Last fall, the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service (Pitt County Center) alerted county tobacco farmers, heirs, and former quota holders of an approved plan for the former flue-cured tobacco cooperative  (Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corporation) to return an estimated $70 million to former quota holders, or their heirs, over a 12-year period. This dispersal of funds was part of a ruling by a bankruptcy judge that a lump sum begin to be dispersed in 2023 to former quota holders who farmed under the tobacco price support program. Such payments will continue to be made to qualified applicants based on the continued operation of U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. during this designated period.

It has been reported by Omni Agent Solutions that approximately 18,000 claims have been received from former quota holders, or their heirs to be considered for the distribution of these funds. Of this total, Pitt County accounts for about 10% or 1,800 of those claims. Funds are expected to be dispersed in September of this year after all appeals have been resolved by the Trustees of this class action lawsuit. Once a former quota holder or their heir(s) have been notified, they will have 30 days to respond to any inquiry made of them. Note:  Those who have already submitted a claim should call 1-818-906-8300 to verify that their claims form has been received.

If the former claims deadline of December 12, 2022 was not met, applicants are advised that submitting an application for consideration in 2023 is not likely to be accepted. 

The distribution of funds will be based on the claim holder’s individual share of all the “no net cost assessments” paid by all holders for crop years 1982 through 2004. This percentage will be determined after all claims have been processed and verified. To be eligible for payment consideration, the former quota holder must have been a seller of tobacco and have had issued a FC Number. Landowners or share cropper may not necessarily qualify to participate in this settlement.

Please visit the Omni Solutions Website for more information.

TIPS FOR SUBMITTING A CLAIMS FORM

• Former quota holders or their heirs can access the website for this claim by visiting Omni Agent Solutions Cases Website. Once you go to this website, type “lewis” in the search box in order to access the “Lewis Certified Settlement Class Trust” and the claims form.
• If you have questions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions document on the website. For anything not addressed, you may either call the claims information line, 1-818-906-8300 (US & Canada toll free), or email the claims agent at clientsupport@omniagnt.com.
• If you are not the original holder of the class member claim, you must provide all documentation showing that you are the legal holder of this claim, such as notarized, executive assignment documents (letter of testamentary) or a probated will.
• For the production years of 2000-2004, proof of sales of tobacco must be provided such as sales/consignment receipts, farm ledgers created at the time of sale, or consignment showing pounds marketed to establish the sales.
• Only one claim form can be submitted for a flue-cured member number. Former quota holders or their heirs should contact Omni Solutions in order to secure a claims number for each individual Stabilization membership number.
• For producers who lack documentation of production from 2000 through 2004, the following chart might be used to calculate production values for this period. The estimated production per year is 2,100 pounds per acre.