NEWARK, N.J. – A federal judge has denied Adam McKinney’s attempt to reopen the Jaguar Land Rover timing chain class action, rejecting his motion for relief from the court’s final approval of the settlement under Rule 60(b).
U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi issued the decision in the District of New Jersey, where the 2018 case, Schmidt v. Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC, resulted in a settlement that the court preliminarily approved on August 6, 2021, and granted final approval on March 9, 2022. Jaguar Land Rover opposed the motion, and class counsel filed a response addressing statements about their conduct. The court decided the matter on the papers without oral argument.
Under the settlement, class members could obtain warranty and reimbursement benefits for timing chain and tensioner failures if their vehicles met age and mileage limits at diagnosis or repair. The claim deadline was June 7, 2022; the deadline to opt out or object was January 18, 2022. Class members who did not submit a qualifying claim or opt out remained in the class, lost eligibility for reimbursement, and released related claims.
Court filings show McKinney owns a class vehicle placed in service on May 9, 2014, which reached eight years in service on May 9, 2022. He did not submit a claim, opt out, or object by the deadlines. His vehicle was first diagnosed with a timing chain issue by a third-party shop on September 30, 2022. McKinney asserted he never received the settlement notice and later learned it was mailed to a former Las Vegas address. The court noted conflicting mileage records in the submissions but said the discrepancy did not affect its ruling.
Judge Cecchi denied relief from the final approval order, leaving the settlement intact and McKinney bound by its terms. The opinion reaffirmed the notice program previously approved by the court and the deadlines controlling eligibility for benefits and the release of claims.
- Court denies Rule 60(b) motion to reopen Jaguar timing chain case
- Settlement deadlines for claims and opt-outs remain controlling and enforceable
- Movant bound by class release after missing claim and opt-out deadlines