SunTrust Mortgage Force-Placed Insurance Class Action Settlement

A settlement has been reached in the SunTrust Mortgage force-placed insurance class action lawsuit and eligible Class Members may be entitled to receive benefits.

Force-placed insurance is a business practice in which a lender like SunTrust Mortgage can protect a property they have funded from various hazards and liabilities. If a lender discovers that a homeowner’s insurance  policy has lapsed or does not fully protect the property from natural disasters—such as hurricane, flood, and other hazards— the mortgage lender can legally force-place an additional insurance policy and place the responsibility of paying the premium on the homeowner.

However, the SunTrust Mortgage class action lawsuit alleges that SunTrust received kickbacks from insurance companies for post-dating necessary property coverage, which increased insurance costs and fees for homeowners.

As a result, plaitniff Carina Hamilton, a homeowner and SunTrust Mortgage customer, filed a nationwide class action lawsuit against SunTrust Mortgage, which involves all borrowers within the United States who had a LPI policy issued by SunTrust on their home mortgage.

SunTrust denied liability, but settled the force-placed insurance class action lawsuit to avoid the uncertainty of continued litigation and legal expenses.

Who’s Eligible

You are Class Member of the SunTrust Mortgage force-placed insurance class action lawsuit if you are a borrower within the United States who had a mortgage serviced by SunTrust and were charged for force-placed hazard, flood, or wind insurance issued by QBE, or a subsidiary/affiliate, during April 1, 2008, to June 18, 2014.

Potential Award

Varies. Class Members will receive an amount equal to 10.5% of the net written premium

Proof of Purchase

To receive compensation from the SunTrust Mortgage force-placed insurance class action lawsuit, Class Members must submit a completed Claim Form by mail postmarked no later than Jan. 15, 2015, and include all the necessary verification information. Class Members can also upload a completed Claim Form to the settlement website with all the necessary verification information by Jan. 15, 2015.

If you have multiple eligible policies, a separate claim form must be submitted for each one.

Claim Form

Claim Form Deadline

01/15/2015

Case Name

Carina Hamilton, et al. v. SunTrust Mortgage Inc., Case No. 13-cv-60749, in the United States District Court Southern District of Florida

Final Hearing

10/17/2014

Settlement Website

www.SunTrustForcePlacedInsuranceSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Hamilton v. SunTrust Settlement
c/o GCG
P.O. Box 10090
Dublin, OH 43017-6690
1-844-322-8218

Class Counsel

Adam M. Moskowitz
Harley S. Tropin
KOZYAK, TROPIN, & THROCKMORTON, P.A.

Aaron S. Podhurst
Peter Prieto
PODHURST ORSECK, P.A.

Lance A. Harke
Howard M. Bushman, Esq.
HARKE CLASBY & BUSHMAN LLP

Defense Counsel

Mark J. Gottlieb
AKERMAN LLP

Robyn C. Quattrone
BUCKYSANDLER LLP