Click here to skip the legal notice and go straight to the Top Class Actions article on this class action lawsuit settlement.

Award (how much your claim may be worth): $650+ (Varies depending on whether or not you already made the modification and/or your engine was damaged.)

Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Case(s): Junior Cerdes v. Cummins Diesel Sales Corporation; Cummins, Inc., Civil Action No. 06-0922 

Company(ies): Cummins, Inc.

Website Link to access the Class Action Lawsuit Settlement and get YOUR Stake (PRINT OUT CLAIM FORM HERE): Settlement Administrator Website

Address of Settlement Administrator to submit a claim form (REQUIRED):

Cerdes v. Cummins

c/o The Garden City Group, Inc.

P.O. Box 9349

Dublin, OH 43017-4249

Phone Number to call for assistance: None available

Details: This settlement covers boat owners who have a Cummins 6B and 6C marine diesel engines on their boat which were purchased on or after 1/1/96 with Seawater Aftercoolers having no drain hole or valve at the time of original manufacture. Essentially the lawsuit alleges that condensation can build up in the engine causing damage to the cylinders. If you have a covered engine you have two options. First, Cummins will pay to have the drain hole installed (up to $650) at an authorized Cummins repair shop. Second, if you already had it installed, they will reimburse you for the charge. In addition, if your engine was damaged due to the lack of the drain hole or valve they may pay for the repair costs, as long as they were completed by an authorized Cummins repair shop. So, how do you make your claim? If you HAVEN'T had the drain hole/valve installed yet and would like to do so fill out this claim form. If you HAVE had the drain hole/valve installed or had engine damage repaired and want to be reimbursed for it fill out this claim form. You are not allowed to make a claim for both. Choose one or the other. Fill it out completely, sign and date it, and send it in.

Please note that the amount you may be eligible may be reduced depending on the number of hours on the engine. If you've had it for years and have more than 3,000 hours on the engine you'll likely only receive 50% or less of the claim back. Just keep that in mind when you bring it in for the modification or if you submit your claim for reimbursement of the modification.  Make sure to check your mail and if your claim is challenged, submit the requested paperwork. Just because your claim is challenged doesn't mean they won't pay you. It just means that they want some more paperwork verifying your claim.

Purchased From: Past and present owners of recreational and commercial Cummins 6B and 6C marine diesel engines (including the QSM-11 model) purchased in the United States on or after January 1, 1996 with Seawater Aftercoolers having no drain hole or valve at the time of original manufacture, whether the engines were operated in fresh or salt water, who:

1. Originally purchased their engines from Cummins or an authorized Cummins dealer or distributor, or
2. Originally purchased their engines as factory-installed original equipment in a boat purchased directly from a manufacturer which purchased directly from Cummins or an authorized Cummins dealer or distributor.

Claims Accepted Until (YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR CLAIM BY THIS DATE!): More than six months after July 22, 2009 (The date the settlement is to be approved, so January 22, 2010 or later)

MORE DETAILS BELOW!

Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Amount(s): $Unknown

Settlement Administrator(s): Garden City Group, Inc.

TCA Staff Tidbit: For the multitude of boat owners out there this might be a big help. The only thing is this class action lawsuit settlement covers BIG engines. They're not outboard engines. In fact, most of the engines that are covered by this lawsuit actually appear to be power generators rather than actual propulsion engines. I'd have to think that the boats (ships?) that these go on are quite impressive so the settlement may be small potatoes to those folks and the corporations which own them. That limits the number of people who can make a claim. If you have an affected engine, make sure to submit your claim. There are thousands of affected boats out there tooling around lakes and the ocean with these workhorses installed  and if this relatively simple fix isn't employed you could have a VERY costly (in the thousands of dollars range) repair coming soon. Make your claim now.