Oregon CARES Funds Discrimination $3.5M Class Action Settlement

Black businesses in Oregon affected by the coronavirus pandemic will receive payments thanks to an approximately $3.5 million class action settlement.

The Class is made up of anyone who submitted an application for funding to the moneys allocated by the Oregon Emergency Board to defendant Oregon Department of Administrative Services and/or The Contingent prior to Dec. 9,2020, and did not indicate on their application that they identify as Black, are a Black-owned business, or are a Black-focused organization. 

Great Northern Resources filed a class action related to the Oregon Emergency Board’s allocation of $62 million Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to the state’s Department of Administrative Services. 

The board allocated $62 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to create the Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief and Resiliency.

On Dec. 8, 2020, The Contingent, a nonprofit with programs serving Oregon’s Black community that was administering the fund, allegedly announced it would no longer be accepting applications; the fund was not scheduled to expire until Dec. 30, 2020.

The defendants deny all accusations of wrongdoing, but both parties have agreed to a settlement in order to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continuing litigation.

An estimated 1,252 fund applicants are Class Members.

If the settlement is approved, each Class Member who submitted an application for the fund before Dec. 9, 2020, will have their application processed. The applications will be processed in the order they were received by The Contingent.

The settlement agreement also creates a settlement fund for Class Members.

Each applicant will receive the full amount they would have been entitled to under the fund, based on race-neutral criteria; in some cases, that may be nothing.

Those who submit their bank account information will receive their payment electronically. Checks will be issued to those who do not submit a bank account number.

A final approval hearing is scheduled for June 21, 2021.

The deadline to opt out of or object to the Oregon CARES settlement is May 28, 2021.

Who’s Eligible

Anyone who submitted an application for funding to the moneys allocated by the Oregon Emergency Board to defendant Oregon Department of Administrative Services and/or The Contingent prior to Dec. 9,2020, and did not indicate on their application that they identify as Black, are a Black-owned business, or are a Black-focused organization. 

Potential Award

Varies.

• Each applicant will receive the full amount they would have been entitled to under the fund, based on race-neutral criteria; in some cases, that may be nothing.

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase is required.

ACH Payment Request Form

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

No claim form is required.

Case Name

Great Northern Resources Inc., et al. v. Katy Coba, et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-01866-IM (L) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Portland Division

Final Hearing

06/21/2021

Settlement Website

OregonCARESFundSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

GNR v. Coba Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 10269
Tallahassee, FL 32302-2269
844-989-1576

Class Counsel

Bradley Benbrook
Stephen M. Duvernay
BENBROOK LAW GROUP PC

Jonathan F. Mitchell
MITCHELL LAW PLLC

James L. Buchal
MURPHY & BUCHAL LLP

Defense Counsel

Clifford S. Davidson, Special Assistant Attorney General
Kelly H. Dove
SNELL & WILMER LLP

Amanda T. Gamblin
Nika F. Aldrich Jr.
SCHWABE, WILLIAMSON & WYATT

Lindsey H. Hughes
Hillary A. Taylor
KEATING JONES HUGHES PC

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Chicago Restaurants Sue Insurance Company for Denied Business Interruption Claims During COVID-19 Shutdowns
• Victoria’s Secret Fails to Pay Workers for COVID-19 Checks, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges
• Beovu Vision Loss: What You Need to Know
• Do You Qualify: Belviq Cancer Side Effects Lawsuit Claim Review