Question 1

Why is there a Notice?

Accepted Answer

The General Court of Justice, Superior Court Division for Wake County, North
Carolina authorized the Notice
[https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.raleighcffsettlement.com/docs/Notice+of+Proposed+Class+Action+Settlement.pdf]
to inform you about a proposed class action Settlement. Before the Court decides
whether to grant final approval to the Settlement, you have the right to
understand its terms and your rights and options.

The Notice
[https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.raleighcffsettlement.com/docs/Notice+of+Proposed+Class+Action+Settlement.pdf]
explains the nature of the lawsuit, the terms of the proposed Settlement, who is
eligible to receive benefits from this Settlement, a description of the
benefits, and how to obtain those benefits.

Question 2

What is this lawsuit about?

Accepted Answer

Plaintiffs Wardson Construction, Inc. and Homequest Builders, Inc. filed this
class action lawsuit against the City of Raleigh (the “City” or “Defendant”).
Plaintiffs and the City are collectively referred to as the “Parties”.

Plaintiffs brought this Class Action against the City alleging that the City
exceeded its lawful authority under N.C.G.S. § 160A-314, the City’s Charter in
its collection of water and sewer Capital Facilities Fees (“CFFs”) for the
period from January 12, 2016, through June 30, 2018. The City denies each one of
Plaintiffs’ allegations and has asserted various legal and other affirmative
defenses. From January 12, 2016, through June 30, 2018, the City collected
$16,484,400 in CFFs.

The specific allegations asserted by Plaintiffs are described in the Complaint,
which is located on the Important Documents
[http://www.raleighcffsettlement.com/important-documents] page.

Question 3

Why is this a class action?

Accepted Answer

In a class action lawsuit, one or more individuals (called the “Plaintiffs” or
“Settlement Class Representatives”) bring claims on behalf of a larger group of
people who have similar claims (the “Settlement Class” or “Class Members”). The
Court resolves the claims for all Class Members, except for those who choose to
exclude themselves from (or “opt-out” of) the Settlement Class.

Question 4

Why is there a Settlement?

Accepted Answer

The Plaintiffs and the City disagree about the legal claims in this Class
Action. Plaintiffs previously obtained a judgment against the City, and the
Court certified the Class. As of July 15, 2026, the City’s total liability under
that judgment, including the CFFs and accrued interest, was $26,235,749.27.
After years of litigation, the Plaintiffs and the City entered into a Settlement
Agreement
[https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.raleighcffsettlement.com/docs/Settlement+Agreement.pdf]
to, among other things, avoid the further expense, inconvenience, burden, and
risk of continued litigation.

Question 5

How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?

Accepted Answer

The Settlement Class is defined as: All natural persons, corporations, or other
entities who (a) at any point from January 12, 2016, through June 30, 2018, and
(b) paid water or sewer Capital Facilities Fees to the City of Raleigh pursuant
to the Schedule of Fees and Code of Ordinances adopted by the City of Raleigh.

If you meet the above Settlement Class definition, then you are a Class Member
in this Settlement. Class Members were also issued the Notice
[https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.raleighcffsettlement.com/docs/Notice+of+Proposed+Class+Action+Settlement.pdf]
of this Settlement via mail.

FAQ

Basic Information

Who is in the Settlement

The Settlement Benefits

How to get Settlement Benefits

The Lawyers Representing You

Excluding Yourself from the Settlement

Object to or Comment on the Settlement

The Fairness Hearing

If you do Nothing

Getting more Information

Basic Information

1. Why is there a Notice?

2. What is this lawsuit about?

3. Why is this a class action?

4. Why is there a Settlement?

Who is in the Settlement

5. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?

6. What if I am still not sure whether I am part of the Settlement?

The Settlement Benefits

7. What does the Settlement provide?

8. How will the Settlement payments be calculated?

9. What am I giving up in order to stay in the Settlement Class?

10. What are the claims being released?

How to get Settlement Benefits

11. How do I get a Class Member Benefit Award?

12. What happens if I need to update my contact information?

13. When will I receive the Class Member Benefit Award?

The Lawyers Representing You

14. Do I have a lawyer in this case?

15. How will Class Counsel be paid?

Excluding Yourself from the Settlement

16. How do I get out of the Settlement?

17. If I exclude myself, can I still receive a Class Member Benefit Award?

18. If I do not exclude myself, can I sue the Defendant for the same thing later?

Object to or Comment on the Settlement

19. How do I tell the Court that I do not like the Settlement?

20. What is the difference between objecting and requesting exclusion?

The Fairness Hearing

21. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?

22. Do I have to come to the Fairness Hearing?

23. May I speak at the Fairness Hearing?

If you do Nothing

24. What happens if I do nothing at all?

Getting more Information

25. How do I get more information?