Notice Project Case Study:
Terry v. Wasatch
In a complex case with multiple classes and notices, the Impact Fund used Notice Project templates and NoticeAssist software to create class action notices described by the presiding judge as “unusually clear and straightforward.”
Overview
The Impact Fund and co-counsel recently achieved a significant legal victory, securing both financial and injunctive relief for low-income tenants who were unjustly overcharged on rent.
“It was crucial that the class notices were as understandable as possible because the settlement checks had the potential to affect people’s eligibility for public benefits,” said Lori Rifkin, Impact Fund’s Litigation Director.
“We wanted the plaintiffs to feel like the legal system was really working for them, which meant they had to know what happened in the case and understand all of their options.”
Impact Fund Executive Director Lindsay Nako and Wasatch plaintiff Danika Terry.
Using Notice Project templates and NoticeAssist software, the Impact Fund’s legal team and co-counsel created two class notices that were praised by the presiding judge in the settlement approval order.
The Result
”To the parties’ credit, those notices employ unusually clear and straightforward language to describe this case, the proposed settlement, the class members’ options and the other information required by Rule 23(c)(B)(i).” - Judge Mueller, E.D. Cal.
What did Impact Fund’s Litigation Director Lori Rifkin think about NoticeAssist and the Notice Project templates?
"As an AI skeptic, I had doubts about NoticeAssist, or, really, any form of AI. But I found NoticeAssist easy to use, helpful, and, I'd even say fun!"
The Process
“After using the template, writing the notices, and getting lots of feedback from both lawyers and non-lawyers at Impact Fund, I ran our drafts through NoticeAssist.
Even after we made significant revisions, NoticeAssist still identified information that could be made easier to understand.
What I liked about it most was its issue-spotting. All the areas it identified for improvement – I could improve! Even when its suggestion for improvement didn’t get the wording just right, I could understand what it was getting at and make my own rewrite.”
“When I get a notice with pages and pages of tiny print, I don’t want to read it - and I’m a lawyer! That’s why I appreciated that the layout and structure of the templates helped me to create readable notices right from the start.”
Customization
“While our case required significant customization - especially since we didn’t need claim forms - the templates gave me the flexibility to adapt content to fit my case while retaining the original’s clarity and readability.
One of the most helpful features was the decision-making charts [pictured right]. Using the templates I could adjust these charts to answer plaintiffs’ key questions, like what happens if they opt out, or how receiving payment might affect their public benefits.”
The Notice Project templates and software are available free of charge.
Questions or comments? Send John Henry an email.