Your rights could be affected by a proposed class action settlement if you were previously sent an un-enveloped postcard by the
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in relation to your license to carry firearms (“LTCF”), also commonly known as a “gun permit” or “carry permit,”
whereby your confidential information may have been disclosed in violation of Pennsylvania law.
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This is a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit alleging that Franklin County, and certain of its employees, agencies and departments,
disclosed confidential information under Pennsylvania law and in particular, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6111(i), through the use of un-enveloped postcards.
The information allegedly disclosed included names, addresses, and other related LTCF Applicant information (“LTCF Information”). The lawsuit also alleges
that certain policies and practices of the Defendants are unlawful and should be changed. The Defendants deny these allegations and assert that they
did not violate any law. The court has not decided whether any Defendant violated any laws. This notice is not
an opinion by the court about whether the Plaintiffs or Defendants are right.
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The Representative Plaintiffs and the Defendants have come to a settlement which would entitle the Class members to
a share of a $3,000,000.00 Settlement Fund (after payment of an incentive award to the Representative Plaintiffs,
class administration fees, and attorneys’ fees and expenses), in addition to the benefit of certain policy changes by Franklin County
to ensure that confidential LTCF Information is not disclosed.
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Your legal rights are affected regardless of whether you act or don’t act. Read the notice carefully.
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YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT
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Do Nothing
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If the Settlement is approved by the Court and not overturned on appeal, eligible Class members will receive a payment under the Settlement,
the sum of which will depend on the amount of attorneys’ fees and expenses awarded by the Court and the amount of
any incentive award for the Representative Plaintiffs.
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Exclude Yourself
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If you exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will not be bound by the Settlement or judgment and will not be entitled to any payment or benefits as
provided for by the Settlement. You will be free to pursue your claims against the Defendants. This is the only option that allows you to bring or be
part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants in this case about the same legal claims that are advanced in this case.
To validly exclude yourself from the class action and pursue your claims separately, your exclusion request must be postmarked by October 13, 2023.
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Object
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If you do not exclude yourself, you may file with the Court a document explaining why you do not like the Settlement or the request
for legal fees and expenses. To be considered, you must file your written objection with the Court postmarked no later than October 13, 2023.
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Go to a Hearing
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You may ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement or the request for legal fees and expenses.
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These rights and options – and the deadlines to exercise them – are explained in the notice.
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The Court in charge of this case still must decide whether to give final approval to the Settlement. Likewise, payments, if applicable,
to class members will be distributed only if the Court grants final approval of the Settlement and after any appeals are resolved.
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For more information or to review key documents or the Class Action Settlement Agreement, please see
the Important Documents page.