For Class members who have died (whether Participant or Spouse Class Members), the Court approved notices of the proposed settlement to be sent to potential heirs (“Potential Successors”) that included a Successor Information Form to be completed by you or the deceased Class member’s executor, and instructions for forwarding the Form and requested documents to the Court-appointed Notice Administration and/or for contacting Class Counsel via phone or email to assist Potential Successors in completing the Form and answer any questions Potential Successors might have.

As you can imagine, before making payments of any considerable amount (in this case, above $25,000), Colgate will want to see proof it is issuing a check to the authorized representative of the deceased Class member’s estate (who will, in turn, distribute the proceeds to the deceased Class member’s rightful heir(s)).  If no estate was ever opened in the probate court for the deceased Class member, one needs to be opened now and an executor appointed.  If a previously opened estate is now closed, it must be re-opened and a new executor appointed or the previously appointed executed re-authorized to act.  

As Class Counsel it is important to us that the deceased Class member’s rightful heir(s) receive the settlement benefits those heirs are owed.  Please call our office at the number above or the Notice Administrator at (833) 215-9289.  You can also email us directly at eli@gottesdienerlaw.com or albert@gottesdienerlaw.com or the Notice Administrator at colgate@classinfosource.com.   If the deceased Class member had an attorney prepare his or her will, and/or an attorney was involved in settling the estate of the deceased Class member, please contact that attorney as soon as possible and provide them with this letter and the Notice and Form and ask them to help you complete the Form, open or re-open the estate and have you or some other relative appointed executor authorized to receive the settlement benefit check.