The parties have reached a proposed $6,305,000 settlement in a class action against Coast National Insurance Company by former California automobile insurance policyholders who claim that Coast National wrongly canceled their policies for nonpayment of premiums. The action is on behalf of all persons in California who purchased an automobile insurance policy from Coast National on or after December 18, 1996, whose policies were later canceled for nonpayment of premiums when in fact the insureds were not in default in the payment of premiums. To recover under the settlement, class members must submit a claim form postmarked by September 15, 2003.

To get a claim form, either visit the settlement website or call (877) 347-6461.

If you remain a member of the settlement class--whether or not you file a claim form--you will release all of your claims that could be asserted in a separate class action in the Alameda County Superior Court, Mackey v. Bristol West Insurance Services, in which claims are also asserted against Coast National. You will be a settlement class member unless you mail a exclusion form postmarked no later than September 15.

The settlement will not be final until the court grants it final approval. The court has scheduled a hearing on the matter for October 27, 2003.