** IMPORTANT UPDATE **
If you are a Class member in this case and you received a settlement check, you have until July 9, 2024, to cash your check.
If you are a Class member in this case and you have not received a settlement check, or if you have any questions, please contact the settlement administrator at:
Phone: (888) 836-1292
Email: info@hcusettlement.com
** ACTUALIZACIÓN IMPORTANTE **
Si usted es miembro del grupo en este caso y recibió un cheque del acuerdo, tiene hasta el 9 de julio de 2024 para cobrar su cheque.
Si usted es miembro del grupo en este caso y no ha recibido un cheque del acuerdo, o si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con el administrador del acuerdo en:
Teléfono: (888) 836-1292
Email: info@hcusettlement.com
Case Information
Mario Paredes Garcia v. Harborstone Credit Union
United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Case No. 3:21-cv-5148-LK
About This Case
YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO BENEFITS UNDER A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IF YOU APPLIED FOR A LOAN FROM HARBORSTONE CREDIT UNION AT ANY TIME BETWEEN JANUARY 26, 2018, AND AUGUST 31, 2021, BUT YOU WERE NOT A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE TIME YOU APPLIED, AND YOUR LOAN APPLICATION WAS DECLINED.
This website contains information about your options regarding a recent court Settlement. Your legal rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Please read the Notice of Class Action Settlement carefully.
Mario Paredes Garcia (referred to as “Plaintiff” or “Class Representative”) has sued Harborstone Credit Union (“Defendant” or “Harborstone”) based on alleged violations of federal law.
Plaintiff represents all individuals who resided in the United States at the time they applied for a loan from Harborstone Credit Union, and for whom Harborstone obtained a credit report, and whose applications were declined at any time between January 26, 2018, and August 31, 2021 for the reason that they had a tax identification number because they were not permanent residents of the United States. Those people are referred to as “the Class” or “Class members.” Excluded from the Class are:
The judge assigned to this case and any member of her immediate family;
Any officers, directors, agents, legal representatives, assignees, or successors of Harborstone Credit Union;
Any entity in which Harborstone Credit Union has a controlling interest or that has a controlling interest in Harborstone Credit Union; and
Any individual who has an active dispute with Harborstone Credit Union based on the facts asserted in Plaintiff’s Complaint, filed in Pierce County Superior Court on January 26, 2021.
The Court presiding over this case has issued a preliminary order approving a settlement that covers the Plaintiff and Class members in this case. The Court will decide whether the proposed settlement should be approved.
Harborstone has agreed to pay up to $366,750, consisting of compensation to the Class, attorneys’ fees and costs, and administration costs, to settle this action with the Class. Harborstone has also agreed to change certain policies and procedures.
As part of the proposed settlement, Harborstone does not admit to any wrongdoing and continues to deny any wrongdoing, including the allegations in Plaintiff’s complaint.
If you are a member of the Class and you choose to remain in the Class, the estimated gross amount of your share of the Settlement Fund before taxes is $750. (The final amount may be different.)
The Court, Defendant, Settlement Administrator, and Class Counsel cannot provide tax advice regarding your estimated amount. You should consult with a tax professional regarding the tax consequences of any amount received.
Your legal rights are affected, and you have a choice to make in this action now.
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT
DO NOTHING | Stay in the Class. Receive settlement payment. Give up certain rights. By doing nothing, you will receive a settlement payment if you meet the definition of a Settlement Class member and the settlement is finally approved by the Court. In exchange, you will be bound by the Settlement, including the Release of Claims (see FAQ 5). |
ASK TO BE EXCLUDED | Get out of the Class. Get no payment from the settlement. Keep your rights. If you ask to be excluded (or “opt out”) of the Settlement Class, you will not receive any share of the settlement proceeds, and you will not be bound by the settlement (including the Release of Claims). You must submit a request to be excluded no later than September 22, 2023. See FAQ 9 for instructions on how to exclude yourself. Click HERE to fill out an Opt Out form electronically. |
OBJECT | Challenge the settlement terms. If you don’t like the settlement or don’t want it to be approved, you may object and tell the Court why. You may either submit an objection yourself or enter an appearance through an attorney who may submit an objection on your behalf. If the Court approves the settlement despite your objection, you will still be bound by the settlement. If you request exclusion from the settlement, you cannot also object to it. You must submit an objection no later than September 22, 2023. See FAQ 9 for instructions on how to submit an objection. |
Regardless of which of these choices you make, you and/or your attorney may attend the final approval hearing in Court and speak about the fairness of the class action settlement. More information about the hearing can be found in FAQ 10.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information about the lawsuit, the terms of the settlement, and the final fairness hearing.
Case Documents
Important Dates