Scott. v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Settlement

Notices were sent to provide information about a proposed Settlement of a class action lawsuit. Judge Amit P. Mehta of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia oversaw the lawsuit. The case was known as Scott v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 17-cv-249-APM (D.D.C.). The people who sued are called the “Plaintiffs.” JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase”) is the “Defendant.” The Court authorized the notice because members of the settlement class had a right to know about the proposed Settlement and about all of their options before the Court decided whether to give final approval to the Settlement. The Notice explained the lawsuit, the Settlement, and settlement class members' legal rights. After the Notices were sent, the Court approved the Settlement on August 17, 2018.

Click here to review a copy of the Notice.

The lawsuit relates to debit card programs operated by Chase for court systems in Washington, DC; Gwinnett County, GA; Livingston County, MI; and Fort Bend County, TX. Under these programs, Chase issued debit cards used by court systems to pay persons for their service as jurors (“Juror Debit Card”) or fact witnesses (“Fact Witness Debit Card”). Plaintiffs challenged the placement of funds on Juror Debit Cards and Fact Witness Debit Cards, the fees charged in relation to the cards, and the disclosures provided to cardholders. The complaint in the lawsuit is posted on the Important Documents page of this website, here. Chase denies any liability or wrongdoing but agreed to a settlement to avoid the costs and risks of litigation.

“Fee” means a fee charged to a member of the Settlement Class by Chase in relation to a Juror Debit Card or Fact Witness Debit Card.

“Surcharge” means an ATM surcharge charged to a member of the Settlement Class by a third party in relation to a Juror Debit Card or Fact Witness Debit Card.

“Remaining Balance” means any money remaining in a Settlement Class Member’s Juror Debit Card or Fact Witness Debit Card account at the time payments are made pursuant to this Settlement.

In a class action, a person called a “Class Representative” sues on behalf of himself and other people with similar claims. In this case, the Class Representatives are the Plaintiffs, William Mark Scott and Ronald Morin. Together, all the people who received Juror Debit Cards or Fact Witness Debit Cards (except those who exclude themselves) are members of a “Settlement Class.”

The Court did not decide in favor of the Plaintiffs or Chase. Instead, both sides agreed to a Settlement. By agreeing to the Settlement, the Parties avoided the costs and uncertainty of a trial, and Settlement Class Members received the benefits described in FAQ 11. The Settlement does not mean that any law was broken or that Chase did anything wrong. Chase denies all legal claims in this case. The Class Representatives and their lawyers concluded that the Settlement was best for everyone who is affected.

Related to Chase’s agreement not to charge further fees on Juror Debit Cards and Fact Witness Debit Cards, when payments under this Settlement were distributed to Settlement Class Members, Chase also deactivated all cards, closed all accounts, and distributed any Remaining Balance amounts automatically to cardholders, including those who excluded themselves from the Settlement, by mailed check. Chase no longer participates in the Debit Card programs at issue in this lawsuit.

You are a member of the Settlement Class if you were paid for juror service with a Juror Debit Card in Washington, DC; Gwinnett County, GA; Livingston County, MI; or Fort Bend County, TX; or service as a fact witness with a Fact Witness Debit Card in Washington, DC. If you received notice of the Settlement by a postcard addressed to you, then Chase’s records show that you are a Settlement Class Member and Chase has your mailing address. But even if you did not receive a postcard, you may be a Settlement Class Member.

If you are not sure whether you are in the Settlement Class, or have any other questions about the Settlement, review these FAQs and documents on this website or call the toll-free number, 1-855-804-8399. You may also send questions to the Settlement Administrator at Scott v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, Settlement Administrator P.O. Box 3219, Portland, OR 97208-3219.

Chase agreed not to charge any further fees on Settlement Class Members’ Juror Debit Cards or Fact Witness Debit Cards and to mail a check to each Settlement Class Member in the amount of any Fees or Surcharges that Settlement Class Member paid in connection with his or her Juror Debit Card or Fact Witness Debit Card plus any Remaining Balance in his or her Juror Debit Card or Fact Witness Debit Card at the time such Fees or Surcharges are reimbursed. Chase also paid attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of costs and expenses of Class Counsel of $335,000, plus service awards of $5,000 to each of the Class Representatives who initiated the lawsuit (see FAQ 22 and FAQ 23). Finally, Chase agreed to pay costs associated with administering the Settlement.

Each member of the Settlement Class was entitled to receive a payment in the amount of all Fees or Surcharges the Settlement Class Member paid. As part of the Settlement, each Settlement Class Member was also entitled to receive any Remaining Balance in his or her Juror Debit Card or Fact Witness Debit Card account by check, at no cost.

Checks reflecting Fees, Surcharges, and Remaining Balance amounts were mailed to Settlement Class Members on October 19, 2018.

Unless you excluded yourself from the Settlement, you cannot sue Chase or be part of any other lawsuit against Chase relating to payments for jury or fact witness service via Chase debit card. Unless you excluded yourself, all of the decisions by the Court will bind you. The Settlement Agreement describes the claims that you gave up by remaining in the Settlement.

It is no longer possible to exclude yourself from the Settlement, as the submission deadline passed on July 23, 2018.

On October 19, 2018, a check was mailed automatically to each Settlement Class Member who incurred one or more Fees or Surcharges and/or has a Remaining Balance on his or her Juror Debit Card or Fact Witness Debit Card in the amount of such Fees or Surcharges plus any Remaining Balance on the card.

If you were eligible to receive a Settlement payment in the amount of any Fees or Surcharges you paid, or to receive any Remaining Balance on your card, a check was mailed to you even if your Juror Debit Card or Fact Witness Debit Card is lost or expired, unless you excluded yourself from the Settlement.

If you were eligible to receive a reimbursement of Fees or Surcharges, a check was mailed to you in the amount of any such Fees or Surcharges paid even if your account was closed or your account balance was negative, unless you excluded yourself from the Settlement. Any reimbursement of Fees or Surcharges to which you may be entitled will not be used to offset any negative balance on your account.

The deadline to submit address change requests passed on August 17, 2018. If you fear that your payment might go to the wrong address, please contact the Settlement Administrator using the contact information and/or form on the Contact Us page.

It is no longer possible to opt out of the settlement. The deadline to submit exclusion requests passed on July 23, 2018.

No. Unless you excluded yourself from the Settlement, you cannot sue Chase or be part of any other lawsuit against Chase relating to payments for jury or fact witness service via Chase debit card.

You will not receive a refund of any Fees or Surcharges you paid if you excluded yourself from the Settlement.

However, your card was still deactivated when Chase terminated the Juror Debit Card and Fact Witness Debit Card programs and, if there was any Remaining Balance on your card when that occurred, a check in that amount was still mailed to you even if you excluded yourself from the Settlement.

You will not receive a refund of any Fees or Surcharges you paid if you excluded yourself from the Settlement. However, your card was still deactivated when Chase terminated the Juror Debit Card and Fact Witness Debit Card programs and, if there was any Remaining Balance on your card when that occurred, a check in that amount was still be mailed to you even if you excluded yourself from the Settlement.

The Court appointed lawyers from the law firms TYCKO & ZAVAREEI and LEVI & KORSINSKY LLP to represent all Settlement Class Members as “Settlement Class Counsel.” They are:

You will not be charged for contacting these lawyers. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

Class Counsel requested and received $335,000 for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of the costs and expenses of prosecuting the class action. The Class Representatives each requested and received $5,000 in Service Awards. The Court approved these requests.

It is no longer possible to object to the settlement. The deadline to submit objections passed on July 23, 2018.

Objecting is simply telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement.

The deadline to submit objections and exclusion requests passed on July 23, 2018.

The Court held a Final Approval Hearing on August 17, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. EDT at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse, 333 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington DC. At this hearing the Court considered whether the Settlement was fair, reasonable, and adequate. The Court also considered the request by Class Counsel for attorneys’ fees, expenses, and service awards for the Class Representatives.

The hearing took place August 17, 2018. Attendance was not required.

The hearing took place August 17, 2018.

This website summarizes the proposed Settlement. For a complete, definitive statement of the Settlement terms, refer to the Settlement Agreement. You also may write with questions to the Settlement Administrator at Scott v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 3219, Portland, OR 97208-3219; call the toll-free number, 1-855-804-8399; or contact Settlement Class Counsel.

Please do not contact the Court or JPMorgan Chase for additional information.

All class members eligible to receive a return of Fees or Surcharges, or any Remaining Balance on their prepaid cards were mailed their payment on October 19, 2018.

If you have other questions about payments, please call 1-855-804-8399 (toll free) from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. PST, Monday – Friday.