Brookdale assisted living (Florida and North Carolina) community fee settlement
Bright, et al. v. Brookdale Senior Living Inc.
Also known as Bright v. Brookdale; Gunza v. Brookdale; Brookdale community fee; Brookdale assisted living understaffing; 3:19-cv-00374
The lawsuit claimed Brookdale understaffed its Florida and North Carolina assisted living communities.
Copied from the official notice. Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- You could get
- 26% of fee plus $50 a year
Source
“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”
From the administrator site: Official settlement website home page. Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- You need
- No receipt needed Needs the code from your notice Notice ID from the notice mailed to you and your last name as it appears on it (the online claim login asks for both) Some paperwork: describes the claim form only
Source
“ENTER YOUR NOTICE ID AND YOUR LAST NAME (AS IT APPEARS ON THE NOTICE) ... The Notice ID can be found on the Notice that you received in the mail.”
From the administrator site: Official settlement website home page. Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- Who can file
- Brookdale assisted living residents in FL and NC (move-in dates)
Source
“First, you must have moved into a Brookdale ALF: (a) in North Carolina from April 24, 2016 to 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 to May 13, 2026, and you paid a community fee, or (c) in Florida from May 3, 2015 through November 9, 2019 if you (1) 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: (1) Your residency agreement was signed by a third party, and the authorizing instrument excludes the power to consent to arbitration or waive the right to a jury trial; or, (2) 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 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.”
From the administrator site: Official settlement class notice (PDF). Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- Where
- 2 states: FL, NC
Source
“First, you must have moved into a Brookdale ALF: (a) in North Carolina from April 24, 2016 to 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 to May 13, 2026, and you paid a community fee, or (c) in Florida from May 3, 2015 through November 9, 2019 if you (1) 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: (1) Your residency agreement was signed by a third party, and the authorizing instrument excludes the power to consent to arbitration or waive the right to a jury trial; or, (2) The arbitration provision in the residency agreement was stricken or declined in writing.”
From the administrator site: Official settlement class notice (PDF). Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- Time to file
- About 4 minutes
Source
Our estimate of how long the official claim form takes. The notice does not say.
From the official site: brookdalebrightclasssettlement.com. Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
Free. The official site never charges.
Quick answers
How much is the Brookdale assisted living (Florida and North Carolina) community fee settlement payout?
26% of fee plus $50 a year.
Where is the Brookdale assisted living (Florida and North Carolina) community fee settlement claim form?
On the official site, www.brookdalebrightclasssettlement.com. Filing is free. The last day to file is Jan 24, 2027.
Open the claim form on www.brookdalebrightclasssettlement.com
When will the Brookdale assisted living (Florida and North Carolina) community fee settlement pay?
Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval and any appeals are over.
For context: First payments were issued 52 to 875 days after final approval, based on 15 settlements. Half were paid within 119 days. 1 of the 15 waited on appeals after approval.
Is the Brookdale assisted living (Florida and North Carolina) community fee settlement legit?
The settlement administrator (the company that handles claims) is BrownGreer PLC, and the official site is www.brookdalebrightclasssettlement.com. Real notices point there; if a link in a message goes anywhere else, do not use it.
The official site never asks you to pay to file.
Compare yourself to the official class definition
You may be included if you moved into a Brookdale ALF in NC 4/24/16-5/13/26 with a community fee, or 9/23/14-5/13/26 without one.
It covers FL move-ins with a fee 11/10/19-5/13/26, or 5/3/15-11/9/19 after opting out of Runton or having a Runton claim denied.
You are not included if arbitration binds you, or you are Brookdale, its officers, directors, class counsel, judges or their family.
Check each condition yourself. The boxes are only for you; nothing is sent or stored.
First, you must have moved into a Brookdale ALF: (a) in North Carolina from April 24, 2016 to 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 to May 13, 2026, and you paid a community fee, or (c) in Florida from May 3, 2015 through November 9, 2019 if you (1) 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: (1) Your residency agreement was signed by a third party, and the authorizing instrument excludes the power to consent to arbitration or waive the right to a jury trial; or, (2) The arbitration provision in the residency agreement was stricken or declined in writing.
From the administrator site: Official settlement class notice (PDF)
This checklist is for guidance only and can be wrong. Only the court's definition decides. Read the official wording before you file.
Official payout table
The amounts the settlement itself sets. We do not work out a personal amount.
| Option and condition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Part of the price you paid | 26% |
| Set amountNorth Carolina residents who did not pay a community fee | $255 |
The percent is of the community fee you paid, plus $50 for each year you lived at a Brookdale ALF, for up to three years.
Settlement Class Members who submit a Claim Form approved by the Settlement Administrator and who made a Community Fee Payment will be entitled to (1) a refund of 26.0% (twenty-six percent) of their Community Fee Payment plus (2) 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 submit a Claim Form approved by the Settlement Administrator and who did not make a Community Fee Payment will be entitled to $255.00, regardless of the number of years the Settlement Class Member resided at a Brookdale ALF. ... you will receive your payment by check.
From the administrator site: Official settlement class notice (PDF)
Estimates can change with the number of valid claims and court deductions. Guidance only.
How to file
-
Find the code from your notice
- Notice ID from the notice mailed to you and your last name as it appears on it (the online claim login asks for both)
-
Gather what you need
No proof of purchase is required.
- The approximate date you moved in and the name of the Brookdale community
- Whether your arbitration provision was crossed out or declined in writing, or your agreement was signed by a third party
- If filing for someone else: a power of attorney or other authorizing document, a court order, or a notarized statement
-
File online, or by mail
At www.brookdalebrightclasssettlement.com, by Jan 24, 2027. Filing is free.
Or mail a paper claim form to:Brookdale Florida and North Carolina Settlement Program, Settlement Administrator, PO Box 25008, Richmond, VA 23260
The deadline note says: “Online by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 24, 2027, or by mail postmarked on or before January 24, 2027.” -
Save your confirmation
Keep your confirmation number or email. You do not need to file again.
Confirm with the administrator before you act.
After you file
Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval and any appeals are over.
For context: First payments were issued 52 to 875 days after final approval, based on 15 settlements. Half were paid within 119 days. 1 of the 15 waited on appeals after approval.
Also ending this week
Related settlements
Case details
- Case
- Bright, et al. v. Brookdale Senior Living Inc.
- Court
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
- Case number
- No. 3:19-cv-00374 (consolidated with No. 3:20-cv-00353)
- Administrator
- BrownGreer PLC
- Official site
- www.brookdalebrightclasssettlement.com
- Full payout terms
- 26% of your community fee plus $50 a year, or $255 in NCIf you paid a community fee: a refund of 26% of your community fee payment plus $50 for every year you lived at a Brookdale ALF, for up to three years. North Carolina class members who did not pay a community fee: $255, however long they lived there. Payments are by check, after final approval and any appeals.
- Effort
- Easy, about 4 minutes
- States
- Florida, North Carolina
Other dates
- Opt-out (exclusion) deadline
- (passed) source document
- Objection deadline
- (passed) source document
- Final approval hearing
- (passed) source document
The court’s exact words
First, you must have moved into a Brookdale ALF: (a) in North Carolina from April 24, 2016 to 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 to May 13, 2026, and you paid a community fee, or (c) in Florida from May 3, 2015 through November 9, 2019 if you (1) 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: (1) Your residency agreement was signed by a third party, and the authorizing instrument excludes the power to consent to arbitration or waive the right to a jury trial; or, (2) The arbitration provision in the residency agreement was stricken or declined in writing.
Quoted from the official notice. Read the notice for the full definition.
Our notes: The lawsuit claimed Brookdale understaffed its assisted living communities (ALFs) in Florida and North Carolina and misled residents about staffing. To be in the class you must meet two tests. First, the move-in date: in North Carolina, April 24, 2016 to May 13, 2026 if you paid a community fee, or September 23, 2014 through May 13, 2026 if you did not; in Florida, November 10, 2019 to May 13, 2026 with a community fee, or May 3, 2015 through November 9, 2019 if you opted out of the earlier Runton v. Brookdale settlement (S.D. Fla. No. 17-cv-60664) or your Runton claim was denied. Second, the contract documents must show no enforceable arbitration agreement: either the arbitration provision was struck or declined in writing, or a third party signed the residency agreement under an authorizing document that excluded the power to agree to arbitration or waive a jury trial. Not included: people bound by an arbitration provision, Florida move-ins who paid no community fee, Brookdale and its officers and directors and their immediate families, Class Counsel, and the judges and their immediate families. Claims can be filed by an authorized representative (for example for a resident who has died).
Sources and checks (5)
Every fact people act on was copied from the official source and compared with it. How we check
- Official settlement website home page administrator site
- Official settlement class notice (PDF) administrator site
- Official individual claim form (PDF) administrator site
- Official authorized representative claim form (PDF) administrator site
- Class action settlement agreement (PDF on the official site) court record
What changedLast change Nov 3, 2026
- Page created. Claims open until January 24, 2027. source document
Questions
I already filed. What now?
Keep your confirmation number or email. You do not need to file again. Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval; once it does, the payment status page shows what is known.