A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against Brookdale Senior Living Inc. ("Brookdale") claiming that Brookdale understaffed assisted living communities in Florida and North Carolina ("Brookdale ALFs"). Brookdale denies all allegations of wrongdoing and liability. The Court has not decided who is right.

To be part of the Settlement Class, you must meet two criteria:

First, you must have moved into a Brookdale ALF:

(a) In North Carolina from April 24, 2016 through May 13, 2026 if you paid a community fee, OR from September 23, 2014 through May 13, 2026 if you did not pay a community fee,
Or
(b) In Florida from November 10, 2019 through May 13, 2026 and you paid a community fee,
Or
(c) In Florida from May 3, 2015 through November 9, 2019, if you opted out of the Class Action Settlement reached in Runton v. Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Case No. 17-cv-60664, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (“Runton”) or (2) filed a claim in Runton that was denied by the Settlement Administrator.

Second, the contractual documents must show that an enforceable arbitration agreement does not exist because:

(a) The residency agreement was signed by a third party, and the authorizing document excludes the power to consent to arbitration or waive the right to a jury trial; or,
(b) The arbitration provision in the residency agreement was stricken or declined in writing.

You are not part of the Settlement Class if  you or your representative signed a residency agreement that included an arbitration provision and you or your representative (1) did not strike through the arbitration provision or decline it in writing, or (2) if the document giving your representative the power to sign the residency agreement did not exclude the power to consent to arbitration or waive the right to a jury trial. You also are not part of the Settlement if you moved into a Brookdale ALF in Florida but did not pay a community fee. Also excluded from the Settlement Class are (A) Brookdale, Brookdale’s officers, Brookdale’s directors, and their immediate family members; (B) Class Counsel; and (C) the Judges who have presided over the Litigation and their immediate family members.

What Are the Settlement Terms?

Brookdale has agreed to pay Settlement Class Members who paid a community fee 26% of their community fee payment plus an additional $50.00 for every year the Settlement Class Member resided at a Brookdale ALF for up to three years. Settlement Class Members in North Carolina who did not pay a community fee are entitled to $255.00 regardless of the number of years the Settlement Class Member resided at a Brookdale ALF.


How can I get a Payment?

Click the Submit a Claim button below to complete your Claim Form online, or download a Claim Form and submit by U.S. mail to the Claims Administrator at the address listed on the Contact Us page. The deadline to file a Claim online is 11:59 p.m. ET on January 24, 2027.
If you send in a Claim Form by regular mail, it must be postmarked on or before January 24, 2027. The Settlement Administrator shall reject the claim if it determines that you are not a Settlement Class Member.

ENTER YOUR NOTICE ID AND YOUR LAST NAME (AS IT APPEARS ON THE NOTICE)

Dates & Deadlines

Preliminary Approval Granted
May 13, 2026
Objection Deadline
September 10, 2026
Opt Out Deadline
September 10, 2026
Final Approval Hearing
October 26, 2026, 2:30 PM CT
Claim Filing Deadline
January 24, 2027

Documents

Settlement Class Notice Settlement Class Member Claim Form Authorized Representative Claim Form Class Action Settlement Agreement Preliminary Approval Order