PHILADELPHIA, July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Class Counsel for the Plaintiffs in the Old Republic National Title Insurance Company class action suit announced the following:



UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA DONNA MARKOCKI, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. OLD REPUBLIC NATIONAL TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant. C.A. No. 06-2422 CLASS ACTION





SUMMARY NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION

TO: All persons or entities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who within 10 years of having previously purchased title insurance in connection with their mortgages or fee interests, refinanced the identical mortgage or fee interest, and were charged a title insurance premium by Old Republic National Title Insurance Company that did not include the applicable premium discount for title insurance on file with the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner (the "Class"), but not including any officers and directors of the Defendant, who are excluded from the Class.



PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:


PURSUANT TO AN ORDER issued by the Honorable Petrese B. Tucker of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, you are advised of the existence of the above entitled class action lawsuit. On December 9, 2008, the Court directed that this case proceed as a class action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 and that this Notice be sent to you. If you are a member of the Class described above, your rights are being determined in this case.



BACKGROUND

This case was filed by Plaintiff Donna Markocki, who filed a Class Action Complaint against Old Republic National Title Insurance Company (the "Defendant"), pursuant to state law.



To briefly summarize the case, the Plaintiff alleges that the Defendant systematically charged Pennsylvania consumers who refinance their mortgages premiums for title insurance that are far in excess of the rates permitted under Pennsylvania law. Defendant maintains its actions did not violate the law.





THE PROPOSED CLASS

The Court has certified the Class as defined above. It is estimated that the number of transactions involving Class members is in excess of 90,000 during the applicable time period.



If you fall within the definition of either Class, you will be a Class member. YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE ANY ACTION IN ORDER TO REMAIN IN THE CLASS. Being a Class member means that, if a judgment award is issued by the Court or a settlement is approved by the Court, you will have the right to participate in the judgment or settlement and become eligible for the judgment or settlement benefits. If a settlement is approved, all Class members will release any claims against the defendants that were asserted in the lawsuit.



The Court has certified the Plaintiff Donna Markocki as Class Representative. The Court has certified Richard S. Gordon, Esq. of Quinn, Gordon & Wolf, Chtd. as Lead Class Counsel, and Philip S. Friedman of Friedman Law Offices, PLLC and David A. Searles and Michael D. Donovan of Donovan Searles, LLC as Class Counsel.



YOUR RIGHTS AS A CLASS MEMBER

If you wish to remain a member of the Class and participate in the lawsuit as a Class member, you need not respond to this notice or take any action. If a judgment is entered against the defendant or a settlement is approved by the Court between the parties, you will be advised.



If you do not wish to remain a member of the Class, and do not wish to participate in the lawsuit, you must opt-out by August 10, 2009 by mailing, faxing or e-mailing a written request for exclusion, referencing the name and number of the case as Markocki v. Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, Civil Action No. 06-2422, to Lead Class Counsel:



Richard S. Gordon, Esq. QUINN, GORDON & WOLF, CHTD. 102 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 402 Baltimore, Maryland 21204 Facsimile 410-825-0066 counsel@titleinsuranceratelitigation.com



If no written request for exclusion from the Class is received by the date indicated above, you will be considered to be included in the Class. Any questions you have concerning this case should be directed to Lead Class Counsel.



OTHER MATTERS

This Notice does not fully describe all of the claims and defenses of this lawsuit. You may, of course, seek the advice and guidance of your own attorney if you desire. For further information, you may review all of the pleadings and other documents filed in this case at the Office of the Clerk, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania set forth above. You may also review a more detailed description of the litigation and your rights as a class member at www.titleinsuranceratelitigation.com.



DO NOT CONTACT THE CLERK, THE JUDGE OR DEFENDANT WITH ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CASE.



______________________________ Michael E. Kunz, Clerk of Court









SOURCE Quinn, Gordon & Wolf, Chtd.