Settlement Agreement between Kurt MacKinnon, Louise Parsons, National Money Mart Company, and Dollar Financial Group, Inc. (March 31, 2010)
This Settlement Agreement resolves a class action lawsuit in the Supreme Court of British Columbia brought by Kurt MacKinnon and Louise Parsons against National Money Mart Company and Dollar Financial Group, Inc. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants charged unlawful interest rates on short-term loans. Under the agreement, eligible class members in British Columbia who obtained payday loans from Money Mart between January 29, 1997, and July 11, 2009, may receive cash payments or debt relief. The settlement is subject to court approval and includes provisions for notice, claims processing, and releases of further claims.
SECTION 1 RECITALS | 1 | |||
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS | 2 | |||
SECTION 3 REQUIRED EVENTS AND COOPERATION | 11 | |||
SECTION 4 NOTICE TO THE SETTLEMENT CLASS | 13 | |||
SECTION 5 MONEY MARTS SETTLEMENT OBLIGATIONS | 14 | |||
(a) Opt-Out Rights | 14 | |||
(b) Claims Period and Process | 15 | |||
(c) Settlement Class Claimants | 16 | |||
(d) Payments to Settlement Class Claimants | 17 | |||
(e) Debt Release | 19 | |||
(f) Residue | 19 | |||
SECTION 6 SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATION | 19 | |||
(a) Money Mart | 19 | |||
(b) The Referee | 20 | |||
(c) The Auditor | 21 | |||
SECTION 7 RELEASES AND JURISDICTION OF THE COURT | 21 | |||
SECTION 8 CLASS COUNSEL FEES | 22 | |||
SECTION 9 NO ADMISSIONS/NO USE | 23 | |||
SECTION 10 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 23 | |||
SECTION 11 TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT | 26 | |||
SECTION 12 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 27 | |||
SECTION 13 GUARANTEE BY DOLLAR FINANCIAL | 28 |
2.1 | As used in the Agreement, including the Recitals and Schedules hereto, in addition to any definitions elsewhere in the Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: |
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A) | subtract the amount of the approved Class Counsel Fees and the Notice Payment from the amount of the Settlement Fund; | ||
B) | divide the amount of the Settlement Fund remaining after subtraction of the Class Counsel Fees and the Notice Payment, as set out in (A), by the total claims of all Settlement Class Claimants; and | ||
C) | multiply each Settlement Class Claimants claim by the pro rata ratio set out in (B); |
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3.1 | The Plaintiffs will make a motion to the Court requesting approval of the Settlement and providing the relief specified herein, which relief shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement and the Parties performance of their continuing rights and obligations hereunder. The Settlement Approval Order will, among other things: |
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3.2 | As soon as reasonably practicable following the execution of this Agreement, Money Mart will produce to the Plaintiffs the following electronic customer data for the Settlement Class for the Settlement Period: |
3.3 | The Parties agree that the Fast Cash Advance transactions for which there are no electronic links between origination and deposits will be treated as Eligible Fast Cash Advances for the purposes of the Settlement. | |
3.4 | As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the Plaintiffs of the material set out in Section 3.2, the Plaintiffs will advise Money Mart of any errors contained within. If the Parties cannot reach agreement on the accuracy of the material set out in Section 3.2 by the conclusion of the Claims Period, the matter will be referred immediately to Mr. Donald I. Brenner Q. C. for summary determination without a right of appeal. | |
3.5 | As soon as reasonably practicable after the Decision Period, Money Mart will produce to the Plaintiffs the Settlement Database B and copies of the Claims Forms submitted by and Entitlement Letters issued to Settlement Class Members (in electronic form, if available). As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the Plaintiffs of Settlement Database B, the Plaintiffs will advise Money Mart of any errors contained within Settlement Database B. If the Parties cannot reach agreement on the accuracy of the material set out in Settlement Database B by the conclusion of the Appeal Period, the matter will be referred immediately to Mr. Donald I. Brenner Q. C. for summary determination without a right of appeal. |
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3.6 | Mr. Donald I. Brenner Q. C. will determine who, between Money Mart and Class Counsel, shall bear the costs of any summary determination by him, pursuant to Sections 3.3, 3.4 or 4.3, and may apportion those costs between Money Mart and Class Counsel as he sees fit. |
4.1 | Subject to Court approval, the Settlement Approval Notice, substantially in the form of Schedule C, will be published and disseminated by Money Mart to Settlement Class Members in accordance with the Notice Plan. | |
4.2 | In addition to the Settlement Amount, Money Mart will pay the costs of publishing and disseminating the Settlement Approval Notice and the costs of Money Marts Counsel to receive the Opt-Out Forms and report to the Court thereon. | |
4.3 | As soon as reasonably practicable after the Settlement Date, Money Mart shall provide Class Counsel with an estimate of the Notice Payment. Any disagreement between Money Mart and Class Counsel as to the reasonableness of the Notice Payment shall be referred immediately to Mr. Donald I. Brenner Q. C. for summary determination without a right of appeal. | |
4.4 | Upon dissemination of the Settlement Approval Notice in accordance with the Notice Plan, Money Mart shall be reimbursed for an amount equal to the Notice Payment from the Settlement Fund, 50% in Cash Credits and 50% in Transaction Credits. | |
4.5 | Class Counsel may give notice of this Settlement on its website and by email to Class Members whom have contacted or contact Class Counsel concerning this Action. Class Counsel may provide additional notice of this Settlement, in a manner agreed to by Defendants Counsel or approved by the Court, and Class Counsel may respond to media inquiries concerning the Settlement. | |
4.6 | Nothing in this Agreement shall limit the ability of Class Counsel to communicate with Settlement Class Members concerning their entitlements under the Settlement, either by email or by telephone, and all such communications shall remain privileged. |
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5.1 | On and following the Settlement Date, Money Mart will comply with the Settlement Obligations in the manner required by the provisions of the Agreement and the directions of the Court which obligations include, inter alia: |
5.2 | Class Members will not be given a further opportunity to opt-out of the Action. | |
5.3 | A New Class Member may opt-out of the Action at any time during the Opt-Out Period in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement. | |
5.4 | In order to opt-out the New Class Member must return a completed and signed Opt-Out Form to Money Marts Counsel during the Opt-Out Period postmarked or emailed or fax dated within the Opt-Out Period. | |
5.5 | Any New Class Member who elects to opt-out of the Action: |
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5.6 | Nothing in the Agreement constitutes or shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by any of the Defendants of defences based on statutes of limitations or repose, laches, prescription period or any other limitation or prescription defence. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the Agreement constitutes or shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of such defences in respect of any New Class Member who opts out of the Action in accordance with the provisions of this Section. |
5.7 | Settlement Class Members seeking to make a claim for a Net Settlement Benefit must, within the Claim Period, submit a Claim Form using one of the following methods:: |
5.8 | If the Settlement Class Member provides a form of identification that is different than his/her Identification Document, Money Mart will either: |
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5.9 | Within the Decision Period, Money Mart will complete its review of the Claim Forms submitted and will advise each Settlement Class Member who submits a Claim Form whether he/she is a Settlement Class Claimant and his/her entitlement, if any, for benefits, using the Entitlement Letter. | |
5.10 | If a Settlement Class Member does not agree with Money Marts decision in the Entitlement Letter, he/she may appeal the decision by submitting an Entitlement Appeal Form to the Referee. The Entitlement Appeal Form must be submitted during the Entitlement Appeal Period. | |
5.11 | The Referee will provide a decision in respect of the dispute set out in the Entitlement Appeal Form in the manner and within the time set out in Schedule H. |
5.12 | Each Settlement Class Claimant will be entitled to receive from the Settlement Fund his/her Net Settlement Benefit. | |
5.13 | If the Settlement Class Claimant has any Default Transactions, his/her Net Settlement Benefit shall be applied in satisfaction of the Default Transactions in the following manner: |
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5.14 | Settlement Class Members who do not make a claim within the Claims Period and fail to opt-out during the Opt-Out Period will not be entitled to any payments from the Settlement Fund, but may be Indebted Class Members entitled to Debt Release as provided for in this Agreement. |
5.15 | If no Entitlement Appeal Forms are filed, Settlement Class Claimants claims will be paid within 45 days from the conclusion of the Decision Period. | |
5.16 | If any Entitlement Appeal Forms are filed, Settlement Class Claimants claims will be paid within 45 days from the conclusion of the Entitlement Appeal Period. | |
5.17 | Any payments to a Settlement Class Claimant of a Net Settlement Benefit, and any payments to Money Mart from a Net Settlement Benefit in satisfaction of any Default Transactions, will be made 50% in Cash Credits and 50% in Transaction Credits. | |
5.18 | All payments of Cash Credits and Transaction Credits to the Settlement Class Claimant shall be made, in the manner set out in sections 5.19 and 5.20, by mail with the Payment Letter to the address designated by the Settlement Class Claimant in his/her Claim Form, as updated by the Settlement Class Claimant in accordance with the Claims Form. | |
5.19 | Cash Credits will be issued in the name of the Settlement Class Claimant who is entitled to the Net Settlement Benefit in the form of a cheque. Money Mart will cash all Cash Credits cheques without charge. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit Settlement Class Claimants from cashing the Cash Credits cheques at the financial institution of their choice. | |
5.20 | Transactions Credits will be issued as a Voucher in the name of the Settlement Class |
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Claimant who is entitled to the Net Settlement Benefit and will be subject to the following terms: |
5.21 | Prior to the end of the Redemption Period, if a Settlement Class Claimant has Transaction Credits remaining, then for a fee payable to Money Mart of not more than $10.00, a Settlement Class Claimant may have a Voucher reissued in respect of the remaining Transaction Credits by attending a Money Mart location and presenting his/her Identification Document. | |
5.22 | For the purpose of implementing the allocation and distribution of Cash Credits and |
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Transaction Credits and notice thereof to the Settlement Class Claimants and Indebted Class Members the Money Mart will create and maintain the Settlement Database B. |
5.23 | At end of the Entitlement Appeal Period, Money Mart will completely and unconditionally release, forever discharge and acquit each Indebted Class Member in respect of his/her eligible Debt Release amounts in accordance with this Agreement. |
5.24 | Any residue remaining in the Settlement Fund after payment of the Class Counsel Fees, the Notice Payment, the distribution of the Cash Credits and Transaction Credits and the redemption of the Transaction Credits, will be returned to Money Mart within 15 days after the end of the Redemption Period. |
6.1 | Money Mart will pay all costs of administration and notice as required pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement including; |
6.2 | Money Marts Counsel will be appointed to receive all Opt-Out Forms. As soon after receipt as possible, he will provide copies to Class Counsel and, he will report to the Court thereon at the end of the Opt-Out Period. | |
6.3 | At the end of the Opt-Out Period, Money Marts Counsel will provide copies of all completed Opt-Out Forms to the Auditor. Money Mart will report to the Court regarding those Class Members who have opted out on notice to Class Counsel and the Auditor. |
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6.4 | Money Mart will establish a Settlement administration which implements and conforms to the Agreement and the directions of the Court. | |
6.5 | Money Mart shall administer the Settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement under the oversight of the Court and Class Counsel. | |
6.6 | Money Mart shall perform the Settlement administration in a rational, responsible, cost effective and timely manner. | |
6.7 | Personal information obtained or created in the administration of the Settlement is confidential and, except as required by law, will only be used and disclosed for the purpose of distributing the notices contemplated by the Agreement and the administration of the Settlement. | |
6.8 | Money Mart will maintain reasonably detailed records of its activities under the Agreement until 1 year after the end of the Redemption Period. Such records will be made available electronically or as otherwise requested for inspection by Class Counsel, by the Court and by the Auditor. | |
6.9 | For the purpose of fulfilling their responsibilities and duties under the Agreement, Money Mart will provide Class Counsel, the Auditor and the Referee with such access to the Settlement Database A, the Settlement Database B and the master database from which the above databases are generated, as they may require. | |
6.10 | Any one or more of the Parties, Class Counsel, the Referee or the Auditor may move for directions from the Court in respect of any matter in relation to the Agreement. |
6.11 | The Court will appoint the Referee with such powers and rights as are reasonably necessary to discharge the duties and responsibilities set out in the Agreement including those set out in Schedule H. The Referees appointment expires 45 days after the end of the Redemption Period. | |
6.12 | Money Mart will pay the reasonable fees, disbursements and taxes of the Referee. |
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6.13 | The Court will appoint the Auditor with such powers and rights as are reasonably required to discharge the duties and responsibilities set out in the Agreement. The duties and responsibilities of the Auditor include auditing the Settlement administration and the various databases and funds. The Auditor will deliver a copy of its report to the Court, to Money Mart and to Class Counsel at the following times and on the following topics: |
6.14 | Money Mart will cooperate with the Auditor and provide the Auditor with access to all records necessary for the Auditor to prepare the reports and to discharge its responsibilities pursuant to the Agreement. | |
6.15 | The Auditors appointment expires 45 days after the end of the Redemption Period. | |
6.16 | Money Mart will pay the reasonable fees, disbursements and taxes of the Auditor. |
7.1 | As of the Settlement Date, each Class Member and each New Class Member who does not opt-out will have by virtue of the Agreement, and by operation of the Settlement Approval Order, individually, completely and unconditionally released, forever discharged and acquitted the Released Persons from any and all of the Settled Claims. | |
7.2 | As of the Settlement Date, the Settlement Class Members and anyone claiming through or on behalf of any of them will be forever barred from commencing, instituting or prosecuting the Settled Claims against any one of the Released Persons in any action, litigation, investigation or other proceeding in any court of law or equity, arbitration, tribunal, proceeding, or any other forum, directly, representatively or derivatively relating |
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to the Settled Claims. | ||
7.3 | The Parties agree that the Court shall retain exclusive and continuing jurisdiction over the Action, Parties and Settlement Class Members to interpret and enforce the terms, conditions and obligations under the Agreement and the Settlement Approval Order. | |
7.4 | Nothing herein shall release a Settlement Class Member from any outstanding obligation owed by a Settlement Class Member to Money Mart except to the extent that Default Transactions are released pursuant to the Agreement. | |
7.5 | Nothing herein shall release the Released Persons from any outstanding obligation owed by the Released Persons to a Settlement Class Member except to the extent of the release provided pursuant to Section 7.1. | |
7.6 | Nothing herein shall release the Defendants and the Released Persons from their obligations as set out in the Agreement and in the Settlement Approval Order. |
8.1 | At the Settlement Approval Hearing, Class Counsel may seek Court approval of Class Counsel Fees to be paid from and as a first charge on the Settlement Fund. | |
8.2 | Class Counsel Fees will be paid from the Settlement Fund within 14 days after the date the Settlement Fund is established and the amount will be paid 50% in Cash Credits and 50% in Transaction Credits. | |
8.3 | Class Counsel may seek court approval of a right to redeem its Transaction Credits for cash upon receipt, and if such approval is granted, Money Mart shall redeem those Transaction Credits immediately. The Settlement is not conditional on such approval being granted. | |
8.4 | The Defendants will have no involvement in the approval process to determine the amount of Class Counsel Fees or any application under Section 8.3. |
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9.1 | The Agreement, whether or not approved, and any proceedings taken pursuant to the Agreement, are for settlement purposes only. Neither the fact of, nor any provision contained in, the Agreement or its Schedules, nor any action taken hereunder, shall be referenced in any other court proceedings, or construed as, offered in evidence as, received in evidence as, or deemed to be evidence of, a presumption, concession or an admission of any kind by the Plaintiffs or the Defendants of the truth of any fact alleged or the validity of any claim or defence that has been, could have been, or in the future might be asserted in any litigation, court of law or equity, proceeding, arbitration, tribunal, investigation, government action, administrative forum or any other forum, or of any liability, responsibility, fault, wrongdoing or otherwise of the Plaintiffs, the Settlement Class or the Defendants. | |
9.2 | Any certification of the Action in respect of New Class Members pursuant to the Agreement shall not constitute, and shall not be construed as, an admission on the part of the Defendants that either the Action, or issues arising in the Action, or any other putative or certified class proceeding, is appropriate for prosecution or trial as a class proceeding. |
10.1 | The Agreement, including all Schedules hereto, constitutes the entire Agreement among the Parties with regard to the subject matter of the Agreement and shall supersede any previous agreements, representations, communications and understandings among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of the Agreement. Subject to its terms, the Agreement may not be changed, modified, or amended except in writing signed by all Parties, subject to Court approval. The Parties contemplate that the Schedules to the Agreement may be modified by subsequent agreement of Money Mart and Class Counsel and by Court order prior to and after dissemination to the Settlement Class. | |
10.2 | The Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia. | |
10.3 | The Agreement may be executed by the Parties in one or more counterparts, each of |
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which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures by facsimile shall be as effective as original signatures. | ||
10.4 | In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision if the Parties mutually elect to proceed as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had never been included in this Agreement. | |
10.5 | If the Settlement is approved by the Court and if the Settlement Approval Order becomes final, the Agreement shall be binding upon and enure to the benefit of the Plaintiffs, the Settlement Class, the Defendants, the Released Parties and all of their respective heirs, executors, predecessors, successors and assigns. | |
10.6 | The Recitals to the Agreement are true and form part of the Agreement. | |
10.7 | The Parties have negotiated and fully reviewed the terms of this Agreement, and the rule that uncertainty or ambiguity is to be construed against the drafter shall not apply to the construction of this Agreement by a court of law or any other adjudicating body. | |
10.8 | The headings of the sections of the Agreement are included for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of the Agreement or to affect its construction. | |
10.9 | Any notice, instruction, motion for Court approval or motion for directions or Court orders sought in connection with the Agreement or other report or document to be given by any Party to any other Party shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile or e-mail during normal business hours, or sent by registered or certified mail, postage paid: |
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10.10 | The Schedules to the Agreement are: |
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10.11 | The Parties acknowledge that they have required that the Agreement, including Schedules, be prepared in English. | |
10.12 | No waiver of any provision of the Agreement shall be binding on any Party unless consented to in writing by such Party. No waiver of any provision of the Agreement shall constitute a waiver of any other provision, and no waiver of any provision of the Agreement shall constitute a continuing waiver unless expressly so provided. |
11.1 | The Agreement shall, without notice, be automatically terminated if: |
11.2 | In the event the Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, or not approved by the Court, or any approval is reversed, vacated, or terminated by any appellate court and/or the Settlement Approval Order does not become final: |
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11.3 | If the Agreement is terminated, the provisions of this Section and Sections 9.1, 9.2, 10.11, 12.2 and the Recitals, Schedules and Definitions applicable thereto shall survive termination and shall continue in full force and effect. |
12.1 | The representations and warranties contained in the Agreement shall survive its execution and implementation. | |
12.2 | The undersigned Class Counsel warrant that they are fully authorized to execute this Agreement on behalf of the Plaintiffs and to execute and legally bind all the Plaintiffs to this Agreement. | |
12.3 | Money Mart and Dollar Financial represent and warrant that: |
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12.4 | The Plaintiffs represent and warrant that: |
13.1 | Dollar Financial hereby guarantees payment to the Settlement Class of all the debts, liabilities and obligations of Money Mart pursuant to the Agreement and the Settlement Approval Order. | |
13.2 | Dollar Financials guarantee is a continuing guarantee of all Money Marts debts, liabilities and obligations pursuant to the Settlement Approval Order, Agreement and pursuant to any further orders made by the Court. |
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13.3 | The Settlement Class Members shall not be bound to exhaust their recourse against Money Mart before being entitled to make demand to Dollar Financial if Money Mart is the subject of a bankruptcy, or proposal in bankruptcy, or a CCAA application or action. In such circumstances, immediately following demand, Dollar Financial will satisfy Money Marts outstanding debts, liabilities and obligations under the Agreement. | |
Date: May 6, 2010 | By: | /s/ Paul Bennett | ||
Paul Bennett as Class Counsel, | ||||
On behalf of the Plaintiffs and Settlement Class Members | ||||
Date: May 5, 2010 | By: | /s/ John P. Brown | ||
John P. Brown | ||||
On behalf of National Money Mart Company | ||||
Date: May 5, 2010 | By: | /s/ Mahmud Jamal | ||
Mahmud Jamal | ||||
On behalf of Dollar Financial Group, Inc. | ||||