Cryptsy Cryptocurrency Settlement

Frequently Asked Questions

1. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Why did I get the Notice?

   You received the Notice because you requested a copy of the Notice through a toll-free number or contacted the lawyers involved in this case or the Claims Administrator.

   The Court directed the parties to send you the Notice for two reasons:

   (1) Class Members have the right to know about two proposed partial settlements of a class action lawsuit, and about their legal rights and options, before the Court holds a “Fairness Hearing” to decide whether to grant final approval to the settlements.

   The Notice explains the lawsuit, the settlements, and your legal rights. It also explains what benefits from the settlements will be available, when they will be available, who is eligible for them, and how to obtain them. If the Court approves the settlements and orders that the settlement funds be distributed and if any appeals of the Court’s approval of these settlements are resolved in Plaintiffs’ favor, an administrator appointed by the Court will make the payments that the settlement allows.

   The Court has preliminarily approved both partial settlements. If you are a Class Member, you have legal rights and options that you may exercise before the Court considers whether it will grant final approval to the proposed partial settlements at the “Fairness Hearing.” The Court will hold the Fairness Hearing on June 2, 2017, to decide whether the proposed partial settlements are fair, reasonable, and provide adequate compensation and benefits to the members of the Class.

   If you wish to comment on (including object to) or exclude yourself from one or both of the settlements, you must do so following the procedures described below. If you do nothing, you will not receive any money from the settlements, but you will be bound by any final judgment.

   (2) Class Members have the right to know that the Court has approved, or “certified,” this case as a class action lawsuit against the Non-Settling Defendants, and about their legal rights and options before the claims being made on behalf of the Class are evaluated on their merits.

   On August 25, 2016, the Court decided that this lawsuit can proceed as a class action against the Non-Settling Defendants. You will remain as a Class Member in this continuing lawsuit if you do nothing or you can exclude yourself from this continuing lawsuit as explained in the response to Question 21 below. If you decide you want to exclude yourself, or opt-out, you must submit a timely written request to do so by April 17, 2017.

2. What is this lawsuit about?

   On January 13, 2016, Plaintiffs filed this class action on behalf of themselves and the Class against Cryptsy and its majority shareholder, Vernon (the “Cryptsy Defendants”) and Nettles, the ex-wife of Vernon. The lawsuit was amended on January 9, 2017, to name as additional defendants Ridgewood and KM.

   The Cryptsy Defendants operated an online business for general consumers and the public to exchange, invest, and trade in digital cryptocurrencies, including “Bitcoin” and “Litecoin.” Similar to a bank, but existing only in the “virtual” world, Cryptsy customers, including Plaintiffs and the Class, deposited their digital currency in accounts held at, and purportedly protected and managed by, Cryptsy. Plaintiffs alleged that the Cryptsy Defendants acted unlawfully by denying the Class the ability to withdraw or use the funds in their accounts and by stealing for the Cryptsy Defendants’ own use and benefit the digital currency held in the Cryptsy customer accounts.

   As to Defendant Nettles, Plaintiffs alleged that monies stolen from the Class were used to purchase real estate in Palm Beach County, Florida for $1,375,000 (the “Property”), and that the Property was subsequently transferred to Defendant Nettles in a divorce settlement with her now ex-husband, Vernon.

   As to Defendants Ridgewood Investments, Inc., and Kaushal Majmudar, Plaintiffs alleged that they were unjustly enriched as a result of receiving monies from the operations of Cryptsy.

   To obtain more information about the claims in this lawsuit, you can review the complaint and other court documents in this case here.

3. Why is this a class action, and who is involved?

   In a class action, one or more people called “class representatives” sue on behalf of themselves and other people who have similar claims. The people with similar claims together are a “Class” and are called “Class Members.” The Court appointed Named Plaintiffs Brandon Leidel and Michael Wilson as Class Representatives in this case. The Court decided that the claims against Cryptsy, Vernon and Nettles can be a class action, and certified the class, because they meet the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, which governs class actions. Defendants Ridgewood and KM were added to the case after the Court certified the Class against Cryptsy, Vernon and Nettles, and agreed for purposes of settlement that the case should proceed as a class action, subject to the Court’s approval.

4. Why are there settlements?

   The Court has not found in favor of Plaintiffs or Defendants. While the lawsuit is still pending before the United States District Court, Plaintiffs and the Settling Defendants have agreed to settlements which, if they are approved, will bring the claims against Nettles, Ridgewood and KM to an end. That way, Plaintiffs and Settling Defendants avoid the uncertainty of continuing the case between them and the cost of further litigation, and Class Members will get the benefits of the settlements. The Class Representatives and their attorneys think the settlements are best for everyone who allegedly was harmed by Nettles’, Ridgewood’s and KM’s alleged conduct.

5. Why are the settlements “partial” settlements?

   Although the settlements with Nettles, Ridgewood and KM fully resolve the Class Members’ claims against them as described in Question 16, the settlements only partially resolve the case, which will continue against the Non-Settling Defendants, as discussed in Question 6. Moreover, Plaintiffs and the Receiver have filed a separate lawsuit against Coinbase in an effort to obtain more money for the Class. For this reason, the settlements with Nettles, Ridgewood and KM are “partial” settlements.

6. Why is the lawsuit continuing if there are settlements?

   Nettles, Ridgewood and KM have agreed to settle this case. The Non-Settling Defendants (Cryptsy and Vernon) have not agreed to settle, so the lawsuit will continue against them. More money may become available in the future as a result of additional settlements with and/or a trial against the Non-Settling Defendants, but there is no guarantee this will happen. While Class Representatives, through their counsel and the Receiver, are continuing their efforts to search for and/or obtain from Cryptsy and Vernon additional cryptocurrency and monies, it is unlikely that such efforts will be successful because Cryptsy is closed and, Defendant Vernon fled to and now lives in China, and has refused to participate in this lawsuit.

   The claims against Cryptsy and Vernon are not presently set for trial. As long as the case isn’t resolved by a settlement or otherwise, Class Counsel will have to prove the Plaintiffs’ claims at a trial. During the trial, a Jury or the Judge will hear all of the evidence to help them reach a decision about whether the Plaintiffs or Defendant are right about the claims in the lawsuit. There is no guarantee that the Plaintiffs will win, or that they will get any money for the Class.

   You do not need to attend the trial. Class Counsel will present the case for the Plaintiffs, and Cryptsy and Vernon will present the defenses. You or your own lawyer are welcome to come at your own expense.

   If the Plaintiffs obtain money or benefits as a result of the trial or a settlement, you will be notified about how to participate. We do not know how long this will take.

7. What happens if Plaintiffs later settle with the Non-Settling Defendants?

   The lawsuit will continue against the Non-Settling Defendants on behalf of all Class Members who do not exclude themselves from the lawsuit as described in Question 21. It cannot be known whether the Plaintiffs would prevail against the Non-Settling Defendants at a trial. If there are additional settlements in the future, there will be notice of those settlements as well. Depending on the timing of the notice and Fairness Hearing for any such settlements, the settlement funds received from the Settling Defendants and from any Non-Settling Defendants who may settle in the future may be distributed at the same or different times, in one or multiple distributions, to Class members who have submitted or will in the future submit claims.

8. WHO IS IN THE THE SETTLEMENTS AND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT?

8. Am I a Class Member who is part of the settlements and the ongoing class action lawsuit against the Non-Settling Defendants?

   In general, individuals who are Cryptsy account owners who held Bitcoins, alternative cryptocurrencies, or any other form of monies or currency at Cryptsy as of November 1, 2015, through June 2, 2017, and are unable to access their cryptocurrency may be Class Members (a) who are eligible for a payment from the settlements when the funds are distributed, and (b) on whose behalf the lawsuit will continue against the Non-Settling Defendants. (Excluded from the Class are all employees of Cryptsy, including its shareholders, officers and directors and members of their immediate families.)

9. I’m still not sure if I am included.

   If you received the Notice, it is because you contacted Class Counsel and/or the Receiver and provided information that indicates that you may be a potential Class Member. If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can get help by emailing the Claims Administrator at info@cryptsysettlement.com or by calling 1-888-868-4936.

10. What is a Receiver and Why Did the Court Appoint One?

    A Receiver is a person appointed by the Court to typically preserve the assets and property of a company in financial distress or subject to claims of wrongdoing. In this case, the Court appointed a Receiver at the request of Plaintiffs and their lawyers (known as Class Counsel, as described below). Plaintiffs filed a motion to ask the Court to appoint a Receiver because Plaintiffs wanted to ensure that the Cryptsy Defendants and Defendant Nettles did not attempt to hide, sell or otherwise keep from Plaintiffs and the Class monies and assets to satisfy any judgment obtained in this case, and likewise to recover monies and assets for the benefit of the Class. Class Counsel and the Receiver worked cooperatively on this matter and, as described in Question 12 below, obtained and recovered assets for the benefit of the Class.

11. What are my rights as a Class Member?

    With respect to the Settling Defendants, you have the right to (1) do nothing, in which case you will not receive a payment and will waive any rights to pursue a later lawsuit of your own against the Settling Defendants, (2) submit a Claim Form to receive a payment from the Settlement Funds (see Question 14), (3) exclude yourself from either or both of the settlements (see Question 20), (4) comment on or object to one or both of the settlements (see Question 24), or (5) attend the Court’s Fairness Hearing to speak in support of or against the Court’s final approval of one or both of the settlements (see Question 28).

    With respect to the Non-Settling Defendants, you have the right to (1) do nothing, in which case you will be bound by the outcome of the litigation against the Non-Settling Defendants including receiving payment that could result from trial or future settlements in this litigation against Non-Settling Defendants, or (2) exclude yourself from the ongoing lawsuit, in which case you preserve any right you may have to bring a later lawsuit of your own but give up the right to receive any payment that could result from trial or future settlements in this litigation with Non-Settling Defendants (see Question 21).

12. THE SETTLEMENT BENEFITS

    Plaintiffs, the Class and the Receiver entered two Settlement Agreements, (1) one with Defendant Nettles, and (2) one with Defendants Ridgewood Investments, Inc., and Kaushal Majmudar. The Settlement Agreements are available for your review at here. You can also review the Settlement Agreements by visiting www.pacer.gov, or by contacting the Clerk of Court. The following pages provide a summary of the Settlement Agreements, and your rights and options under the Settlement Agreements.

12. What do the settlements provide?

    A Settlement Fund has been created in this action which includes the following items which were obtained by Plaintiffs and Receiver from Cryptsy (after Receiver took over Cryptsy) and in the settlements with Nettles, Ridgewood and KM:

    1. As part of this Settlement, Defendant Nettles agreed to convey to the Receiver for the benefit of the Class:
       1. Real estate located in Palm Beach County, Florida that Defendants Vernon and Nettles purchased in 2015 for $1,375,000 (the Property), and was subsequently transferred to Defendant Nettles in a divorce settlement; and
       2. A Tiffany ring that Defendant Vernon purchased for Defendant Nettles for over $104,000;
       (Receiver and Class Counsel are in the process of liquidating the real estate and the ring, the proceeds from which will be part of the Settlement Fund).
    2. In addition, the Receiver and Class Counsel obtained for the benefit of the Class:
       1. Cryptocurrency from Cryptsy, (i) part of which has been sold for a total of approximately $322,000 and (ii) part of which Receiver is continuing to liquidate;
       2. An Infiniti QX60 from Defendant Cryptsy and was sold for $26,000; and
       3. Personal property, such as computers, art work, and household furnishings, from Defendant Cryptsy.
       (Receiver and Class Counsel are in the process of liquidating the remaining cryptocurrency, and personal property, the proceeds from which will be part of the Settlement Fund).
    3. Also, Defendants Ridgewood is contributing $220,000 to the Settlement.

    The property and monies obtained from Nettles, Ridgewood and KM, and obtained from Cryptsy by the Receiver and Class Counsel, are collectively referred to as the “Settlement Funds.” After deducting attorneys’ fees, costs, applicable taxes, and other fees and expenses (see Question 19), the Settlement Fund will be distributed to Class Members who file valid claims.

    As a Settlement Class Member, you will give up, or “release,” your claims against Nettles, Ridgewood and KM. Those releases include any claims made or that could have been made arising from the facts alleged in this lawsuit. The releases are described in more detail in the Settlement Agreements and in Question 16 below. You can view or download a copy of both Settlement Agreements here.

13. How much money can I get from the settlements?

    Class Members who submit a Claim Form are called “claimants” and will be eligible to receive a share of the Settlement Funds if and when the Settlement Funds are distributed. The Claims Administrator, with the assistance of the Receiver and Class Counsel, will determine the market value, as of November 1, 2015, of the cryptocurrency(ies) held by Class Members that submit valid claims. Each Class Member submitting a valid claim shall be allocated a pro rata share of the Net Settlement Fund based on his, her or its claim compared to the total number of valid claims. There is no way to determine, in advance, how many Class Members will make claims from the Net Settlement Fund. Class Members who do not submit valid claims will not share in the proceeds of the Net Settlement Funds, but will nevertheless be bound by this Settlement.

    The proposed Plan of Allocation is available for review here and will be presented for approval by the Court at the Fairness Hearing (see Question 26).

14. SUBMITTING A CLAIM FORM FOR A SHARE OF THE SETTLEMENTS

14. How can I get money from the settlements?

    To receive money from the settlements, you must complete and submit a Claim Form, either online or by mail. A copy of the Claim Form is included with the Notice. Please read the Notice and the Claim Form carefully. You must either complete and submit the form online no later than May 17, 2017, or complete the included form manually, sign it, and mail it postmarked no later than May 17, 2017, to the Claims Administrator at the address listed in the Claim Form. Click here to submit your Claim Form online, or click here to download and print out a Claim Form.

    Please note that the Claim Form must be signed. By signing your Claim Form, you will be swearing that the information you submit is true and accurate. You will also be authorizing the Claims Administrator to contact you for more information to help evaluate your Claim.

    IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR SIGNED CLAIM FORM WITH THE REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS BY THIS DEADLINE, YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE WAIVED YOUR RIGHT TO RECEIVE ANY PAYMENT FROM THE SETTLEMENT FUND.

    As part of your Claim, you should provide as much documentation as you can supporting your claim, and specifically the type and amount of cryptocurrency you held at Cryptsy as of November 1, 2015, through June 2, 2017. All information provided will be treated as confidential and will be used only for the purpose of reviewing and administering your Claim.

    Examples of documentation you might have to support your claim include screen shots of your holdings at Cryptsy or account statements. You may have other types of supporting documentation. You should submit whatever you have. Please note that it appears that Defendant Vernon or someone under his direction destroyed all of Cryptsy database records and, as a result, the only way to establish your claim is through your submission of records that evidence your ownership of Cryptocurrency held at Cryptsy as of November 1, 2015, through June 2, 2017. Class Counsel and the Receiver have asked Defendant Vernon to provide copies of the records that show all of the holdings of the Class, and likewise continue to search for such records. To date, Defendant Vernon has failed to respond to or comply with such requests.

    If you fall within the Class definition, you may receive money from either or both settlements. If you submit one completed Claim Form, it will be deemed submitted for both settlements unless you separately have written to exclude yourself from one of the settlements by following the instructions on how to exclude yourself in Question 20 below. Therefore, if you did not submit a written request to be excluded from a settlement and timely submit a completed Claim Form, you will be deemed to have submitted a claim to receive money from both settlements. If you have separately written to exclude yourself from one of the two settlements and you timely submit a completed Claim Form, you will be deemed to have submitted a claim to receive money only under the settlement from which you did not exclude yourself. And if you have separately written to exclude yourself from both settlements and submit a Claim Form, the Claims Administrator will honor your request for exclusion and your Claim Form will be deemed invalid.

    If at such time that all valid Claims are paid in full from the Settlement Fund by the Claims Administrator, and there is a balance remaining in the Settlement Fund 180 days after the last check is issued, the Claims Administrator will, if feasible, distribute any such balance by way of pro rata payments to Class Members who submitted valid Claims and who cashed their checks. Thereafter, any remaining balance will be paid to Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.

    If you have any problems with the Claim Form or questions about how to submit your claim, please call the Claims Administrator via email at info@cryptsysettlement.com or by calling 1-888-868-4936.

15. When will I get my payments?

    The Court will hold a final Fairness Hearing on June 2, 2017, to decide whether to approve the settlements. If the Court approves the settlements, there still may be appeals of that decision. If an appeal is filed, it is hard to estimate how long it might take for it to be resolved, but it can take a lot of time, perhaps more than a year. Settlement payments to Settlement Class Members will be distributed if the settlements are approved, and after appeals, if any, are resolved.

    Updates regarding the settlements and when payments may be made will be posted on this website.

16. What am I giving up to get payments under the settlements?

    If you are a Class Member, unless you exclude yourself from one or both settlements, you are staying in the Class, and that means that you can’t sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against Nettles, Ridgewood or KM about the legal claims in this case. It also means that all of the Court’s orders will apply to you and legally bind you, and that you agree to the following “Releases of Claims,” which describe exactly the legal claims that you give up if you get settlement benefits:

    With respect to Nettles, Ridgewood and KM, the Class and the Receiver are providing Defendants Nettles, Ridgewood, and KM with a release of liability. Defendant Vernon is not part of, and is expressly excluded from the release of liability. You may view the release in the Nettles and Ridgewood Settlement Agreements here.

    By participating in either or both of these settlements you are not giving up your right to receive payments from any future settlements or a trial against the Non-Settling Defendants, or in the separate action pending against Coinbase.

17. THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU

17. Who represents me in this case?

    The Court appointed the law firms of Wites & Kapetan, P.A., and The Silver Law Group to represent you and other Class Members. Their contact information is as follows:

    Marc A. Wites
    WITES & KAPETAN, P.A.
    4400 N. Federal Highway
    Lighthouse Point, Florida 33064
    954-570-8989
    mwites@wklawyers.com

    David C. Silver
    SILVER LAW GROUP
    11780 W. Sample Road
    Coral Springs, Florida 33065
    Phone: (954) 755-4799
    dsilver@silverlaw.com

    These lawyers are called Co-Lead Counsel and Class Counsel. The Court also appointed James D. Sallah, not individually but solely in his capacity as the Court-appointed Receiver, to act as the Receiver in this matter. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense and enter an appearance through your own counsel.

18. Should I get my own lawyer?

    You do not need to hire your own lawyer because Plaintiffs’ Counsel are working on your behalf. If you want your own lawyer, you may hire one, but you will be responsible for any payment for that lawyer’s services. For example, you can ask your lawyer to appear in Court for you if you want someone other than Plaintiffs’ Counsel to speak for you. You may also appear for yourself without a lawyer.

19. How will the lawyers be paid?

    The Settlement Agreement authorizes Co-Lead Counsel to seek an award of attorney’s fees of up to 33.33% of the Settlement Fund, plus expenses and costs, which also will be paid from the Settlement Fund. According to the laws and rules that govern receivers, the Receiver and Receiver’s Counsel may separately submit a Fee and Expense Application for the payment of their respective attorney’s fees, expenses and costs from the Settlement Fund. Co-Lead counsel have committed to reduce their attorney’s fee application such that that the amount Co-Lead Counsel seeks in attorney’s fees, when coupled with the attorney’s fees sought by the Receiver and Receiver’s Counsel, will not cause the total amount of attorney’s fees paid from the Settlement Fund to exceed 33.33% of the Settlement Fund.

    In addition, Co-Lead Counsel will ask the Court to award Plaintiffs in this Action a service award of $500 each for their time and effort acting as Class Representatives. The Service Awards shall be paid when the Settlement Funds are distributed to Class members who have submitted valid claims. Plaintiffs’ Counsel may seek additional attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses from any future settlement or recovery obtained from Non-Settling Defendants.

    You do not have to pay any of Class Counsel’s fees, costs, or expenses. If the Court grants Counsel’s requests, all fees, costs, and expenses would be deducted from any money obtained for the Class.

20. EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENTS WITH THE SETTLING DEFENDANTS

20. How do I get out of the settlements?

    If you fall within the Class definition but don’t want a payment from one or both of the settlements or you want to keep the right to sue or continue to sue Nettles, Ridgewood, or KM (at your own expense) about the legal issues in this case, then you must “opt out” of one or both of the settlements. This is called excluding yourself from, or opting out of, a settlement Class. Opting out of a settlement Class at this time will not affect your right to remain in the Class for purposes of the continuing litigation against the Non-Settling Defendants.

    To exclude yourself from (opt out of) one or both of the settlements, you must send a letter stating that you want to be excluded from Cryptsy Cryptocurrency Litigation, Case No.: 9:16-cv-80060. Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, and your signature. You must mail your exclusion request postmarked no later than April 17, 2017 to:

    Cryptsy Cryptocurrency Litigation
    EXCLUSIONS
    Claims Administrator
    1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
    Philadelphia, PA 19103

    You cannot exclude yourself on the phone or by fax or e-mail – you must do so in writing. If you request to be excluded, you will not receive any Settlement payment, and you cannot object to the Settlement. However, you will not be legally bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit, and you will keep your right to separately pursue claims against Defendants Nettles, Ridgewood and KM relating to the subject matter of this lawsuit.

    You must also specify if you only seek to exclude yourself from the Nettles settlement only, the Ridgewood Settlement only, or from both settlements. If you do not specify, your exclusion will be deemed submitted for both settlements.

    If you request to be excluded from the settlement with Nettles, you will not be legally bound by the settlement with Nettles. You will be able to sue (or continue to sue) Nettles in the future about the legal claims in this case.

    If you request to be excluded from the settlement with Ridgewood and KM, you will not be legally bound by the settlement with Intuit. You will be able to sue (or continue to sue) Ridgewood and KM in the future about the legal issues in this case.

    If you ask to be excluded from either of the settlements, you will not get any payment from that settlement, and you cannot object to that settlement.

    However, if you ask to be excluded from either or both settlements, you will still remain as a Class Member in the ongoing litigation against the Non-Settling Defendants unless you exclude yourself from the ongoing litigation by following the instructions below.

21. EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE ONGOING LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NON-SETTLING DEFENDANTS

21. How do I get out of the ongoing lawsuit?

    If you fall within the Class definition but do not want to be included in the ongoing class action against the Non-Settling Defendants, including because you want to retain the right to sue or continue to sue Cryptsy or Vernon about the legal issues in this case, then you must opt out of this lawsuit.

    To exclude yourself from (opt out of) the ongoing lawsuit against the Non-Settling Defendants, you must you must send an “Exclusion Request” in the form of a letter sent by mail, stating that you want to be excluded from Leidel v. Cryptsy, Case No.: 9:16-cv-80060-MARRA, with your name and address, and sign the letter. You must mail your Exclusion Request postmarked by April 17, 2017, to:

    Leidel v. Cryptsy Exclusions
    1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
    Philadelphia, PA 19103

    You cannot exclude yourself on the phone or by fax or e-mail – you must do so in writing. You may also get an Exclusion Request form by clicking here.

    If you have any questions about how to submit this request, please contact the Claims Administrator via email at info@cryptsysettlement.com or by calling 1-888-868-4936.

    If you request to be excluded from the ongoing lawsuit against the Non-Settling Defendants, you will not be legally bound by the Court’s judgments. If the Class gets money or benefits as a result of any settlement or trial between any of the Non-Settling Defendants and the Plaintiffs, you will not receive any of that money or those benefits. You will, however, be able to sue, or continue to sue, any of the Non-Settling Defendants about the same legal claims that are involved in this case. If you do exclude yourself from the ongoing lawsuit and pursue a separate lawsuit, you will have to retain your own lawyer for that case or prosecute the case without a lawyer.

    If you choose to exclude yourself from any part of this case, you may include any/all of your exclusion requests in one letter or written request, or you may prepare separate letters and written requests and include them in the same mailing envelope, email or fax; there is no need to send separate letters, emails or faxes, or to use separate envelopes.

22. If I don’t exclude myself, can I sue the Defendants for the same thing later?

    No.

    If you are a Class member, unless you exclude yourself from the two settlements, you give up the right to sue Nettles, Ridgewood, and KM for the claims that the two settlements resolve as more fully described in Question 16.

    If you are a Class member, unless you exclude yourself from the ongoing lawsuit against the Non-Settling Defendants, you give up the right to sue Cryptsy and Vernon for the legal claims in this case as more fully described in Question 21.

    If you have a pending lawsuit against any of the Defendants, speak to your lawyer in that lawsuit immediately, because you may need to exclude yourself to continue your own lawsuit. The process for excluding yourself from the settlements and/or the ongoing lawsuit is described in the preceding sections.

23. If I exclude myself, can I get money from this case?

    It depends on whether you exclude yourself from both settlements, or only one settlement, and/or from the ongoing lawsuit. If you exclude yourself from only one settlement, you may still submit a Claim Form to receive money under the other settlement. If you exclude yourself from both settlements, you will not receive money under either settlement even if you submit a Claim Form. If you exclude yourself from the continuing litigation, you will not be eligible to receive a share of the money recovered, if any, from Non-Settling Defendants in the future. But, by excluding yourself, you keep any rights to sue on your own about the same legal claims in the lawsuit should you want to do so.

24. COMMENTING ON OR OBJECTING TO THE SETTLEMENT

24. How do I tell the Court that I like or don’t like a proposed settlement, and may I speak at the hearing?

    If you are a Class Member, you can object to the Nettles and/or Ridgewood Settlements if you do not like any part of them, including the proposed award of attorneys’ fees and expenses and proposed service awards to Plaintiffs, and the Court will consider your views. To object, you must send a letter to the Court, Class Counsel, and Defendants’ Counsel saying that you object to the Settlement in Cryptsy Cryptocurrency Litigation, Case No.: 9:16-cv-80060. Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, your signature, and the reasons you object to the Settlement. You also must affirm under penalty of perjury that you are a Class Member and provide proof of Class Membership. If you are represented by counsel, be sure to include the name, address, and telephone number of that lawyer.

    Your objection must be mailed to and actually received at all of the following different locations no later than May 3, 2017. Send your objection to:

    Clerk of Court:

    Paul G. Rogers Federal
    Building and U.S. Courthouse
    701 Clematis Street, Room 202
    West Palm Beach, FL 33401

    Class Counsel:

    Marc A. Wites
    Wites & Kapetan, P.A.
    4400 N. Federal Highway
    Lighthouse Point, Florida 33064

    Defendant’s Counsel:

    Mark A. Levy
    Brinkley Morgan
    200 East Las Olas Blvd., 19th Floor
    Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

    and

    Jose G. Sepulveda
    Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler, Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.
    150 W. Flagler Street, Suite 2200 Miami, FL 33130

    You do not need to attend or speak at the Fairness Hearing (described in Question 26) for your comments or objections to be considered. If you would like to speak at the Fairness Hearing about your comments or objections to the settlements, you must add to your letter a statement that you intend to appear and speak at the hearing, for example, by stating “This is my Notice of Intention to Appear in Cryptsy Cryptocurrency Litigation.”

    You will have no right to speak at the hearing about a settlement or object if you choose to exclude yourself from that settlement, because a settlement no longer affects you if you opt out of it.

25. What is the difference between objecting and excluding?

    Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Class. If you object, you will remain in the Class and will be bound by the proposed Settlement if the Court approves the Settlement, despite your objection. If you object, you can also participate in the Settlement benefits described above. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Class or the lawsuit. You cannot request exclusion and object to the Settlement. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the case no longer affects you. Class Members who do exclude themselves may, if they wish, enter an appearance through their own counsel.

26. THE COURTS FAIRNESS HEARING

    The Court will hold a hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlement. You may attend, and you may ask to speak, but you don’t have to.

26. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the settlements?

    The Court will hold a Final Settlement Hearing at 10:00 A.M. on June 2, 2017 at the Courtroom of the Honorable Kenneth A. Marra, Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 701 Clematis Street, Courtroom #4, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The hearing date may be changed by the Court, and you should check to this website for any updates. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlements are fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are objections, the Court will consider them. The Court will listen to people who have asked to speak at the hearing. After the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlements. The Court also may consider how much to award Co-Lead Counsel and the amount of the service awards for Plaintiffs. We do not know how long this decision will take.

    The Court may reschedule the Fairness Hearing or change any of the deadlines described in the Notice. Be sure to check this website for news of any such changes.

27. Do I have to come to the Fairness Hearing?

    No. Co-Lead Counsel will answer questions the Court may have. But you are welcome to come at your own expense. If you submit an objection, you do not have to come to the Court to talk about it. As long as you delivered your written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You may pay your own lawyer to attend, but it is not necessary.

28. May I speak at the hearing?

    You may ask the Court for permission to speak at the Final Settlement Hearing. To do so, you must file with the Court a “Notice of Intention to Appear.” Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, and your signature. You may be required also to provide proof that you are a Class Member. Your Notice of Intention to Appear must be filed no later than May 3, 2017, and must be served on the Clerk of the Court, Co-Lead Counsel, and Defendants’ counsel at the addresses listed in Question 24. You cannot speak at the hearing if you exclude yourself.

29. IF YOU DO NOTHING

29. What happens if I do nothing at all?

    If you are a Class Member and you do nothing, you will get no money from the settlement with Nettles or the settlement with Ridgewood and KM, and claims you have against Nettles, Ridgewood and KM will be released unless you separately write to exclude yourself (following the instructions in Question 20). This means you won’t be able to collect any money damages from Nettles, Ridgewood or KM in this lawsuit or another lawsuit for their alleged conduct. To qualify to receive any money from the settlement with Nettles or the settlement with Ridgewood and KM, you must submit a Claim Form, following the instructions in Question 14.

    If you are a Class Member and you do nothing, you will remain in the ongoing class action lawsuit and retain the ability to recover money or other benefits, if any, that may come from a trial or a settlement with the Non-Settling Defendants unless you separately request to exclude yourself (following the instructions in Question 21). By staying in the case, you give up your rights to sue any of the Non-Settling Defendants on your own about the same legal claims in this lawsuit and you will be bound by the results in the ongoing lawsuit.

30. GETTING MORE INFORMATION

30. Are more details about the settlements and the lawsuit available?

    Yes. The Notice summarizes the two settlements and the ongoing lawsuit against the Non-Settling Defendants. More details about the settlements are in the proposed Settlement Agreements themselves. You can see or print copies of the Settlement Agreements here.

31. How do I get more information?

    If you have any questions about the lawsuit or the Notice, you may:

    Contact Co-Lead Class Counsel at:
    Marc A. Wites
    Wites & Kapetan, P.A.
    4400 N. Federal Highway
    Lighthouse Point,
    Florida 33064
    (954) 570-8989

    Call the Claims Administrator toll free 1-888-868-4936.

    Write or fax to:
    Cryptsy Cryptocurrency Administrator
    1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
    Philadelphia, PA 19103
    Facsimile: 1-215-525-0209

PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR WRITE TO THE COURT FOR INFORMATION OR ADVICE.