the instance of the AIO, it would be shortly after Final Approval (and
before the appellate process, if any, has run). SA §6.3, et seq. For those who do not, or cannot,
elect the AIO, funds would be distributed shortly after the Effective Date of the Settlement. Id.
§§6.4-6.7.
In addition, certain payments are automatic. Users who return their Registered or Enrolled
Recalled Device to Philips RS do not need to submit a Claim Form to receive Device Payment
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Awards or Device Return Awards. Id. §§6.4.1, 6.5.1. Users who do not return their Recalled
Device to Philips RS can access a streamlined confirmation process (via the online Settlement
website portal or in paper form) if they register prior to the Execution Date. Id. §6.4.2. Finally, a
typical Claim Form process is available for all other Settlement Class Members. Id. §§6.4.3, 6.7.1.
As discussed above, the Parties have not reached agreement on the amount of attorneys’
fees and costs to be paid to Settlement Class Counsel subject to a final award by the Court but
have agreed that those fees and costs will be paid by the Philips Defendants in addition to the
Settlement Class relief and therefore, will not reduce the Settlement Class’s recovery. Id. §18.1.
In addition, the Parties have agreed that they will use the assistance of Judge Welsh to
attempt to reach an agreement on attorneys’ fees and costs. Id. If the Parties reach such an
agreement, Settlement Class Counsel will submit the negotiated amount to the Court for approval.
Id. If no such agreement is reached, the Parties will litigate the fee issues, and each Party will
present its respective position to the Court for determination. Id. In that event, the determination
of the fee and cost issues will be subject to the Parties’ agreement that: (1) the attorneys’ fees and
costs will be paid by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants in addition to the compensation
provided to Settlement Class Members under this Settlement; (2) any award of attorneys’ fees or
costs shall not diminish the recovery of Settlement Class Members under the Settlement; (3) while
fees will be based on the percentage of recovery methodology, with a lodestar cross-check, the
Parties reserve all arguments as to how that recovery should be calculated, what the percentage
should be, and the extent to which Settlement Class Counsel’s prosecution of the Economic Loss
Claims caused some or all of the recovery; and (4) the Parties shall have the right to appeal the
Court’s determination as to the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs. Id. Settlement Class Counsel
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represent they will not seek an award of attorneys’ fees in excess of $175,000,000, which
Settlement Class Counsel contends represents a fair percentage of the value of the Settlement in
terms of cash recoveries and other benefits to the Settlement Class, while the Philips Defendants
fully reserve the right to challenge that amount, any percentage upon which it is based, and the
Settlement Class Counsel will file a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs at least 30 days
prior to the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline, and the deadline for the motion will be provided in the
Notice. Id. The motion will be filed on the MDL Court docket and posted on the Settlement
website, and Settlement Class Members will have the opportunity to submit written objections in
the manner prescribed by the Settlement Agreement to the request for attorneys’ fees and costs
The Settlement Class Members are treated equitably relative to each other under the
Settlement based on their Economic Loss Claims related to the Recalled Devices. There are two
separate Settlement Funds being established, one specific to Users and one specific to Payers. Each
Settlement Fund provides compensation for each group’s distinct alleged economic harm.
Users are eligible for Device Payment Awards, Device Return Awards, and/or Device
Replacement Awards based on objective factors. Device Payment Awards are fixed in amount
based on the type or model of the Recalled Device at issue to account for differences in the price
of various types of Recalled Devices; Device Return Awards are $100 for all Eligible Users
regardless of the type or model of the Recalled Device; and Device Replacement Awards are based
upon any given User’s actual costs to purchase, lease, or rent a comparable Replacement Device.
Payers, who are insurers, self-funded employers, or other third-party payers that
reimbursed (in whole or in part) a User’s payment to purchase, lease, rent or otherwise pay for a
Philips RS Recalled Device will be eligible to receive a Payer Award that is based on the Eligible
Payer’s relative market share (aggregated among all Eligible Payers). That market share will be
determined by the number of insured lives in the United States covered by the Eligible Payer and
the dollar amount of direct premiums written by the Eligible Payer in the United States in the
Calendar Years 2021 and 2022, based on industry data, including but not limited to, the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners and the AIS Directory of Health Plans, as well as the
The allocation of the settlement funds as to each group (Users and Payers) resulted from
informed discussions and negotiations between and among Settlement Class Counsel (on behalf
of Users and Payers), additional representatives of Users and Payers, and the Philips Defendants,
aided by the Court-appointed Settlement Mediator. Significantly, all proposed Settlement Class
Representatives endorse and approve all terms of the Settlement, including the amount of
In Section 7.1 of the Settlement Agreement, Plaintiffs and the Philips Defendants
stipulated, for purposes of the Settlement only and subject to this Court’s approval, that the
requirements of Rule 23(a) and 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are satisfied.
The benefits of a proposed settlement of a class action can be realized only through the
certification of a settlement class. See Amchem Prods. v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591, 620 (1997); see
also Walker v. Highmark BCBSD Health Options, Inc., 2022 WL 17592067, at *5 (W.D. Pa. Dec.
13, 2022). For a court to certify a class for settlement, the “[s]ettlement [c]lass[] must satisfy the
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as well as the relevant 23(b) requirement.” In re GMC, 55 F.3d at 778. A number of courts have
recognized the propriety of class certification in defective product cases where economic losses
are sought. See, e.g., In re Valsartan, Losartan & Irbesartan Prod. Liab. Litig., 2023 WL 1818922,
at *20, *25 (D.N.J. Feb. 8, 2023) (certifying consumer and third-party payor economic loss classes
for contaminated and defective Valsartan drugs); In re JUUL Labs, Inc. Mktg. Sales Pracs. &
Prod. Liab. Litig., 609 F. Supp. 3d 942, 957-58, 1002-03, 1023 (N.D. Cal. 2022) (certifying two
Rule 23(a)(1) requires that the class be “so numerous that joinder of all members is
impracticable.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(1). Numerosity is easily met here, as there were close to 11
million Recalled Devices sold or otherwise distributed in the United States, and the number of
The second prong of Rule 23(a) – commonality – “requires Plaintiffs to show that ‘there
are questions of law or fact common to the class.’” Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *7 (quoting
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(2)). This requirement is satisfied so long as the class members “share at least
one question of fact or law in common with each other.” Reinig v. RBS Citizens, N.A., 912 F.3d
115, 127 (3d Cir. 2018) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “[T]he bar is not a high
one.” Reyes v. Netdeposit, LLC, 802 F.3d 469, 486 (3d Cir. 2015) (cleaned up) (internal quotation
marks and citation omitted). The Third Circuit has “acknowledged commonality to be present even
when not all plaintiffs suffered an actual injury, when plaintiffs did not bring identical claims, and,
most dramatically, when some plaintiffs’ claims may not have been legally viable.” Rodriguez v.
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Nat’l City Bank, 726 F.3d 372, 382 (3d Cir. 2013) (citations omitted); see also In re Prudential
Ins., 148 F.3d at 310 (all claims and facts do not need to be identical). Rather, “the focus of the
commonality inquiry . . . is on whether the defendant’s conduct was common as to all of the class
members.” Rodriguez, 726 F.3d at 382 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
In this case, there are numerous common questions of law and fact, including, but not
limited to: whether the Recalled Devices were defective; if so, whether and when the Defendants
knew they were defective; whether the Recalled Devices were marketed as, among other things,
safe breathing assistance devices; whether Defendants violated RICO, numerous different state
law duties, or were unjustly enriched; and whether the purchase, rental, or payment for the Recalled
Devices caused economic losses to the Settlement Class Members. Commonality is, therefore,
Rule 23(a)(3)’s typicality requirement is also met. The claims of the proposed Settlement
Class Representatives are typical because they suffered substantially the same economic loss from
the same conduct as every other Settlement Class Member. The Settlement Class Representatives
and the Settlement Class Members all suffered financial harm arising out of, among other things,
the Philips Defendants’ design, manufacture and sale of the allegedly defective Recalled Devices;
their alleged failure to disclose or adequately remedy the alleged defect; and their alleged
negligence in delaying the Recall. Typicality is satisfied. See In re All-Clad, 2023 WL 2071481,
at *3 (typicality satisfied “because they suffered the same injury from identical conduct by All-
Clad”); Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *7 (typicality “satisfied where there is a ‘strong similarity
of legal theories or where the claim arises from the same practice or course of conduct.’”) (quoting
In re NFL II, 821 F.3d at 428); Newton v. Merrill Lynch, 259 F.3d 154, 183-84 (3d Cir. 2001).
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The adequacy requirement of Rule 23(a)(4) ensures that that “the representative parties
will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(4). “Adequate
representation depends on two factors: ‘(a) the plaintiff’s attorney must be qualified, experienced,
and generally able to conduct the proposed litigation, and (b) the plaintiff must not have interests
antagonistic to those of the class.’” Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *8 (quoting Wetzel v. Liberty
Mut. Ins. Co., 508 F.2d 239, 247 (3d Cir. 1975)). Both requirements are met here.
Counsel. As discussed above, Settlement Class Counsel are experienced in the prosecution
of class actions, including products liability and consumer protection class actions and have
diligently prosecuted the claims on behalf of Plaintiffs and the Settlement Class by investigating
the claims prior to bringing suit, preparing complaints and other pleadings, responding to
dispositive motions, making the Science Day presentation, conducting and responding to extensive
discovery, reviewing and analyzing extensive information, documents, and data produced by
Defendants and third parties, and engaging in lengthy and complex arm’s-length negotiations with
Defendants that culminated in this beneficial Settlement. See Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *8.
who paid for (in whole or in part) Recalled Devices that they used; Users who paid for
Replacement Devices; a hospital that purchased Recalled Devices; and a third-party payer. As
noted above, the Settlement Class Representatives, who are named Plaintiffs in the Economic Loss
Complaint, have fulfilled their responsibilities on behalf of the Settlement Class by working
closely with Settlement Class Counsel on the litigation of the Economic Loss Claims, reviewing
pleadings, and responding to Defendants’ discovery requests. They “share common interests [with
Class Members] in seeking compensation for the alleged harms suffered from Defendants’
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conduct” and “[b]y advancing their claims, [the Settlement Class Representatives] have also
advanced the claims of other Settlement Class Members.” See id. A finding of adequacy is
appropriate here where “[t]here is no discernible conflict of interest in the record or otherwise
between [the named representative] and the other class members” and there are substantial “factual
and legal similarities between the claims.” Vines v. Covelli Enterprises, 2012 WL 5992114, at *4
Plaintiffs seek to certify the Settlement Class under Rule 23(b)(3), which has two
components: predominance and superiority. In making these assessments, the Court may consider
that the class will be certified for settlement purposes only, and there is no consideration of
manageability for trial. See Amchem, 521 U.S. at 620 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3)(D)); see also
conduct was common as to all of the class members, and whether all of the class members were
harmed by the defendant’s conduct.” Sullivan, 667 F.3d at 298. As shown above, there are
numerous common questions of fact and law that predominate over any questions that may affect
individual Settlement Class Members. If the case were to proceed, the ultimate issues would center
on the Philips Defendants’ common course of conduct; issues that are shared among all Settlement
Class Members and are “capable of proof at trial through evidence that is common to the class
rather than individual to its members.” Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *9 (quoting Gonzalez v.
Corning, 885 F.3d 186, 195 (3d Cir. 2018)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, the
predominance where “Plaintiffs and the Settlement Class have the same interest in establishing
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liability, and they all seek damages for the same harm. Absent the proposed settlement, they would
rely on the same evidence of Defendants’ violations of law and on class-wide damage models to
Superiority. The second prong of Rule 23(b)(3) – that a class action be superior to other
available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy – is also readily
satisfied. Superiority requires the Court to consider whether “a class action is superior to other
available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the controversy.” Sullivan, 667 F.3d at
296 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see also Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *9.
Here, the superiority requirement is satisfied because litigating the relatively small Economic Loss
Claims of the Class Members on an individual basis against the Philips Defendants would not be
economically feasible. See, e.g., Abramson v. Agentra, LLC, 2021 WL 3370057, at *9 (W.D. Pa.
Aug. 3, 2021) (“[T]his class action is superior to other available methods because it is neither
economically feasible, nor judicially efficient, for more than 2,000 class members who have
submitted claims, let along the more than 19,000 who were sold an Agentra product, to pursue
Moreover, the Parties’ Settlement will avoid the needless duplication of effort, burdens,
and other judicial inefficiencies that would result from repeated individual litigation of the same
issues. See Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *9 (“A class-wide settlement will not only achieve
resolution of the class members’ claims without multiple lawsuits and trials, but also ensures that
6. Ascertainability
and the inquiry is two-fold, “requiring a plaintiff to show that: (1) the class is defined with
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reference to objective criteria; and (2) there is a reliable and administratively feasible mechanism
for determining whether putative class members fall within the class definition.” Byrd v. Aaron’s
Inc., 784 F.3d 154, 163 (3d Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The inquiry
does not require a plaintiff to be able to identify all class members at class certification, “instead,
a plaintiff need only show that class members can be identified.” Id. (internal quotation marks and
Here, the Settlement Class has been defined with objective criteria, i.e., it is comprised of
individuals and entities who have paid for, rented, and/or were prescribed a Recalled Device prior
to the Recall, plus Payers who paid for, or reimbursed for, Recalled Devices. Each Recalled Device
has a unique Serial Number that is maintained in the Philips Defendants’ records. A substantial
number of Settlement Class Members (over 3 million) can be identified through the Philips RS
registration database associated with the Recall Programs and User information collected from
DMEs and other sources as part of the Recall. In addition, User information was obtained from
DMEs in discovery, data from the Census Registry Program, and Plaintiff Fact Sheets filed in
support of Personal Injury Complaints filed in this MDL. The ascertainability requirement is
therefore met. See In re All-Clad, 2023 WL 2071481, at *3 (“[T]he class is clearly ascertainable
because the settlement class parameters present objective criteria, and the parties can . . . identif[y]
Having satisfied all the requirements under Rule 23, the proposed Settlement Class
Representatives respectfully submit that the Court should certify the proposed Settlement Class
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B. The Notice Program is the Best Notice Practicable Under the Circumstances
Rule 23(e)(1)(B) requires the Court to “direct notice in a reasonable manner to all class
members who would be bound by the proposal.” In an action certified under Rule 23(b)(3), the
Court must “direct to class members the best notice that is practicable under the circumstances,
including individual notice to all members who can be identified through reasonable effort.” Fed.
R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B). “Generally speaking, the notice should contain sufficient information to
enable class members to make informed decisions on whether they should take steps to protect
their rights, including objecting to the settlement or, when relevant, opting out of the class.” In re
NFL II, 821 F.3d at 435 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
The proposed Notice Plan involves direct notice by both pre-paid first-class mail and email
to all User and Payer Settlement Class Members with available address information. It seeks to
provide notice through identifiable DMEs, notice to Users who elected to receive messages
through the DreamMapper App, publication notice via an extensive proposed digital and print
media notice program developed by the Settlement Administrator in consultation with the Parties,
publication on a Settlement website, and publication on the Court’s website. SA §9.1, et seq.; see
also SA Exhibits 2, 3(a)-(h); Angeion Decl. ¶¶18, 21-59. The proposed Notice Plan also takes into
account and separately takes steps to target Users and Payers. See, e.g., Angeion Decl. ¶¶18, 32-
53. The media component of the Notice Plan alone is designed to reach 86.70% of the Target
Audience, and that is over and above the reach of the comprehensive direct notice campaign (mail
and email), settlement website, and toll-free telephone hotline. Id., ¶19.
For purposes of direct notice, Users can be identified through numerous sources including
information in the Philips RS registration database used for the Recall, information collected from
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DMEs and other sources as part of the Recall, information obtained from DMEs in discovery, and
User data from the Census Registry Program and Plaintiff Fact Sheets filed in support of Personal
Injury Complaints. SA §9.1.2.1; see also Angeion Decl. ¶21. Hospitals and sleep labs in the United
States can be identified from Philips RS’s own records. SA §9.1.2.2; Angeion Decl. ¶21. Angeion
has already received contact information for approximately 5,000,000 members of the proposed
With respect to Payers, Angeion can supplement the list of Settlement Class Members to
provide Notice to Payers through its proprietary third-party payer database that consists of drug
stores; pharmacies; insurance companies; and health, welfare and pension funds. See Angeion
Decl. ¶22. In addition to the direct notice efforts with respect to Payers, Angeion has developed a
Payer media plan that consists of digital advertisements, social media advertising via Facebook
and LinkedIn, and an additional paid search campaign via Google, specific to Payers. Id. ¶52.
Publication in HR Magazine (or a similar title) will be used to further disseminate Notice to Payers.
Id. ¶53.
The proposed Notice is comprehensive, innovative, and robust, and it targets both Users
campaign and a search engine marketing campaign.” Angeion Decl. ¶70. Further, the Notice Plan
provides for the implementation of a dedicated settlement website and toll-free hotline to further
inform Settlement Class Members of their rights and options. Id. It is clear that the proposed Notice
Plan is the best notice practicable under the circumstances and fully meets the requirements of due
process and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. See, e.g., Larson v. AT&T Mobility, Inc., 687 F.3d
109, 122-31 (3d Cir. 2012) (discussing importance of individual notice where reasonable); In re
Processed Egg Prods. Antitrust Litig., 284 F.R.D. 249, 266 (E.D. Pa. 2012) (individual mailings
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discharges notice requirement); In re All-Clad, 2023 WL 2071481, at *5 (finding that notice plan,
which utilized email, direct mail, digital notices, internet banners, social media notices, a
The proposed Notice presented here fully complies with Rule 23 and the Due Process
mandates. The proposed forms of Notice are written in plain language and aim to inform
Settlement Class Members of the Settlement and its key terms; and ensure that Settlement Class
Members will be able to review the Long Form Notice, Settlement Agreement, and other relevant
materials so that they understand their rights and options. See Advisory Committee Notes on 2018
Amendment to Rule 23(c)(2) (“The ultimate goal of giving notice is to enable class members to
make informed decisions about whether to opt out or, in instances where a proposed settlement is
involved, to object or to make claims.”); see also SA Exhibits 2, 3(a)-3(h); Newberg and
Rubenstein §8:12 (notice “must contain information that a reasonable person would consider to be
material in making an informed, intelligent decision of whether to opt out or remain a member of
the class and be bound by the final judgment.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
The proposed Notice program provides all information required under Rule 23(c)(2)(B) including
Settlement Class Members’ right to object to the Settlement or opt out of the Settlement Class, or
to participate in the Settlement and file a claim, if applicable. See SA Exhibits 2, 3(a)-3(h). The
proposed notices will also provide the date and time of the Final Fairness Hearing, and how
Settlement Class Members may appear at that hearing if they so choose. See In re Rent-Way Sec.
Litig., 305 F. Supp. 2d 491, 511 (W.D. Pa. 2003) (“[The due process] standard is met if the notice
informs class members concerning: (i) the nature of the litigation; (ii) the general terms of the
settlement; (iii) where complete information can be located; and (iv) the time and place of the
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fairness hearing and that objectors may be heard.”) (citing In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. Sales
Practices Litig., 962 F. Supp. 450, 527 (D.N.J. 1997) (notice must “afford [interested parties] an
The Parties carefully evaluated detailed proposals from seven experienced settlement
administrators and jointly agreed to retain (subject to the Court’s approval) Angeion Group to
serve as Settlement Administrator. The Parties engaged in extensive discussions with Angeion and
amongst themselves to reach agreement on the contours of the notice program and claims
processes. The Parties jointly request that the Court appoint Angeion as the Settlement
settlements and notice in large class action cases, including the very recent Calhoun and In re All-
Clad cases in this District. Calhoun, 2023 WL 2411354, at *5; In re All-Clad, 2023 WL 2071481,
at *5. See Angeion Decl. ¶¶1-12 (describing Angeion qualifications and experience). Angeion’s
duties and responsibilities are set forth in the Settlement Agreement. See, e.g., SA §6, et seq.
The Court should schedule a Final Fairness Hearing for the following purposes: (1) to
finally determine whether the proposed Settlement is a fair, reasonable, and adequate settlement
as to the Settlement Class Members within the meaning of Rule 23(e)(2) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure; (2) to determine whether a Final Judgment should be entered dismissing the
Economic Loss Claims of the Settlement Class against the Defendants with prejudice, as required
by the Settlement Agreement; (3) to consider the proposed plan of allocation set forth in the
Settlement Agreement; (4) to consider Settlement Class Counsel’s forthcoming Motion for Award
of Attorneys’ Fees and Litigation Expenses; (5) to consider the Petition for Service Awards to the
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Settlement Class Representatives; (6) to consider timely, written objections that conform to the
requirements set forth in the Settlement Agreement; and (7) to consider such other matters as the
Court may deem appropriate. See Manual for Complex Litigation (Fourth) §§21.633, 21.634; In
re NFL I, 775 F.3d at 581-83. Plaintiffs propose, and Philips Defendants do not oppose, the
Event Date
Preliminary Approval Order TBD
Dissemination of Notice Pursuant to 60 days after entry of Preliminary
Notice Plan Approval Order
Claims Period begins 60 days after entry of Preliminary
Approval Order
Deadline for Settlement Class Counsel 90 days after entry of Preliminary
to File Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Approval Order
Expenses
Deadline for Settlement Class Members 120 days after entry of Preliminary
to Opt Out of or Object to the Approval Order
Settlement
Motion for Final Approval (including 21 days prior to Final Fairness
list of Opt-Outs as an Exhibit) Hearing
Response to Objections 7 days prior to Final Fairness
Hearing
Final Fairness Hearing At least 6 months after entry of
Preliminary Approval Order
Claims Period Deadline 120 days after Final Fairness
Hearing
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, proposed Settlement Class Representatives respectfully request
that the Court enter an Order: (1) preliminarily certify the proposed Settlement Class; (2)
preliminarily approve the Settlement; (3) determine that the Settlement appears fair, reasonable,
and adequate within the meaning of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and thus
sufficient to promulgate notice of the Settlement to the Settlement Class; (4) order that notice be
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provided to the Settlement Class pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement; (5) give
Settlement Class Members the right to object to or be excluded from the Settlement; (6) inform
Settlement Class Members that they will be bound by the Final Order and Judgment unless they
validly request exclusion; (7) stay and enjoin the continued pursuit of all Economic Loss Claims
of Settlement Class Members against Defendants and the other Released Parties, whether in the
MDL Court or in any other court or tribunal, until such time as the MDL Court has determined
whether to enter the Final Order and Judgment; (8) schedule the Final Fairness Hearing not earlier
than six months following entry of the Preliminary Approval Order; (9) appoint Angeion Group
as the Settlement Administrator; (10) appoint Huntington Bank as the Settlement Funds Escrow
Agent; (11) appoint the Honorable Thomas J. Rueter (Ret.) as the Claims Appeals Special Master;
(12) appoint Settlement Class Representatives; (13) appoint Settlement Class Counsel; (14)
preliminarily approve the plan of allocation of Settlement funds set forth in the Settlement
Agreement; (15) order the establishment of the Settlement funds, as set forth in the Settlement
Agreement; (16) order the payment of all reasonable costs of Settlement Administration, including
the reasonable fees and costs of the Settlement Administrator, Settlement Funds Escrow Agent,
Settlement Mediator, and Claims Appeals Special Master, as set forth in the Settlement
Agreement; (17) find that the Settlement Funds are to be a “Qualified Settlement Fund” as defined
in Section 468B-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations; and (18) provide that any objections by any
Settlement Class Member to the Settlement shall be heard and any papers submitted in support of
objections shall be considered by the MDL Court at the Final Fairness Hearing only if, on or before
the conclusion of the Opt-Out/Objection Period, such Settlement Class Member follows the
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Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213 Filed 09/07/23 Page 55 of 56
Roberta D Liebenberg, Esquire (Chair) Lisa Ann Gorshe, Esquire (Vice Chair)
FINE, KAPLAN AND BLACK, R.P.C. JOHNSON BECKER PLLC
One South Broad Street, 23rd Floor 444 Cedar Street, Ste 1800
Philadelphia, PA 19107 Saint Paul, MN 55101
(215) 567-6565 (phone) (612) 436-1852 (phone)
[email protected] [email protected]
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document was filed via the
Court’s CM/ECF system on this 7th day of September 2023, and will be served to Counsel for
-49-
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 1 of 168
BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF
PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
EXHIBIT A
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 2 of 168
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREAMBLE ........................................................................................................................1
1. Definitions................................................................................................................2
2. Funding Obligations and Payments by the Philips Defendants .............................11
3. Settlement Benefits ................................................................................................16
4. Releases..................................................................................................................23
5. Assignment to Philips RS of Economic Loss Claims Against
Ozone Cleaning Companies ...................................................................................26
6. Allocation of Settlement Funds, Claims Process, and Claims
Period .....................................................................................................................26
7. Settlement Class Certification................................................................................37
8. Preliminary Approval of Settlement Pursuant to Federal Rule
of Civil Procedure 23(e) and Related Motions ......................................................38
9. Notice to Settlement Class Members .....................................................................39
10. Right to Opt Out of or Object to the Settlement; Opt-
Out/Objection Period .............................................................................................41
11. Opt-Outs.................................................................................................................41
12. Objections ..............................................................................................................43
13. Final Fairness Hearing ...........................................................................................45
14. Termination of this Settlement...............................................................................47
15. MDL Court Retains Jurisdiction to Implement, Interpret and
Enforce Agreement and Settlement .......................................................................48
16. Choice of Law ........................................................................................................48
17. Recall Programs .....................................................................................................48
18. Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses, and Service Awards .............................................49
19. Dispute Resolution. ................................................................................................50
20. Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................50
21. Federal Rule of Evidence 408 ................................................................................53
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 4 of 168
PREAMBLE
This Class Settlement Agreement and Release of Economic Loss Claims (this “Agreement”
and the “Settlement,” as may be amended from time to time hereafter) is entered into by and among
the Settlement Class Representatives, on the one hand, and Defendants Philips RS North America
LLC (“Philips RS”), Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips North America LLC, Philips Holding USA,
Inc., and Philips RS North America Holding Corporation (collectively, the “Philips Defendants”),
on the other (collectively, the “Parties”).
Following extensive negotiations between the Parties with the assistance of the Court-
appointed mediator, the Honorable Diane M. Welsh (Ret.) (the “Settlement Mediator”), the Parties
have reached this Settlement. By entering into this Settlement, the Philips Defendants do not admit
any wrongdoing, liability, fault, injury, damages, or violation of any law whatsoever. The
Settlement is to be construed solely as a reflection of the Parties’ desire to facilitate a resolution
and release of all Economic Loss Claims on behalf of the Settlement Class against the Released
Parties on the terms set forth below. The Settlement does not resolve or release Medical
Monitoring and Personal Injury Claims. The Settlement will become effective only if it is
approved by the MDL Court.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Philips Defendants have been named as defendants in various federal and
state court actions and other proceedings in the United States and are alleged to be liable for
damages and other relief for economic injuries related to the Recalled Devices;
WHEREAS, since then, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has transferred
additional lawsuits to the MDL for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1407, and additional lawsuits have been filed in and/or removed to the MDL;
WHEREAS, on October 10, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Third Amended Class
Action Complaint for Economic Losses (“Economic Loss Complaint”), on behalf of themselves
and all others similarly situated;
WHEREAS, on October 17, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Second Amended Class
Action Complaint for Medical Monitoring, and on October 24, 2022, Plaintiffs filed an Amended
Master Long Form Complaint for Personal Injuries and Damages and an accompanying Short
Form Complaint (collectively, the “Medical Monitoring and Personal Injury Complaints”);
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 5 of 168
WHEREAS, the Philips Defendants deny all alleged liability, wrongdoing, fault, violation,
and damages or injuries;
WHEREAS, the Parties engaged in extensive good faith, arm’s-length negotiations, over
a period of many months, to resolve the Economic Loss Claims, with the assistance and oversight
of the Settlement Mediator;
WHEREAS, without conceding the correctness of any of the other Parties’ legal positions,
claims and/or defenses, the Parties wish to avoid the delays, expense, and risks inherent in
continued litigation of the Economic Loss Claims; and
WHEREAS, the Medical Monitoring and Personal Injury Claims are not the subject of
this proposed resolution of the Economic Loss Claims, but any Economic Loss Claims asserted in
the Medical Monitoring and Personal Injury Complaints are the subject of this proposed resolution
of the Economic Loss Claims.
1. Definitions
For purposes of this Settlement, including the attached exhibits, the following terms
(designated by initial capitalization throughout this Agreement) shall have the meanings set forth
in this Section. Terms used in the singular shall include the plural.
1.1. Accelerated Implementation Option shall mean the option available to certain
Users to receive a Device Payment Award and a Device Return Award on an
accelerated basis, pursuant to the terms set forth in Section 6.3 below.
1.2. Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses shall mean the final amounts approved by the MDL
Court (following the conclusion of any appellate proceedings) in connection with
Settlement Class Counsel’s motion for attorneys’ fees, costs and litigation expenses,
as described in Section 18.1 below.
__________________
Section 1. Definitions 2
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1.4. Census Registry Program shall mean the Census Registry Program established by
the MDL Court in Pretrial Order #25, as modified in Pretrial Order #25(a) (ECF
Nos. 739, 870).
1.5. Claims Appeals Special Master shall mean, subject to MDL Court approval, the
Honorable Thomas J. Rueter (Ret.).
1.6. Claims Period shall mean the period during which the Settlement Administrator
will accept claims that Settlement Class Members have submitted for Device
Payment Awards, Device Return Awards, Device Replacement Awards and/or
Payer Awards.
1.7. Claims Period Deadline shall mean 120 days after the date of the Final Fairness
Hearing.
1.8. Counsel shall mean Settlement Class Counsel and Counsel for the Philips
Defendants.
1.9.1.1. John P. Lavelle, Jr. and Lisa C. Dykstra, Morgan, Lewis &
Bockius LLP, 1701 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-
2921; and
1.9.1.2. Erik T. Koons and Andrew T. George, Baker Botts LLP, 700
K St. NW, Washington, DC 20001.
1.9.2. Counsel for Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips North America LLC,
Philips Holding USA Inc., and Philips RS North America Holding
Corporation:
__________________
Section 1. Definitions 3
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1.11. Defendants shall mean the defendants named in the Economic Loss Complaint,
namely, the Philips Defendants, Polymer Technologies, Inc., and Polymer Molded
Products LLC.
1.12. Device Payment Award shall mean the cash payment offered to Users relating to
the Recalled Devices described in Section 3.2 below.
1.13. Device Replacement Award shall mean the cash payment offered to Users who
qualify for a Device Replacement Award, as set forth in Section 3.4 below.
1.14. Device Return Award shall mean the cash payment offered to Users who return,
or have returned, their Recalled Devices, as set forth in Section 3.3 below.
1.16. Economic Loss Claims shall mean any and all claims, demands, actions, or causes
of action (whether for damages, fines, penalties, assessments, liens, injunctive,
equitable or any other relief, whether direct, indirect or consequential, liquidated or
unliquidated, past, present or future, or foreseen or unforeseen) relating in any way
to the Recalled Devices or the Replacement Devices, including, but not limited to,
payments, costs, reimbursements, and/or expenses incurred or made by Settlement
Class Members in connection with the purchase, rental, lease or other acquisition
of the Recalled Devices or the Replacement Devices, that have been asserted, could
have been asserted, or could be asserted by any of the Settlement Class Members,
whether known or unknown, in law or in equity, contingent or non-contingent,
suspected or unsuspected, concealed or hidden, or past, present or future, including
for attorneys’ fees, expert fees, consultant fees, or other litigation fees or costs,
except Economic Loss Claims expressly do not include Medical Monitoring and
Personal Injury Claims.
1.17. Effective Date shall mean the date when the Settlement becomes Final, not the
Execution Date or the date of MDL Court Final Approval. For avoidance of doubt,
the Effective Date shall not have been reached until both the MDL Court enters the
Final Order and Judgment and there has been the successful exhaustion of all appeal
periods without appeal or resolution of any appeals or certiorari proceedings in a
manner upholding the Final Order and Judgment.
1.18. Eligible Payers shall mean Payers who remain in the Settlement Class and who
have taken the steps applicable to them, as determined by the Settlement
Administrator, to receive a Payer Award under the Settlement.
__________________
Section 1. Definitions 4
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1.19. Eligible Users shall mean Users who remain in the Settlement Class and who have
taken the steps (if any) applicable to them, as determined by the Settlement
Administrator, to receive one or more Device Payment, Device Return, and/or
Device Replacement Awards under the Settlement.
1.20. Enrolled Recalled Devices shall mean Recalled Devices enrolled by Users in the
Settlement pursuant to the Enrollment Process.
1.21. Enrollment Process shall mean the process for Users to enroll Recalled Devices
in the Settlement to receive a Device Payment and/or a Device Return Award,
provided they otherwise meet the requirements to receive those payments under the
Settlement. The Enrollment Process is available only to Users who still possess the
Recalled Device(s) that they want to enroll in the Settlement and that have not
previously been registered in a Recall Program, and requires that Users provide at
least (i) the Serial Number for the Recalled Device(s), (ii) the User’s name, mailing
address, telephone number, and if applicable, e-mail address, and (iii) information
regarding the User’s requested form of payment under the Settlement. All Recalled
Devices except the Trilogy 100/200 Recalled Devices may be enrolled in the
Settlement if they otherwise meet the requirements for enrollment. For those Users
who still possess their Trilogy 100/200 Recalled Devices and wish to receive a
Device Return Award, they should register their Trilogy 100/200 with Philips RS
pursuant to a Recall Program. Philips RS will contact the DME to make
arrangements for the DME to schedule a time to retrieve the User’s Trilogy 100/200
and install a Remanufactured Device.
1.23. Extended Warranties shall mean those extended warranties provided by Philips
RS to Users who receive or received a Remanufactured Device as part of a Recall
Program, as set forth in Section 3.5 below.
1.24. Final shall mean the later of (1) the day after the deadline to appeal the Final Order
and Judgment has expired with no appeal having been taken, or (2) if an appeal is
filed, the latest of (i) the date of final affirmance of the Final Order and Judgment,
(ii) the expiration of the time for a petition for writ of certiorari to review the Final
Order and Judgment if affirmed, the denial of certiorari, or, if certiorari is granted,
the date of final affirmance of the Final Order and Judgment following review
pursuant to that grant; or (iii) the date of final dismissal of any appeal from the Final
Order and Judgment or the final dismissal of any proceeding on certiorari to review
the Final Order and Judgment that has the effect of confirming the Final Order and
Judgment. An appeal from an award of Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses or an award
__________________
Section 1. Definitions 5
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of Service Awards to Settlement Class Representatives shall not affect the finality
of the Settlement.
1.25. Final Fairness Hearing shall mean the final fairness hearing before the MDL
Court, as described in Section 13 of the Agreement.
1.26. Final Order and Judgment shall mean the Final Approval Order and Judgment
entered by the MDL Court following the Final Fairness Hearing, substantially in
the form attached as Exhibit 9 hereto.
1.27. MDL shall mean the above-captioned MDL, In re Philips Recalled CPAP, Bi-Level
PAP, and Mechanical Ventilator Prod. Litig., MDL No. 3014 (W.D. Pa.) (Conti,
J.).
1.28. MDL Court shall mean the Honorable Joy Flowers Conti, or her successor, who
presides over the MDL.
1.29. MDL Court Final Approval shall mean entry of the Final Order and Judgment by
the MDL Court.
1.30. Medical Monitoring and Personal Injury Claims shall mean any claims for
(1) medical monitoring damages or other medical monitoring relief and/or
(2) personal injuries, including for pecuniary, non-pecuniary, and punitive damages
for those personal injuries (including, but not limited to, past, present or future lost
wages, lost earning capacity, or medical costs or expenses, and pain and suffering).
1.31. Ozone Cleaning Companies shall mean manufacturers of ozone cleaning devices
for CPAP, BiPAP, ventilator or other similar devices, as well as their former,
present, and future owners, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, attorneys,
affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries, predecessors and successors, including,
but not limited to, SoClean Inc. and its affiliated and predecessor companies.
1.32. Ozone Cleaning Products shall mean devices claiming to use ozone to disinfect,
clean, sanitize or otherwise employ ozone in connection with a CPAP, BiPAP,
ventilator or other similar device, including, but not limited to, the Better Rest, the
SoClean 1, the SoClean 2, the SoClean 2 Go, and the SoClean 3.
1.33. Payer Award shall mean the allocated portion of the Payer Amount that each
Eligible Payer is eligible for under the Settlement, as set forth in Sections 3.6 and
6.7 below.
1.34. Payers shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.51 below in the definition of
Settlement Class.
__________________
Section 1. Definitions 6
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1.35. Plaintiffs shall mean the Plaintiffs named in the Economic Loss Complaint.
1.36. Preliminary Approval Order shall mean an order of the MDL Court preliminarily
approving the Settlement, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 1 hereto.
1.37. Recalled Devices, or Philips RS Recalled Devices, shall mean the following
CPAP, BiPAP, ventilator, and/or other devices sold, leased, rented or otherwise
distributed in the United States:
1.37.7. E30;
1.38. Recall Programs shall mean ongoing and future programs administered by Philips
RS and overseen by the United States Food and Drug Administration relating to the
Recalled Devices, including to repair, refurbish, remanufacture, and/or replace
__________________
Section 1. Definitions 7
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 11 of 168
Recalled Devices and/or that require the return of Recalled Devices to Philips RS
for remediation, compensation or otherwise. To date, Philips RS has spent more
than $500 million toward the Recall Programs.
1.39. Recall Registration Number shall mean the unique registration number a User
receives from Philips RS when the User registers his or her Recalled Device with
Philips RS pursuant to a Recall Program.
1.40. Recalls shall mean the recalls of the Recalled Devices by Philips RS, beginning
June 14, 2021.
1.41. Registered Recalled Devices shall mean Recalled Devices registered by Users
pursuant to the Recall Programs.
1.42. Released Claims shall mean all Economic Loss Claims against Defendants and the
other Released Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, Released Claims expressly does
not include (1) Economic Loss Claims of Settlement Class Members against Ozone
Cleaning Companies (which will be assigned to Philips RS as set forth in Section
5 below), (2) claims to enforce this Settlement, or (3) Medical Monitoring and
Personal Injury Claims.
1.43. Released Parties shall mean any individual who, or entity that, is or could be
responsible or liable in any way whatsoever, whether directly or indirectly, for
Economic Loss Claims. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, the Released
Parties include, without limitation, (1) Defendants, (2) any of their past, present, or
future parents, owners, predecessors, successors, subsidiaries, divisions,
affiliates/related entities, stockholders, officers, directors, board members,
supervisors, members, partners, managers, and employees, (3) any of their current,
former or future suppliers, agents, testing laboratories, attorneys, vendors,
consultants, claim administrators, recall administrators, contractors and
subcontractors, (4) any and all current, former or future distributors, sellers, insurers,
reinsurers, resellers, lessors, retail dealers, and DME providers for the Recalled
Devices, (5) any and all individuals and entities indemnified by any other Released
Party with respect to Economic Loss Claims, and (6) all of their predecessors,
successors, assigns, legatees, legal representatives, and any other stakeholders, as
well as all other persons acting by, through, or under them, including those who are,
may be, or are alleged to be jointly or jointly and severally liable with them, or any
of them. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
above, the Released Parties expressly does not include Ozone Cleaning Companies.
__________________
Section 1. Definitions 8
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1.45. Replacement Device shall mean a CPAP, BiPAP, ventilator or similar device that
is comparable to the replaced Philips RS Recalled Device and that was purchased,
leased, rented, or otherwise paid for directly by a User (in whole or part), but only
on or after June 14, 2021 and prior to the Execution Date, to replace the Philips RS
Recalled Device, as set forth in Section 3.4 below.
1.46. Replacement Device Claim Amount shall mean the amount documented as
actually paid by a User (e.g., not any payment made by insurance or another third-
party payer on behalf of or for the benefit of the User) to purchase, lease, or rent a
Replacement Device, subject to Section 3.4.1.1 below.
1.47. Representative Claimant shall mean the guardian, estate, administrator, or other
legal representative, including a person acting pursuant to a power of attorney for
a Settlement Class Member, with authority to act on behalf of a Settlement Class
Member. Representative Claimants do not include a Settlement Class Member’s
counsel unless that counsel is acting under a power of attorney from the Settlement
Class Member. Representative Claimants also do not include persons or entities,
such as claim aggregator companies, who purchase a User’s claim(s), charge a User
to submit a Claim Form, and/or seek to retain a portion of a User’s claim(s) in
exchange for submitting a Claim Form on behalf of such User.
1.48. Serial Number shall mean the unique identifying alphanumeric number located on
the bottom of each Recalled Device or Remanufactured Device, or in the case of
certain ventilators (such as the OmniLab Advanced Plus and Trilogy 100/200), on
the device display.
1.49. Service Awards shall mean the final amounts approved by the MDL Court
(following the conclusion of any appellate proceedings) for payment to Settlement
Class Representatives for their service as a Settlement Class Representative, as
described in Section 18.2 below.
1.50. Settlement Administrator shall mean, subject to MDL Court approval, Angeion
Group, LLC (“Angeion Group”). The Settling Parties may jointly agree to replace
Angeion Group with another mutually agreeable settlement administrator.
1.51. Settlement Class or Settlement Class Members shall include Plaintiffs and all
other individuals or entities in the United States (as defined below), including
individuals who are United States citizens, residents, United States military,
__________________
Section 1. Definitions 9
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EXCLUDED from the Settlement Class are: (a) Defendants and their officers,
directors, and employees; (b) the MDL Court, Settlement Mediator, Claims
Appeals Special Master, and Special Masters assigned to the MDL; (c) individuals
who have already released Released Claims against one or more of the Defendants
pursuant to individual settlements or other resolutions; (d) DMEs; (e) the federal
government and any federal government payers, including the United States
Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
and (f) Settlement Class Counsel.
1.52.2. Sandra L. Duggan, Levin Sedran & Berman, 510 Walnut Street, Suite
500, Philadelphia, PA 19106;
1.52.4. Kelly K. Iverson, Lynch Carpenter, LLP, 1133 Penn Avenue, 5th Floor,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222;
1.52.5. Roberta D. Liebenberg, Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C., One South
Broad Street, 23rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107;
1.52.6. Lisa Ann Gorshe, Johnson Becker PLLC, 444 Cedar Street, Suite 1800,
Saint Paul, MN 55101; and
1.52.7. Arthur H. Stroyd, Jr., Del Sole Cavanaugh Stroyd LLC, 3 PPG Place,
Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
__________________
Section 1. Definitions 10
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1.53. Settlement Class Representatives shall mean the following Plaintiffs: Elizabeth
Heilman; Ivy Creek of Tallapoosa LLC d/b/a Lake Martin Community Hospital;
Peter Barrett; Julie Barrett; and ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Health Benefits Trust.
1.54. Settlement Funds shall mean the accounts that will be opened with the Settlement
Funds Escrow Agent, MDL 3014 EL User Settlement Fund (“User Settlement
Fund”) and MDL 3014 EL Payer Settlement Fund (“Payer Settlement Fund”), as a
Court-approved Qualified Settlement Fund pursuant to Section 1.468B-1, et seq. of
the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 468B of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended. The Escrow Agreement establishing the Settlement
Funds will be in a form mutually agreed upon by the Parties.
1.55. Settlement Funds Escrow Agent shall mean Huntington Bank, which will enter
into an Escrow Agreement to carry out the tasks more fully detailed in that Escrow
Agreement, including to receive, hold, invest, and disburse funds and pay notice-
related costs and other reasonable administrative expenses authorized and approved
by the Court. The Settling Parties may jointly agree to replace Huntington Bank
with another mutually agreeable financial institution.
1.56. Settling Parties shall mean all Settlement Class Members and the Philips
Defendants.
1.57. Settling Party shall mean any one of the Settling Parties.
1.58. United States shall mean the United States of America, its Territories (American
Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands), and the District of Columbia.
1.59. Users shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.51 above in the definition of
Settlement Class.
2.1. The Philips Defendants shall be responsible to make, or to cause to be made, the
payments and to perform, or to cause to be performed, the obligations set forth in
this Agreement.
2.2. For purposes only of this Settlement and the enforcement of the payment and
performance obligations under this Settlement, the Philips Defendants submit to the
jurisdiction of the MDL Court.
2.3.4. Administrative expenses of the Settlement Funds will be paid from the
Settlement Funds.
2.4.2. Following MDL Court Final Approval, the Philips Defendants shall
make, or cause to be made, additional payments for Settlement
__________________
Section 2. Funding Obligations and Payments by the Philips
Defendants 12
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2.5.1. Initial Device Payment Amount. The Philips Defendants shall pay, or
cause to be paid, an amount equal to the total Device Payment Awards
(as set forth in Section 3.2 below) for all Registered Recalled Devices
as of the Execution Date, plus an amount equal to the total Device
Payment Awards for 5% of the remaining Recalled Devices that have
not been registered by Users for a Recall Program by the Execution Date
(the “Initial Device Payment Amount”). The payment shall be made by
wire transfer into the User Settlement Fund in two installments no later
than 14 days following (i) MDL Court Final Approval (25% of the
Initial Device Payment Amount) (“first installment”), and (ii) the
Effective Date (75% of the Initial Device Payment Amount) (“second
installment”). In the event the first installment of the Initial Device
Payment Amount is insufficient to pay Device Payment Awards to
Users electing the AIO option, the Philips Defendants shall deposit
additional funds from the second installment to make those payments.
The combined first and second installment payments for the Initial
Device Payment Amount will be $309,082,312.
2.5.2. Additional payments by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants into the
User Settlement Fund for Device Payment Awards may be required as
set forth further in Section 2.7 below.
2.6.1. Initial Device Return Amount. The Philips Defendants shall pay, or
cause to be paid, an amount equal to $100 for each and every Registered
and Enrolled Recalled Device returned by Users pursuant to the Recall
Programs or the Settlement as of the date of MDL Court Final Approval
(the “Initial Device Return Amount”). The payment shall be made by
wire transfer into the User Settlement Fund in two installments no later
than 14 days following (i) MDL Court Final Approval (25% of the
Initial Device Return Amount) (“first installment”), and (ii) the
Effective Date (75% of the Initial Device Return Amount) (“second
installment”). In the event the first installment of the Initial Device
Return Amount is insufficient to pay Device Return Awards to Users
electing the AIO option, the Philips Defendants shall deposit, or cause
__________________
Section 2. Funding Obligations and Payments by the Philips
Defendants 13
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2.6.2. Additional payments by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants into the
User Settlement Fund for Device Return Awards may be required as set
forth further in Section 2.7 below.
2.7. Additional Payments for Device Payment Awards and Device Return Awards
2.7.1. To the extent the sum of the Initial Device Payment Amount and the
Initial Device Return Amount is not sufficient to make all Device
Payment Awards and Device Return Awards required by the Settlement,
the Philips Defendants, on a monthly basis, will pay, or cause to be paid,
an additional amount (the “Additional Amount”) into the User
Settlement Fund necessary to make those payments.
__________________
Section 2. Funding Obligations and Payments by the Philips
Defendants 14
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2.8.2. Additional payments by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants into the
User Settlement Fund for Device Replacement Awards may be required
as set forth in Section 6.6.2.4 below.
2.9. The net interest earned on payments by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants into
the User Settlement Fund, after payment of taxes and fees owed, Class Notice and
Settlement Administration expenses (see Section 2.4 above), will accrue to the
benefit of Users and may be used to make Device Payment Awards, Device Return
Awards and/or Device Replacement Awards.
2.10.1. Payer Amount. The Philips Defendants shall pay, or cause to be paid,
$34,000,000 for Payer Awards (the “Payer Amount”). The payment
shall be made by wire transfer into the Payer Settlement Fund no later
than 14 days following the Effective Date. The Payer Amount is fixed
and will not increase based on the number or amount of Eligible Payers
or Eligible Payer claims submitted.
__________________
Section 2. Funding Obligations and Payments by the Philips
Defendants 15
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2.11. The net interest earned on the payment by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants
into the Payer Settlement Fund, after payment of taxes and fees owed, Class Notice
and Settlement Administration expenses (see Section 2.4 above), will accrue to the
benefit of Payers and may be used to make Payer Awards.
2.12. The payments by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants of the Initial Device
Payment Amount, the Initial Device Return Amount, and the Payer Amount
(collectively, the “Non-Reversionary Payments”) shall be non-reversionary, and
the Philips Defendants shall not be entitled to return of the Non-Reversionary
Payments; however, if the Settlement does not achieve MDL Court Final Approval
and/or does not become Final, then the Non-Reversionary Payments and accrued
interest (minus any payments made or owed for Class Notice and Settlement
Administration and minus any payments made pursuant to the AIO as set forth in
Section 6.3 below) will be returned to the Philips Defendants.
3. Settlement Benefits
3.1. Overview
3.1.1. The Settlement benefits set forth in this Agreement are separate and
distinct from any relief provided under the Recall Programs; provided,
however, that to the extent that the financial compensation to a
particular User under this Settlement is greater than the financial
compensation provided under the Recall Programs to the same User, or
vice versa, nothing precludes that User from recovering the larger of the
two but not both.
__________________
Section 3. Settlement Benefits 16
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3.1.3. Provided they otherwise meet the requirements to receive this payment
under the Settlement, Payers are eligible for Payer Awards. Payers are
not eligible, directly or indirectly, for any Device Payment Awards,
Device Return Awards or Device Replacement Awards, in whole or in
part.
3.2. Device Payment Awards. Only one Device Payment Award is available per
Recalled Device. The amount of each Device Payment Award will be based on the
Recalled Device at issue as follows:
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3.2.1. Device Payment Awards will be paid to those Users who complete the
steps applicable to them, if any, in Section 6 below.
3.2.2. Payers are not eligible to receive Device Payment Awards, and no
portion of a Device Payment Award will be allocated under the
Settlement to Payers.
3.2.3. Users who purchased, leased, rented, or paid for multiple Recalled
Devices are eligible to seek and receive multiple Device Payment
Awards.
3.2.4. If a User purchased, leased, rented, or paid for (in whole or part) a
Recalled Device, but then returned that Recalled Device to Philips RS
under warranty (outside of a Recall Program) and received another
Recalled Device for free pursuant to that warranty, the User is only
eligible for a Device Payment Award for the Recalled Device provided
to the User for free under warranty, not the original Recalled Device
returned to Philips RS under warranty.
3.2.5. In the event multiple Users make valid Device Payment Award claims
with respect to the same Recalled Device (e.g., a Recalled Device that
was rented), the Device Payment Award for that Recalled Device will
be allocated by the Settlement Administrator after the Claims Period
Deadline on a pro rata basis in accordance with each User’s total
payments for the Recalled Device.
3.2.6. Users who purchased, leased, rented, or paid for (in whole or part) a
Recalled Device but who returned the Recalled Device under warranty
(outside of a Recall Program) and received their full payment back are
not eligible for a Device Payment Award for the Recalled Device they
returned.
3.2.7. Receipt of a Device Payment Award does not affect a User’s eligibility,
if applicable, for a Device Return Award and/or a Device Replacement
Award.
3.3. Device Return Awards. A Device Return Award, of $100 per Recalled Device
(irrespective of the type or model of Recalled Device), will be available to
compensate eligible Users who have either already returned Recalled Devices
pursuant to a Recall Program or who return Recalled Devices by the Claims Period
Deadline pursuant to either the terms of the Settlement or a Recall Program. There
shall be only one Device Return Award available for each Recalled Device.
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Section 3. Settlement Benefits 18
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3.3.1. Users are eligible to receive a separate Device Return Award for each
Recalled Device they return.
3.3.2. Payers are not eligible to receive Device Return Awards, and no portion
of a Device Return Award will be allocated under the Settlement to
Payers.
3.3.3. To be eligible to receive a Device Return Award, Users must return (or
already have returned after June 14, 2021) their Registered or Enrolled
Recalled Device(s) pursuant to a Recall Program or under this
Settlement.
3.3.5. To receive a Device Return Award, the returned Recalled Device must
have a complete and visible original Serial Number and must have all
of its parts, other than a humidifier attachment, power cord, the memory
card, the filters, and accessories like masks and tubing.
3.3.6. Receipt of a Device Return Award for a particular Recalled Device does
not affect a User’s eligibility to receive a Device Payment Award for
that Recalled Device.
3.3.7. As set forth in Section 3.4.6 below, a User is not eligible for a Device
Return Award if the User receives 100% of his or her Replacement
Device Claim Amount with respect to the same Recalled Device.
However, as set forth in Section 3.4.7 below, in the event that a User
does not receive 100% of his or her Replacement Device Claim Amount,
the User may be entitled to a Device Return Award (or a portion thereof)
for the associated replaced and returned Recalled Device.
3.4.1. Subject to Section 3.4.1.1 below, the Device Replacement Award for a
particular User shall be based on the Replacement Device Claim
Amount.
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3.4.3. Only one Device Replacement Award is available per Recalled Device
(e.g., if a User purchased two Replacement Devices to replace a single
Recalled Device, the User is only eligible for a Device Replacement
Award for one of the Replacement Devices).
3.4.4. No Device Replacement Awards shall be paid until after the Claims
Period Deadline or after the Effective Date, whichever is later.
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3.4.7. In the event that a User does not receive 100% of his or her Replacement
Device Claim Amount, the User may be entitled to a Device Return
Award (or a portion thereof) for the associated replaced and returned
Recalled Device.
3.4.8. Payers are not eligible to receive Device Replacement Awards, and no
portion of a Device Replacement Award is allocated under the
Settlement to Payers.
3.5.1. Two years for materials and workmanship for Remanufactured Devices
that have a different Serial Number from the associated Recalled Device.
3.5.2. Two years for materials and workmanship on the repair work that was
performed by Philips RS pursuant to the Recall Programs (not the entire
Remanufactured Device) on Remanufactured Devices that have the
same Serial Number as the associated Recalled Device (i.e., the
Remanufactured Device and the Recalled Device are the same device
by Serial Number).
3.5.3. The two-year warranties referenced above in Sections 3.5.1 and 3.5.2
shall begin on (i) the date of shipment to the User, for Remanufactured
Devices shipped by Philips RS directly to the User, or (ii) the date the
Remanufactured Device was set up by the DME for the User, for
Remanufactured Devices shipped by Philips RS to the DME.
3.6. Payer Awards. Payer Awards will be paid from the Payer Amount to those Payers
that qualify for such a payment based on the protocols and processes set forth in
Section 6.7 below.
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Section 3. Settlement Benefits 22
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4. Releases
4.1. Through this Settlement, the Parties are settling and fully and forever resolving,
with complete finality, any and all Released Claims of the Settlement Class
Members against Defendants and the other Released Parties. The Settlement does
not resolve any claims that Settlement Class Members may have, if any, against the
Defendants or other Released Parties for Medical Monitoring and Personal Injury
Claims, which are not released and are expressly excluded from the definition of
Released Claims.
4.2. Other than as expressly set forth below, the Philips Defendants and any successors
to their rights or interests under this Settlement warrant and represent that they will
not challenge or oppose a Settlement Class Member’s Medical Monitoring or
Personal Injury Claims or ability to recover for those Medical Monitoring or
Personal Injury Claims on the basis of this Settlement, any payments under this
Settlement, or the Releases provided herein. Further, the Settlement does not
preclude Settlement Class Members from seeking to present evidence of their
alleged economic losses at a trial (if any) of their Medical Monitoring and/or
Personal Injury Claims. Such evidence may be presented only (if applicable) to
establish an element of their Medical Monitoring and/or Personal Injury Claims;
however, in no event shall any Settlement Class Member seek at such trial to
recover damages for those economic losses, seek to increase an exemplary or
punitive damages award on account of economic losses, or recover twice for their
economic losses. In the event a Settlement Class Member seeks to present evidence
of their alleged economic losses at a trial (if any), the Philips Defendants shall have
the right, in order to prevent double recovery of economic losses by the Settlement
Class Member, to seek to present evidence relating to this Settlement, including,
but not limited to, any/all money received by the Settlement Class Member pursuant
to this Settlement, the determination by the MDL Court that the Settlement was fair,
reasonable and adequate, and that the Settlement Class Member had the opportunity
to opt out of the Settlement.
4.3. All Economic Loss Claims of Settlement Class Members against Ozone Cleaning
Companies are expressly excluded from the definition of Released Claims and
instead will be assigned to Philips RS in accordance with Section 5 below.
4.4. The releases set forth herein expressly exclude any claims for breach of this
Agreement.
4.5. These terms are material terms of this Agreement and will be reflected in the Final
Order and Judgment.
__________________
Section 4. Releases 23
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4.6.2. This release is not conditional on receipt of any benefits provided under
this Settlement or otherwise, and applies as a result of membership as a
Settlement Class Member, the notice and MDL Court-approval process
herein, the ability to opt out of the Settlement, and the occurrence of the
Effective Date.
4.6.3. Settlement Class Members acknowledge and waive, and agree to waive,
on behalf of themselves and the other Releasing Parties, Section 1542
of the California Civil Code, which provides that: “A GENERAL
RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE
CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR
SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME
OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY
HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS
OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED
PARTY.” Settlement Class Members expressly waive and relinquish,
on behalf of themselves and the other Releasing Parties, any and all
rights and benefits that they may have under, or that may be conferred
upon them by, the provisions of Section 1542 of the California Civil
Code, or any other law of any state or territory that is similar,
comparable or equivalent to Section 1542, to the fullest extent they may
lawfully waive such rights or benefits pertaining to the Released Claims.
In connection with such waiver and relinquishment, Settlement Class
__________________
Section 4. Releases 24
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4.6.5. In addition, pursuant to the Final Order and Judgment, all Releasing
Parties will be forever barred and enjoined from asserting against the
Released Parties any and all Released Claims.
4.7.1. As of the Effective Date, the Philips Defendants fully, finally and
forever release, remise, waive, surrender, forego, give up, abandon,
cancel, acquit, and forever discharge and covenant not to sue Plaintiffs
__________________
Section 4. Releases 25
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5.1. Settlement Class Members agree to assign, and upon the Effective Date, shall be
deemed to have assigned, all of their Economic Loss Claims against Ozone
Cleaning Companies to Philips RS, including any proceeds they would otherwise
have been eligible for in any settlement with an Ozone Cleaning Company.
5.2. Without in any way limiting or narrowing the scope and effectiveness of the
foregoing assignment, Settlement Class Members also agree that by endorsing and
cashing or depositing a check or other payment from this Settlement (including
accepting payments by Zelle, ACH, or Virtual Mastercard), or otherwise
participating in the benefits of this Settlement, they thereby individually assign their
Economic Loss Claims against Ozone Cleaning Companies to Philips RS.
6.1.1. The Philips Defendants shall be responsible for paying all reasonable
costs of Settlement Administration, including the reasonable fees and
costs of the Settlement Administrator, on a monthly basis within 30 days
of receipt of an itemized statement by the Settlement Administrator of
authorized expenses undertaken pursuant to the administration of the
Settlement.
6.2.1. The Claims Period will (a) begin 60 days after entry of the Preliminary
Approval Order, and (b) end on the Claims Period Deadline.
6.3.1. Users who return their Registered or Enrolled Recalled Device pursuant
to the Recall Programs or the Settlement by the Claims Period Deadline
may elect before the Effective Date to receive a Device Payment Award
and a Device Return Award on an accelerated basis, on the terms set
forth in this Section (the Accelerated Implementation Option (“AIO”)).
6.3.1.1. In the event that a Recall Program for the User’s specific
Recalled Device is not yet in effect prior to the Claims Period
Deadline or Philips RS does not provide the User with the
ability under the Recall Program to return his or her
Registered Recalled Device prior to the Claims Period
Deadline (or, in the case of Trilogy 100/200 Users, the User
has attempted but not been able to make arrangements with
the DME to schedule a time to retrieve the device), the User
can still participate in the AIO based on a return/retrieval of
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Section 6. Allocation of Settlement Funds, Claims Process,
and Claims Period 27
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6.3.2. To participate in the AIO, Users must take each of the following steps:
6.3.3. No AIO payments will be made until after MDL Court Final Approval.
AIO payments will be made only in the event the MDL Court issues the
Final Order and Judgment.
6.4.2. Claims Process for Users Who Registered Their Recalled Device
Prior to the Execution Date But Have Not Already Returned Their
Recalled Device and Have Decided Not to or Cannot Return Their
Recalled Device
6.4.3.2. All valid claims will be paid after the Effective Date by the
Settlement Administrator within 60 days after they are
processed and approved by the Settlement Administrator.
To be valid and effective, the Device Payment Award Claim
Form must be complete and must be personally signed by
the User or the User’s Representative Claimant, but not by
the User’s counsel, if any, or anyone else. Representative
Claimants must supply the Settlement Administrator with
written proof that such person has legal authority to act in a
representative capacity for the User.
__________________
Section 6. Allocation of Settlement Funds, Claims Process,
and Claims Period 30
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6.5.1. Users who return their Registered or Enrolled Recalled Device pursuant
to the Recall Programs or the Settlement by the Claims Period Deadline
will be paid their Device Return Award, without the need to take further
steps, within 60 days after the later of (i) the Effective Date or (ii) receipt
of the Recalled Device by Philips RS (or, for Trilogy 100/200, retrieval
of the Recalled Device); provided, however, that in the event that a
Recall Program for the User’s specific Recalled Device is not yet in
effect prior to the Claims Period Deadline, or Philips RS does not
provide the User with the ability under the Recall Program to return his
or her Registered Recalled Device to Philips RS prior to the Claims
Period Deadline (or, in the case of Trilogy 100/200 Users, the User has
attempted but not been able to make arrangements with the DME to
schedule a time to retrieve the device), that User is eligible for a Device
Return Award under this Settlement based on a return/retrieval after the
Claims Period Deadline and before the conclusion of the applicable
Recall Program.
6.5.2. Receipt of a Device Return Award may impact the amount of a User’s
Device Replacement Award for the associated Recalled Device, as set
forth in Sections 3.4.6 and 3.4.6.1 above.
6.6.2. No Device Replacement Awards will be paid until after the Claims
Period Deadline. After the Claims Period Deadline, the Settlement
Administrator will calculate the total valid Replacement Device Claim
Amounts submitted in connection with claims for Device Replacement
Awards during the Claims Period (the “Total Replacement Device
Claim Amounts”).
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Section 6. Allocation of Settlement Funds, Claims Process,
and Claims Period 32
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6.6.3. The resulting net Device Replacement Awards, after taking into
consideration the Total Replacement Device Claim Amounts, the
Device Replacement Amount, the Balance of Funds in User Settlement
Fund in the event the Total Replacement Device Claim Amounts exceed
$10,000,000, and if necessary, any additional payment by, or on behalf
of, the Philips Defendants (up to $5,000,000), will be paid to Eligible
Users within 60 days after the Settlement Administrator calculates the
Total Replacement Device Claim Amounts.
6.7.1. Payers must submit a completed Payer Declaration and Claim Form
attached hereto as Exhibit 8 by the Claims Period Deadline, supported
by (a) sufficient information and documentation as to the number of
insured lives in the United States covered by the Payer in the calendar
years 2021 and 2022 (“Payer Covered Lives”), (b) the dollar amount of
direct premiums written by the Payer in the United States in the calendar
years 2021 and 2022, and (c) a preferred payment option with
instructions for payment.
6.7.2. All Payer Awards will be paid by the Settlement Administrator within
180 days after the Claims Period Deadline or the Effective Date,
whichever is later, following processing and approval by the Settlement
Administrator and an opportunity for appeals of Payer Claims
Determinations as set forth in Section 6.8 below. To be valid and
effective, the Payer Declaration and Claim Form must be complete and
must be signed by a person with legal authority to do so on behalf of the
Payer, but not by the Payer’s counsel, if any, or anyone else. Payers
must supply the Settlement Administrator with written proof that the
person signing their Declaration and Claim Form has legal authority to
act on behalf of the Payer.
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Section 6. Allocation of Settlement Funds, Claims Process,
and Claims Period 33
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Award Determination as set forth in Section 6.7.6 below for all Eligible
Payers.
6.7.7. Upon completion of the steps required to make Payer Eligibility, Market
Share Percentage, and Preliminary Payer Award Determinations, the
Settlement Administrator shall issue those determinations, setting forth
the calculations made by the Settlement Administrator, to each
submitting entity and inform Eligible Payers that their Preliminary
Payer Award Determination may be adjusted following the conclusion
of any and all appeals to the Claims Appeals Special Master.
6.8.1. Any Settlement Class Member whose claim is denied (in whole or in
part) by the Settlement Administrator for any reason shall be provided
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Section 6. Allocation of Settlement Funds, Claims Process,
and Claims Period 35
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6.8.4. Settlement Class Members, by their decision not to opt out of the
Settlement Class, knowingly and intentionally waive any right of appeal
from any decision of the Claims Appeals Special Master regarding
appeals from Claims Determinations by the Settlement Administrator.
6.8.5. The decision of the Claims Appeals Special Master with respect to
appeals from Claims Determinations shall be final and binding, and
there shall be no appeal to any court, including the MDL Court or the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
6.9. Uncashed Checks or Other Payments. In the event a Settlement Class Member
does not cash his, her or its check or other payment after a period of 180 days from
issuance, the check or other payment will be declared “void.” The voidance shall
not impact in any way the Release provided by that Settlement Class Member to
the Released Parties. The funds associated with that check or other payment may
be used to make other payments under the Settlement, including to other Settlement
Class Members, and the Settlement Administrator will take sufficient steps to
cancel the check or other payment; provided, however, that the Settlement Class
Member shall have 30 days to request that the check or other payment be reissued,
with no further requests permitted except for good cause shown within one year of
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Section 6. Allocation of Settlement Funds, Claims Process,
and Claims Period 36
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the original check’s or other payment’s issuance. In the event of a dispute between
the Parties on whether good cause has been shown, the matter will be decided by
the Claims Appeals Special Master, whose decision on the matter shall be final and
unappealable by any Party or the Class Member.
6.10.1. Subject to Section 6.10.2 below, in the event any funds remain in the
User Settlement Fund after the Claims Period Deadline and after all
Settlement payments have been made, including Device Replacement
Awards (“Remaining Funds”), the Remaining Funds will be distributed
by the Settlement Administrator pro rata to all Eligible Users based on
the amount of each Eligible User’s payment(s) under the Settlement. To
the extent any funds still remain after the pro rata distribution, or in the
event it would be economically inefficient to distribute Remaining
Funds pro rata to Eligible Users, the Parties agree to consult with the
Settlement Administrator in an effort to reach agreement on a fair and
equitable distribution of those funds, subject to MDL Court approval,
but in no event will the Parties seek approval from the MDL Court for
cy pres distribution of Remaining Funds of more than $20,000 to
persons or entities other than Eligible Users.
6.10.2. In the event the Philips Defendants paid any Additional Amounts
necessary to make Device Payment and/or Device Return Awards
beyond the Initial Device Payment Amount and the Initial Device
Return Amount, and checks or other payments to Users qualifying for
Awards remain uncashed or uncollected after 180 days from issuance,
pursuant to Section 6.9 above, the checks or other payments will be
declared “void,” and provided those Users do not timely request that the
checks or other payments be reissued, the monies will be returned to the
Philips Defendants within 14 days after the last day on which any such
request for reissuance can be made. The total amount of money that
may be returned to the Philips Defendants under this provision is limited
to the Additional Amounts paid by them.
7.1. The Parties hereby stipulate, for purposes of this Settlement only, that the
requirements of Rule 23(a) and 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are
satisfied, and, subject to MDL Court approval, the Settlement Class set forth in
Section 1.51 shall be certified for settlement purposes only (with the understanding
that, by stipulating to the proposed Settlement Class, the Philips Defendants do not
__________________
Section 7. Settlement Class Certification 37
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agree that Rule 23 requirements are met for purposes of a litigation class and
reserve all rights to oppose class certification in the event the Settlement is not
approved).
8.1. This Settlement shall be subject to both preliminary and final approval of the MDL
Court.
8.2. Within 10 days of the Execution Date, Settlement Class Counsel will move the
MDL Court for the Preliminary Approval Order, in substantially the form annexed
hereto as Exhibit 1, seeking, among other things, to:
8.2.3. determine that the Settlement appears fair, reasonable, and adequate
within the meaning of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
and thus sufficient to promulgate notice of the Settlement to the
Settlement Class;
8.2.4. order that notice be provided to the Settlement Class pursuant to Section
9;
8.2.6. inform Settlement Class Members that they will be bound by the Final
Order and Judgment unless such Settlement Class Member validly
requests exclusion;
8.2.7. stay and enjoin the continued pursuit of all Economic Loss Claims of
Settlement Class Members against Defendants and the other Released
Parties, whether in the MDL Court or in any other court or tribunal, until
such time as the MDL Court has determined whether to enter the Final
Order and Judgment;
8.2.8. schedule the Final Fairness Hearing not earlier than 6 months following
entry of the Preliminary Approval Order;
__________________
Section 8. Preliminary Approval of Settlement Pursuant to
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e) and Related
Motions 38
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8.2.10. appoint the Honorable Thomas J. Rueter (Ret.) as the Claims Appeals
Special Master;
8.2.11. find that the Settlement Funds are to be a “Qualified Settlement Fund”
as defined in Section 468B-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations; and
8.2.12. provide that any objections by any Settlement Class Member to the
Settlement shall be heard and any papers submitted in support of said
objections shall be considered by the MDL Court at the Final Fairness
Hearing only if, on or before the conclusion of the Opt-Out/Objection
Period specified in the Settlement Notice and the Preliminary Approval
Order, such Settlement Class Member follows the required procedures.
8.3. Settlement Class Counsel shall request that the MDL Court hold a hearing on the
motion for the Preliminary Approval Order on a date to be determined by the MDL
Court.
8.4. The Philips Defendants shall cooperate to the extent reasonably necessary in
connection with Settlement Class Counsel’s motions for Preliminary and MDL
Court Final Approval of the Settlement and related documents necessary to
effectuate and implement the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
8.5. The Philips Defendants shall have the right to withdraw from the Settlement if the
MDL Court does not issue the Preliminary Approval Order in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
9.1.1. The Class Notice Period shall commence upon the entry of the
Preliminary Approval Order.
9.1.2. Within 60 days after entry of the Preliminary Approval Order, the
Settlement Administrator will cause Class Settlement Notice (“Notice”),
in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit 3, to be disseminated in the
specific forms and manner set forth in the Notice Plan attached hereto
as Exhibit 2, by:
9.1.2.1. First class mail, postage prepaid, and email (if an email
address is available) to the last known address of all known
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Section 9. Notice to Settlement Class Members 40
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9.2. Payment of Costs of Notice: The Philips Defendants shall be responsible for
paying the reasonable costs of Class Notice agreed to by the Parties or required by
the MDL Court. Any disputes regarding the reasonable cost of Class Notice shall
be presented for resolution to the Settlement Mediator.
9.3. The Philips Defendants shall provide notice of the Settlement to the appropriate
state and federal officials pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1715(b).
10.1. Settlement Class Members have the right to opt out of or object to the Settlement,
but not both. Opting out from or objecting to the Settlement are mutually exclusive
options. Any Settlement Class Member who elects to opt out pursuant to Section
11 below may not also object to the Settlement. Any Settlement Class Member
who elects to object pursuant to Section 12 below may not also opt out of the
Settlement. In the event a Settlement Class Member submits both an objection and
an opt out request, the Settlement Administrator shall notify the Settlement Class
Member that they can only elect one of those options, and must inform the
Settlement Administrator of their decision. If the Settlement Class Member does
not thereafter take corrective action within 10 days, the submission shall be invalid.
10.2. Settlement Class Members will have 120 days from entry of the Preliminary
Approval Order (“Opt-Out/Objection Period”) to opt out of or object to the
Settlement in accordance with Sections 11 and 12 below. The last day of the Opt-
Out/Objection Period (the “Opt-Out/Objection Deadline”) will be included in the
Notice and posted on the Settlement website and the MDL Court’s website for the
MDL.
11. Opt-Outs
11.1. Settlement Class Members who wish to opt out of the Settlement must mail a
written request to opt out stating that they seek exclusion from the Settlement.
Settlement Class Members shall include their contact information, including name,
address, telephone number, and email, if any, as well as the same information
regarding their counsel (if applicable). Incomplete opt-outs are invalid.
11.1.1. In addition, Users must include in their opt-out request the following
information regarding their Recalled Device(s): Serial Number(s), if
__________________
Section 10. Right to Opt Out of or Object to the Settlement;
Opt-Out/Objection Period 41
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11.1.2. In addition, Payers must include in their opt-out request the following
information: full name of Payer plan and whether the Payer reimbursed
(in whole or part) Users’ payments to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise
pay for Recalled Devices; number of lives insured by the Payer in each
of the calendar years 2008 to 2022; and number of direct premiums
written in each of the calendar years 2008 to 2022.
11.2. An original request to opt out signed by the Settlement Class Member must be
mailed to the Settlement Administrator at:
11.3 To be valid and effective, the request to opt out must be personally signed by the
Settlement Class Member or the Settlement Class Member’s Representative
Claimant, but not by the Settlement Class Member’s counsel, if any, or anyone else.
Representative Claimants must supply the Settlement Administrator with written
proof that such person has legal authority to act in a representative capacity for the
Settlement Class Member. A pleading or any other request to opt out made or
signed only by counsel for the Settlement Class Member shall not be sufficient.
Mass opt-outs also are not permitted, and each Settlement Class Member may only
opt out on behalf of himself, herself, or itself. Electronic signatures (other than
DocuSign) are not valid and effective, whether for Settlement Class Members or
Representative Claimants.
11.4. The Settlement Administrator shall provide a copy by email of all requests to opt
out to Counsel within 48 hours of receipt.
11.5. Settlement Class Counsel shall file all validated requests to opt out with the MDL
Court as an attachment to the proposed Final Order and Judgment in support of
their motion for MDL Court Final Approval of the Settlement.
11.6. If a Settlement Class Member submits both a Claim Form and a request to opt out
prior to MDL Final Court Approval, the Settlement Class Member will be deemed
__________________
Section 11. Opt-Outs 42
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to have waived and withdrawn the request to opt out and shall be treated as a
Settlement Class Member for all purposes, irrespective of the sequencing of the
submission of the Claim Form and the request to opt out.
11.7. Valid requests to opt out from the Settlement will become effective only upon MDL
Court Final Approval.
11.8. Settlement Class Members may revoke their opt-out request in writing at any time
prior to MDL Court Final Approval.
11.9. Settlement Class Members who opt out of the Settlement Class and do not revoke
their opt out request in writing prior to MDL Court Final Approval will be deemed
to no longer be members of the Settlement Class.
11.10. Settlement Class Members who opt out of the Settlement Class may not receive
benefits under the Settlement and may not object to any aspect of the Settlement or
to an award of Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses or payment of Service Awards to the
Settlement Class Representatives.
11.11. The Parties agree and acknowledge that because any opt-out may be detrimental to
the Settlement, the Philips Defendants will have the right, exercised in good faith,
to terminate the Settlement on account of the existence of any opt-out by written
notice to the MDL Court and Settlement Class Counsel 14 days after the conclusion
of the Opt-Out/Objection Period.
11.12. Upon the Effective Date, all Settlement Class Members who have not timely and
validly opted out will be bound by the Settlement, and the relief provided by the
Settlement will be their sole and exclusive remedy for their Released Claims against
the Released Parties.
12. Objections
12.1. Any Settlement Class Member who objects to the Settlement (in whole or in part),
any terms hereof, or the approval process must make that objection by the following
procedure:
12.1.2. The objection must state whether it applies only to the objector, to a
specific subset of the Settlement Class, or to the entire Settlement Class,
and also state with specificity the grounds for the objection. The
objection must also include a statement whether the Settlement Class
Member intends to appear at the Final Fairness Hearing either with or
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12.1.3. The objection must be signed by the Settlement Class Member and his,
her or its counsel, if any. An objection signed by counsel alone shall be
invalid.
12.1.4. The objection must contain the caption of the MDL and the caption of
any other litigation, arbitration or proceeding involving the Recalled
Devices in which the Settlement Class Member is a named party, and
include the name, mailing address, email address, if any (an email
address is not required), and telephone number of the objecting
Settlement Class Member and his, her or its counsel (if any).
12.1.6. The objection must state if the objector or the objector’s counsel have
objected to a class action settlement during the past 5 years, and if so,
identify all cases in which the objector or the objector’s counsel have
filed an objection by caption, court and case number, and for each case,
the disposition of the objection, including whether any payments were
made to the objector or the objector’s counsel, and if so, the incremental
benefits, if any, that were achieved for the class in exchange for such
payments.
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12.1.9. Settlement Class Counsel shall file the objections, if any, received by
the Settlement Administrator with the MDL Court no later than 21 days
before the Final Fairness Hearing.
12.2. Any objection not submitted in full compliance with these terms and procedures
are invalid and deemed waived.
12.3. Settlement Class Members who fail to file and serve timely written objections in
accordance with Section 12.1 above shall be deemed to have waived any objections,
shall not be heard at the Final Fairness Hearing, and shall be foreclosed from
making any objection (whether by appeal or otherwise) to the Settlement.
12.4. Settlement Class Counsel and/or Counsel for the Philips Defendants shall file any
response(s) to the objections with the MDL Court no later than 7 days before the
Final Fairness Hearing.
13.1. After the close of the Class Notice Period and the Opt-Out/Objection Period, but
no later than 21 days before the Final Fairness Hearing, Settlement Class
Representatives and Settlement Class Counsel shall move for MDL Court Final
Approval of the Settlement and to enter the Final Order and Judgment, substantially
in the form of Exhibit 9 hereto, which shall do each of the following, among other
things:
13.1.1. Approve finally this Agreement and its terms as being a fair, reasonable,
and adequate settlement as to the Settlement Class Members within the
meaning of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and
directing its consummation according to its terms and conditions;
13.1.2. Determine that the Class Notice constituted the best notice that was
practicable under the circumstances, and constituted due and sufficient
notice for all other purposes for all persons entitled to receive notice;
13.1.3. Certify the Settlement Class and confirm the appointment of the
Settlement Class Representatives and Settlement Class Counsel;
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13.1.4. Direct that the Economic Loss Complaint be dismissed with prejudice
as to all Defendants, without costs;
13.1.5. Reserve to the MDL Court exclusive jurisdiction over the Settlement,
this Agreement, including the interpretation, implementation,
administration, consummation, and enforcement of this Settlement and
this Agreement, and the “qualified settlement funds,” as defined under
§1.468B-1 of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Sections
461(h) and 468B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
created under the Agreement;
13.1.6. Determine under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) that there is no
just reason for delay, and direct that the Final Order and Judgment be
entered;
13.1.7. Enjoin and finally and forever bar any and all Settlement Class Members
from maintaining, continuing, pursuing and/or prosecuting the Released
Claims in any action, arbitration or other proceeding, whether pending
or filed in the future, against Defendants or the Released Parties, as well
as entitling the Released Party or Parties to recover any and all
reasonable costs and expenses from that Settlement Class Member
arising from that Settlement Class Member’s violation of the injunction;
and
13.1.8. Enjoin and forever bar the Philips Defendants and any successors to the
Philips Defendants’ rights or interests under the Settlement from
challenging or opposing a Settlement Class Member’s Medical
Monitoring and Personal Injury Claims or ability to recover for those
claims on the basis of this Settlement, any payments under this
Settlement, or the Releases provided herein, other than to prevent
double recovery for economic losses related to the Recalled Devices or
to prevent against the increase of an exemplary or punitive damages
award on account of economic losses.
13.2. The Philips Defendants shall have the right to withdraw from the Settlement if the
MDL Court does not enter a Final Order and Judgment substantially in the form of
Exhibit 9 hereto.
13.3. At the Final Fairness Hearing, the MDL Court shall also be requested to, inter alia,
(i) consider any timely and properly filed objections to the Settlement, (ii) certify
the Settlement Class pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) and (b)(3), (iii) determine
whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate, was entered into in good
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faith and negotiated by the Parties at arm’s length, and should be approved,
(iv) provide findings in connection therewith, (v) enter the Final Order and
Judgment, (vi) consider Service Awards to the Settlement Class Representatives,
as described in Section 18.2 below, and (vii) consider Settlement Class Counsel’s
motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses, as described in Section 18.1 below.
14.1. This Settlement shall be terminated and cancelled upon any of the following events:
14.1.1. The MDL Court declines to enter the Preliminary Approval Order
substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 hereto;
14.1.2. The MDL Court declines to enter the Final Order and Judgment
substantially in the form of Exhibit 9 hereto; or
14.2. The Philips Defendants may, at their sole and exclusive discretion and option,
withdraw from and cancel their obligations under this Settlement, upon any of the
following events:
14.2.1. The Notice does not comply with the Preliminary Approval Order;
14.2.3. The Economic Loss Complaint is not dismissed with prejudice as to all
Defendants;
14.2.4. The Released Claims of the Releasing Parties against Defendants and
the other Released Parties are not released on the terms set forth herein;
14.2.5. The MDL Court does not enter the preliminary injunction described in
Section 8.2.7 above;
14.2.6. The MDL Court does not enter the permanent injunctions described in
Sections 13.1.7 and 13.1.8 above; or
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14.3. In the event of a breach of the Agreement by the Philips Defendants, the Settlement
Class Representatives may, at their sole discretion, seek to enforce the Settlement
in the MDL Court (or, if the MDL Court does not have jurisdiction, any other court
with jurisdiction to hear the matter).
14.4. In the event of a breach of the Agreement by the Settlement Class Representatives,
the Philips Defendants may, at their sole discretion, seek to enforce the Settlement
in the MDL Court (or, if the MDL Court does not have jurisdiction, any other court
with jurisdiction to hear the matter).
15. MDL Court Retains Jurisdiction to Implement, Interpret and Enforce Agreement
and Settlement
15.1. The MDL Court shall retain continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over the Philips
Defendants, the Settlement Class, the Settlement Class Members, this Agreement,
and the Settlement for the purposes of administering, supervising, implementing,
interpreting, construing, consummating, and enforcing this Agreement and the
Settlement, and the MDL Court shall also retain continuing and exclusive
jurisdiction over the “qualified settlement funds,” as defined under §1.468B-1 of
the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Sections 461(h) and 468B of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, created under the Agreement, and the
distribution of same to Eligible Settlement Class Members.
16.1. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including all matters of construction, validity,
performance, and enforcement, and without giving effect to the principles of
conflict of laws.
17.1. Settlement Class Counsel and the Philips Defendants shall cooperate with each
other, and with governmental regulatory officials (where and if appropriate), with
respect to implementing the relief provided for in this Settlement in coordination
with any Recall Programs and to ensure that the Recall Programs are carried out to
completion in an efficient manner; provided, however, that Settlement Class
Counsel shall not have standing to participate directly or indirectly in any Recall
Programs, except to the extent necessary to enforce the terms of this Settlement and
the rights of Settlement Class Members under this Settlement.
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18.1. The Parties, with the assistance of the Settlement Mediator, will attempt to reach
agreement on the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs that Settlement Class Counsel
will seek from the Court and which the Philips Defendants will not oppose. If the
Parties reach agreement, Settlement Class Counsel will submit the negotiated
amount to the Court for approval, either as part of, or subsequent to, the Final
Fairness Hearing, and the Philips Defendants will not oppose the application of
Settlement Class Counsel. If the Parties do not reach agreement, the Parties will
litigate the matter, and each Party will present its respective position to the Court
for determination. In that event, the determination of the fee and cost issues will
be subject to the Parties’ agreement that: (1) the attorneys’ fees and costs will be
paid by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants in addition to the compensation
provided to Settlement Class Members under this Settlement; (2) any award of
attorneys’ fees or costs shall not diminish the recovery of Settlement Class
Members under the Settlement; (3) while fees will be based on the percentage of
recovery methodology, with a lodestar cross-check, the Parties reserve all
arguments as to how that recovery should be calculated, what the percentage should
be, and the extent to which Settlement Class Counsel’s prosecution of the Economic
Loss Claims caused some or all of the recovery; and (4) the Parties shall have the
right to appeal the Court’s determination as to the amount of attorneys’ fees and
costs. Settlement Class Counsel represent they will not seek an award of attorneys’
fees in excess of $175,000,000, which Settlement Class Counsel contend represents
a fair percentage of the value of the Settlement in terms of cash recoveries and other
benefits to the Settlement Class. The Philips Defendants fully reserve the right to
challenge that amount, any percentage upon which it is based, and the items
comprising the claimed value of the Settlement. Settlement Class Counsel’s motion
for attorneys’ fees and costs will be due 30 days before the Opt-Out/Objection
Deadline, and the deadline for the motion will be provided in the Notice.
Settlement Class Members shall have the opportunity to submit objections.
18.2. Service Awards: Settlement Class Counsel will recommend to the MDL Court
that service awards be made, subject to MDL Court approval, to the Settlement
Class Representatives in the amount of $5,000 each in recognition for their service
as a Settlement Class Representative, and the Philips Defendants agree not to
oppose such request. Settlement Class Representatives certify and agree that they
had no expectation of a service award when agreeing to this Settlement, and that
the decision of whether or not to award a service award will be left to the discretion
of the Court. With that understanding, the Philips Defendants agree to pay Service
Awards, if any, within 30 days of the date of a final order awarding Service Awards
or within 30 days of the Effective Date, whichever is later. These payments are in
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18.3. The Parties agree that the amount of any award of attorneys’ fees and expenses and
the amount of any service awards are intended to be considered by the Court
separately from the Court’s consideration of the fairness, reasonableness, and
adequacy of the Settlement. No order of the Court, or modification, reversal, or
appeal of any order of the Court, concerning the amount(s) of attorneys’ fees and
expenses or service awards shall affect whether the Final Order and Judgment is
entered, or constitute grounds for termination of the Settlement.
19.1. Any dispute between the Parties relating to the interpretation or application of any
provision of the Settlement will be discussed between Settlement Class Counsel
and Counsel for the Philips Defendants in the first instance in an effort to resolve
the matter. If they reach an impasse, the matter shall be presented to and discussed
with the Claims Appeals Special Master. In the event an impasse remains after
presenting the dispute to the Claims Appeals Special Master, the dispute will be
resolved by appeal to the MDL Court (with the potential for further appeal to the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit).
19.2. This appeal process applies only to disputes between the Parties relating to the
interpretation or application of a provision of the Settlement and does not apply to
decisions by the Claims Appeals Special Master concerning disputes by Settlement
Class Members regarding their claims or Claims Determinations as set forth in
Section 6.8 above.
20. Miscellaneous
20.1. The headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and shall not be
deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect its construction.
20.2. If the last day of any period mentioned in this Settlement falls on a weekend or
legal holiday, the period shall include the next business day. To the extent any
timeframe set out in this Settlement Agreement is ambiguous, said ambiguity shall
be resolved by applying the convention contained in Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure.
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20.3. All persons shall be on notice of their continuing duty to monitor the MDL Court’s
docket for the most current filings and information. The MDL Court, in its
discretion, may alter, postpone or amend any deadlines or hearing dates scheduled
by the MDL Court in connection with the approval of this Settlement without
additional formal notice. Orders concerning any such changes are expected to be
docketed on the MDL Court’s website:
https://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/mdl-3014-re-philips-recalled-cpap-bi-level-pap-
and-mechanical-ventilator-products-litigation.
20.4. The Settlement Administrator shall post on the Settlement website this Agreement
(including all of its exhibits), as well as relevant pleadings by the Parties and orders
entered by the MDL Court in connection with the Settlement, including relevant
scheduling orders.
20.6. Settlement Class Members (or their counsel, if any) who submit false or
intentionally misleading information, through any form of deception, dishonesty or
fraud, shall be subject to appropriate sanctions (including monetary sanctions and
costs).
20.7. Unless otherwise specified, any written notices and other communications under
this Settlement shall be in writing and shall be sent to Settlement Class Counsel and
Counsel for the Philips Defendants. Routine communications may be made by
email. Communications asserting a breach of this Settlement shall be made by
email and by hand delivery or overnight courier (e.g., Express Mail, Overnight UPS,
or FedEx).
20.8. Other than as provided for in Orders of the MDL Court, there are no restrictions
upon the Philips Defendants with respect to any returned Recalled Devices,
including, but not limited to, whether or how they can be retained, used, tested,
remediated, and/or discarded.
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favor of or against anyone on account of who drafted any particular portion of this
Agreement.
20.10. This Settlement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect
to the matters set forth herein and supersedes any and all prior and
contemporaneous undertakings in connection therewith, including any prior term
sheets. In entering into this Agreement, the Parties have not received or relied upon
any agreements or promises other than as contained in writing in this Agreement.
20.11. This Settlement may not be modified or amended unless such modification or
amendment is in writing executed by all Parties, and (upon the Final Order and
Judgment) approved by the MDL Court.
20.12. This Settlement may be executed in multiple counterparts, all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same Settlement.
20.13. If there is any conflict as between the Agreement and any exhibits, the language
and terms in the Agreement shall prevail.
20.14. In the event this Agreement is not preliminarily or finally approved by the MDL
Court, or in the event that the Order and Final Judgment approving the Settlement
is entered but later reversed or vacated, or the Philips Defendants exercise their
right to terminate the Agreement pursuant to Section 11.11, the pre-settlement
status of this MDL shall be restored (including without limitation any applicable
tolling of any statute of limitations), and the Agreement shall have no effect on the
rights of the Parties to prosecute or defend the Economic Loss Claims in the MDL
or elsewhere in any respect, including without limitation the right to fully litigate
the issues related to class certification, raise personal jurisdiction defenses, or any
other defenses. The Parties will negotiate and submit to the MDL Court for Court
approval a modified case schedule at such time.
20.15. Settlement Class Members should consult their personal tax advisor for assistance
regarding any tax ramifications of this Settlement. Settlement Class Counsel, the
Philips Defendants, and their Counsel are not providing any opinion, representation
or advice as to the tax consequences or liabilities of Settlement Class Members as
a result of any payments or benefits under this Settlement. Nothing in this
Agreement should be relied upon by any Settlement Class Member as the provision
of tax advice. Settlement Class Members shall hold the Philips Defendants and
their Counsel harmless from any federal, state, or foreign tax assessments, interest,
and/or penalties that result for any amounts paid or benefits provided under this
Agreement, and the Philips Defendants shall not be liable for the payment of any
__________________
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additional amounts now or in the future for any amount related to a Settlement Class
Member’s tax consequences
20.16. Each of the undersigned signatories represents that he or she is fully authorized to
enter into the terms and conditions of, and to execute this Agreement, subject to
Court approval.
21.1. The Parties specifically acknowledge and agree that this Settlement, along with all
related drafts, motions, pleadings, conversations, negotiations and correspondence,
shall be considered a compromise within the meaning of Federal Rules of Evidence
Rule 408, and any equivalent rule of evidence or procedure of any state, and shall
not (i) constitute, be construed, be offered, or be received into evidence as an
admission of the validity of any claim or defense, or the truth of any fact alleged or
other allegation in the MDL, or in any other pending or subsequently filed action,
arbitration or other proceeding, or of any wrongdoing, fault, violation of law, or
liability of any kind on the part of any Party, except as permitted in Sections 4.2
and 21.3 of this Settlement; or (ii) be used to establish a waiver of any defense or
right, or to establish or contest jurisdiction or venue. As set forth in Section 2.2
above, the Philips Defendants submit to the jurisdiction of the MDL Court solely
for purposes of the Settlement and the enforcement of the payment and performance
obligations thereunder.
21.2. The Parties agree that this Settlement, any orders, pleadings, or other documents
entered in furtherance of this Settlement, and any acts in the performance of this
Settlement are not intended to be, nor shall they in fact be, admissible, discoverable,
or relevant in any case or other proceeding against the Defendants as evidence of
any obligation that any Party hereto has or may have to anyone, except with regard
to the obligations and rights under the Settlement.
21.3. The provisions of this Settlement, and any orders, pleadings or other documents
entered in furtherance of this Settlement, may be offered or received in evidence
solely (i) to enforce the terms and provisions hereof or thereof, (ii) as may be
specifically authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction after a hearing upon
application of a Party hereto, (iii) in order to establish payment, prior payment for
a claimed loss, set-off, counterclaim or an affirmative defense of exception in a
subsequent case, including res judicata, collateral estoppel, release, good faith
settlement, judgment bar or reduction, or any other theory of claim preclusion or
issue preclusion or similar defense or counterclaim, (iv) in connection with any
motion to dismiss, enjoin or stay a Released Claim, (v) to establish an assignment
__________________
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__________________
Section 21. Federal Rule of Evidence 408 54
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The Parties have executed this Settlement Agreement, by their duly authorized representatives,
on the Execution Date.
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 1
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WHEREAS, on October 10, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Third Amended Class
Action Complaint for Economic Losses (“Economic Loss Complaint”) (ECF No. 785), on behalf
Philips N.V., Philips North America LLC, Philips Holding USA, Inc., and Philips RS North
America Holding Corporation (collectively, the “Philips Defendants”) have entered into a Class
Settlement Agreement and Release of Economic Loss Claims with the Settlement Class
Representatives, dated September 7, 2023, in full and final settlement of the Economic Loss
Claims against the Philips Defendants and the other Released Parties (the “Agreement” and the
“Settlement”), the terms of which are set forth in the Agreement and have the same meanings when
WHEREAS, the Parties engaged in extensive good faith, arm’s-length negotiations, over a
period of a year, to resolve the Economic Loss Claims, with the assistance and oversight of the
for Preliminary Approval of Proposed Class Action Settlement Agreement and to Direct Notice to
the Proposed Settlement Class pursuant to Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (the
“Motion”); and
WHEREAS, on _______, 2023, the Court held a hearing on the Motion and heard argument
FOLLOWS:
and adequacy of the Settlement pursuant to Rule 23(e)(1)(B) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. The Court hereby finds that the Settlement falls within the range of reasonableness
meriting possible final approval and has key indicia of fairness, including that (1) the Parties have
reached the Settlement after investigating the strengths and weaknesses of the Economic Loss
Claims and the defenses thereto, (2) the extensive settlement negotiations were arm’s-length and
consisted of multiple mediation sessions overseen by the Settlement Mediator, (3) there is no
evidence of collusion in reaching this Settlement, and (4) the proponents of the Settlement are
2. The Court therefore preliminarily approves the Settlement on the terms set forth in
the Agreement, subject to further consideration at the Final Fairness Hearing. Settlement Class
Members shall have the right to object to, or be excluded from, the Settlement, as set forth in the
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Settlement Agreement Exhibit 1: [Proposed] Preliminary Approval Order
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3. Pursuant to Rule 23(e)(1)(B), the Court orders that Notice be provided to the
Settlement Class Members pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and as set forth herein. The
Notice shall inform Settlement Class Members that they will be bound by the Settlement and Final
Order and Judgment unless, on or before the end of the Opt-Out/Objection Period specified in the
Notice and this Order (“Opt-Out/Objection Deadline”), they follow the required procedures to
make a written request for exclusion as set forth in the Agreement and Notice, which procedures
4. Any objections by any Settlement Class Member to the Settlement (in whole or in
part) shall be heard and any papers submitted in support of said objections shall be considered by
the Court at the Final Fairness Hearing only if, on or before the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline, such
Settlement Class Member follows the required objection procedures set forth in the Agreement
5. The Court preliminarily approves the plan of allocation of Settlement funds set
forth in the Agreement, subject to further consideration at the Final Fairness Hearing.
6. The Court hereby appoints Angeion Group LLC as the Settlement Administrator.
It shall be responsible for the duties set forth in the Settlement Agreement assigned to the
Settlement Administrator, including, but not limited to, (a) the notice dissemination process set
forth in the Agreement; (b) calculation of payments to Settlement Class Members; (c) creation of
a Settlement website; (d) processing and reviewing Claim Forms; (e) collecting and forwarding to
Settlement Class Counsel and Counsel for the Philips Defendants any requests to be excluded from
the Settlement Class; (f) collecting and forwarding to Settlement Class Counsel and Counsel for
the Philips Defendants any objections to the Settlement or to requests for attorneys’ fees or Service
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Settlement Agreement Exhibit 1: [Proposed] Preliminary Approval Order
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Awards; and (g) any other duties as provided in any agreement entered into between Counsel and
the Settlement Administrator. The Settlement Administrator shall sign and be bound by the
Protective Order entered by this Court, as amended (ECF Nos. 104, 498, 765).
deposited, the Initial Payments for Class Notice and Settlement Administration into the Settlement
Funds within 14 days of execution of the Settlement Agreement. The Philips Defendants shall be
responsible for paying all reasonable costs of Settlement Administration, including the reasonable
fees and costs of the Settlement Administrator, Settlement Funds Escrow Agent, Settlement
Mediator, and Claims Appeals Special Master, as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
8. The Court approves Huntington Bank as the Settlement Funds Escrow Agent
9. The Court hereby appoints Hon. Thomas J. Rueter (Ret.) as the Claims Appeals
Special Master and authorizes him to perform the duties assigned to the Claims Appeals Special
10. The Court approves the forms of Notice, substance, and requirements attached as
11. The Court finds that the method of giving notice to the Settlement Class (“Notice
Plan”), attached to the Settlement Agreement as Exhibit 2, and the forms and content of notice,
(a) constitute the best notice practicable under the circumstances, (b) are reasonably calculated,
under the circumstances, to apprise the Settlement Class Members of the pendency of the Action,
the terms and benefits of the proposed Settlement, including automatic payments under certain
-4-
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 1: [Proposed] Preliminary Approval Order
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circumstances, how to file a claim and the deadline for filing a claim, and their rights under the
proposed Settlement, including, but not limited to, their rights to object to or exclude themselves
from the proposed Settlement, as well as of the scope of the release of the Philips Defendants and
other Released Parties and the binding effect of a Final Judgment, (c) are reasonable and constitute
due, adequate, and sufficient notice to all Settlement Class Members and any other persons entitled
to receive notice, (d) meet all applicable requirements of law, including, but not limited to, 28
U.S.C. § 1715, Rule 23(c), the Due Process Clause(s) of the United States Constitution, and any
other applicable laws, and (e) fairly and adequately inform Settlement Class Members that if they
do not comply with the specified procedures and the deadline for objections, they will lose any
opportunity to have any objection considered at the Final Fairness Hearing or to otherwise contest
approval of the Settlement or appeal from any order or judgment entered by the Court in connection
12. The Parties will attempt to reach agreement on the amount of attorneys’ fees and
costs that Settlement Class Counsel will seek to be awarded by this Court and which the Philips
Defendants will not oppose. If the Parties reach an agreement, Settlement Class Counsel will file
an unopposed motion with the Court seeking an award in this amount to be considered as part of
the Final Fairness Hearing. If the Parties do not reach agreement, Settlement Class Counsel will
file their motion seeking an award of attorneys’ fees and costs, and the Philips Defendants will
submit their opposition. In that event, the litigation of the fee and cost issues will be subject to the
Parties’ agreement that: (1) the attorneys’ fees and costs will be paid by, or on behalf of, the
Philips Defendants in addition to the compensation provided to Settlement Class Members under
the Settlement Agreement; (2) any award of attorneys’ fees or costs shall not diminish the recovery
of Settlement Class Members under the Settlement; (3) while fees will be based on the percentage
-5-
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 1: [Proposed] Preliminary Approval Order
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of recovery methodology, with a lodestar cross-check, the Parties reserve all arguments as to how
that recovery should be calculated, what the percentage should be, and the extent to which
Settlement Class Counsel’s prosecution of the Economic Loss Claims caused some or all of the
recovery; (4) the Court will issue an Order setting forth the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs to
be paid by the Philips Defendants; and (5) the Parties shall have the right to appeal the Court’s
13. The Parties have agreed that the Philips Defendants will pay Service Awards of
$5,000 to each of the five Settlement Class Representatives, subject to approval of this Court after
the Final Fairness Hearing. The Settlement Notice shall apprise Settlement Class Members of
14. Within 60 days after entry of this Order, the Settlement Notice will be disseminated
15. Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court conditionally
Settlement Class or Settlement Class Members shall include Plaintiffs and all
other individuals or entities in the United States, including its Territories (American
Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands), and the District of Columbia, including individuals who are United States
citizens, residents, United States military, diplomatic personnel and employees
living or stationed overseas, who or which, prior to the announcement of the
Recalls, either (a) purchased, leased, rented, or paid for (in whole or part), or were
prescribed a Recalled Device (“Users”), or (b) reimbursed (in whole or part) a
User’s payment to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise pay for a Recalled Device,
including insurers, self-funded employers, and other third-party payers (“Payers”).
Individuals or entities whose payment obligations with respect to a particular
Recalled Device preceded the announcement of the relevant Recall are part of the
Settlement Class even if certain of their payment obligations post-dated the Recall
(e.g., certain renters and lessees).
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EXCLUDED from the Settlement Class are: (a) Defendants and their officers,
directors, and employees; (b) the MDL Court, Settlement Mediator, Claims Appeals
Special Master, and Special Masters assigned to the MDL; (c) individuals who have
already released Released Claims against one or more of the Defendants pursuant
to individual settlements or other resolutions; (d) Durable Medical Equipment
providers; (e) the federal government and any federal government payers, including
the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; and (f) Settlement Class Counsel.
16. The Court finds that, for settlement purposes only, the Settlement Class meets all
prerequisites for class certification under Rules 23(a) and 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, including that: (a) the Settlement Class is so numerous that joinder of all members is
impracticable; (b) there are questions of law and fact common to the Settlement Class; (c) the
Settlement Class Representatives’ claims are typical of the claims of the Settlement Class
Members they seek to represent for purposes of the Settlement; (d) Settlement Class
Representatives and their counsel are capable of fairly and adequately protecting the interests of
the Settlement Class; (e) common questions of law and fact predominate over questions affecting
only individual Settlement Class Members; (f) certification of the Settlement Class is superior to
other available methods for the fair and efficient resolution of the Economic Loss Claims of
17. For settlement purposes only, the Court appoints Elizabeth Heilman; Ivy Creek of
Tallapoosa LLC d/b/a/ Lake Martin Community Hospital; Peter Barrett; Julie Barrett; and
ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Health Benefits Trust as the five Settlement Class Representatives.
Park, NJ 07660;
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Settlement Agreement Exhibit 1: [Proposed] Preliminary Approval Order
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b. Sandra L. Duggan, Levin Sedran & Berman, 510 Walnut Street, Suite 500,
Philadelphia, PA 19106;
d. Kelly K. Iverson, Lynch Carpenter, LLP, 1133 Penn Avenue, 5th Floor,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222;
e. Roberta D. Liebenberg, Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C., One South Broad
f. Lisa Ann Gorshe, Johnson Becker PLLC, 444 Cedar Street, Suite 1800, Saint
g. Arthur H. Stroyd, Jr., Del Sole Cavanaugh Stroyd LLC, 3 PPG Place, Suite 600,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
19. The Court hereby approves the establishment of the Settlement Funds. The
Settlement Funds shall be governed by Section 468B-1 through 468B-5 of the Treasury
Regulations and maintained as a “qualified settlement fund.” The Parties agree to work in good
faith to maintain such status. The Court shall retain continuing jurisdiction over the Settlement
E. Schedule for Motion for Final Approval and Final Fairness Hearing
20. Settlement Class Counsel shall file their motion for attorneys’ fees, reimbursement
of costs and expenses incurred in connection with prosecuting the Economic Loss Claims, and for
Service Awards of no more than $5,000 for each of the five Settlement Class Representatives, at
least 30 days prior to the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline. The Settlement Administrator shall publish
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21. The deadline for Settlement Class Members to submit claims is 120 days after the
22. The deadline for Settlement Class Members to opt out of the Settlement, or object
to the Settlement, the proposed plan for allocating Settlement funds, the proposed Service Awards,
or the request for an award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of costs and expenses shall be
120 days after entry of this Order. Opt-out requests and objections must be made in writing and
must be made in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Settlement Agreement and
23. Settlement Class Counsel shall file a list of all timely and valid opt-outs as an
24. No later than 21 days before the Final Fairness Hearing, Settlement Class Counsel
shall file with the Court the objections, if any, received by the Settlement Administrator.
25. At least 7 days prior to the Final Fairness Hearing, Settlement Class Counsel and/or
Counsel for the Philips Defendants shall file any response to the objections with the Court.
26. At least 21 days prior to the Final Fairness Hearing, Settlement Class Counsel shall
file a Motion for Final Approval of the Settlement and to enter the Final Order and Judgment. The
Settlement Administrator shall publish the motion and supporting materials on the Settlement
website.
27. At least 21 days prior to the Final Fairness Hearing, Settlement Class Counsel shall
file with the Court proof that Notice was provided in accordance with the plan of Notice set forth
in the Agreement, the terms of this Order, and any other Order regarding Notice that the Court
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28. At least 21 days prior to the Final Fairness Hearing, the Philips Defendants shall
file with the Court proof of their compliance with the provisions of the Class Action Fairness Act,
28 U.S.C. § 1715(b).
29. If the last day of any period mentioned hereto falls on a weekend or legal holiday,
30. The Court will hold a hearing on _____________, 2024 at ____ a.m./p.m. at the
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 700 Grant Street, Pittsburgh,
PA 15219, in Courtroom 5A (the “Final Fairness Hearing”) for the following purposes:
Economic Loss Claims of the Settlement Class against the Defendants with
Representatives;
f. To consider timely, written objections that conform to the requirements set forth
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31. The Final Fairness Hearing may be continued without further notice to Settlement
Class Members, other than an update posted on the MDL 3014 Court docket and Settlement
website.
F. Miscellaneous
32. This Preliminary Approval Order shall become null and void and shall not prejudice
the rights of the Parties, all of whom shall be restored to their respective positions existing
immediately before this Court entered this Order, if the Settlement is not finally approved by the
Court, or does not become final and effective for any reason. In such event, the Settlement
Agreement shall become null and void and be of no further force and effect, and neither the
Settlement Agreement nor the Court’s orders relating to the Settlement, including this Preliminary
Approval Order, shall be used or referred to for any purpose. The conditional certification of the
Settlement Class provided for herein for settlement purposes only will be vacated, and the
Economic Loss Claims shall proceed as though the Settlement Class had never been conditionally
certified, without prejudice to any party’s position on the issues of class certification, personal
jurisdiction or any other issue. In such event, the Philips Defendants retain all rights to assert that
33. Pending the Final Fairness Hearing, the Court hereby stays the continued pursuit or
prosecution of all Released Claims, in this Court or in any other court, tribunal or proceeding, other
than those proceedings necessary to carry out or enforce the terms and conditions of the Settlement.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1651(a) and 2283, the Court finds that issuance of this preliminary
injunction is necessary and appropriate in aid of the Court’s continuing jurisdiction and authority.
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Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 72 of 168
Such injunction shall remain in force until the Final Fairness Hearing or until such time as the
Parties notify the Court that the Settlement has been terminated.
34. This Court shall maintain continuing jurisdiction over these settlement proceedings
to assure the effectuation thereof for the benefit of the Settlement Class. For purposes only of this
Settlement, the Philips Defendants have submitted to the jurisdiction and venue of this Court.
35. Settlement Class Counsel and Counsel for the Philips Defendants are hereby
authorized to use all reasonable procedures in connection with approval and administration of the
Settlement that are not materially inconsistent with this Preliminary Approval Order or the
Settlement Agreement, including making, without further approval of the Court, minor changes to
the Settlement Agreement, to the form or content of the Settlement Notice, or to the form or content
of any other exhibits attached to the Settlement Agreement, that the Parties jointly agree are
reasonable or necessary, and which do not limit the rights of Settlement Class Members under the
Settlement Agreement.
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 2
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 74 of 168
NOTICE PLAN
I. GENERAL
B. The Parties shall provide reasonable cooperation with the Settlement Administrator
and shall make all reasonable efforts to accept recommendations from the
Settlement Administrator with respect to the Notice Plan.
E. The Settlement Administrator shall ensure that all notices and communications it
sends are HIPAA-compliant.
B. Direct Notice: Within 60 days after entry of the Preliminary Approval Order, the
Settlement Administrator shall disseminate notice, in forms approved by the MDL
Court, as follows:
1. First-class postal mail of the long-form FAQ Notice to all known Users with
postal addresses.
1
Unless otherwise noted, capitalized terms have the same meaning herein that they have in the
Class Settlement Agreement and Release of Economic Loss Claims (the “Settlement Agreement”).
2. Emails of the summary notice form to all known Users with email
addresses.
3. First-class postal mail of the long-form FAQ Notice to known Payers on the
Settlement Administrator’s proprietary database of insurers, self-funded
employers, and other third-party payers.
D. Media Plan:
2. The Parties agree that the Settlement Administrator shall have discretion to
implement its Media Plan in a manner consistent with best practices and
designed to provide the best notice that is practicable under the
circumstances, consistent with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23.
1. The Settlement Administrator shall post the long-form FAQ Notice on the
Settlement website along with the Settlement Agreement (including all of
its exhibits), as well as relevant pleadings of the Parties and orders entered
by the MDL Court in connection with the Settlement, including relevant
scheduling orders relating to the Settlement.
5. The Parties shall take the steps necessary so that a copy of the FAQ Notice
is posted on the MDL Court’s website for the MDL,
https://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/mdl-3014-re-philips-recalled-cpap-bi-
level-pap-and-mechanical-ventilator-products-litigation.
6. The Settlement Administrator and the Parties shall provide any additional
Notice as the MDL Court may otherwise direct, in accordance with the
requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(c)(2).
7. The Settlement Administrator shall provide any additional Notice that may
be agreed to by the Parties.
F. Reminder Email Notice to Users with Email Addresses: Prior to the Claims
Period Deadline, the Settlement Administrator shall send one reminder email notice
to known Users with email addresses consistent with best practices about claims
deadlines and other relevant information, as determined by the Settlement
Administrator.
B. The claims portal on the Settlement Website shall, among other things:
1. permit Users to input their assigned unique Claim ID number and/or the
Serial Number of their Recalled Devices to facilitate the submission of
claims, continuation of claims submissions, verify and monitor the status of
their claims and receive status and other notifications;
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Settlement Agreement Exhibit 2: Notice Plan
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 77 of 168
3. provide a dedicated Tab for Payers that provides the information and
instructions necessary for Payers to submit claims consistent with the
Settlement Agreement, as well as access to the Payer Declaration and Claim
Form attached to the Settlement Agreement as Exhibit 8;
7. for those Users who have not yet registered their Recalled Device(s) for a
Philips Respironics Recall Program and still have their Recalled Device,
provide a link to the page on which they can register their Recalled Device
in order to obtain the separate and distinct benefits provided under the
applicable Recall Program (e.g., a Remanufactured Device); and
8. otherwise provide for all processes consistent with best practices and as
required or contemplated by the MDL Court’s Preliminary Approval Order,
the Settlement Agreement, the plan for allocating Settlement funds and
claims processing, and the Notice Plan, and as necessary to provide
Settlement Class Members with information about the Settlement and the
ability to efficiently submit claims and satisfy the standards for payment.
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 3
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FORMS OF NOTICE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 3(a)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 81 of 168
NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
A court authorized this Notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.
● A proposed Settlement has been reached in a U.S. class action lawsuit alleging Economic Loss
Claims related to the purchase, lease, or rental of recalled CPAPs, BiPAPs, and ventilators
manufactured by Philips Respironics between 2008 and 2021. Philips Respironics recalled
these devices in the United States beginning in June 2021.
● Under the proposed Settlement:
o a minimum of $445 million will be paid to “Users” who purchased, leased, or rented a
Recalled Device;
o up to an additional $15 million will be paid to “Users” who paid out of pocket for a
Replacement Device; and
o $34 million will be paid to “Payers” who reimbursed a payment for a Recalled Device,
including insurers, self-funded employers, and other third-party payers.
● The Settlement does not affect or release any claims for alleged personal injuries or
medical monitoring relief, which continue to be litigated.
● Users may qualify for:
o a Device Payment Award for each Recalled Device they purchased, leased, or
rented;
o a Device Return Award of $100 for each Recalled Device they return (or already
returned) to Philips Respironics by Claims Period Deadline; and/or
o a Device Replacement Award for money Users paid to purchase a Replacement
Device on or after June 14, 2021 and before September 7, 2023 to replace a
Recalled Device with a comparable CPAP, BiPAP, or ventilator.
● If you are a User and still have your Recalled Device but have not yet returned it to
Philips Respironics, visit www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for instructions on
how to get a prepaid label to return your Recalled Device. Doing so will help you
maximize your payment from the proposed Settlement.
● You have several choices to make depending on the options available to you. Review the
Chart on the ensuing pages and go to www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for
more information.
● Payers may qualify for a Payer Award by submitting a claim with the required
information and documentation.
User who registered your You are eligible for a Device Payment Award without
Recalled Device in a Recall the need to submit a claim if you confirm or update
Program before September 7, your contact information.
2023, but you have not returned
it and you do not intend to (or This option is only available for Recalled Device(s)
you cannot) return your registered before September 7, 2023.
Recalled Device to Philips Go to www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com:
Respironics
• confirm or update your contact information; and
-AND-
• choose your preferred payment option.
You wish to participate in the
Settlement By this Deadline: Claims Period Deadline
User who did not register your You are eligible for a Device Payment Award if you
Recalled Device in a Recall submit a valid claim.
Program before September 7,
2023 and you do not intend to Go to www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com:
(or you cannot) return your • complete a Device Payment Award Claim Form;
Recalled Device to Philips
Respironics • provide the Serial Number of the Recalled Device
and the required documentation; and
-AND-
• choose your preferred payment option.
You wish to participate in the
Settlement. By this Deadline: Claims Period Deadline
● These rights and options—and the deadlines to exercise them—are explained in more
detail in the rest of this Notice and in the Settlement Agreement.
● The proposed Settlement benefits are separate and distinct from any benefits provided
under the Philips Respironics Recall Programs. If you are a User who did not register your
Recalled Device in a Recall Program and you still have your Recalled Device, you may be
eligible to receive a free Remanufactured Device or other benefits from Philips Respironics
BASIC INFORMATION
1. Why did I get this Notice?
A court authorized this Notice because individuals and entities residing in the United States (including its
Territories and the District of Columbia), including military and diplomatic personnel stationed overseas,
who either (a) purchased, leased, rented, paid for (in whole or in part), or were prescribed a Recalled
Device (“Users”), or (b) reimbursed (in whole or part) a payment to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise
pay for a Recalled Device, including insurers, self-funded employers, and third-party payers (“Payers”),
have the right to know about a proposed legal Settlement affecting them. The Recalled Devices are the
CPAP, BiPAP, ventilator, and/or other devices sold, leased, rented or otherwise distributed in the United
States identified in Question 9 below.
This Notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, your legal rights, what benefits are available, who is
eligible for those benefits, and how to get them. A full copy of the Settlement Agreement (along with
other relevant documents) is available at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com. Capitalized terms
in this Notice have the same meaning as defined in the Settlement Agreement.
Judge Joy Flowers Conti of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania is
presiding over this litigation. The litigation is called: In re Philips Recalled CPAP, BI-LEVEL PAP, and
Mechanical Ventilator Products Litigation, Master Docket No. 21-mc-1230-JFC, MDL No. 3014 (W.D.
Pa.).
If the Settlement is approved, Judge Conti (or her successor) will retain jurisdiction over the Settlement,
including the interpretation, implementation, administration, consummation, and enforcement of the
Settlement and the Settlement Agreement.
Plaintiffs assert Economic Loss Claims relating to the approximately 10.8 million Continuous Positive
Airway Pressure (“CPAP”) devices, Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (“BiPAP”) devices, ventilators,
and other devices sold or otherwise distributed in the United States (including its Territories and the
District of Columbia) that were subsequently recalled (the “Recalled Devices”) by Philips RS North
America LLC (“Philips Respironics”). Plaintiffs allege that the particular type of noise-reducing foam
used in the Recalled Devices was defective. Philips Respironics announced the Recall on June 14, 2021
and began the “Recall Programs” in September 2021 to replace certain of the Recalled Devices with
remanufactured CPAPs, BiPAPs and ventilators that do not include the challenged foam (the
“Remanufactured Devices”) and/or to provide other compensation.
This proposed Settlement is about the Recalled Devices, not the Remanufactured Devices.
This Settlement does not resolve claims for personal injury or medical monitoring. Those claims
continue to be litigated.
The Philips Defendants (Philips Respironics, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips North America LLC,
Philips Holding USA, Inc., and Philips RS North America Holding Corporation) deny all of the allegations
made in the litigation. They have also asserted numerous defenses to the claims in this case. The proposed
Settlement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing of any kind by the Philips Defendants. The
Court also has not decided that the Philips Defendants have done anything wrong.
In a class action, one or more individuals and/or entities called “class representatives” sue on behalf of
themselves and others who have similar claims. This group of individuals and/or entities is called the
“class,” and the individuals and/or entities in the class are called “class members.” The resolution of the
class representatives’ lawsuit resolves the claims for all class members, except those who exclude
themselves from (i.e., opt out of) the class.
Both sides agreed to a proposed Settlement after extensive litigation and negotiations before a Court-
appointed mediator with substantial experience mediating economic loss claims. Both sides agreed to this
Settlement to avoid the costs, delays, and risks of a trial. Settlement Class Members can get compensation
or other benefits from the Settlement. The class representatives and their attorneys think the Settlement
is a good result for the Class. The Court did not decide in favor of the Plaintiffs or the Philips Defendants.
There has been no determination that the Philips Defendants did anything wrong, and the Philips
Defendants continue to deny any wrongdoing, liability or damage to class members. The Settlement is
subject to approval by the Court.
You are a member of the Settlement Class if you are a natural person or entity residing in the United States
(including its Territories and the District of Columbia), including military and diplomatic personnel
stationed overseas, who either: (a) purchased, leased, rented, paid for (in whole or in part), or were
prescribed a Recalled Device (“Users”), or (b) reimbursed (in whole or in part) a payment to purchase,
lease, rent, or otherwise pay for a Recalled Device, including insurers, self-funded employers, and third-
party payers. The Recalled Devices are listed below at Question 9 and defined in the Settlement
Agreement at Section 1.37.
Excluded from the Settlement Class are: (a) the Philips Defendants and their employees, officers, and
directors; (b) the Judge, mediator and Special Masters assigned to the case; (c) individuals who have
already released the Released Claims against one or more of the Philips Defendants pursuant to individual
settlements or other resolutions; (d) Durable Medical Equipment (“DME”) providers; (e) federal
government payers; and (f) Settlement Class Counsel.
If you are not sure whether you are included in the Settlement Class, you can ask for free help by calling
the Settlement Administrator at 1-855-912-3432 for more information. You can also visit
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for more information or send an email to
[email protected]. You can also look at the sticker with the Serial Number
and other identifying information on your CPAP device, BiPAP device, or ventilator to see if it is one of
the Recalled Devices.
7. How much will the Philips Defendants pay under the proposed Settlement?
The Philips Defendants have agreed to pay a minimum of $445 million to compensate eligible Users for
Device Payment Awards and Device Return Awards. To the extent this amount is not sufficient to pay all
Device Payment Awards and Device Return Awards required by the Settlement, the Philips Defendants will
make additional payments to pay all eligible Users who qualify for those payments under the Settlement.
The Philips Defendants will also pay Users up to an additional $15 million for Device Replacement
Awards.
The Philips Defendants have agreed to pay $34 million for Payer Awards to eligible Payers.
In addition to making the payments described above, the Philips Defendants will also separately pay the
reasonable costs to administer the Settlement, the amount the Court awards with respect to the motion for
attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses that will be filed by Settlement Class Counsel in connection with
the Settlement, and any Service Awards the Court approves for the five Settlement Class Representatives.
These payments will not reduce the amounts paid to Settlement Class Members.
The benefits provided by the proposed Settlement are separate and distinct from any relief provided under
the Philips Respironics Recall Programs. However, if the financial compensation to a particular User
under the Settlement is greater than the financial compensation provided under the Recall Programs to the
same User, or vice versa, nothing precludes that User from recovering the larger of the two but not both.
Go to www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for further information and details.
8. What is the easiest way for Users who still have their Recalled Devices to maximize their
Settlement payment?
The easiest way for Users who still have their Recalled Devices to get a payment and maximize their
payment is to return their Recalled Devices to Philips Respironics. If you return your Recalled Device,
you will get an automatic Device Payment Award and a $100 Device Return Award. Go to
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com to enroll in the Settlement and receive a prepaid label to
return your Recalled Device to Philips Respironics for free.
The Enrollment Process is available for all Recalled Devices except the Trilogy 100/200 Recalled Devices;
for those Users who still possess their Trilogy 100/200 Recalled Devices and wish to receive a Device
Return Award, they should register their Trilogy 100/200 with Philips Respironics pursuant to a Recall
Program and follow the process under the Recall Program. The User’s DME will reach out to the User to
schedule a time to pick up the Trilogy 100/200 and install a Remanufactured Device.
If you are a User, you may be eligible for a Device Payment Award for each Recalled Device you
purchased, leased, or rented. The amount of the award depends on the specific model of your Recalled
Device:
If more than one User makes a claim for a Device Payment Award with respect to the same Recalled
Device (e.g., a rental Recalled Device), the Device Payment Award will be allocated among those Users
by the Settlement Administrator on a pro rata basis following the Claims Period Deadline.
If a User returned their Recalled Device to Philips Respironics under warranty (outside of a Recall
Program) and received another Recalled Device for free pursuant to that warranty, the User is only eligible
for a Device Payment Award for the Recalled Device provided to the User for free under warranty, not
the original Recalled Device returned to Philips Respironics under warranty.
If a User returned his or her Recalled Device under warranty (outside of a Recall Program) and received
his or her full payment back, the User is not eligible for a Device Payment Award for the Recalled Device
the User returned.
Please keep in mind that if you returned a Recalled Device to Philips Respironics and received a
Remanufactured Device from Philips Respironics, your potential claim for Settlement benefits is
for the Recalled Device, not the Remanufactured Device.
10. How much are the Device Return Awards for Users?
If you are a User, you are eligible for a $100 Device Return Award for each Recalled Device you return
(or already returned) to Philips Respironics. The return deadline is Claims Period Deadline. The amount
of the Device Return Award does not depend on the specific model of the Recalled Device.
11. How much are the Device Replacement Awards for Users?
If you are a User, you may be eligible for a Device Replacement Award for money you spent to replace
a Recalled Device with a comparable CPAP, BiPAP, or ventilator Replacement Device on or after June
14, 2021 and before September 7, 2023. To qualify, you had to purchase the Replacement Device before
you received, or without receiving, a Remanufactured Device from Philips Respironics.
To receive a Device Replacement Award, you must submit a claim supported by the required information
and documentation. Go to www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com to obtain and complete a copy
of the Device Replacement Award Claim Form and submit the required information and documentation.
You must also return your Recalled Device (if you still have it) to Philips Respironics, and if you received
a Remanufactured Device from Philips Respironics, you must return that as well.
The amount of a Device Replacement Award will depend on the amount paid by the User (not any payment
made by insurance or a third-party payer) to purchase, lease, or rent the Replacement Device, the value of
a device that is comparable to the replaced Philips Respironics Recalled Device, as well as the number of
valid Device Replacement Award claims submitted.
Users who receive Device Replacement Awards are also eligible for Device Payment Awards. However,
except in certain circumstances, Users who receive Device Replacement Awards are not eligible for
Device Return Awards.
Visit the Device Replacement Award Tab at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for more
details.
If you are a User and you received or receive a Remanufactured Device as part of a Philips Respironics
Recall Program, you will receive the following extended warranty from Philips Respironics:
• 2 years for materials and workmanship for Remanufactured Devices that have a different Serial
Number from the associated Recalled Device; or
• 2 years for materials and workmanship on the repair work that was performed by Philips
Respironics pursuant to the Recall Programs (not the entire Remanufactured Device) on
Remanufactured Devices that have the same Serial Number as the associated Recalled Device.
The extended warranty begins (i) for Remanufactured Devices shipped by Philips Respironics directly to
the User, on the date of shipment to the User, and (ii) for Remanufactured Devices shipped by Philips
Respironics to the DME, on the date the Remanufactured Device was set up by the DME for the User.
Users who return (or already returned) their Recalled Devices to Philips Respironics by Claims Period
Deadline can get paid more quickly – i.e., before the completion and outcome of any appeals – if they
complete the necessary forms for the Accelerated Implementation Option (“AIO”). To get an accelerated
payment, go to www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com and complete the necessary AIO forms. The
deadline to elect the AIO is the Claims Period Deadline or the completion of any appeals from MDL Court
Final Approval, whichever is later. To be eligible for the AIO, you must return your Recalled Device to
Philips Respironics by Claims Period Deadline.
In exchange for an accelerated Device Payment and Device Return Award, Users will be required to
(a) provide the Philips Defendants and the other Released Parties with an individual release of their Economic
Loss Claims, including both known and unknown claims, (b) make a sworn attestation as to whether they
used ozone cleaning with their Recalled Device, and (c) if they used ozone cleaning, submit a signed
individual assignment to Philips Respironics of all their Economic Loss Claims against the manufacturer of
their ozone cleaner.
Users who rented a Recalled Device are not eligible for accelerated payments. Device Replacement Awards
are also not subject to an accelerated payment option.
14. What are the Settlement Benefits for Payers? (Payer Awards)
If you are a Payer, you may qualify for a Payer Award from the $34 million fund established for Payer
Awards. Payer Awards will be calculated based on each Eligible Payer’s relative market share (aggregated
among all Eligible Payers) based on the number of insured lives covered by the Eligible Payer and the
dollar amount of direct premiums written by the Eligible Payer in the Calendar Years 2021 and 2022
(“Market Share Percentage”). The Settlement Administrator will determine each Eligible Payer’s Market
Share Percentage based on industry data and the information provided in the Eligible Payer’s Declaration
and Claim Form.
Payers are not eligible for Device Payment, Device Return or Device Replacement Awards, and are not
eligible for accelerated payments.
Go to www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com and click on the Payer Tab, or call 1-855-912-3432,
for more details.
The chart on pages 3-6 above summarizes the steps that must be taken by Users, and the deadlines, to get
a Device Payment Award, Device Return Award, and/or Device Replacement Award under the
Settlement. Go to www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for more information and to submit a
claim, if necessary. The easiest way for Users who still have their Recalled Devices to get a payment
and maximize that payment is to return their Recalled Devices(s) to Philips Respironics.
Payers must submit a Declaration and Claim Form supported by the required information and
documentation to get a payment. Visit the Payer Tab at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com
for details.
16. I already registered my Recalled Device in a Recall Program. Do I also need to enroll in the
Settlement for that Recalled Device?
No. If you already registered your Recalled Device in a Philips Respironics Recall Program, you do not
separately need to enroll that device in this Settlement. The information from your registration will be
provided to the Settlement Administrator. However, please go to www.RespironicsCPAP-
ELSettlement.com to confirm or update your contact information, as well as to choose your preferred
payment option.
17. Where can I obtain more information about the Settlement and obtain a Claim Form?
You can obtain more information about the Settlement and submit a claim, if necessary, by going to
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com. You can also submit a paper claim by downloading a
claim form from www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com and mailing it, along with any necessary
supporting documentation, to Respironics CPAP Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch
Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103. You can also call the Settlement Administrator at 1-855-912-
3432 and they will mail you a paper claim form.
The deadline for taking any steps required under the Settlement to receive a payment is Claims Period
Deadline.
It is too early to answer this question. The Court will hold a hearing on _____, 2024 at ___ a.m., to decide
whether to approve the Settlement. The Court may move the Final Approval Hearing to a different date
or time without providing further notice to the Settlement Class. The date and time of the Final Approval
Hearing can be confirmed at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com. Please check it regularly for
updates.
However, even if the Court approves the Settlement, there may be appeals that further delay payments
unless you are a User who qualifies for and elects the Accelerated Implementation Option. Please be
patient.
Unless you timely exclude yourself from the Settlement Class with a valid opt-out request (see Questions
27-30), your Economic Loss Claims will be released, and you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of
any other lawsuit against the Philips Defendants or the other Released Parties seeking to recover for
Economic Loss Claims. Any such Economic Loss Claims by you will be barred whether or not you
complete the steps necessary to receive a payment under the proposed Settlement. You may, however,
pursue claims for personal injury or medical monitoring; those claims are not released by this
proposed Settlement.
In addition, if you do not timely and validly opt out of the Settlement, you will assign to Philips
Respironics any Economic Loss Claims you may have against Ozone Cleaning Companies.
Details regarding the “Releases” and “Assignment” are in Sections 4 and 5 of the Settlement Agreement,
which can be viewed at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com.
Updates regarding the proposed Settlement, including the timing of the Final Fairness Hearing, will be
posted at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com. If you visit that website and input your Claim ID
number (which can be found on the Notice you received via postal mail and/or email notifying you about
the Settlement), you will get automatic updates regarding the proposed Settlement.
22. How can I verify or update my contact information and choose my payment option?
All Settlement Class Members can update their contact information and choose their preferred payment
option by visiting www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com, or by sending an email to
[email protected], or by calling 1 855-912-3432.
Payment options for Users are Zelle, Virtual Mastercard, or paper check. Payers may choose ACH
payment or paper check. Processing times for paper check will be longer.
Yes. The Court appointed the following lawyers to represent you and the other Settlement Class Members:
Christopher A. Seeger of Seeger Weiss; Sandra L. Duggan of Levin Sedran & Berman; Steven A.
Schwartz of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP; Kelly K. Iverson of Lynch Carpenter,
LLP; Roberta D. Liebenberg of Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C.; Lisa Ann Gorshe of Johnson Becker
PLLC; and Arthur H. Stroyd, Jr. of Del Sole Cavanaugh Stroyd LLC.
These firms are called Settlement Class Counsel. You will not be charged for their services.
24. How will the lawyers who served as Class Counsel be paid?
In addition to the payments described above to Settlement Class Members, the Philips Defendants have
agreed to pay the amount the Court awards with respect to the motion for attorneys’ fees and costs that
will be filed by Settlement Class Counsel, with the attorneys’ fees being calculated based on the
percentage of recovery methodology, with a lodestar cross-check, and paid apart from and in addition to
the payments to Settlement Class Members. Settlement Class Counsel will not seek an award of attorneys’
fees in excess of $175,000,000, which Settlement Class Counsel contend represents a fair percentage of
the value of the Settlement in terms of cash recoveries and other benefits to the Settlement Class. The
Philips Defendants fully reserve the right to challenge that amount, any percentage upon which it is based,
and the items comprising the claimed value of the Settlement. Settlement Class Counsel will also ask the
Court for an award of litigation expense reimbursements of up to $2,500,000. The Philips Defendants
fully reserve the right to challenge that amount.
The Philips Defendants have not agreed to pay these amounts. Instead, Settlement Class Counsel and the
Philips Defendants, with the assistance of the Settlement Mediator appointed by the Court, will attempt to
reach agreement on the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs that Settlement Class Counsel will submit for
approval from the Court. If Settlement Class Counsel and the Philips Defendants do not reach agreement
on the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs, they will litigate the matter and will present their respective
positions to the Court. Whether the parties are able to reach agreement or not, the Court will determine
what is the fair and reasonable amount of attorneys’ fees and costs.
The final amount of attorneys’ fees and costs awarded by the Court will not reduce the payments to
Settlement Class Members.
A copy of Settlement Class Counsel’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses will be available 30 days
prior to the Opt-Out/Objection Deadline at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com.
You do not need to hire your own lawyer because Settlement Class Counsel are working on your behalf
in connection with the Economic Loss Claims. If you want your own lawyer, you may hire one at your
own expense. For example, you can ask your own lawyer to appear in Court if you want someone other
than Settlement Class Counsel to speak for you, and you follow the necessary steps to appear. You may
also appear for yourself without a lawyer if you follow the necessary steps to do so discussed in Question
35 below.
26. Who are the Settlement Class Representatives and what will they get from the Settlement?
The Settlement Class Representatives are: Elizabeth Heilman, Peter and Julie Barrett, and Ivy Creek of
Tallapoosa LLC d/b/a Lake Martin Community Hospital, who are Users; and ASEA/AFSCME Local 52
Health Benefits Trust, which is a Payer. Settlement Class Counsel will ask the Court to award each
Settlement Class Representative $5,000 as a Service Award for their efforts in serving as a class
representative in connection with this proposed Settlement. Other than this potential award, the Settlement
Class Representatives will be eligible for the same Settlement benefits as every other Settlement Class
Member in the same situation. Settlement Class Counsel will assert to the Court that the Service Awards
are reasonable because the Settlement Class Representatives agreed to serve in that capacity and spent
significant time consulting with counsel in connection with this proposed Settlement.
The Service Awards approved by the Court will be paid by the Philips Defendants separate and apart from
the other Settlement payments described in this notice and will not reduce the payments to Settlement
Class Members.
You may opt out of the Settlement by mailing an opt out request to the Claims Administrator at:
Respironics CPAP Settlement
Attn: Exclusions
P.O. Box 58220
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Users who desire to opt out of the Settlement must mail a written request to opt out stating that they seek
exclusion from the Settlement and identifying their Recalled Device(s) by Serial Number, if known, and
including information regarding the type of Recalled Device, the approximate date of acquisition, and the
type of acquisition (e.g., purchase, rental, etc.). The Settlement Class Member shall also include their
contact information, including name, address, telephone number, and email, if any, as well as the same
information regarding the Settlement Class Member’s counsel (if applicable). Incomplete opt-outs are
invalid.
Payers who desire to opt out of the Settlement must mail a written request to opt out stating that they seek
exclusion from the Settlement and must include the full name of Payer plan and whether the Payer made
payments to reimburse (in whole or part) Users’ payments to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise pay for
Recalled Devices; number of lives insured by the Payer in each of the calendar years 2008 to 2021; and
number of direct premiums written in each of the calendar years 2008 to 2021.
To be valid and effective, an original request to opt-out must be signed by the Settlement Class Member
or the Settlement Class Member’s Representative Claimant, but not by the Settlement Class Member’s
counsel, if any, or anyone else. Representative Claimants must supply the Settlement Administrator with
written proof that such person has legal authority to act in a representative capacity for the Settlement
Class Member. A pleading or any other request to opt out made or signed only by counsel for the
Settlement Class Member shall not be sufficient. Mass opt-outs also are not permitted, and each
Settlement Class Member may only opt out on behalf of himself, herself, or itself. Electronic signatures
(other than DocuSign) are not valid and effective, whether for Settlement Class Members or
Representative Claimants.
The opt-out request must be postmarked no later than Opt-Out/Objection Deadline or it will be
denied as untimely and invalid.
28. If I don’t opt out, can I sue the Philips Defendants for Economic Loss Claims later?
No. Unless you submit a timely and valid opt out, if the Settlement is approved, you give up the right to
bring any Economic Loss Claims against the Philips Defendants or the other Released Parties. Any such
Economic Loss Claims by you will be barred whether or not you complete the steps necessary to receive
a settlement payment. You must exclude yourself from the Settlement Class if you want to try to pursue
your own lawsuit for Economic Loss Claims against the Philips Defendants or the other Released Parties.
Remaining in the Settlement Class does not affect any personal injury or medical monitoring claims
you may have.
29. If I don’t opt out, can I sue Ozone Cleaning Companies for Economic Loss Claims?
No. If you do not opt out and the Settlement is approved, you will assign to Philips Respironics your
Economic Loss Claims against Ozone Cleaning Companies.
If you submit a timely and valid request to opt out of the Settlement, you will not have any rights as a
member of the Settlement Class under the Settlement; you will not receive any payment or other benefits
provided by the Settlement; you will not be able to object to the Settlement; and you will keep the right,
if any, to sue on any Economic Loss Claims.
If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not opt out of the Settlement, you can object to the Settlement
(or any aspect of it) by mailing an objection to the Settlement Administrator. You can also object to the
amount sought in the motion for attorneys’ fees and costs that will be filed by Settlement Class Counsel,
or the proposed Service Awards to the Settlement Class Representatives. The Court will consider your
views. You can’t ask the Court to compel the parties to agree to a different Settlement; the Court can only
approve or reject the proposed Settlement as presented and explain its reasons for doing so. If the Court
denies approval, no Settlement payments will be made, and the lawsuit will continue unless the parties
negotiate a revised Settlement.
Any objection to the proposed Settlement must be in writing and mailed to the Settlement Administrator
at the following address: Respironics CPAP Settlement, Attn: Objections, P.O. Box 58220, Philadelphia,
PA 19102. The postmark deadline for any objection is Opt-Out/Objection Deadline. Any objections
that are not postmarked by Opt-Out/Objection Deadline are untimely and invalid.
All objections must state that you object to the proposed Settlement in In re Philips Recalled CPAP, BI-
LEVEL PAP, and Mechanical Ventilator Products Litigation, Master Docket No. 21-mc-1230-JFC, MDL
No. 3014 (W.D. Pa.).
All objections also must state whether the objection asserted applies only to the objector, to a specific
subset of the Settlement Class, or to the entire Settlement Class, and must also state with specificity the
grounds for the objection and include all supporting evidence and documentation. Any objection must
include a statement whether the Settlement Class Member intends to appear at the Final Fairness Hearing
either with or without the objector’s counsel (who must be identified). Any objection must also identify
any witnesses intended to be called, the subject area of the witnesses’ testimony, and identify and attach
a copy of all documents to be used or offered into evidence at the Final Fairness Hearing. Failure to do
so may result in the exclusion of such appearances, documents, witnesses, and/or evidence from the Final
Fairness Hearing.
Any objection must provide information sufficient to show the objector’s membership in the Settlement
Class. Users must include in their objection the Serial Number(s), if known, and the type of their Recalled
Device(s). Payers must include in their objection whether the Payer reimbursed (in whole or part) Users’
payments to purchase, lease, or rent Recalled Devices; the number of lives insured by the Payer in each
of the calendar years 2008 to 2022; and the number of direct premiums written in each of the calendar
years 2008 to 2022.
The objection must state if the objector or the objector’s counsel have objected to a class action Settlement
during the past 5 years, and if so, identify all cases in which the objector or the objector’s counsel have
filed an objection by caption, court and case number, and for each case, the disposition of the objection,
including whether any payments were made to the objector or the objector’s counsel, and if so, the
incremental benefits, if any, that were achieved for the class in exchange for such payments.
The objection must be signed by the Settlement Class Member and his, her, or its counsel, if any. An
objection signed by counsel alone is not valid. Any objection not submitted in full compliance with these
terms and procedures are invalid and deemed waived.
If you make a timely and valid written objection, you may (but are not required to) appear at the Final
Approval Hearing, either in person or through your own attorney, provided that you state that intention to
appear in the objection itself. If you appear through your own attorney, you are responsible for hiring and
paying that attorney.
Objecting is telling the Court that you don’t like something about the proposed Settlement. You can object
to the proposed Settlement only if you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. You can still
get the Settlement benefits if it is approved over your objection.
Excluding yourself from the proposed Settlement is opting out and telling the Court that you don’t want
to be part of the Settlement. If you opt out of the Settlement, you cannot object to it because it no longer
affects you.
You cannot opt out of the Settlement and object to it.
The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on ____________, 2024 at ____m., in Courtroom 5A of
the Joseph F. Weiss, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 700 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there
are objections, the Court will consider them. The Court will listen to Settlement Class Members (or their
counsel) who have timely and properly asked to speak at the hearing. The Court will then decide whether
to approve the Settlement.
The Court may also decide how much should be awarded with respect to the motion for attorneys’ fees
and costs that will be filed by Settlement Class Counsel, and how much the Settlement Class
Representatives should receive in Service Awards.
The Court may reschedule the Final Approval Hearing or change any of the deadlines described in this
Notice. The date of the Final Approval Hearing may change without further notice to Settlement Class
Members. Be sure to check the website, www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com, for news of any
such changes. You can also access the case docket 21-mc-1230 via the Court’s Public Access to Court
Electronic Records (PACER) system at https://ecf.pawd.uscourts.gov or access the Court’s public
information website for the litigation at: https://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/mdl-3014-re-philips-
recalled-cpap-bi-level-pap-and-mechanical-ventilator-products-litigation.
No. Settlement Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. You may attend at your
own expense if you wish. If you mail an objection to the Settlement Administrator, you do not have to
come to the hearing to talk about it. As long as you meet the requirements for objections, the Court will
consider it. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but that is not necessary.
You may ask the Court for permission for you or your own lawyer (hired at your own expense) to speak
at the Final Approval Hearing. To do so, you must include a statement in your written objection (see
Question 31) that you and/or your lawyer intend to appear at the hearing. Be sure to meet all the objection
requirements (see Question 31).
You cannot speak at the hearing or send your own lawyer to speak on your behalf if you exclude yourself
from the Settlement Class.
IF I DO NOTHING
36. What happens if I do nothing at all?
If you take no action at all, you will get no Settlement payment unless you are a User and you qualify for
an Automatic Payment. If you are a User who qualifies for an Automatic Payment, you will be sent a
check for your automatic Device Payment Award and Device Return Award to your last known address
if you do nothing further. But to ensure your information is up to date, please go to
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com to verify or update your contact information, provide the
Serial Number of your Recalled Device and Recall Registration Number to expedite your payment, and
confirm your preferred payment option.
All other Settlement Class Members must take further action to receive a payment. See Question 15
above. If you do nothing, you’ll be a Settlement Class Member but you won’t get a payment from this
Settlement.
If you are a Settlement Class Member and you do not exclude yourself as explained in Question 27, you
will give up your right to start a lawsuit, continue with a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against
the Philips Defendants, the other Released Parties, and/or Ozone Cleaning Companies for Economic Loss
Claims. Any such Economic Loss Claims by you will be barred whether or not you complete the steps
necessary to receive a Settlement payment. However, any claim you may have for personal injury or
medical monitoring will not be affected even if you do nothing.
Yes. This Notice simply summarizes the proposed Settlement. The specific details are in the Settlement
Agreement and other case documents. You can get a copy of these and other documents at
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com, by emailing Info@RespironicsCPAP-
ELSettlement.com, by calling 1-855-912-3432, by accessing the docket in this case through the Court’s
Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at: https://ecf.pawd.uscourts.gov or access
the Court’s public information website for the litigation at: https://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/mdl-3014-
re-philips-recalled-cpap-bi-level-pap-and-mechanical-ventilator-products-litigation, or by visiting
the office of the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania located at Joseph F. Weiss, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 700 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE COURT OR THE COURT CLERK’S OFFICE TO INQUIRE
ABOUT THIS SETTLEMENT OR THE CLAIM PROCESS.
filed with the Court. These documents will tell you more about the Settlement and help you determine
whether you are eligible for a payment.
You can also call 1-855-912-3432 or write to the Claims Administrator at:
Respironics CPAP Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Settlement Class Counsel can also be reached using the following contact information:
[email protected].
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 3(b)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 105 of 168
You are receiving this additional notification because you have already registered
your CPAP, BiPAP or Ventilator device in the Philips Respironics Recall Program, but you
have not yet returned your Recalled Device.
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 3(b): Targeted Paper Notice to Non-Trilogy Users (Enclosed with FAQs)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 106 of 168
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 3(c)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 107 of 168
You are receiving this additional notification because you have already registered
your Trilogy 100/200 Ventilator in the Philips Respironics Recall Program. At the
appropriate time, your DME will be reaching out to you to schedule a time to retrieve
your Trilogy 100/200 and install a Remanufactured Device. If you allow the DME to do
this, and the proposed settlement is approved, you will receive a $100 Device Return
Award and also a Device Payment Award.
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 3(c): Targeted Paper Notice to Trilogy Users (Enclosed with FAQs)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 108 of 168
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 3(d)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 109 of 168
If you paid for a Philips Respironics CPAP, BiPAP or Ventilator that was recalled, you
may be eligible for a cash award from a proposed class action settlement.
● A proposed Settlement has been reached in a U.S. class action lawsuit alleging Economic Loss
Claims related to the purchase, lease, or rental of recalled CPAPs, BiPAPs, and ventilators
manufactured by Philips Respironics between 2008 and 2021. Philips Respironics recalled
these devices in the United States beginning in June 2021.
● Under the proposed Settlement:
o a minimum of $445 million will be paid to “Users” who purchased, leased, or rented a
Recalled Device;
o up to an additional $15 million will be paid to “Users” who paid out of pocket for a
Replacement Device.
● The Settlement does not affect or release any claims for alleged personal injuries or
medical monitoring relief, which continue to be litigated.
● Users may qualify for:
o a Device Payment Award for each Recalled Device they purchased, leased, or
rented. The amount for each specific device model is listed in the table below;
o a Device Return Award of $100 for each Recalled Device they return (or already
returned) to Philips Respironics by Claims Period Deadline; and/or
o a Device Replacement Award for money Users paid to purchase a Replacement
Device on or after June 14, 2021 and before September 7, 2023 to replace a
Recalled Device with a comparable CPAP, BiPAP, or ventilator.
● If you are a User and you still have your Recalled Device but have not yet returned it to
Philips Respironics, visit www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for instructions on
how to get a prepaid label to return your Recalled Device. Doing so will help you maximize
your payment from the proposed Settlement.
● The chart below summarizes your rights and options. More details, including a full copy
of the Notice, which has Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”), the full Settlement
Agreement, and other relevant documents, are available at www.RespironicsCPAP-
ELSettlement.com. Capitalized terms in this Notice have the same meaning as defined in the
Settlement Agreement.
IF YOU ARE A USER WHO : THEN:
You are eligible for an automatic Device Payment
Award and a $100 Device Return Award for each
Registered your Recalled Device Recalled Device you returned, without the need to submit
in a Recall Program and you a claim (“Automatic Payment”).
already returned it to Philips Go to www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com:
Respironics
-AND- • to verify your eligibility for payment;
You wish to participate in the • confirm or update your contact information; and
Settlement
• choose your preferred payment option.
By this Deadline: Claims Period Deadline
• Your rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. If the proposed Settlement is
approved, and you do not opt out, you will release your Economic Loss Claims against
the Philips Defendants and the other Released Parties and assign to Philips Respironics
your Economic Loss Claims against manufacturers of ozone cleaners. Please read this
Notice carefully.
A court authorized this Notice because individuals and entities in the United States (including its
Territories and the District of Columbia), including military and diplomatic personnel stationed
overseas, who purchased, leased, rented, paid for (in whole or in part), or were prescribed a
Recalled Device (called “Users”) have the right to know about a proposed legal Settlement
affecting them. The Recalled Devices are the CPAP, BiPAP, ventilator, and/or other devices sold,
leased, rented or otherwise distributed in the United States identified in the chart below.
If you are a User, you can get a payment if you meet the standards to qualify for a payment.
Users may be eligible for a Device Return Award, a Device Payment Award, and/or a Device
Replacement Award.
The Device Return Awards are $100 for each Recalled Device a User returns to Philips
Respironics by Claims Period Deadline. The amount of the Device Return Award does not depend
on the specific model of the Recalled Device. You can get a prepaid label at
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com to return your Recalled Devices for free. That is the
easiest way to get paid and maximize your payment because you will qualify for both a Device
Payment Award and a Device Return Award for each Recalled Device you return.
Please note that for those Users who still possess their Trilogy 100/200 Recalled Devices and wish
to get a $100 Device Return Award, they should register their Trilogy 100/200 with Philips
Respironics pursuant to its Recall Program and follow the process under the Recall Program. The
User’s DME will reach out to the User to schedule a time to pick up the Trilogy 100/200 and install
a Remanufactured Device.
The amount of the Device Payment Awards for Users depends on the specific model of the
Recalled Device, as reflected in the following table:
Users who paid out of pocket for a CPAP, BiPAP, or ventilator device to replace a Recalled Device
on or after June 14, 2021 and prior to September 7, 2023 and either (a) did not obtain a
Remanufactured Device from a Philips Respironics Recall Program, or (b) replaced a Recalled
Device prior to receiving a Remanufactured Device from a Philips Respironics Recall Program,
may qualify for a Device Replacement Award. Visit the Device Replacement Award Tab at
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for details.
In addition to making the payments described above, the Philips Defendants will also separately
pay the reasonable costs to administer the Settlement, the amount the Court awards with respect
to the motion for attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses that will be filed by Settlement Class
Counsel, and any Service Awards the Court approves for the five Settlement Class
Representatives.
The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether to approve the proposed Settlement.
Payments will be made if the Court approves the proposed Settlement and after any appeals are
resolved in favor of upholding the Settlement. This process can take time. Please be patient.
You may Opt-Out of or Object to the Settlement by Opt-Out/Objection Deadline. Please visit
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for more information on how to Opt-Out of or Object
to the Settlement. You cannot both Opt-Out of and Object to the Settlement.
If you submit a timely and valid request to opt out of the Settlement, you will not have any rights
as a member of the Settlement Class under the proposed Settlement; you will not receive any
payment or other benefits provided by the Settlement; you will not be able to object to the
Settlement; and you will keep the right, if any, to sue for any Economic Loss Claims.
If you Do Nothing, you will be legally bound by the terms of the Settlement, and you will release
your Economic Loss Claims against the Philips Defendants and the other Released Parties. In
addition, you will also assign to Philips Respironics any Economic Loss Claims you may have
against Ozone Cleaning Companies.
Yes. The Court appointed the following lawyers to represent you and the other Users: Christopher
A. Seeger of Seeger Weiss LLP; Sandra L. Duggan of Levin Sedran & Berman LLP; Steven A.
Schwartz of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP; Kelly K. Iverson of Lynch
Carpenter, LLP; Roberta D. Liebenberg of Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C.; Lisa Ann Gorshe of
Johnson Becker PLLC; and Arthur H. Stroyd, Jr. of Del Sole Cavanaugh Stroyd LLC.
These firms are called Settlement Class Counsel. You will not be charged for their services.
The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on ____________, 2024 at ____m., in Courtroom
5A of the Joseph F. Weiss, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 700 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate.
If there are objections, the Court will consider them. The Court will listen to Users who have
timely and properly asked to speak at the hearing. The Court will then decide whether to approve
the Settlement.
The Court may also decide how much should be awarded with respect to the motion for attorneys’
fees and costs that will be filed by Settlement Class Counsel, and how much the Settlement Class
Representatives should receive in Service Awards.
The Court may reschedule the Final Approval Hearing or change any of the deadlines described
in this Notice. Be sure to check the website, www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com, for news
of any such changes.
Unsubscribe
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 3(e)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 117 of 168
If you reimbursed (in whole or in part) a payment for a Philips Respironics CPAP, BiPAP
or Ventilator that was recalled, you may be eligible for a cash award from a proposed class
action settlement.
● A proposed Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit alleging Economic Loss
Claims related to the purchase, lease, or rental of recalled CPAPs, BiPAPs, and ventilators
manufactured by Philips Respironics between 2008 and 2021. Philips Respironics recalled
these devices beginning in June 2021.
● The Settlement Class includes insurers, self-funded employers, and other third-party payers
(but not federal government payers) (“Payers”) that paid for or reimbursed (in whole or in part)
a payment to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise pay for a Recalled Device sold, leased, rented
or otherwise distributed in the United States.
● Under the proposed Settlement, the Philips Defendants will pay $34 million into a Payer
Settlement Fund to settle and resolve all Economic Loss Claims by Payers.
● In order to receive a payment (called a “Payer Award”) from the Settlement, Payers must
complete and submit a Payer Declaration and Claim Form. The deadline to submit a
claim is Claims Period Deadline.
● Payer Awards will be determined based on each Eligible Payer’s relative market share
(aggregated among all Eligible Payers) based on the number of insured lives in the United
States covered by the Eligible Payer and the dollar amount of direct premiums written by the
Eligible Payer in the United States for Calendar Years 2021 and 2022.
● Payers can submit their Payer Declaration and Claim Form with supporting information and
documentation electronically on the Settlement website, www.RespironicsCPAP-
ELSettlement.com, or by downloading a copy of the Claim Form from the website and mailing
to the Settlement Administrator at: Respironics CPAP Settlement, c/o Settlement
Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
More details, including information regarding the claims submission process, a full copy of the
Notice, which has Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”), the full Settlement Agreement, and
other relevant documents, are available at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com.
• Your rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. If the proposed Settlement is
approved, and you do not opt out, you will release your Economic Loss Claims against
the Philips Defendants and the other Released Parties and assign to Philips Respironics
your Economic Loss Claims against manufacturers of ozone cleaners. Please read this
Notice carefully and visit www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com.
A court authorized this Notice because Payers, including insurers, self-funded employers, and
other third-party payers, who reimbursed (in whole or in part) a payment for a Recalled Device,
have the right to know about a proposed legal Settlement affecting them.
The Recalled Devices are the following CPAP, BiPAP, ventilator, and/or other devices sold,
leased, rented or otherwise distributed in the United States:
Recalled Devices
System One 50 Series ASV4 (Auto SV4)
System One 50 Series Base
System One 50 Series BiPAP
System One 60 Series ASV4 (Auto SV4)
System One 60 Series Base
System One 60 Series BiPAP
C-series S/T, AVAPS (C-series and C-series HT)
DreamStation CPAP
DreamStation ASV
DreamStation ST, AVAPS
DreamStation BiPAP
DreamStation Go
E30
OmniLab Advanced Plus
Trilogy 100/200, Garbin Plus, Aeris LifeVent
V30 auto
With respect to Payers, in addition to paying $34 million into the Payer Settlement Fund, the
Philips Defendants will also separately pay the reasonable costs to administer the Settlement, the
amount the Court awards with respect to the motion for attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses that
will be filed by Settlement Class Counsel, and any Service Awards the Court approves for the
Settlement Class Representatives.
The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether to approve the proposed Settlement.
Payments will be made if the Court approves the proposed Settlement and after any appeals are
resolved in favor of upholding the Settlement. This process can take time. Please be patient.
You may Opt-Out of or Object to the Settlement by Claims Period Deadline. Please visit
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com for more information on how to Opt-Out of or Object
to the Settlement. You cannot both Opt-Out of and Object to the Settlement.
If you submit a timely and valid request to opt out of the Settlement, you will not have any rights
as a member of the Settlement Class under the proposed Settlement; you will not receive any
payment or other benefits provided by the Settlement; you will not be able to object to the
Settlement; and you will keep the right, if any, to sue for any Economic Loss Claims.
If you Do Nothing, you will be legally bound by the terms of the Settlement, and you will release
your Economic Loss Claims against the Philips Defendants and the other Released Parties. In
addition, you will also assign to Philips Respironics any Economic Loss Claims you may have
against Ozone Cleaning Companies.
Yes. The Court appointed the following lawyers to represent you and the other Settlement Class
Members: Christopher A. Seeger of Seeger Weiss LLP; Sandra L. Duggan of Levin Sedran &
Berman LLP; Steven A. Schwartz of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP; Kelly
K. Iverson of Lynch Carpenter, LLP; Roberta D. Liebenberg of Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C.;
Lisa Ann Gorshe of Johnson Becker PLLC; and Arthur H. Stroyd, Jr. of Del Sole Cavanaugh
Stroyd LLC.
These firms are called Settlement Class Counsel. You will not be charged for their services.
The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on ____________, 2024 at ____m., in Courtroom
5A of the Joseph F. Weiss, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 700 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate.
If there are objections, the Court will consider them. The Court will listen to Settlement Class
Members who have timely and properly asked to speak at the hearing. The Court will then decide
whether to approve the Settlement.
The Court may also decide how much should be awarded with respect to the motion for attorneys’
fees and costs that will be filed by Settlement Class Counsel, and how much the Settlement Class
Representatives should receive in Service Awards.
The Court may reschedule the Final Approval Hearing or change any of the deadlines described
in this Notice. Be sure to check the website, www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com, for news
of any such changes.
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 3(f)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 122 of 168
DMEs are NOT eligible for benefits under the proposed Settlement
If you did not, please notify your patients about the proposed Settlement and
ask them to visit www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com, email
[email protected], and/or call 1-(855) 912-3432 if
they have any questions
Unsubscribe
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 3(g)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 124 of 168
We are the court-appointed Settlement Administrator. Our records indicate that you registered your
CPAP, BiPAP or Ventilator machine in the Philips Respironics Recall Program, but you have not
yet returned your Recalled Device to Philips Respironics. You will get a $100 Device Return Award
if you return your Recalled Device before [Claims Period Deadline]. Please visit
www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com or call toll-free 1-855-912-3432 for instructions on
how to get a prepaid label to return your Recalled Device to Philips Respironics so that you qualify
for the $100 payment, as well as more information about the class action settlement.
Unsubscribe
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 3(h)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 126 of 168
We are the court-appointed Settlement Administrator. Our records indicate that you registered your
Trilogy 100/200 Ventilator machine in the Philips Respironics Recall Program, but you have not yet
had your Trilogy 100/200 replaced by your DME. You will get a $100 Device Return Award if you
allow your DME to retrieve your Trilogy 100/200 and replace it with a free Remanufactured Device
before [Claims Period Deadline]. Please visit www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com or call
toll-free 1-855-912-3432 if you need any assistance or additional information.
Unsubscribe
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 4
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 128 of 168
If you are a User who purchased, leased, rented or paid for (in whole or part) a Recalled
Device (“User”) and you have not returned your Recalled Device to Philips Respironics and you
do not intend to (or cannot) return it, you can receive a Device Payment Award if you submit this
Claim Form and provide all required documentation to the Settlement Administrator by no later
than Claims Period Deadline.
To obtain more information regarding the eligibility criteria and the Device Payment
Award amounts, please see the Class Notice, the Settlement website, www.RespironicsCPAP-
ELSettlement.com, or call toll-free 1-855-912-3432.
You can receive a separate Device Payment Award for each Recalled Device you
purchased, leased, rented or paid for (in whole or in part). Fill out and timely submit this Claim
Form for each Recalled Device and provide the required documentation for each Recalled
Device. Failure to submit all required documentation will result in the denial of your claim.
You can submit your Claim Form and documentation electronically on the Settlement
website, or by mail to the Settlement Administrator at: Respironics CPAP Settlement, c/o
Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103. If you are the
User’s guardian, estate, administrator, or other legal representative, or you are acting pursuant to
a power of attorney for a User, and you are submitting this Claim on behalf of that User, you must
also supply the Settlement Administrator with written proof that you have legal authority to act in
a representative capacity for the User.
This Claim Form and all required documentation must be submitted electronically
or postmarked by [Claims Period Deadline]. Untimely or incomplete submissions are invalid
and will not result in a payment.
1. Your name:
Virtual Mastercard
Paper Check
Email:
If you are submitting this Device Payment Award Claim Form for multiple Recalled Devices,
please complete this chart separately for each Recalled Device and provide the required
documentation for each Recalled Device. If you need additional copies of this chart, please
contact the Settlement Administrator or print additional copies.
You must submit sufficient documentation showing that you purchased, leased, rented or
paid for (in whole or part) the Recalled Device, as well as the date you acquired the Recalled
Device. Sufficient documentation can include a combination of the following, so long as all
required information is provided:
• Materials you received from the DME at the time of acquisition, such as the
invoice, purchase agreement, lease agreement, or rental agreement; and
• Statement of claim from your insurance company showing your payment(s) and
date(s) of payment.
9. Serial Number of Recalled Device:
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the
foregoing is true and correct.
___________________________________
Name
___________________________________
Address
___________________________________
Email address
___________________________________
Telephone number
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 5
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 133 of 168
If you are a User who used your own money to purchase, lease, or rent a comparable
replacement CPAP, BiPAP or ventilator to replace your Philips Respironics Recalled Device on
or after June 14, 2021 and before September 7, 2023, you can receive a Device Replacement
Award if you complete this Claim Form and Declaration, provide all required documentation, and
return all of the paperwork to the Settlement Administrator by no later than [Claims Period
Deadline]. The Class Notice and Settlement website describe the criteria you must meet to be
eligible for a Device Replacement Award. To obtain more information regarding the Settlement,
please visit the Settlement website at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com, or call toll-free
1-855-912-3432.
Failure to submit all required documentation will result in the denial of your claim. You
will also need to sign and return the attached sworn Declaration with your Claim Form.
Only one Replacement Device (and associated Device Replacement Award) is available
for each Philips Respironics Recalled Device that you replaced using your own money.
• You were using a Philips Respironics Recalled Device as of June 14, 2021 (i.e., if
you had previously been using a Philips Respironics Recalled Device, but had
stopped using it prior to June 14, 2021, you are not eligible for a Device
Replacement Award);
• You paid out of pocket (in whole or in part) to buy, lease, or rent a comparable
CPAP, BiPAP, ventilator or similar device to replace your Philips Respironics
Recalled Device on or after June 14, 2021 and before September 7, 2023;
• At the time you purchased, leased, rented or otherwise paid out of pocket for the
Replacement Device, you had not received a repaired, refurbished, remanufactured,
and/or new replacement device from Philips Respironics pursuant to a Philips
Respironics Recall Program (“Remanufactured Device”);
• You return the Recalled Device to Philips Respironics if you still have it (a pre-
paid return label is available on the Settlement website); and
• You return to Philip Respironics any Remanufactured Device you received from
Philips Respironics, if you received one (a pre-paid return label is available on the
Settlement website).
You can submit your Claim Form and documentation electronically on the Settlement
website at www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com, by email to info@RespironicsCPAP-
ELSettlement.com, or by mail to the Settlement Administrator at: Respironics CPAP Settlement,
c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103. If you are
the User’s guardian, estate, administrator, or other legal representative, or you are acting pursuant
to a power of attorney for a User, and you are submitting this claim for a Device Replacement
Award on behalf of that User, you must also supply the Settlement Administrator with written
proof that you have legal authority to act in a representative capacity for the User.
In the chart below, please identify the Replacement Device that you purchased, leased,
rented or otherwise paid out of pocket for on or after June 14, 2021 and before September 7, 2023
to replace your Philips Respironics Recalled Device. If you replaced two (or more) Philips
Respironics Recalled Devices with two (or more) Replacement Devices, please complete separate
charts and separate declarations for each replacement.
Paper Check
3. I used the Replacement Device that is identified in the Claim Form as a replacement
for my Philips Respironics Recalled Device.
7. (Answer No. 7 only if you received a Remanufactured Device from Philips Respironics)
I □ have / □ have not returned the Remanufactured Device to Philips
Respironics in reasonable working condition. [check the correct answer]
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the
foregoing is true and correct.
___________________________________
Name
___________________________________
Address
___________________________________
Email address
___________________________________
Telephone number
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 5: Device Replacement Award Claim Form 6
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 139 of 168
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 5(a)
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 140 of 168
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 6
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 142 of 168
(1) Sworn Declaration Regarding Use of an Ozone Cleaning Product or Products with
My Philips Respironics Recalled Device or Devices;
(2) Individual Release of My Economic Loss Claims Against the Released Parties; and
In addition, if you used an Ozone Cleaning Product or Products with your Recalled Device or
Devices, you must also complete the following form in order to be eligible to participate in the
AIO:
These forms must be completed and sent to the Settlement Administrator at: Respironics
CPAP Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA
19103 by the Claims Period Deadline or the completion of any appeals, whichever is later. The
Settlement website will be updated periodically to provide information concerning the date of
MDL Court Final Approval and the status of any appeals.
Please note that for those Users who wish to participate in the AIO for their Trilogy 100/200
Recalled Devices, they should register their Trilogy 100/200 with Philips Respironics pursuant to
a Recall Program and follow the device retrieval process under the Recall Program. The User’s
DME will reach out to the User to schedule a time to pick up the Trilogy 100/200 and install a
Remanufactured Device.
Untimely or incomplete submissions are invalid and will not result in an accelerated
payment.
-2-
2. I □ did □ did not [please check one] use an Ozone Cleaning Product
with my Philips Respironics Recalled Device(s).
[If you answered “Did Not” to No. 2, you should skip to the end of this form
and provide your signature, name, address, telephone number, email
address, and date. You do not need to complete the attached Individual
Assignment form. However, you still need to complete the attached
Individual Release form and Payment Preference form.]
[If you answered “Did” to No. 2, please complete the chart in No. 3 below
and the rest of this form. In addition, you also need to complete the attached
Individual Assignment form, Individual Release form, and Payment
Preference form.]
3. In the chart below, please identify the Ozone Cleaning Product and your Philips
Respironics Recalled Device (by Serial Number, if available to you; if not, by
Model) on which you used the Ozone Cleaning Product.
[If you used more than one Ozone Cleaning Product, or more than one
Philips Respironics Recalled Device, please identify that information
separately in the chart below.]
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the
foregoing is true and correct.
___________________________________
Name
___________________________________
Address
___________________________________
Email address
___________________________________
Telephone number
-2-
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the
foregoing is true and correct.
___________________________________
Name
___________________________________
Address
___________________________________
Email address
___________________________________
Telephone number
I acknowledge and waive, and agree to waive, on behalf of myself and the other Releasing
Parties, Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which provides that: “A GENERAL
RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING
PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE
TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER,
WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE
DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.” I expressly waive and relinquish, on behalf of myself and
the other Releasing Parties, any and all rights and benefits that I and they may have under, or that
may be conferred upon me or them by, the provisions of Section 1542 of the California Civil Code,
or any other law of any state or territory that is similar, comparable or equivalent to Section 1542,
to the fullest extent I may lawfully waive such rights or benefits pertaining to the Released Claims.
In connection with such waiver and relinquishment, I hereby acknowledge, on behalf of myself
and the other Releasing Parties, that I and they are aware that my or their attorneys may hereafter
discover claims or facts in addition to or different from those that I or they now know or believe
exist with respect to the Released Claims, but that it is my and their intention to fully, finally, and
forever settle and release all of the Released Claims, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected,
asserted or unasserted, or past, present or future, that I or they have against the Released Parties.
In furtherance of such intention, the release herein shall be and remain in effect as a full and
complete general release of the Released Claims notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any
such additional different claims or facts. I expressly acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the
other Releasing Parties, that I and they have been advised by my and/or their attorneys of the
contents and effect of Section 1542, and with knowledge, expressly waive whatever benefits I or
they may have had pursuant to such section. I acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the other
Releasing Parties, that the foregoing waiver was expressly bargained for and a material element of
this Settlement.
I represent and warrant that I am the sole and exclusive owner of any and all Released
Claims, and further acknowledge that I and the other Releasing Parties have not assigned, pledged,
or in any manner whatsoever, sold, transferred, assigned or encumbered any right, title, interest or
claim arising out of or in any way whatsoever pertaining to the Released Claims, and that I am not
aware of anyone other than myself claiming any interest, in whole or in part, in any benefits,
proceeds or values.
I understand that, unless otherwise specified herein, the defined terms in this Individual
Release have the meaning set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the
foregoing is true and correct.
___________________________________
Name
___________________________________
Address
___________________________________
Email address
___________________________________
Telephone number
-2-
1. Your name:
Virtual Mastercard
Paper Check
Email:
___________________________________
Name
___________________________________
Address
___________________________________
Email address
___________________________________
Telephone number
-2-
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 7
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 152 of 168
(Only For Recalled Devices Registered in a Philips Respironics Recall Program Prior to
September 7, 2023, But the User Has Not Returned, and Has Decided Not to or Cannot
Return, the Recalled Device to Philips Respironics)
Please complete this Confirmation Form only if, for a particular Philips Respironics
Recalled Device:
1. You registered that Recalled Device for a Recall Program prior to September 7,
2023;
2. You did not previously return that Recalled Device to Philips Respironics; and
3. You have decided not to or cannot return that Recalled Device to Philips
Respironics.
If you have already returned your Recalled Device to Philips Respironics, or will be
returning your Recalled Device to Philips Respironics by the [Claims Period Deadline], do
not complete this form. If you return your Recalled Device to Philips Respironics by the
[Claims Period Deadline], you will automatically receive an additional payment of $100 as a
Device Return Award.
If you did not register your Recalled Device in a Philips Respironics Recall Program
prior to September 7, 2023, do not complete this form.
You can receive a separate Device Payment Award for each Recalled Device you
purchased, leased, rented or paid for (in whole or in part).
1. Your name:
Virtual Mastercard
Paper Check
-2-
9. For Zelle:
Email:
___________________________________
Name
___________________________________
Address
___________________________________
Email address
___________________________________
Telephone number
-3-
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 8
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 156 of 168
If you are an insurer, a self-funded employer, or other third-party payer that reimbursed (in
whole or in part) a payment for a Philips Respironics Recalled Device (“Payer”), you can receive
a Payer Award if you submit this Declaration and Claim Form and provide all required
documentation and information to the Settlement Administrator by no later than Claims Period
Deadline. Failure to submit all required documentation will result in the denial of your claim.
To obtain more information regarding the eligibility criteria and the Settlement, please see
the Class Notice, the Settlement website, www.RespironicsCPAP-ELSettlement.com, or call toll-
free 1-855-912-3432.
You can submit your Payer Declaration and Claim Form with supporting documentation
electronically on the Settlement website, or by mail to the Settlement Administrator at: Respironics
CPAP Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA
19103.
You must also supply the Settlement Administrator with written proof that you have legal
authority to act on behalf of the Payer to sign the Payer Declaration and Claim Form.
The Payer Declaration and Claim Form and all required documentation and
information must be submitted electronically or postmarked by Claims Period Deadline.
Untimely or incomplete forms are invalid and will not result in a payment.
It is your responsibility to notify the Settlement Administrator of any change of address
that occurs after you submit your Declaration and Claim Form.
2. I am submitting this Payer Declaration and Claim Form on behalf of a [select one]:
(a) Payer
(c) Other (including assignee with irrevocable assignment of Economic Loss Claims
of a Payer)
3. Provide the name, address, email and phone number of the entity on whose behalf you
are submitting this Declaration and Claim Form:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
5. I have the legal authority to make this Declaration and Claim Form on behalf of the
entity identified above in # 3.
[Provide written proof of your legal authority to act on behalf of the entity identified
above in # 3].
6. Provide the Federal Tax Identification Number of the entity identified above in # 3:
_______________________________________
7. Would you like your payment to be sent by electronic payment (ACH deposit to your
bank account), instead of by paper check? [ACH deposit will expedite your payment]
If you are submitting this Declaration and Claim Form based on information and
documentation for multiple Payers, please complete this chart separately for each Payer and
provide the required documentation for each Payer. If you need additional copies of this
chart, please contact the Settlement Administrator or print additional copies.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the
foregoing is true and correct.
___________________________________
Name
-3-
___________________________________
Address
___________________________________
Email address
___________________________________
Telephone number
-4-
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 9
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 161 of 168
Upon consideration of the Settlement Class Representatives’ Motion for Final Approval of
Class Settlement of Economic Loss Claims, and after dissemination of Notice to Settlement Class
Members and a Final Fairness Hearing held on ________, 2024, it is hereby ORDERED,
1. The Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over the above-captioned actions and
jurisdiction over all members of the Settlement Class, and Defendants Philips RS North America
LLC, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips North America LLC, Philips Holding USA, Inc., and
Philips RS North America Holding Corporation (collectively, the “Philips Defendants”) have
submitted to the jurisdiction and venue of this Court for purposes only of this Settlement and the
enforcement of the payment and performance obligations and injunctive relief thereunder.
2. All terms in initial capitalization used in this Final Judgment and Order shall have
3. On ________, 2023, the Court entered an Order in which it, inter alia, preliminarily
approved the Settlement, conditionally certified the Settlement Class for settlement purposes only,
directed Notice to Settlement Class Members, and approved the retention of Angeion Group LLC
as Settlement Administrator, Huntington Bank as Settlement Fund Escrow Agent, and Hon.
Thomas J. Rueter (Ret.) as Claims Appeals Special Master (ECF No. _____).
Final Approval of Class Settlement of Economic Loss Claims[, and on ____________, 2024, they
filed a brief in response to the objections to the Settlement filed by certain Settlement Class
Members].
5. On ________, 2024, the Court held a Final Fairness Hearing to consider whether
the Settlement should be finally approved under Rule 23(e)(2) as fair, reasonable and adequate.
6. The Court has reviewed the terms and conditions set forth in the Settlement
Agreement, including all exhibits thereto, and finds that they are fair, reasonable, and adequate
under Rule 23(e)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Court finds that the Settlement
is in full compliance with all requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Class
Action Fairness Act, the United States Constitution (including the Due Process Clause), and any
7. The Court finds that the Settlement was negotiated at arm’s-length before the
Court-appointed Settlement Mediator, Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.) (ECF No. ____); there was
sufficient formal and informal discovery; the Parties and counsel were knowledgeable about the
facts relevant to the Economic Loss Claims and potential risks of continued litigation of the
Economic Loss Claims; and the Parties were represented by highly capable counsel with
8. The Court also specifically considered the Girsh factors, including the complexity,
expense, and likely duration of litigation of the Economic Loss Claims; [the favorable reaction of
-2-
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 9: Proposed Final Approval Order and Judgment
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 163 of 168
the Settlement Class]; the stage of proceedings; the risks of establishing liability, damages, and
class certification; and the range of reasonableness of the Settlement in light of the best possible
recovery and attendant risks of litigation. Girsh v. Jepson, 521 F.2d 153, 157 (3d Cir. 1975). The
Court finds that these factors weigh in favor of approving the Settlement.
9. [The Court has carefully considered the objections to the Settlement filed by certain
Settlement Class Members, and hereby finds that none of those objections is meritorious.]
10. The Court finds that the dissemination of Notice as set forth in the Declaration of
Steven Weisbrot was in compliance with the Court’s __________, 2023 Preliminary Approval
Order, and that notice has been given in an adequate and sufficient manner, constitutes the best
notice practicable under the circumstances, and satisfies Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e) and
due process.
11. A full opportunity has been offered to Settlement Class Members to object to or opt
12. The Philips Defendants properly and timely notified the appropriate officials of the
Settlement pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act (“CAFA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1715. More than
ninety (90) days have elapsed since the Philips Defendants provided notice of the Settlement
13. Pursuant to Rule 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court
grants final class certification, for settlement purposes only, of the Settlement Class that it
14. The Court finds that the requirements of Rule 23 are satisfied, solely for the purpose
-3-
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 9: Proposed Final Approval Order and Judgment
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 164 of 168
a. Pursuant to Rule 23(a)(1), the Court determines that the members of the Settlement
Class are so numerous that their joinder before the Court would be impracticable;
b. Pursuant to Rule 23(a)(2), the Court determines that there are questions of law and
c. Pursuant to Rule 23(a)(3), the Court determines that the Settlement Class
Representatives’ claims are typical of the claims of the Settlement Class Members;
represented the interests of the Settlement Class and will continue to do so;
e. Pursuant to Rule 23(b)(3), the Court determines that common questions of law and
fact predominate over questions affecting any individual Settlement Class Member;
f. Pursuant to Rule 23(b)(3), the Court determines that a class resolution provides a
fair and efficient method for settling the Economic Loss Claims and is superior to
g. Pursuant to Rule 23(b)(3), the Court determines that the Settlement Class is
ascertainable.
15. The Court confirms the appointment of Elizabeth Heilman; Ivy Creek of Tallapoosa
LLC d/b/a/ Lake Martin Community Hospital; Peter Barrett; Julie Barrett; and ASEA/AFSCME
16. The Court confirms the appointment of the following as Settlement Class Counsel:
-4-
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 9: Proposed Final Approval Order and Judgment
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 165 of 168
b. Sandra L. Duggan, Levin Sedran & Berman, 510 Walnut Street, Suite 500,
Philadelphia, PA 19106;
d. Kelly K. Iverson, Lynch Carpenter, LLP, 1133 Penn Avenue, 5th Floor,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222;
e. Roberta D. Liebenberg, Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C., One South Broad
f. Lisa Ann Gorshe, Johnson Becker PLLC, 444 Cedar Street, Suite 1800, Saint
g. Arthur H. Stroyd, Jr., Del Sole Cavanaugh Stroyd LLC, 3 PPG Place, Suite 600,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
17. The list of persons and entities who timely and properly opted out of the Settlement
Class was filed by Settlement Class Counsel on __________, 2024. (ECF No. ____). The release
and other provisions of the Settlement Agreement shall not apply to them, and they shall not be
18. The Court grants final approval of the plan for allocating Settlement funds as being
fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interest of the Settlement Class. The Court further finds
that the plan of allocation of Settlement funds treats Class Members equitably relative to each other
19. Accordingly, the Court hereby grants the Settlement Class Representatives’ Motion
-5-
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 9: Proposed Final Approval Order and Judgment
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 166 of 168
20. The Court hereby dismisses the Economic Loss Complaint (ECF No. 785) and any
other Economic Loss Claims as to all Released Parties, on the merits, with prejudice and, except
21. The Court finds and confirms that the Settlement Funds are a “qualified settlement
22. The Settlement Administrator shall perform the duties and responsibilities set forth
in the Settlement Agreement, including, but not limited to, making monthly determinations of any
Additional Amounts that need to be paid by, or on behalf of, the Philips Defendants into the User
Settlement Fund, and distributing settlement funds to Eligible Settlement Class Members.
23. The Philips Defendants shall make all payments required by the Settlement
Agreement in the amounts and at the times set forth in the Settlement Agreement. All valid and
timely claims shall be paid by the Settlement Administrator in the amounts and at the times set
forth in the Settlement Agreement. Disputes over the validity and sufficiency of claims shall be
resolved by the Settlement Administrator and the Claims Appeals Special Master pursuant to the
terms set forth in the Settlement Agreement, with no further right of appeal.
24. The Claims Period shall end on ______________, 2024, i.e., 120 days after the
25. All of the Released Claims of the Settlement Class Members and the other
Releasing Parties against Defendants and the other Released Parties are hereby fully, finally,
irrevocably, and forever released, remised, waived, relinquished, settled, dismissed, surrendered,
26. Settlement Class Members and the other Releasing Parties are hereby enjoined and
finally and forever barred from filing, commencing, maintaining, continuing, pursuing and/or
-6-
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 9: Proposed Final Approval Order and Judgment
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 167 of 168
prosecuting the Released Claims in any action, arbitration or other proceeding, whether pending
or filed in the future, against Defendants and the other Released Parties. Defendants and the other
Released Parties may recover any and all reasonable costs and expenses from a Settlement Class
Member arising from that Settlement Class Member’s violation of this injunction. Pursuant to 28
U.S.C. §§ 1651(a) and 2283, the Court finds that issuance of this permanent injunction is necessary
and appropriate in aid of its continuing jurisdiction and authority over the Settlement.
27. The Court hereby approves the assignment of Economic Loss Claims by the
Settlement Class Members against Ozone Cleaning Companies to Philips RS North America LLC,
pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, including any proceeds Settlement Class Members would
otherwise have been eligible for in any settlement with an Ozone Cleaning Company.
28. The Philips Defendants and any successors to the Philips Defendants’ rights or
interests under the Settlement are hereby enjoined and finally and forever barred from challenging
or opposing a Settlement Class Member’s Medical Monitoring and Personal Injury Claims or
ability to recover for those claims on the basis of the Settlement, any payments under the
Settlement, or the Releases provided therein, other than to prevent double recovery for economic
losses related to the Recalled Devices or to prevent against the increase of an exemplary or punitive
29. The finality of this Final Order and Judgment shall not be affected by any order
entered regarding the Settlement Class Counsel’s motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and
reimbursement of expenses and/or any order entered regarding the Service Awards to the
Settlement Class Representatives, which shall be considered separate from this Final Order and
Judgment.
-7-
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 9: Proposed Final Approval Order and Judgment
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-1 Filed 09/07/23 Page 168 of 168
30. The Court shall retain continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over the Settlement
31. Without affecting the finality of this Final Order and Judgment, and solely for
purposes of this Settlement, the Philips Defendants and each Settlement Class Member hereby
irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court for any suit, action, proceeding, or
dispute arising out of or relating to the Settlement Agreement and/or the applicability,
32. The Parties are hereby directed to implement and consummate the Settlement
according to the terms and provisions of the Settlement Agreement, which are hereby approved
33. Without further order of the Court, the Parties may agree to reasonably necessary
extensions of time to carry out any of the provisions of the Settlement Agreement.
34. This is the Final Order and Judgment as defined in the Settlement Agreement. In
the event that this Final Judgment is not otherwise final and appealable, pursuant to Federal Rule
of Civil Procedure 54(b), the Court finds and directs that there is no just reason for delaying
-8-
Settlement Agreement Exhibit 9: Proposed Final Approval Order and Judgment
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-2 Filed 09/07/23 Page 1 of 7
BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF
PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
EXHIBIT B
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-2 Filed 09/07/23 Page 2 of 7
Mediator in this litigation. In that capacity, I mediated a proposed class settlement of the
Economic Loss Claims in the above-captioned putative class action against Defendants Philips
RS North America LLC, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips North America LLC, Philips Holding
USA, Inc., and Philips RS North America Holding Corporation (collectively, the “Philips
Defendants”).
of the proposed class action settlement that was negotiated under my supervision between the
representatives of Settlement Class Counsel1 and the Philips Defendants. As will be described in
more detail below, the negotiations between the parties were protracted, hard fought, and
and as a former Magistrate Judge, I believe the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable and
adequate.
1
Representatives of Settlement Class Counsel involved in the mediation process were comprised
of Christopher Seeger and David Buchanan; Sandra Duggan; Steve Schwartz; Kelly Iverson and
Gary Lynch; Roberta Liebenberg; Arthur Stroyd; and Lisa Gorshe (“Settlement Class Counsel”).
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-2 Filed 09/07/23 Page 3 of 7
3. I have personal knowledge of the facts stated herein from my role as mediator of
the settlement negotiations between the Settlement Class Counsel and the Philips Defendants
concerning the Economic Loss Claims, and I am competent to testify to the matters set forth in
this Declaration.
4. I served as a Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
Judge and JAMS neutral, I have successfully resolved over 5,000 matters covering virtually
every type of complex dispute. Most relevant here, I have substantial experience resolving class
actions and MDL litigation of all types, including consumer class actions, product liability
5. I set forth my background to provide context for the statements that follow, and to
demonstrate that my perspective on the settlement in this matter is based upon significant
6. On May 26, 2022, I was appointed by the Court to serve as a Settlement Mediator
in this case (Dkt. No. 588, Pretrial Order No. 16). Shortly after I was appointed and before the
first remote mediation session on June 24, 2022, I had a Zoom call with the parties’ counsel and
subsequently corresponded with them to discuss the general issues in the case, discovery in aid
discovery that would help in the mediation process. At my request, the parties exchanged
detailed mediation statements in advance of the first mediation. Their submissions addressed the
factual issues pertaining to the Economic Loss Claims; key legal issues, including standing,
damages, class certification, and precedent in this Circuit and beyond; and the parties’ settlement
proposals. I closely reviewed the mediation statements and the Consolidated Third Amended
2
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-2 Filed 09/07/23 Page 4 of 7
Class Action Complaint, and became familiar with the nature of the claims and defenses
asserted.
8. The first in-person mediation session took place on September 15, 2022. The
mediation was attended by Settlement Class Counsel and outside counsel for the Philips
Defendants, as well as senior client representatives with settlement authority. Throughout the day
I conducted joint sessions with all participants, as well as individual breakout sessions with the
parties. During the sessions, counsel made multiple presentations regarding various factual and
legal issues. There were extensive discussions of the strengths and weaknesses of the parties’
respective positions concerning the merits, damages, and a possible structure for a settlement of
facilitate the mediation discussions. As a result, subsequent to the first mediation there were
numerous further exchanges of documents, and information was provided in response to specific
interrogatories and other requests in order to ensure that the parties were fully informed of the
relevant facts.
10. Prior to the second mediation session, Settlement Class Counsel drafted a
proposed settlement term sheet that focused on a structure for a class settlement and exchanged
11. A second in-person mediation session was held on November 15, 2022. The
parties continued to discuss the structure of a proposed settlement and revisions to a draft term
12. Two more in-person mediation sessions were conducted on February 23 and 24,
2023. The session on February 23rd lasted until 7:30 pm and involved resolving outstanding
3
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-2 Filed 09/07/23 Page 5 of 7
issues, including with respect to payments to class members. On February 24, the parties
13. Apart from the four in-person mediation sessions, the parties negotiated
extensively over the phone and by e-mail, and I became involved from time-to-time to help
14. Thereafter, the parties continued to work on negotiating a term sheet. There was
extensive back and forth, and a term sheet setting forth some of the terms of the settlement was
15. The parties then engaged in extensive negotiations for several months over the
terms of the Settlement Agreement, and once again I was called upon by the parties periodically
16. The parties’ negotiations during the mediation sessions and in connection with the
settlement were focused exclusively on benefits for the Settlement Class, and there was no
17. In sum, the negotiations of the Economic Loss Claims entailed numerous
competing offers and demands between the parties. Throughout the mediation process, the
parties engaged in extensive adversarial negotiations over all core issues. The facilitated
negotiations were lengthy, principled, exhaustive, informed, and sometimes contentious but
always professional.
18. The negotiations were conducted by highly qualified attorneys with extensive
experience and expertise in complex class actions in general, and economic loss, product
liability, and consumer litigation in particular. At all times, Settlement Class Counsel zealously
represented the interests of the proposed Settlement Class. They demonstrated a commitment to
provide meaningful and substantial benefits to the Settlement Class while at the same time
4
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-2 Filed 09/07/23 Page 6 of 7
recognizing the significant risks they faced if they proceeded with the litigation of Economic
Loss Claims, as well as the substantial costs and delays in pursuing the matter through fact and
expert discovery, class certification, trial, and appeal. Internal and external counsel for the
Philips Defendants likewise zealously represented their clients. They pushed back on many of
the demands advanced by Settlement Class Counsel and articulated the obstacles Plaintiffs and
the putative class would face in litigation, while at the same time recognizing the risks, expenses,
19. As a result of the extensive negotiations that I mediated, the parties reached a
comprehensive compromise and settlement, which confers significant benefits upon the
Settlement Class. In my opinion, the proposed settlement was the result of good faith, fair,
thorough, and fully-informed arm’s-length negotiations between highly capable and experienced
parties and counsel with a strong command of relevant facts and legal principles. The settlement
represents the parties’ and counsel’s best efforts and judgments after thoroughly investigating the
case, considering the risks, strengths, and weaknesses of their respective positions on the myriad
factual and legal issues; the substantial risks, burdens, delays and costs of continued litigation;
believe that the proposed settlement fairly reflects the strengths and weaknesses of the Economic
Loss Claims being settled. Although the Court will need to make its own determination as to the
proposed settlement’s fairness under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e)(2), I can attest that, from an
mediation process represents a thorough, deliberative, and comprehensive resolution that will
benefit Settlement Class Members through meaningful and timely relief, and avoids the
5
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-2 Filed 09/07/23 Page 7 of 7
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the
6
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-3 Filed 09/07/23 Page 1 of 43
BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF
PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
EXHIBIT C
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-3 Filed 09/07/23 Page 2 of 43
1. I am the President and Chief Executive Officer at the class action notice and claims
2. I have personal knowledge of the matters stated herein. In forming my opinions regarding
notice in this action, I have drawn from my extensive class action experience, as described below.
3. I have been responsible in whole or in part for the design and implementation of hundreds
of court-approved notice and administration programs, including some of the largest and most
complex notice plans in recent history. I have taught numerous accredited Continuing Legal
Education courses on the Ethics of Legal Notification in Class Action Settlements, using Digital
Media in Due Process Notice Programs, as well as Claims Administration, generally. I am the
author of multiple articles on Class Action Notice, Claims Administration, and Notice Design in
publications such as Bloomberg, BNA Class Action Litigation Report, Law360, the ABA Class
Action and Derivative Section Newsletter, and I am a frequent speaker on notice issues at
4. I was certified as a professional in digital media sales by the Interactive Advertising Bureau
(“IAB”) and I am co-author of the Digital Media section of Duke Law’s Guidelines and Best
5. I have given public comment and written guidance to the Judicial Conference Committee
on Rules of Practice and Procedure on the role of direct mail, email, broadcast media, digital media,
and print publication, in effecting Due Process notice, and I have met with representatives of the
Federal Judicial Center to discuss the 2018 amendments to Rule 23 and offered an educational
6. Prior to joining Angeion’s executive team, I was employed as Director of Class Action
Prior to my notice and claims administration experience, I was employed in private law practice.
7. My notice work comprises a wide range of class actions that include product defect and
false advertising matters, data breach, mass disasters, employment discrimination, antitrust,
8. I have been at the forefront of infusing digital media, as well as big data and advanced
targeting, into class action notice programs. Courts have repeatedly recognized and approved of
my work in the design of class action notice programs. A comprehensive summary of judicial
other nationally recognized claims administration companies. Collectively, the management team
at Angeion has overseen the notice and administration of more than 2,000 class action settlements
and distributed over $15 billion to class members. The executive profiles as well as the company
10. Angeion has regularly been approved by both federal and state courts throughout the
United States and abroad to provide notice of class actions and claims processing services.
11. Angeion has extensive experience administering landmark settlements involving some of
12. Relevant product defect, product recall, and matters involving medical products for which
Angeion has been appointed or retained are included in the chart below:
13. This declaration will describe the Notice Plan for the Settlement Class that, if approved
by the Court, Angeion will implement in this matter, including the considerations that informed
the development of the plan and why we believe it will provide due process to members of the
Settlement Class. In my professional opinion, the proposed Notice Plan described herein is the
best practicable notice under the circumstances and fulfills all due process requirements, fully
SETTLEMENT CLASS
14. The Settlement Agreement defines the Settlement Class as: All persons or entities in the
United States (including its Territories and the District of Columbia) who either (a) purchased,
leased, rented, paid for (in whole or part), or were prescribed a Recalled Device (“Users”), or (b)
reimbursed (in whole or part) a payment to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise pay for a Recalled
Device, including insurers, self-funded employers, and third-party payers (“Payers”) (the
“Settlement Class”).
15. Excluded from the Settlement Class are: (a) Defendants and their officers, directors, and
employees; (b) the MDL Court, Settlement Mediator, Claims Appeals Special Master, and Special
Masters assigned to the MDL; (c) individuals who have already released Released Claims against
one or more of the Defendants pursuant to individual settlements or other resolutions; (d) Durable
Medical Equipment (“DME”) providers; (e) the federal government and any federal government
payers, including the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Veterans
16. Angeion has been informed that the Settlement Class is comprised of Users and Payers
who have purchased, leased, rented, or otherwise paid for (in whole or in part) approximately 10.8
17. The parties have agreed that, as Settlement Administrator, we shall have discretion to
employ best practices in carrying out responsibilities in a manner consistent with the Settlement
Agreement including all of its Exhibits, this Declaration, and with our experience to provide the
best notice that is practicable under the circumstances, consistent with Federal Rule of Civil
18. The proposed Notice Plan provides for direct notice via both pre-paid first class mail and
email to all User and Payer Settlement Class Members with available addresses or email
addresses, combined with a robust media campaign consisting of state-of-the-art targeted internet
notice, social media notice utilizing some of the largest social media platforms in the United
States, a paid search campaign via Google, an extensive print publication campaign, video
advertising, streaming radio advertisements, and Sirius XM radio advertisements designed to
reach Users in the Settlement Class. The proposed Notice Plan also contemplates one reminder
email (prior to the expiration of the Claims Period) to all known Users with email addresses, as
well as email updates to Users in Angeion’s discretion in the event of material updates to the
Settlement. The Notice Plan provides for additional media notice tactics specifically designed to
reach Payers in the Settlement Class, and includes two (2) press releases, notice to known
hospitals and sleep labs contained in the contact records produced by Philips, and media
monitoring. The Notice Plan further provides for the implementation of a dedicated settlement
website and toll-free telephone line where Settlement Class Members can learn more about their
rights and options pursuant to the terms of the Settlement. I also understand that pursuant to
Section 9.1.2.6 of the Settlement Agreement, Philips RS will refer Users on the DreamMapper
19. As discussed in greater detail below, the media campaign component of the Notice Plan
is designed to deliver an approximate 86.70% reach separate and apart from a comprehensive
direct notice campaign, settlement website, and toll-free telephone hotline. What this means in
practice is that 86.70% of our Target Audience will see a digital advertisement concerning the
Settlement. The direct notice efforts (discussed in greater detail below), dedicated website, and
toll-free telephone line are difficult to measure in terms of reach percentage but will nonetheless
provide awareness and further diffuse news of the Settlement to members of the Settlement Class.
Based on sophisticated media software and calculation engines that cross reference which media
is being purchased with the media habits of our specific Target Audience (defined in paragraph
30 below), the media campaign is designed and expected to reach 86.70% of the Target Audience
20. The Federal Judicial Center states that a publication notice plan that reaches 70% of class
members is one that reaches a “high percentage” and is within the “norm.” Barbara J. Rothstein
& Thomas E. Willging, Federal Judicial Center, “Managing Class Action Litigation: A Pocket
Guide or Judges,” at 27 (3d Ed. 2010).
DIRECT NOTICE
21. Angeion has or will receive extensive contact information for members of the Settlement
Class (collectively, the “Class List”). We have already received data from Philips Respironics for
Users who registered in its Recall Programs, as well as other User information collected by Philips
Respironics from DME providers as part of the Recall. We expect to also receive data relating to
hospitals and sleep labs in the United States to whom one or more of the Philips Defendants
previously sold, rented, supplied, or otherwise provided Recalled Devices. Moreover, we are
expecting to receive information obtained by Plaintiffs from DMEs in discovery, and User data
from the Census Registry Program and Plaintiff Fact Sheets filed in support of Personal Injury
Complaints. Subject to receipt of additional data sources, Angeion has received contact
22. As part of the direct notice efforts, the Class List will be supplemented by Angeion’s
proprietary third-party payer database that consists of drug stores, pharmacies, insurance
companies, and health, welfare, and pension funds, that Angeion has obtained and manages.
23. Angeion will perform a thorough analysis to identify duplicative records, as well as
missing/incomplete data fields. Angeion will then assign an identification number to each unique
record.
Mailed Notice
24. As part of the Notice Plan, Angeion will send the notice via first class U.S. mail, postage
pre-paid to all Users included on the Class List provided to Angeion with available addresses, as
well as all entities contained in Angeion’s proprietary third-party payer database. The notice
mailed to Users on the Class List will consist of the long form Notice and will be mailed in a
HIPAA-compliant security envelope, which contains a pattern printed on the inside to shield the
contents of the envelope. Users on the Class List who have registered their Recalled Device for a
Recall Program, but not yet returned their device, will also receive an additional, targeted
notification as part of the same mailing. The notice mailed to Payers from Angeion’s proprietary
25. Angeion will employ best practices to increase the deliverability rate of the mailed notices.
Angeion will cause all mailing address information to be updated utilizing the United States Postal
Service’s (“USPS”) National Change of Address database, which provides updated address
information for individuals or entities who have moved during the previous four years and filed a
change of address with the USPS. In addition, the addresses will be certified via the Coding
Accuracy Support System to ensure the quality of the zip code and verified through Delivery Point
26. Notices returned to Angeion by the USPS with a forwarding address will be re-mailed to
the new address provided by the USPS. Notices returned to Angeion by the USPS without
“skip tracing”) utilizing a wide variety of data sources, including public records, real estate records,
electronic directory assistance listings, etc., to locate updated addresses. Notices will be re-mailed
Email Notice
27. As part of the Notice Plan, Angeion will send direct email notice to Users who have valid
email addresses included on the Class List and to Payers for whom Angeion has email addresses.
Angeion follows best practices to both validate emails and increase deliverability.
28. Specifically, prior to distributing the email notice, Angeion subjects the email addresses on
the Class List to a cleansing and validation process. The email cleansing process removes extra
spaces, fixes common typographical errors in domain names, and corrects insufficient domain
suffixes (e.g., gmal.com to gmail.com, gmail.co to gmail.com, yaho.com to yahoo.com, etc.). The
email addresses will then be subjected to an email validation process whereby each email address
will be compared to known bad email addresses.1 Email addresses that are not designated as a
known bad address will then be further verified by contacting the Internet Service Provider (“ISP”)
29. Further, Angeion designs the email notice to avoid many common “red flags” that might
otherwise cause an email recipient’s spam filter to block or identify the email notice as spam. For
example, Angeion does not include attachments like the Long Form Notice to the email notice,
because attachments are often interpreted by various Internet Service Providers (“ISP”) as spam.
1
Angeion maintains a database of email addresses that were returned as permanently undeliverable, commonly
referred to as a hard bounce, from prior campaigns. Where an address has been returned as a hard bounce within the
last year, that email is designated as a known bad email address.
30. Angeion also accounts for the real-world reality that some emails will inevitably fail to be
delivered during the initial delivery attempt. Therefore, after the initial noticing campaign is
complete, Angeion, after an approximate 24- to 72-hour rest period (which allows any temporary
block at the ISP level to expire) causes a second round of email noticing to continue to any email
addresses that were previously identified as soft bounces and not delivered. In our experience, this
minimizes emails that may have erroneously failed to deliver due to sensitive servers and optimizes
delivery.
31. Before the Final Approval Hearing, Angeion will submit a supplemental declaration
providing the Court with, among other things, a detailed, verified account of the success rate of
32. Angeion will utilize a form of internet advertising known as Programmatic Display
Advertising, which is the leading method of buying digital advertisements in the United States.2
In laymen’s terms, programmatic advertising uses demographic profiles and advanced technology
to place advertisements on the websites where members of the audience are most likely to visit
(these websites are accessible on computers, mobile phones and tablets). The media notice outlined
below is strategically designed to provide notice of the Settlement to these individuals (“Users”)
by driving them to the dedicated website where they can learn more about the Settlement, including
33. To develop the media notice campaign and to verify its effectiveness, our media team
analyzed data from 2022 comScore Multi-Platform/MRI Simmons USA Fusion3 to profile the
2
Programmatic Display Advertising is a trusted method specifically utilized to reach defined target audiences. In
2023, programmatic digital display ad spending is expected to reach nearly 142 billion U.S. dollars.
https://www.insiderintelligence.com/chart/255070/us-programmatic-digital-display-ad-spending-2019-2023-
billions-of-total-digital-display-ad-spending
3
GfK MediaMark Research and Intelligence LLC (“GfK MRI”) provides demographic, brand preference and media-
use habits, and captures in-depth information on consumer media choices, attitudes, and consumption of products and
class and arrive at an appropriate Target Audience based on criteria pertinent to this Settlement.
Specifically, the following syndicated research definition was used to profile potential Settlement
Class Members: Individuals that have been or are diagnosed with sleep apnea.
34. Based on the target definition used, the size of the Target Audience for the media notice
data segments dedicated to consumer package goods brands. We will rely heavily on that data to
35. It is important to note that the Target Audience is distinct from the class definition, as is
commonplace in class action notice plans. Utilizing an overinclusive proxy audience maximizes
the efficacy of the notice plan and is considered a best practice among media planners and class
action notice experts alike. Using proxy audiences is also commonplace in both class action
36. Additionally, the Target Audience is based on objective syndicated data, which is routinely
used by advertising agencies and experts to understand the demographics, shopping habits and
attitudes of the consumers that they are seeking to reach. Using this form of objective data will
allow the parties to report the reach to the Court, with the confidence that the reach percentage and
the number of exposure opportunities complies with due process and exceeds the Federal Judicial
the ones described above, to quantify net reach. Sources like these guarantee that advertising
placements can be measured against an objective basis and confirm that reporting statistics are not
services in nearly 600 categories. comSCORE, Inc. (“comSCORE”) is a leading cross-platform measurement and
analytics company that precisely measures audiences, brands, and consumer behavior, capturing 1.9 trillion global
interactions monthly. comSCORE’s proprietary digital audience measurement methodology allows marketers to
calculate audience reach in a manner not affected by variables such as cookie deletion and cookie blocking/rejection,
allowing these audiences to be reach more effectively. comSCORE operates in more than 75 countries, including the
United States, serving over 3,200 clients worldwide.
4
Duke Law School, GUIDELINES AND BEST PRACTICES IMPLEMENTING 2018 AMENDMENTS TO RULE
23 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS, at 56.
overstated. They are ubiquitous tools in a media planner’s arsenal and are regularly accepted by
courts in evaluating the efficacy of a media plan, or its component parts. Understanding the socio-
economic characteristics, interests and practices of a target group aids in the proper selection of
media to reach that target. Here, the Target Audience has been reported to have the following
characteristics:
• 73.79% are ages 45+, with a median age of 57.9 years old;
37. To identify the best vehicles to deliver messaging to the Target Audience, the media
quintiles, which measure the degree to which an audience uses media relative to the general
population were reviewed. Here, the objective syndicated data shows that members of the Target
Audience spend an average of approximately 28.1 hours per week on the internet.
38. Given the strength of digital advertising, as well as our Target Audience’s consistent
internet use, we plan to utilize a robust internet advertising campaign to reach Settlement Class
Members. This media schedule will allow us to deliver an effective reach level and a vigorous
frequency, which will provide due and proper notice to the Settlement Class.
39. Multiple targeting layers will be implemented into the programmatic campaign to help
ensure delivery to the most appropriate users, inclusive of the following tactics:
• Look-a-like Modelling: This technique uses data methods to build a look-a-like audience
against known members of the Settlement Class.
• Predictive Targeting: This technique allows technology to “predict” which users will be
best served by advertisements about the Settlement.
• Site Retargeting: This technique is a targeting method used to reach potential members of
the Settlement Class who have already visited the dedicated case website while they browse
other pages. This allows for sufficient exposure to an advertisement about the Settlement.
• Geotargeting: The campaign will be targeted nationwide. If sufficient data is available,
the campaign will use a weighted delivery based on the geographic spread of the Target
Audience throughout the country.
• Site Targeting: The programmatic strategy will also focus activity on key sites such as
Nextdoor.com and WebMD.com.
40. To combat the possibility of non-human viewership of digital advertisements and to verify
effective unique placements, Angeion employs Oracle’s BlueKai, Adobe’s Audience Manger
and/or Lotame, which are demand management platforms (“DMP”). DMPs allow Angeion to learn
more about the online audiences that are being reached. Further, online ad verification and security
providers such as Comscore Content Activation, DoubleVerify, Grapeshot, Peer39 and Moat will
41. The social media campaign component of the proposed Notice Plan will utilize several of
the leading social media platforms in the United States: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit.5
The social media campaign uses an interest-based approach which focuses on the interests that
users exhibit while on the social media platforms, capitalizing on the Target Audience’s propensity
to engage in social media (83.93% of the Target Audience have used social media in the last 30
5
In the United States in 2023, Facebook has a reported 243.58 million users, and Instagram has a reported 150.99
million users, Twitter has a reported 64.9 million users, and Reddit has a reported 190.77 million users. See
https://www.statista.com/statistics/408971/number-of-us-facebook-users
https://www.statista.com/statistics/293771/number-of-us-instagram-users
https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1145591/reddit-users-in-the-united-states
https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/number-of-twitter-users-by-country.
days), while specifically targeting users who demonstrate an interest in sleep apnea and/or the
42. The social media campaign will utilize specific tactics to further qualify and deliver
impressions6 to the Target Audience. For example, we will use Facebook Marketing platform and
its technology to serve ads on both Facebook and Instagram against the Target Audience. Look-a-
like modeling allows the use of consumer characteristics to serve ads. Based on these
characteristics, we can build different consumer profile segments to ensure the notice plan
messaging is delivered to the proper audience. The social media ads will be targeted nationwide.
If sufficient data is available, the campaign will leverage a weighted delivery based on the
43. The social media campaign will engage with the Target Audience via Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, and Reddit on desktop sites, mobile sites, and mobile apps. Additionally, Angeion will
monitor these social media platforms (“active listening”) for discussion of the Settlement, and will,
where appropriate, provide the official Settlement Website URL and/or provide answers to
44. The digital and social media advertising is designed to deliver an approximate 91 million
impressions.
of the Settlement Class who are actively searching for information about the Settlement to the
dedicated Settlement Website. Paid search ads will complement the programmatic and social
media campaigns, as search engines are frequently used to locate a specific website, rather than a
person typing in the URL. Search terms would relate to not only the Settlement itself but also the
subject-matter of the litigation. In other words, the paid search ads are driven by the individual
user’s search activity, such that if that individual searches for (or has recently searched for) the
6
An impression is when an advertisement reaches a user’s screen
Settlement, litigation or other terms related to the Settlement, that individual could be served with
Publication
46. To complement the digital advertising notice efforts and to reach Settlement Class
Members who ingest news via print, the Notice Plan includes publication notice in titles such as
People magazine, Readers Digest and Southern Living. The chart below demonstrates the
47. These publications were specifically selected due to the overlap between the Target
Video Advertising
48. Digital video advertising will also be used to disseminate notice of the Settlement. Video
advertisements help increase web traffic by 87% and have a 30% higher audience reach than static
digital advertisements.8
49. The video advertisement campaign will feature thirty (30) second advertisements displayed
on YouTube and programmatically across websites contextually targeting members of our Target
Audience. The advertisements will be accessible on computers, mobile phones, and tablets. The
50. Top streaming radio services such as Spotify and Pandora will be used to further provide
notice of the Settlement and complement the digital advertising efforts, as radio has been shown
7
Alternative, similar titles may be utilized for publication based on timing, availability, and content acceptance by the
publications.
8
https://www.brid.tv/video-vs-image-ads/
to stimulate increased online browsing for the subject matter of the advertisement.9 Radio
advertisements of fifteen (15) and thirty (30) seconds will be used to deliver an approximate
1,785,000 impressions.
Sirius XM Advertising
51. Advertisement of the Settlement in thirty (30) and sixty (60) second spots will air on Sirius
XM satellite radio throughout news and entertainment stations. Sirius XM advertisements are
52. The Notice Plan includes tactics specific to the Payer members of the Settlement Class.
The Payer media plan consists of digital advertisements, social media advertising via Facebook
and LinkedIn, and an additional paid search campaign via Googles, specific to Payers.
INDUSTRY OUTREACH
54. Angeion will also send notice of the Settlement via first-class mail, postage prepaid, to
known DMEs in the United States that sold, rented, supplied, or otherwise provided Recalled
Devices to Users, requesting that the DMEs notify their Users of the Settlement, to further promote
55. The Notice Plan includes issuing two press releases, once at the outset of the notice
program and once as a claim filing reminder, to be distributed over PR Newswire (or a similar
press release distribution service) to further diffuse news of the Settlement. The press releases will
help garner “earned media” (i.e., other media outlets and/or publications will report the story) to
supplement the comprehensive notice efforts outlined herein, which will lead to increased
9
https://www.radiocentre.org/our-research/radio-the-online-multiplier/
MEDIA MONITORING
56. Angeion will also aggregate data across multiple platforms and systems to quantify the
output of print, online, and broadcast coverage of this Settlement. Before the Final Approval
Hearing, Angeion will submit a supplemental declaration that quantifies and assigns a value to
57. The Notice Plan will also implement the creation of a case-specific website in English and
Spanish, where Settlement Class Members can easily view general information about this
Settlement, review relevant Court documents, and view important dates and deadlines pertinent to
the Settlement. The Settlement Website will be designed to be user-friendly and make it easy for
members of the Settlement Class to securely submit a claim form and upload documentation online
via the Settlement Website. The Settlement Website will also include a chat bot to stream
Settlement Class member questions. Additionally, members of the Settlement Class can send an
email with any additional questions to a dedicated email address. The Settlement Website will be
customized to include serial number lookup functionality for the Recalled Devices.
58. The Settlement Website will be ADA-compliant and optimized for mobile visitors so that
information loads quickly on mobile devices. Additionally, the Settlement Website will be
designed to maximize search engine optimization through Google and other search engines.
Keywords and natural language search terms will be included in the Settlement Website’s metadata
59. A toll-free hotline devoted to this case will be implemented to further apprise Settlement
Class Members of their rights and options pursuant to the terms of the Settlement in both English
and Spanish. The toll-free hotline will utilize an interactive voice response (“IVR”) system to
provide members of the Settlement Class with responses to frequently asked questions and provide
essential information regarding the Settlement. This hotline will be accessible 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. Additionally, members of the Settlement Class will be able to request a copy of the
Notice or Claim Form via the toll-free hotline. Live operators will be available during normal
60. Within ten days of the filing of the Class Action Settlement Agreement and Release with
this Court, Angeion will cause notice to be disseminated to the appropriate state and federal
officials pursuant to the requirements of the Class Action Fairness Act, 28 U.S.C. §1715.
61. The proposed Notice forms used in this matter are designed to be “noticed,” reviewed, and
by presenting the information in plain language, understood by members of the Settlement Class.
The design of the notices follows the principles embodied in the Federal Judicial Center’s
illustrative “model” notices posted at www.fjc.gov. The Notice forms contain plain-language
summaries of key information about the rights and options of members of the Settlement Class
pursuant to the terms of the Settlement. Consistent with normal practice, prior to being delivered
and published, all notice documents will undergo a final edit for accuracy.
62. Rule 23(c)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires class action notices to be
written in “plain, easily understood language.” Angeion Group maintains a strong commitment to
adhering to this requirement, drawing on its experience and expertise to craft notices that
effectively convey the necessary information to Settlement Class Members in plain language.
DATA SECURITY & INSURANCE
63. Angeion recognizes the critical need to secure our physical and network environments and
protect data in our custody. It is our commitment to these matters that has made us the go-to
administrator for many of the most prominent data security matters of this decade. We are ever
improving upon our robust policies, procedures, and infrastructure by periodically updating data
security policies as well as our approach to managing data security in response to changes to
physical environment, new threats and risks, business circumstances, legal and policy implications,
64. Angeion’s privacy practices are compliant with the California Consumer Privacy Act, as
currently drafted. Consumer data obtained for the delivery of each project is used only for the
purposes intended and agreed in advance by all contracted parties, including compliance with
orders issued by State or Federal courts as appropriate. Angeion imposes additional data security
measures for the protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Personal Health
Information (PHI), including redaction, restricted network and physical access on a need-to-know
basis, and network access tracking. Angeion requires background checks of all employees, requires
background checks and ongoing compliance audits of its contractors, and enforces standard
protocols for the rapid removal of physical and network access in the event of an employee or
contractor termination.
65. Data is transmitted using Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 protocols. Network data is
encrypted at rest with the government and financial institution standard of AES 256-bit encryption.
Angeion maintains an offline, air-gapped backup copy of all data, ensuring that projects can be
66. Further, our team stays on top of latest compliance requirements, such as GDPR, HIPAA,
PCI DSS, and others, to ensure that our organization is meeting all necessary regulatory obligations
as well as aligning to industry best practices and standards set forth by frameworks like CIS and
NIST. Angeion is cognizant of the ever-evolving digital landscape and continually improves its
security infrastructure and processes, including partnering with best-in-class security service
providers. Angeion’s robust policies and processes cover all aspects of information security to form
part of an industry leading security and compliance program, which is regularly assessed by
independent third parties. Angeion is also committed to a culture of security mindfulness. All
employees routinely undergo cybersecurity training to ensure that safeguarding information and
cybersecurity vigilance is a core practice in all aspects of the work our teams complete.
REACH
68. This declaration describes the reach evidence which courts systemically rely upon in
reviewing class action publication notice programs for adequacy. The reach percentage exceeds
the guidelines as set forth in the Federal Judicial Center’s Judges’ Class Action Notice and Claims
Process Checklist and Plain Language Guide to effectuate a notice program which reaches a high
69. Specifically, the User media campaign of the Notice Plan are designed to reach 86.70% of
the Target Audience multiple times each. The 86.70% reach approximation is independent from
direct notice efforts, Payer media efforts, outreach efforts, press releases, Settlement Website, and
CONCLUSION
70. The Notice Plan outlined above includes direct notice via email combined with a robust
campaign and a search engine marketing campaign. Further, the Notice Plan provides for the
implementation of a dedicated settlement website and toll-free hotline to further inform members
71. It is my opinion that the Notice Plan described herein meets the requirements of due
process, and Fed. R. Civ. P. 23, and will provide the best notice practicable under the
circumstances, incorporating contemporary media and best practices to alert and engage the
that this multi-faceted and innovative Notice Plan will provide full and proper notice to Settlement
I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Exhibit A
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-3 Filed 09/07/23 Page 22 of 43
Judicial Recognition
addresses are unavailable, which is the best practicable notice under the circumstances…The
proposed Notice Plan complies with the requirements of Rule 23, Fed. R. Civ. P., and due
process, and Class Notice is to be sent to the Settlement Class Members as set forth in the
Settlement Agreement and pursuant to the deadlines above.
Notice Plan meets the requirements of due process under the United States Constitution
and Rule 23, and that such Notice Plan—which includes direct notice to Settlement Class
Members sent via first class U.S. Mail and email; the establishment of a Settlement Website
(at the URL, www.nationalgridtcpasettlement.com) where Settlement Class Members can
view the full settlement agreement, the detailed long-form notice (in English and Spanish),
and other key case documents; publication notice in forms attached as Exhibits E and F to
the Settlement sent via social media (Facebook and Instagram) and streaming radio (e.g.,
Pandora and iHeart Radio). The Notice Plan shall also include a paid search campaign on
search engine(s) chosen by Angeion (e.g., Google) in the form attached as Exhibits G and the
establishment of a toll-free telephone number where Settlement Class Members can get
additional information—is the best notice practicable under the circumstances and shall
constitute due and sufficient notice to all persons entitled thereto.
of the Action…and (iii) satisfied the requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the
United States Constitution, and all other applicable law.
under the circumstances and satisfies all requirements provided in Rule 23(c)(2)(B) and due
process.
Constitution. The Court further finds that all of the notices are written in plain language, are
readily understandable by Settlement Class Members, and are materially consistent with the
Federal Judicial Center’s illustrative class action notices.
Plan, in form, method, and content, complies with the requirements of Rule 23 and due
process, and constitutes the best notice practicable under the circumstances.
will see a banner ad notifying them of the settlement when they search for terms or websites
that are similar to or related to Chipotle, when they browse websites that are categorically
relevant to Chipotle (for example, a website related to fast casual dining or Mexican food),
and when they browse websites that include a relevant keyword (for example, a fitness
website with ads comparing fast casual choices). Id. ¶¶ 9–12. By using this technology, the
banner notice is “designed to result in serving approximately 59,598,000 impressions.” Dkt.
No. 205-12 at ¶ 18.
The Court finds that the proposed notice process is “‘reasonably calculated, under all the
circumstances,’ to apprise all class members of the proposed settlement.” Roes, 944 F.3d at
1045 (citation omitted).
Having considered the parties’ revised proposed notice program, the Court agrees that the
parties’ proposed notice program is the “best notice that is practicable under the
circumstances.” The Court is satisfied with the representations made regarding Angeion
Group LLC’s methods for ascertaining email addresses from existing information in the
possession of defendants. Rule 23 further contemplates and permits electronic notice to
class members in certain situations. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B). The Court finds, in light of
the representations made by the parties, that this is a situation that permits electronic
notification via email, in addition to notice via United States Postal Service. Thus, the Court
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-3 Filed 09/07/23 Page 35 of 43
APPROVES the parties’ revised proposed class notice program, and GRANTS the motion for
approval of class notice provider and class notice program as to notification via email and
United States Postal Service mail.
CARTER, ET AL. v. GENERAL NUTRITION CENTERS, INC., and GNC HOLDINGS, INC.
Case No. 2:16-cv-00633
The Honorable Mark R. Hornak, United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
(September 9, 2019): The Court finds that the Class Notice and the manner of its
dissemination described in Paragraph 7 above and Section VII of the Agreement constitutes
the best practicable notice under the circumstances and is reasonably calculated, under all
the circumstances, to apprise proposed Settlement Class Members of the pendency of this
action, the terms of the Agreement, and their right to object to or exclude themselves from
the proposed Settlement Class. The Court finds that the notice is reasonable, that it
constitutes due, adequate and sufficient notice to all persons entitled to receive notice, and
that it meets the requirements of due process, Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Ci vii
Procedure, and any other applicable laws.
In addition, the Court finds that the language of the class notices (short and long-form) is
appropriate and that the means of notice – which includes mail notice, electronic notice,
publication notice, and social media “marketing” – is the “best notice…practicable under the
circumstances.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B); see also Proc. Guidance for Class Action Sett. ¶¶ 3-
5, 9 (addressing class notice, opt-outs, and objections). The Court notes that the means of
notice has changed somewhat, as explained in the Supplemental Weisbrot Declaration filed
on February 8, 2019, so that notice will be more targeted and effective. See generally Docket
No. 525 (Supp. Weisbrot Decl.) (addressing, inter alia, press release to be distributed via
national newswire service, digital and social media marketing designed to enhance notice,
and “reminder” first-class mail notice when AEM becomes available).
Finally, the parties have noted that the proposed settlement bears similarity to the
settlement in the Volkswagen MDL. See Proc. Guidance for Class Action Sett. ¶ 11.
RYSEWYK, ET AL. v. SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION and SEARS, ROEBUCK AND COMPANY
Case No. 1:15-cv-04519
The Honorable Manish S. Shah, United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
(January 29, 2019): The Court holds that the Notice and notice plan as carried out satisfy the
requirements of Rule 23(e) and due process. This Court has previously held the Notice and
notice plan to be reasonable and the best practicable under the circumstances in its
Preliminary Approval Order dated August 6, 2018. (Dkt. 191) Based on the declaration of
Steven Weisbrot, Esq. of Angeion Group (Dkt. No. 209-2), which sets forth compliance with
the Notice Plan and related matters, the Court finds that the multi-pronged notice strategy
Case 2:21-mc-01230-JFC Document 2213-3 Filed 09/07/23 Page 38 of 43
as implemented has successfully reached the putative Settlement Class, thus constituting
the best practicable notice and satisfying due process.
MAYHEW, ET AL. v. KAS DIRECT, LLC, and S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC.
Case No. 7:16-cv-06981
The Honorable Vincent J. Briccetti, United States District Court, Southern District of New York
(June 26, 2018): In connection with their motion, plaintiffs provide the declaration of Steven
Weisbrot, Esq., a principal at the firm Angeion Group, LLC, which will serve as the notice and
settlement administrator in this case. (Doc. #101, Ex. F: Weisbrot Decl.) According to Mr.
Weisbrot, he has been responsible for the design and implementation of hundreds of class
action administration plans, has taught courses on class action claims administration, and
has given testimony to the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and
Procedure on the role of direct mail, email, and digital media in due process notice. Mr.
Weisbrot states that the internet banner advertisement campaign will be responsive to
search terms relevant to “baby wipes, baby products, baby care products, detergents,
sanitizers, baby lotion, [and] diapers,” and will target users who are currently browsing or
recently browsed categories “such as parenting, toddlers, baby care, [and] organic products.”
(Weisbrot Decl. ¶ 18). According to Mr. Weisbrot, the internet banner advertising campaign
will reach seventy percent of the proposed class members at least three times each. (Id. ¶
9). Accordingly, the Court approves of the manner of notice proposed by the parties as it is
reasonable and the best practicable option for confirming the class members receive notice.
The Court further finds that the Notice fully satisfies Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure and the requirements of due process; provided, that the Parties, by agreement,
may revise the Notice, the Claim Form, and other exhibits to the Stipulation, in ways that are
not material or ways that are appropriate to update those documents for purposes of
accuracy.
Settlement Class Members of the pendency of the Action and their right to object to the
proposed settlement or opt out of the Settlement Class in full compliance with the
requirements of applicable law, including the Due Process Clause of the United States
Constitution and Rules 23(c) and (e). In addition, Class Notice clearly and concisely states in
plain, easily understood language: (i) the nature of the action; (ii) the definition of the certified
Settlement Class; (iii) the claims and issues of the Settlement Class; (iv) that a Settlement
Class Member may enter an appearance through an attorney if the member so desires; (v)
that the Court will exclude from the Settlement Class any member who requests exclusion;
(vi) the time and manner for requesting exclusion; and (vii) the binding effect of a class
judgment on members under Rule 23(c)(3).
IN RE: THE HOME DEPOT, INC., CUSTOMER DATA SECURITY BREACH LITIGATION
Case No. 1:14-md-02583
The Honorable Thomas W. Thrash Jr., United States District Court, Northern District of
Georgia (March 10, 2017): The Court finds that the form, content, and method of giving
notice to the settlement class as described in the settlement agreement and exhibits: (a)
constitute the best practicable notice to the settlement class; (b) are reasonably calculated,
under the circumstances, to apprise settlement class members of the pendency of the
action, the terms of the proposed settlement, and their rights under the proposed
settlement; (c) are reasonable and constitute due, adequate, and sufficient notice to those
persons entitled to receive notice; and (d) satisfy the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 23, the constitutional requirement of due process, and any other legal
requirements. The Court further finds that the notice is written in plain language, uses simple
terminology, and is designed to be readily understandable by settlement class members.
receive the best notice practicable under the circumstances. The Court specifically approves
the Parties' proposal to use reasonable diligence to identify potential class members and an
associated mailing and/or email address in the Company's records, and their proposal to
direct the ICA to use this information to send absent class members notice both via first class
mail and email. The Court further approves the plan for the Publication Notice's publication
in two national print magazines and on the internet. The Court also approves payment of
notice costs as provided in the Settlement. The Court finds that these procedures, carried
out with reasonable diligence, will constitute the best notice practicable under the
circumstances and will satisfy.
The Court finds and concludes that the mechanisms and methods of notice to the class as
identified were reasonably calculated to provide all notice required by the due process
clause, the applicable rules and statutory provisions, and that the results of the efforts of
Angeion were highly successful and fulfilled all of those requirements [emphasis added].
plan to combine notice for the Zodiac and Hayward settlements should streamline the
process and avoid confusion that might otherwise be caused by a proliferation of notices for
different settlements. Therefore, the Court approves the proposed notice forms and the plan
of notice.