Welcome to the PARK
BAR/BRI Settlement Website
If you purchased a bar review course from BAR/BRI
anywhere in the United States from March 15, 2001 through January 4, 2008, this
settlement may affect your rights.
If you purchased a bar review course from BAR/BRI anywhere in the United States
from March 15, 2001 through January 4, 2008 (the "Class"), you may be affected
by a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit pending in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York called Anthony S. Park, et
al., v. The Thomson Corporation and Thomson Legal and Regulatory, Inc.,
Case No. 05 Civ. 2931 (WHP). This is to inform you of the nature of Plaintiffs'
claims, the Court's preliminary approval of a proposed settlement and your
right to participate in this Class ("Class Member").
| UPDATE: On April 20,
2009, the Court entered a Final Order and Judgment approving the Amended
Settlement. The Amendments do not reopen or alter in any way the time within
which requests for exclusion or objections to any aspect of the Settlement were
to have been timely submitted. The Amendments do permit Class Members who have
not submitted a Claim Form to do so by the extended deadline and permit Class
Members who previously requested to be excluded from the Class to rescind their
requests for exclusion by submitting a valid Claim Form postmarked by the
extended deadline of September 18, 2009. Please see the Notice of Amendment to
Settlement Agreement link at the right for the Changes To The Settlement
Agreement.
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| PLEASE NOTE: The
Settlement Administrator is currently reviewing and auditing claims and it is
estimated this process will continue through the spring 2010. It is anticipated
that the Settlement Fund will be distributed in the summer 2010.
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What Is This Case About?
IMPORTANT DATES
& DEADLINES
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| Class Period: |
March 15, 2001 through
January 4, 2008
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| Exclusion Requests:
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Deadline has passed |
| Objections to Settlement: |
Deadline has passed
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| Proof of Claim: |
Postmarked no later than September 18, 2009
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| Final Settlement Hearing: |
The Court has already held a Final Approval Hearing on April 1, 2008 and held a
follow-up Status Conference on July 6, 2008
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Defendants, through the operation of their BAR/BRI division,
provide bar review courses throughout the United States, which are aimed at
assisting in the preparation for the bar examinations required by the various
states and the District of Columbia. In most states and in the District of
Columbia, the bar examination consists of the Multistate Bar Examination
("MBE") and a state-specific portion typically developed by each state's Board
of Bar Examiners (or equivalent entity). Plaintiff alleges that Defendants
violated the federal antitrust laws and the common law of unjust enrichment by,
inter alia, illegally tying and/or bundling the purchase of the
portions of their BAR/BRI bar examination preparation courses that relate to
the MBE, which Plaintiff alleged to be a separate bar examination preparation
course, to the purchase from BAR/BRI of the portions of their courses that
relate to the state-specific portion of the bar examination. Plaintiff alleges
that as a result of this alleged tying or bundling, Defendants thwarted
competition and forced consumers to overpay for bar examination preparation
courses. Please see the Notice on the links at the right for a full description
of Plaintiffs' allegations.
Defendants, The Thomson Corporation and Thomson Legal &
Regulatory, Inc., deny Plaintiffs' allegations and contend that their conduct
was at all times legal.
Am I Affected By This Settlement?
Class Members are all individuals, law firms, or other Persons
who have paid the entire cost of one or more qualifying BAR/BRI bar review
courses in the United States during the period March 15, 2001 to January 4,
2008, inclusive (the "Class Period").
Who Represents Me In This Case?
The Court appointed Anthony S. Park as class representative for all claims. The
Court appointed The Katriel Law Firm and Murray, Frank & Sailer, LLP as
Class Counsel.
How Do I Remain A Class Member?
As a Class Member, you will be bound by all orders and judgments
of the Court. Any claims you have against Defendants concerning the allegations
summarized in this Notice will be determined by the final resolution of the
case. You do not have to pay Class Counsel. If they obtain a recovery from the
Defendants, they will ask the Court to order reasonable attorneys' fees and
costs to be paid by Defendants or from any funds recovered. If you hire your
own attorney, you must pay that attorney. You may also seek the Court's
permission to intervene or personally appear in the action. We do ask that you
notify the Settlement Administrator at the address listed below of any changes
to your address.
What If I Have Questions?
You may read the documents at the links on the right, call 1-877-625-9445, or
write to Class Counsel at: Roy A. Katriel, Esq., The Katriel Law Firm, 1101
30th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20007. All Court records may be
examined in person and copied at the Clerk's office, United States District
Court, Southern District of New York. PLEASE DO NOT PHONE OR CONTACT THE
COURT OR BAR/BRI FOR INFORMATION.
Contact
Information
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Class Counsel:
Roy A. Katriel, Esq.
The Katriel Law Firm
1101 30th Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20007
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Settlement Administrator:
Park BAR/BRI Settlement Administrator
c/o Complete Claim Solutions, LLC
P.O. Box 24788
West Palm Beach, FL 33416
Toll-free: 1-877-625-9445
Info@ParkBarbriSettlement.com
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