More than 9,000 Oregonians may be eligible for payments as a result of a class-action settlement between Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. and affiliated companies and homeowner policyholders who claimed they were underpaid on structural damage claims since 1996, the Oregon Departnet of Consumer and Business Services announced.

Claims must be submitted by Aug. 26, 2009. Potentially eligible Oregonians should have received a notice of the class-action lawsuit by mail, but can still find the claim form online or ask for it by mail.

The lawsuit claims that Nationwide underpaid policyholders by not taking into account general contractors’ overhead and profit when it paid certain claims involving damage to a building or other structures. Homeowners who submitted claims from 1996 through March 20, 2009, or who received a payment during that period, may be affected.

Nationwide maintains that it properly resolved and settled homeowner’s claims but agreed to settle the suit to avoid the cost and distractions of prolonged litigation. An Arkansas circuit court will hold a July 27 hearing on whether to approve the settlement.

These Nationwide companies are involved:

• Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.,
• Nationwide Mutual Fire
  Insurance Co.,
• AMCO Insurance Co.,
• Allied Property and Casualty Insurance Co.,
• Depositors Insurance Co.,
• National Casualty Co.,
• Nationwide Insurance Company of America,
• Nationwide Affinity Insurance Company of America,
• Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Co.,
• Nationwide Lloyds,
• Nationwide Insurance Company of Florida,
• Nationwide Indemnity Co.,
• Scottsdale Indemnity Co.,
• Scottsdale Surplus Lines Insurance Co., and
• Scottsdale Insurance Co.

For details on the issues, who is eligible, and how to file a claim, visit the Web site created by the courts and lawyers for both sides:
www.alexanderclassactionsettlement.com. Or, call the court-appointed settlement administrator’s office at 888-287-1333.