The Rowland settlement consists of two basic components, (1) Emotional Distress/Punitive Damages and (2) Economic Damages. By now, everyone should have received the emotional distress/punitive damage award in the form of vacation days and/or personal days. We are aware that most members have not yet received an offer to settle the Economic Damages portion of the award. The Economic Damages payments are forthcoming, but have been delayed due to the complexity of processing them. Members will be compensated for delayed payments by receiving 5% simple interest when their award is paid.
(1) EMOTIONAL DISTRESS/PUNITIVE DAMAGES
All individuals qualifying for Emotional Distress/Punitive Damages should have received that portion of their settlement award by now. Depending on your circumstances you should have received:
- Laid Off: 10 Vac days and 5 PL days
- Bumped Down: 4 Vac days and 3 PL days
- All Others: 1.25 PL days
(2) ECONOMIC DAMAGES
Payments for Economic Damages are being processed, albeit slowly, by Golub, Silver, and Teitell. Delays are the result of the financial complexity of this aspect of the settlement award. At this point, fewer than 400 offers pertaining to Economic Damages awards have been issued to harmed members, with 3,000 more to process.
If you receive an “Offer of Settlement’ from the State, it is incumbent upon you to review the offer and either accept the offer or prepare/submit a counter-offer via Golub, Silver, and Teitell. Communications about offers/counter-offers need to be conducted directly between the harmed individual and Golub, Silver, and Teitell (mjackson@sgtlaw.com). A&R has little authority in this matter as it is a court action, not an administrative action. The Union is in a position to advise members, but any disputes regarding the Rowland settlement must be addressed directly by the member with Golub, Silver, and Teitell.
Those still waiting for their Economic Damages offer should remain patient as the offer will be forthcoming, although obviously delayed. There is a built-in 5% simple interest penalty, so members will be compensated for delays.
Please visit the SGT website for more updates: http://www.sgtlaw.com/class-action-sebac-v-john-g-rowland1/
Posted 8/23/16