PORTLAND, Maine, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the law firms of The Molleur Law Office, Bailey & Glasser, LLP, and Bonnett, Fairbourn, Friedman & Balint, P.C.

U.S. District Court Judge George Singal has allowed a lawsuit brought by Maine consumers against First American Title Insurance Company to proceed as a class action, and has authorized notice to potential class members.  The lawsuit alleges that First American improperly failed to apply a discounted rate for lender's title insurance issued to some residents of Maine when they refinanced their residential mortgages.

The class includes anyone who paid a premium to First American or its agents for the purchase of lender's title insurance in connection with a refinance loan on residential property in Maine between September 17, 2002 and now, where: (1) the prior mortgage was issued within two years of the refinancing; (2) the prior mortgage was insured by a title insurance policy; and (3) the borrower was charged more than the discounted refinance rate.  First American denies the claims and allegations in the lawsuit and denies that it did anything wrong. The Court has not decided whether First American did anything wrong. There is no money available now and no guarantee there will be. 

More information about the case and the class can be obtained at www.MEtitleCase.com.  The website also contains commonly-asked questions and answers and other important information, including a chart to help consumers determine whether they were entitled to a discounted rate.  Individuals can also contact Class Counsel at 1-800-847-9094 ext. 5996 to make this determination.  Anyone who did not receive a notice and believes that they may be a class member should consult the website or contact Class Counsel.

Class members who wish to remain in the litigation do not need to do anything right now.  Consumers who wish to keep their individual right to sue First American about these claims must exclude themselves by filling out the exclusion request on the website, or sending a written request postmarked by June 27, 2012, to Maine Class Action, PO Box 2731, Faribault, MN 55021-9731, that states that he or she wants to be excluded from Campbell v. First American Title Insurance Company, and includes a name, address, telephone number, and signature.

SOURCE The Molleur Law Office, Bailey & Glasser, LLP, and Bonnett, Fairbourn, Friedman & Balint, P.C.