Notice of Class Action Settlement Hearing in the Machado, et al v. Goldberg, et al litigation.

DID YOU SERVE IN THE MILITARY? 

NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT FAIRNESS HEARING 

IF YOU ARE A FORMER MILITARY SERVICEMEMBER WHO SERVED TWO OR MORE ENLISTMENTS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, AND JULY 23, 2020, AND ENDED WITH A LESS-THAN-HONORABLE DISCHARGE, PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE. 

There is a Preliminary Settlement Agreement in a class action lawsuit filed against the Massachusetts Treasurer & Receiver General and Veterans’ Bonus Appeal Board (“Defendants”) in Superior Court regarding eligibility of certain Post-9/11 Massachusetts veterans for the Welcome Home Bonus. 

The Preliminary Settlement Agreement includes many terms including that former servicemembers who were honorably discharged so that they could immediately reenlist may apply for and be eligible for a Welcome Home Bonus, even if a later enlistment period ended in a less-than-honorable discharge. Class members are all former enlisted members who lived in Massachusetts before service and also:

1.           Served on full-time active duty in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, or Coast Guard for at least six months after September 11, 2001, and completed at least six months active service before July 23, 2020;

2.           Were honorably discharged for the purpose of immediate reenlistment for at least one additional term;

3.           Whose discharge or release from their final enlistment was under less-than-honorable conditions; and

4.           Who have applied or may in the future apply for the Welcome Home Bonus.

Before the Settlement Agreement can become final, a Court must review it to determine whether it is fair, reasonable, and adequate. Class Members have the opportunity to review the Proposed Settlement, to submit a comment for or against the Proposed Settlement, and to attend a fairness hearing before the Court.

•             To submit a comment, serve a written document (with proof of class member status) by hand, mail, or e-mail on all three of the following organizations on or before May 7, 2026:

1)           The Clerk of the Court: Suffolk Superior Court, ATTN: Docket No. 1784CV02056H, 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108;

2)           Class Counsel: Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, ATTN: Welcome Home Bonus, 122 Boylston Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, and/or veteranslegalclinic@law.harvard.edu; and

3)           Defendants’ Counsel: Maryanne Reynolds, Attorney General’s Office, 10 Mechanic Street, Suite 301, Worcester, MA 01608, and/or maryanne.reynolds@mass.gov.

•             The Court will hold a fairness hearing at Suffolk County Superior Court on May 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Class Members may attend and be heard in person at Suffolk Superior Court, 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108, Courtroom 916; by Zoom (https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1617769153, Meeting ID: 161 776 9153 (no password necessary); or by phone: (646) 828-7666, enter Meeting ID: 161 776 9153 (no password necessary). 

The Settlement Agreement, if approved by the Court, will be a full and final adjudication of the issues raised on behalf of the Class and of any and all claims resulting from the facts, circumstances and subject matter that gave rise to the Amended Complaint and that were known to Class Counsel on the date the settlement is approved. The full text of the Preliminary Settlement Agreement is available at: https://legalservicescenter.org/welcomehomebonus/ 

Learn more about the Welcome Home Bonus at: 

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/veterans-bonus-division

Questions? Contact Class Counsel at veteranslegalclinic@law.harvard.edu and (617) 390-2525. More information about this case is online at: https://legalservicescenter.org/welcomehomebonus/