Nguyen et al. v. Educational Computer Systems, Inc., d/b/a Heartland ECSI

United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania Civil Action No. 2:22-cv-01743-PLD

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

 

A class action Settlement may affect your rights if you paid Educational Computer Systems, Inc., d/b/a/ Heartland ECSI (“Defendant” or “Heartland ECSI”), a Fee for optional payment services to make a student loan payment by telephone, IVR, or the internet between December 6, 2018, through October 31, 2023. 

 

THIS NOTICE COULD AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.

 

A Court authorized this Notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

 

  • Heartland ECSI’s records identify you as a Class Member.

 

  • A proposed Settlement requires Heartland ECSI to pay $3,650,000 to make payments to Class Members who file timely claims and to pay other Fees and expenses.

 

SUMMARY OF YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT

Submit a Claim Form and Receive a Settlement Payment

Deadline: May 28, 2024

If you wish to make a claim and receive a Settlement Payment, you must visit the Submit Claim portal and complete a Claim Form online. You may elect to receive your payment via check or electronically by Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, etc. 


If the Court approves the Settlement and it becomes final and effective, and you remain in the Settlement Class (i.e., you do nothing and do not otherwise exclude yourself from the Settlement), you will only receive a Settlement Payment if you submitted a Claim Form before the deadline. The Settlement Fund, net of Fees, expenses, and incentive awards, will be distributed to those Class Members who submitted a timely Claim Form pro rata based on Fees paid. 


This option means that you give up your right to bring your own lawsuit against Heartland ECSI about the claims in this case. 

Do NothingYou will not receive a payment under the Settlement. You will also give up your right to object to the Settlement and you will not be able to be part of any other lawsuit about the claims this Settlement resolves.
Exclude Yourself from the Settlement

Deadline: June 3, 2024
You may ask to be excluded from the Settlement. If you do so, you will receive no benefit from the Settlement, but you retain your right to sue on your own.
Object

Deadline: June 3, 2024
You may object to the terms of the Settlement Agreement and have your objections heard at the June 24, 2024, Final Approval Hearing.

 

  • These rights and options ­– and the deadlines to exercise them – are explained in the Notice.

 

  • The United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania (the “Court”) authorized the Notice.  The following is a summary of the Settlement and of your rights. A full copy of the Settlement Agreement can be found in the "Documents" Section of the Settlement Website.

 

THIS IS NOT A SUIT AGAINST YOU. The purpose of the Notice is to advise you that a Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit (the “Lawsuit”) against Educational Computer Systems, Inc., d/b/a/ Heartland ECSI (“Defendant” or “Heartland ECSI”). The Notice is being sent to you because the Parties’ records indicate that you are included in the Settlement and entitled to a Settlement Payment.


The Notice summarizes the proposed settlement and your rights. The precise terms and conditions of the Settlement are set forth in the Settlement Agreement, which may be viewed by accessing the "Documents" Section of the Settlement Website or by contacting the Settlement Administrator at (833) 462-3516, contacting Class Counsel at the addresses listed below, or by accessing the Court docket in this case, for a fee, through the Court’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at www.pacer.gov.

This website is authorized by the Court, supervised by counsel to the Parties, and controlled by the Settlement Administrator approved by the Court. This is the only authorized website for this case.

For more information please call (833) 462-3516

    Important Dates

  • Claim Filing Deadline

    Tuesday, May 28, 2024
    You must submit your Claim Form online no later than Tuesday, May 28, 2024, or mail your completed paper Claim Form so that it is postmarked no later than May 28, 2024.
  • Exclusion Deadline

    Monday, June 3, 2024
    You must complete and mail your request for exclusion form so that it is postmarked no later than June 3, 2024.
  • Objection Deadline

    Monday, June 3, 2024
    You must mail your objection(s) and/or notice of intent to appear at the Final Approval Hearing so that it/they are postmarked no later than June 3, 2024.
  • Final Approval Hearing

    Monday, June 24, 2024
    The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for June 24, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. Please check this website for updates.