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CLAIM INFORMATION

To Submit Your Claim:

First, read the Notice to be sure you're a settlement class member. If you have questions about that, contact Class Counsel.
Click for contact information.

Click to download claim form.

The length of the form may seem discouraging at first but dont be discouraged! Much of it simply involves checking off boxes, and you may know most of the answers off the top of your head.
Several pages provide narrative explanations or signature pages, and dont entail any work for you at all.

Answer all required questions and as many of the optional questions as you can.

If you are not sure how to interpret or answer a question, contact Class Counsel for guidance.
Click for contact information.

Attach any documents that you want to submit with your claim form. Put your name and Social Security number on the top of every page you attach! (Social Security numbers are required for identification because any compensation paid will be subject to income tax withholding. Your Social Security number will be kept strictly confidential and may not be used for any other purpose.)

BE SURE TO SIGN YOUR CLAIM FORM AND KEEP A COPY.

Mail your completed form to:
Claims Administrator
TV Writers' Age Cases
PO Box 8894
Melville, NY  11747

Forms must be postmarked by April 13, 2010

Updates

August 26, 2010
NOTICE OF POSSIBLE UNANTICIPATED DELAY IN DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS

This month, two members of the Settlement Classes filed Notices of Appeal: (1) John Keating, a member of the Aspiring Writers class, represented by the law firm of Kendrick & Nutley, Pasadena, California; and (2) Claudia Prada, a member of the Professional Writers Class, represented by the lawyer Howard Strong, Tarzana, California. CLICK HERE to view their Notices of Appeal.

The Notices of Appeal do not specifically identify the basis for Mr. Keating’s and Ms. Prada’s respective challenges. However, they are allowed to appeal only those elements of the settlement to which they filed timely objections during the approval process. If you wish to review their original objections, CLICK HERE.

The settlement does not become effective until these two appeals are resolved either by agreement or appellate decision. No money may be distributed from the settlement fund until the settlement becomes effective. Our Update of July 7, 2010 informed you that, “assuming no unforeseen delays,” we anticipated mailing notices of award amounts in September or early October. The filing of these notices of appeal is an “unforeseen delay.” Accordingly, at this time, and until these appeals are resolved, we cannot predict when notices of award amounts will be mailed.

We will keep you advised of developments as they occur concerning these notices of appeal.

July 7, 2010
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL CLAIMANTS
FROM: PAUL SPRENGER, LEAD CLASS COUNSEL
RE: SETTLEMENT UPDATE

Dear Claimants:

On Thursday, June 24th, Judge Elias approved the proposed formula for distribution of awards and on July 1, 2010, entered detailed Findings of Fact and Order approving the formula. At the June 24 hearing she directed Lead Class Counsel to conduct an audit of various aspects of the distribution process. The Findings and Orders approving the formula and authorizing the audit entered June 24 and July 1, 2010, are available on this page dated July 1, 2010.

The audit will be completed in about 45 days. Award amounts will be mailed confidentially to claimants by the Claims Administrator when all awards and the court's orders and judgments are final, which will be about September 10, 2010. Claimants will receive a confidential notice stating the gross and net amounts of the award, including tax allocations (IRS forms W-2 and 1099 will be issued by the Claims Administrator reporting the award income and any required withholding). After receipt of the notice of award, claimants may request it be sent to them by returning the appropriate tax information and reporting forms to the Claims Administrator. (If a claimant operated through a "loan-out" company, it may be designated the appropriate corporate entity for the recipient of the award at that time). Upon receipt by the Claims Administrator of the signed tax and acknowledgement of award forms, the distribution check will be mailed on a rolling basis within a week to 10 days. No individual awards will be paid until those forms are returned.

Assuming no unforeseen delays, the notification of the award amounts will be mailed in September or early October, 2010. You should continue to check the "UPDATES" tab of this website or at www.tvwriterscounsel.com for scheduling changes and developments.

Thank you for your patience; on behalf of all 160 lawyers and legal assistants who worked on these cases, it has been our privilege to represent you.

Paul Sprenger
Lead Class Counsel, TV Writers Age Discrimination Cases

July 6, 2010
CLICK HERE to view a Notice of Entry of the findings on the claim formula.

July 1, 2010
CLICK HERE to view the Court's minute order of June 24, 2010, granting the motion of Lead Class Counsel to approve a distribution formula and the Court's Findings of Fact and Order on Application for Approval of distribution formula of July 1, 2010.

Lead Class Counsel expects his audit directed by the Court in the orders to be completed in 45 to 60 days and, barring unforeseen delays, notifications of the amounts of monetary awards will be mailed to eligible claimants within 30 days thereafter. The Court, in a third order, has directed Lead Class Counsel to report on the status of distribution by November 5, 2010, by which time he anticipates all awards will have been received by eligible claimants.

June 29, 2010
CLICK HERE to find notice of entry of Joint Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order Approving Settlement, including award of Class Counsel's fees and expenses filed on June 28, 2010.

June 27, 2010
CLICK HERE to access the court's order approving settlement and awarding attorneys' fees and reimbusement of expenses, together with its findings of fact and conclusions filed and entered on June 14, 2010, based on its hearing on June 9, 2010 on the motions of the parties.

June 21, 2010
CLICK HERE to view the Amended Notices of Entry of Judgment in the 19 TV Writers' cases in this settlement.

June 19, 2010
CLICK HERE to access Notice of Entry of Order Regarding Good Faith Determination.

June 6, 2010
NOTICE OF MOTION TO APPROVE DISTRIBUTION FORMULA
From: Paul Sprenger, Lead Class Counsel
Re: Distribution Formula
Date: June 6, 2010

CLICK HERE to access Class Counsel’s Notice of Motion and Motion for Approval of a Claim Formula, the supporting memorandum, the formula itself, and two supporting declarations. The motion is scheduled to be heard by Judge Elias on June 24, 2010, at 2:30 PM. If you wish, you may submit a written comment about the formula, ask to speak at the hearing, or attend the hearing. Any written comment or request to speak at the hearing should be forwarded to Lead Class Counsel at the addresses in the June 1 “update” below so that it is received by him not later than June 18. You do not need to comment or speak at the hearing, and doing so does not affect your eligibility for or the size of your award.

DO NOT SEND ANY SUBMISSION TO THE COURT.

JUNE 1, 2010
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL CLAIMANTS
From: Paul Sprenger, Lead Class counsel
Re: Continuance of Hearing on Formula
Date: June 1, 2010.

Judge Elias has tentatively re-scheduled the portion of the June 9th hearing to approve a formula for distribution to June 24 at 2:30 PM in her courtroom at the Los Angeles County Superior Court Building, 600 S. Commonwealth Blvd., Los Angeles, California. In light of this postponement, any suggestions, comments or other submissions concerning the motion to approve the formula should be sent to Lead Class Counsel to be received by him not later than June 14 at: Paul Sprenger, Sprenger and Lang Foundation Building, 1614 20th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 or via email at psprenger@SprengerandLang.com or fax 202-518-0228. Do not send any submission to the Court.

We expect that by Friday, June 4, Lead Class Counsel will file and post a motion for approval and a distribution formula with a memorandum supporting and explaining its application. Please check further updates on this website.

You do not need to appear on either June 9 or 24, and you do not need to submit anything in connection with the formula. You are invited to do so, if you wish. Your eligibility for an award is not affected by whether you file comments or appear.


MAY 17, 2010
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL CLAIMANTS
From: Paul Sprenger, Lead Class Counsel
Re: Final Approval Hearing
Date: May 17, 2010

Judge Elias granted approval to the Settlement at the hearing held on Friday May 14, 2010, overruling the 4 objections submitted to various aspects of the Settlement. The Court will issue written "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order" in due course, which will be posted when entered by the Court. Please note, however, that the Settlement remains subject to several contingencies that could still lead to it being terminated pursuant to its terms notwithstanding Judge Elias' decision. The parties hope to resolve those remaining contingencies, without terminating the settlement, within the next two weeks. Please check back here for regular updates.


IMPORTANT UPDATE: On May 7, 2010, Class Counsel filed the Report of Lead Class Counsel re: (1) Compliance with Order Directing Notice and (2) Claimant and Non-claimant Comments, Requests to Appear, Objections and Opt-outs; Supporting Declarations: Lance Blair (Mailed Notice and Administration Statistics); Patricia McCarron (Published Notice); Barry Goldstein (Case Results) and Theodore Eisenberg, Ph.D (Attorneys's Fees). You may access this filing and all related filings of Class Counsel on this date in connection with the motions for final approval and reimbursement of fees and costs by CLICKING HERE.