Utah Code 13-11-21. Settlement of class action — Complaint in class action delivered to enforcing authority
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Terms Used In Utah Code 13-11-21
- Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Consumer transaction: includes :(2)(b)(i) any of the following with respect to a transfer or disposition described in Subsection (2)(a):(2)(b)(i)(A) an offer;(2)(b)(i)(B) a solicitation;(2)(b)(i)(C) an agreement; or(2)(b)(i)(D) performance of an agreement; or(2)(b)(ii) a charitable solicitation. See Utah Code 13-11-3
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Enforcing authority: means the Division of Consumer Protection. See Utah Code 13-11-3
- Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
- Person: means an individual, corporation, government, governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, cooperative, or any other legal entity. See Utah Code 13-11-3
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
- Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
(1)(a)(1)(a)(i) A defendant in a class action may file a written offer of settlement. If it is not accepted within a reasonable time by a plaintiff class representative, the defendant may file an affidavit reciting the rejection.(1)(a)(ii) The court may determine that the offer has enough merit to present to the members of the class. If the court so determines, the court shall order a hearing to determine whether the offer should be approved.(1)(a)(iii) The court shall provide at least 60 days advance notice of the hearing:(1)(a)(iii)(A) to the enforcing authority; and(1)(a)(iii)(B) to the extent practicable, to each member who can be identified through reasonable effort.(1)(a)(iv) The noticedescribed in Subsection (1)(a)(iii) shall specify the terms of the offer and a reasonable period within which members of the class who request it are entitled to be included in the class.(1)(a)(v) The statute of limitations for those who are excluded pursuant to this Subsection (1)(a)(v) is tolled for the period the class action has been pending, plus an additional year. Within 60 days of receipt of the notice required by this Subsection (1)(a), the enforcing authority may intervene in the class action for the limited purpose of objecting to the offer of settlement.(1)(b) If a member who has previously lost an opportunity to be excluded from the class is excluded at his request in response to notice of the offer of settlement during the period specified under Subsection (1)(a), he may not thereafter participate in a class action for damages respecting the same consumer transaction, unless the court later disapproves the offer of settlement or approves a settlement materially different from that proposed in the original offer of settlement. After the expiration of the period of limitations, a member of the class is not entitled to be excluded from it.(1)(c) If the court later approves the offer of settlement, including changes, if any, required by the court in the interest of a just settlement of the action, it shall enter judgment, which is binding on all persons who are then members of the class. If the court disapproves the offer or approves a settlement materially different from that proposed in the original offer, notice shall be given to a person who was excluded from the action at his request in response to notice of the offer under Subsection (1)(a), and he is entitled to rejoin the class and, in the case of the approval, participate in the settlement.
(2) On the commencement of a class action under Section 13-11-19 , the class representative shall mail by certified mail with return receipt requested or personally serve a copy of the complaint on the enforcing authority. Within 180 days after the receipt of a copy of the complaint, but not thereafter, the enforcing authority may intervene in the class action for purposes of participation as an interested party in litigation of the class action.