Southern Response claimants urged to seek independent legal advice about recovering compensation

The High Court has scrapped the 20 December 2021 opt-out deadline for the Ross Class Action (RCA) against insurer Southern Response, but claimants still need to opt-out and they should seek independent legal advice says Anthony Harper lawyer, Peter Woods.

High Court judgments released last month allowed Southern Response to contact 3,000 Canterbury homeowners directly about $300 million compensation owed to them, two years after Peter Woods established the insurance company was found to have engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct. 

He is urging homeowners to obtain independent legal advice on the RCA opt-out, and the Southern Response settlement package as soon as possible, before they sign any forms. 

“The opt-out deadline has gone, which is good news. But, claimants who wish to recover their compensation from Southern Response still need to opt out of the RCA, and they still need independent legal advice on the opt-out and the compensation package” Woods says.

People who cash-settled their Southern Response earthquake claims before 1 October 2014 are likely entitled to a further payment of approximately 20 percent of their original settlement plus interest. The average compensation payable is approximately $100,000 for each homeowner.

Southern Response has agreed to contribute $2000 towards every claimant’s legal fees. 

Anthony Harper is already handling more than 200 Southern Response compensation claims, and over 30 claims have been settled recently with amounts ranging from $63,000 to $427,000.

“We are encouraging people to register on Anthony Harper’s dedicated Southern Response Payment website now to get their compensation as soon as possible,” Woods says.

“From there we can complete Southern Response’s online process for them, and check the insurer’s calculations, to ensure people are receiving the full amount they are entitled to. 

“Importantly, we can also give claimants advice on opting out and the full and final settlement documentation that Southern Response will require them to sign.”

Anthony Harper is offering to provide this advice for a fixed fee and nearly all of that fee will be reimbursed by Southern Response. 

Simon Darby