The firm represents a settlement class of United Airlines retirees who were promised that if they retired early, they would be eligible for any additional benefits if United offered an early out program with better benefits within 36 months of their retirement.
Because of the pandemic, United sought to reduce its workforce by offering two new early-out programs. But it declined to honor its promise to the previous retirees, refusing to pay them the benefits of the new programs and calling the program "leaves of absence" so that United could use COVID funds to fund them.
The case was filed in Chicago on November 30, 2021. The name of the case is Hoffman, et al. v. United Airlines, Inc., et al., No. 21-cv-06395 (N.D.Ill.). The case is currently on appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, where plaintiffs are challenging the District Court's grant of United's motion to dismiss.
Despite the loss in the district court, the parties have reached an agreement to settle the case for $27,500,000. The court approved the settlement and the petition for attorneys' fees on September 1, 2026. Assuming no additional appellate activity occurs, the class members will receive checks shortly after October 1, 2026. There is no need to fill out a claim form.
Please visit https://www.hoffmansettlement.com/ to review documents related to the settlement.
As of August 1, 2020, Jamie Franklin has moved her practice to the Chicago-Kent College of Law's Legal Clinic, where she is director of the Civil Litigation Clinic.
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