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MARYLAND

* * * * * * *

IMPORTANT NOTICE

JUDGE HAMILTON ESTABLISHES DECEMBER 19, 2003
AS THE FINAL DEADLINE FOR THE FILING OF BOTH
CURRENT LANDOWNER BENEFIT CLAIMS
AND
PRIOR LANDOWNER BENEFIT CLAIMS.

On January 8, 2003, upon joint motion of Class Counsel and counsel for AT&T, Judge David F. Hamilton entered an order approving the Certain Maryland "Telecommunication Cable"/Railroad Corridor Class Settlement Court Notice which establishes December 19, 2003 as the deadline for the filing claims for Current Landowner Benefits and Prior Landowner Benefits. Claim Forms must be postmarked by December 19, 2003, in order to be deemed to be within this deadline.

CERTAIN MARYLAND
"TELECOMMUNICATION CABLE"
RAILROAD CORRIDOR CLASS SETTLEMENT

On January 8, 2003, in Forrest Nance, et al. v. AT&T Corp. (No. IP99-C-1892-H/K), United States District Judge David F. Hamilton (the "Court") conditionally approved a Maryland "telecommunication cable"/railroad corridor settlement class, consisting, generally speaking, of the current (and certain past) owners of land underlying or adjacent to five (5) railroad corridors in Maryland. The corridors are used to provide railway service along: Dover to Salisbury, Washington 3 to Monrovia, Baltimore to Finksburg, Philadelphia to Washington, and Camp David Branch.

The Court has preliminarily approved the settlement as fair, adequate, and reasonable for the Settlement Class, but the Court will conduct a hearing to make a final determination whether the Settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable and should be finally approved.

This home page provides some basic settlement information and copies of important documents for persons who know they are, or think they might be, members of this Settlement Class. The settlement terms and the options a potential class member and claimant has are explained in the Court Notice.

Please Note the Following Important Dates:

Deadline to Comment, Object, or Opt Out: October 3, 2003

Fairness Hearing:
If objections or requests to appear and be heard have been received from any Class Member by October 3, 2003, the Court will hold the fairness hearing at 11:00 a.m. on October 23, 2003 at the following location:

U.S. Courthouse
Courtroom 1B
101 West Lombard Street
Baltimore, Maryland

If NO objections or requests to appear and be heard have been received from any Class Members by October 3, 2003, the Court will instead hold the fairness hearing at 1:00 p.m. on November 7, 2003 at the following location:

Courtroom of Judge David F. Hamilton
United States Courthouse
46 East Ohio Street
Indianapolis, Indiana

Claims Deadline: December 19, 2003.

Official Court Notice Packet

The official notice packet of materials concerning the proposed settlement, may be accessed or downloaded below:

* Documents require the Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download the free PDF reader click here.

  • Letter from Judge Hamilton explaining the materials in the notice packet
     
  • "Answers" to basic questions about the settlement
     
  • Court Notice explaining the terms of the conditionally approved Maryland "Telecommunication Cable"/Railroad Corridor Class Settlement and the options of the potential class members
     
  • Attachment A to the Court Notice (railroad corridors map [interactive to provide additional details] )
     
  • Attachment B to the Court Notice (easement/release form)
     
  • Attachment C to the Court Notice (claims processing rules)
     
  • Claims Form
     
  • Exclusion Form
     

Settlement Agreement/Orders

  • Certain Maryland "Telecommunication Cable"/Railroad Corridor Class Settlement Agreement (without exhibits), dated January 2, 2003, entered into between AT&T (AT&T Corp. and AT&T Communications, Inc.) and Class Counsel
     
  • Certain Maryland "Telecommunication Cable"/Railroad Corridor Class Settlement Agreement Preliminary Approval Order Conditionally Certifying Settlement Class, Preliminarily Approving Settlement and Approving Notice Documents

FOR PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ABOUT
SPECIFIC BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUAL CLASS MEMBERS
OR TO ASK LEGAL QUESTIONS

Class Members desiring specific preliminary information about the benefits for which they may be eligible, may contact the Claims Office, at the Maryland Case TeleCable Settlement Center,

  • by calling toll-free 1-800-436-6136
  • by e-mailing TeleCableCenter@lecg.com
    or
  • by writing:
    The Maryland Case
    TeleCable Settlement Center
    P.O. Box 131110
    Dallas, Texas 75313-1110

Class Members who have legal questions about the Settlement or any questions about the Corridor Enterprise may contact Class Counsel