Duke University and UNC Faculty Antitrust $19M Class Action Settlement

UPDATE:

• The Court granted this settlement final approval on Aug. 30, 2021.
• Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

Faculty members at Duke University and the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill, may be eligible to receive a payment thanks to a $19 million class action settlement.

The Class is defined as all natural persons employed by Duke University or UNC Chapel Hill from Oct. 1, 2001, through Feb. 5, 2018, as a faculty member. 

Excluded from the Class are members of the boards of directors, boards of trustees, boards of governors, senior administrators of Duke and UNC, unpaid faculty, and faculty with an academic appointment at the School of Medicine, as well as any and all judges and justices and chambers’ staff assigned to hear or adjudicate any aspect of this litigation.

A class action lawsuit had accused Duke University and UNC of agreeing not to hire, recruit, or poach each other’s faculty members, violating state and federal antitrust laws.

Duke University denies all accusations of wrongdoing, but has agreed to the settlement to avoid the risks and uncertainties of continuing litigation.

Duke University employs 4,171 faculty members, according to Univstats.com, while UNC Chapel Hill reports it employs 3,887.

The settlement fund will be divided among Class Members after attorneys’ fees have been paid.

Each Class Member’s payment will depend on how much compensation they received from Duke and/or UNC while employed in one of the covered positions during the Class Period, in comparison with other Class Members, according to the settlement website.

The settlement administrator will use a formula to calculate these payments, deduct tax withholdings, then issue checks. 

The average settlement payment is expected to be approximately $2,341.91 for regular-rank faculty and $152.54 for non-regular-rank faculty members, such as visitors and adjuncts.

To confirm the correct address is on file, contact the administrator at 866-483-0373.

A fairness hearing in the Duke University and UNC class action settlement is scheduled for Aug. 25, 2021.

The deadline for individuals to exclude themselves from or object to the settlement is July 28, 2021. 

No claim form is required in order to receive a payment.

Who’s Eligible

All natural persons employed by Duke University or UNC Chapel Hill from Oct. 1, 2001, through Feb. 5, 2018, as a faculty member. 

NOTE: Excluded from the Class are members of the boards of directors, boards of trustees, boards of governors, senior administrators of Duke and UNC, unpaid faculty, and faculty with an academic appointment at the School of Medicine, as well as any and all judges and justices and chambers’ staff assigned to hear or adjudicate any aspect of this litigation.

Potential Award

About $2,341.91.

• Approximate average of $2,341.91 for regular-rank faculty
• Approximate average of $152.54 for non-regular-rank faculty members, such as visitors and adjuncts

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase is required for this settlement.

Claim Form

No claim form is required.

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

Binotti, et al. v. Duke University, et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-470 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

Final Hearing

08/25/2021

Settlement Website

DukeUNCEmployeeSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Duke-UNC Settlement Administrator
C/O Rust Consulting, Inc. — 7304
P.O. Box 54
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0054

Class Counsel

LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN LLP

ELLIOT MORGAN PARSONAGE PLLC

EDELSTEIN & PAYNE

Defense Counsel

Pamela J. Bernard,
Vice President and General Counsel
DUKE UNIVERSITY