General FAQs
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What is the Consumer Plumbing Recovery
Center (CPRC)?
The Consumer Plumbing Recovery Center (CPRC) is a third party
administrator. It is a claim handling facility established as
a not-for-profit corporation approved by the court to administer
the terms of COX vs. Shell, et al. national class action
Settlement.
CPRC is required to disburse benefits in strict accordance with
the Settlement Agreement reached among the parties. The primary
function of the Company is to maintain and properly administer
the approximately $1 billion fund created by the Settlement. The
CPRC handles claims and manages the Settlement Fund for and under
the continuing supervision of the Court.
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What is the COX vs. Shell Oil et al.
Settlement?
The Settlement is a national class action settlement involving
certain polybutylene plumbing systems and polybutylene yard service
lines installed between January 1, 1978 through July 31, 1995.
The Settlement provides for the disbursement of a billion dollar
fund to claimants who qualify under the terms of the Settlement
Agreement.
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How was the public notified about this
program?
Several Legal Notices in the media announced the class action
to the American public. It is important to understand that "notice",
as it applies to class action litigation, does not mean notice
to each and every individual Class Member, but rather, to the
community. Since this is a national class action, the community
is the entire United States. As with many legal notices, Cox depended
on national and local media to reach members of the Class. This
involved advertising in newspapers, magazines, television, radio,
and even the Internet. Additionally, there has been extensive
free publicity in the form of news articles in and public service
announcements by the media. Notices have appeared in trade journals
and other periodicals such as newsletters published by homeowner
associations. In addition to the above, there have been many media
articles on polybutylene and Cox vs. Shell Oil.
This has included such TV programs as Good Morning America
and CBS This Morning. Articles have appeared in the Wall
Street Journal, The Washington Post, and others. Reporters
from many newspapers, TV stations, and magazines, some large,
some from small cities, have interviewed CPRC personnel. The Court
concluded the Cox notice program was "…one of the most comprehensive
class action campaigns ever undertaken."
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Could you explain the Cox Settlement?
Claimants may be eligible for a replumb (replacement of the plumbing
system) or yard service line replacement at no charge and/or certain
Leak Expense reimbursement if they
- Presently own or have previously owned a home
plumbed with a polybutylene plumbing system or a polybutylene
yard service line which was installed between January 1, 1978
through July 31, 1995 and
- The homeowner has experienced a Qualifying
Leak.
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What needs to be provided to CPRC to
provide adequate verification of the Installation Date of the
PB Plumbing System?
If actual original installation documentation cannot be provided,
CPRC requires a form of verification to be provided. The original
Certificate of Occupancies, Building or Plumbing Permits, First
Settlement Statement or Deed, and information from the original
water authority showing the original activation date would be
forms of documentation that can be provided to CPRC. Please note
that the above documentation will be required for each individual
building in a multi building property.
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What will I recover under the Settlement
if I am eligible?
The Settlement offers to eligible claimants the ACV (actual cash
value) for damages to tangible property from leaks, reimbursement
of out of pocket expenses from leaks, and in some cases replacement
of the PB Plumbing System or Yard Service line.
The Settlement does not cover water bills, lost time from work,
tenant related expenses, bodily injury or pain and suffering.
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What is a Polybutylene
Plumbing System as defined by the Class?
That portion of any potable water distribution system with an
Installation Date between January 1, 1978 and July 31, 1995, which
is within a structure and is composed of Polybutylene Pipe with
acetal or metal insert fittings (or any combination thereof).
PB Plumbing System does not include PB Yard Service Line.
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How do I know if I have
Polybutylene inside my house?
Examine the plumbing system anywhere there is accessible plumbing
in the home such as under kitchen and bathroom sinks, at the water
heater, in a crawlspace or attic. Please refer to the photos section
of our website for photos of polybutylene plumbing systems.
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What is a leak and how
do I know if I have one inside my house?
A leak is a verifiable failure in a component of a PB Plumbing
System that leads to unwanted discharge of water. A leak inside
a home could manifest itself by visible water damage in walls,
floors or ceilings. An increase in water usage may also indicate
an unseen leak.
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How is a leak verified?
Adequate verification of a claimed leak will need to be provided.
Plumbing repair receipts, work orders, photographs of the leak
and/or repair and the actual failed part of the PB Plumbing System
are adequate forms of verification of a leak in the PB Plumbing
system.
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How long does it take
to receive the Claim Eligibility Form in the mail?
The claim forms are mailed every day using first class postage.
Allow approximately 7-10 days to receive the form.
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The leak(s) at my property
is minor. Should the leak(s) be reported to the CPRC?
Any plumbing leak(s) in a PB plumbing system, regardless of severity,
should be reported to the CPRC for evaluation.
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I have already replumbed
my home at my own expense. Can I still file a claim?
Yes, you may be entitled to a full or partial reimbursement on
your out of pocket expense.
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I have polybutylene plumbing,
but I have not had any leaks, am I entitled to anything?
No, per the terms of the Settlement, the home must incur a leak
to be eligible for recovery.
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I have not had any leaks.
Do I need to register my name and address with the CPRC in case
I do have a leak in the future?
No, it is not necessary to contact the CPRC unless the structure
has a polybutylene leak inside the structure or yard service line.
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Do I have to currently
own the property to make claim for repairs that were made during
my ownership?
As long as you are an eligible Class Member, you do not currently
have to own and/or occupy the property to claim for expenses incurred
during the ownership period.
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I'm in the process of
purchasing a house with PB, and the current owner had a leak last
year. Can I file a claim on the previous owners leak once
I own the home?
No, For a Class Member to receive relief as an Eligible Claimant,
the Qualifying Leak(s) or Qualifying Yard Service Leak(s) must
occur in the Unit during the Claimant's ownership of that Unit.
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