KYLE SALAS et al. v. GUADALUPE CREDIT UNION

Case No. D-101-CV-2019-02660 in STATE OF NEW MEXICO, COUNTY OF SANTA FE, FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

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Records show that a lawsuit was filed against you in Magistrate Court by Guadalupe Credit Union without it being represented by an attorney. There is a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit. You are entitled to receive $1,000 and a refund of the amount Guadalupe Credit Union collected from you. You do not have to do anything to receive the money, other than make sure the settlement administrator has your contact information. You can also exclude yourself from the settlement, object or attend a hearing to speak about the fairness of the settlement.

This notice is to tell you about a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit that was filed in the First Judicial District in Santa Fe County. The lawsuit is called Kyle Salas v. Guadalupe Credit Union, No. D-101-CV-2019-02660. The Plaintiffs, or persons who brought the class action lawsuit in their names, alleged that Guadalupe Credit Union violated the law when they filed lawsuits without being represented by an attorney. The Plaintiffs and Guadalupe Credit Union have reached a settlement to resolve the claims and defenses. In agreeing to settle, Guadalupe Credit Union has not admitted it did anything wrong.

Important Information About Your Legal Rights

The proposed settlement covers all persons against whom Guadalupe Credit Union filed a collections lawsuit in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court without Guadalupe Credit Union being represented by a New Mexico licensed attorney in the collection action.  

The settlement requires Guadalupe Credit Union to:

  • Pay each class member the amount paid to Guadalupe Credit Union after the filing of the collections lawsuit, plus $1,000.  If the lawsuit was filed against more than one person, payment will be made jointly unless acceptable arrangements are otherwise made.    
  • Pay each Plaintiff an additional amount for the work the Plaintiff  had to do to achieve the class action settlement.  Plaintiffs will ask the Court to award each of them $5,000.
  • Pay $20,000 for costs to administer the settlement.
  • No longer file lawsuits without being represented by an attorney.  
  • Pay attorney fees and costs in an amount approved by the Court.  Any award of attorney fees and costs to Class Counsel will be paid separately from the money paid to class members.

Your Options: Read the notice to understand the settlement. Then decide if you want to:

DO NOTHING You will be bound by the settlement, if the Court approves it.
GO TO A HEARING Ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the settlement. The hearing will be at 10am on February 3, 2027.
OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT

If you want to object to the settlement, you can do so in writing and sending your objection to all of those listed below no later than November 30, 2026:

The Court: Honorable Francis J. Mathew
First Judicial District Court                           
225 Montezuma Ave.
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501

Class Counsel: Treinen Law Office PC
500 Tijeras Ave NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102

Guadalupe Credit Union Counsel:  Stevan Douglas Looney
Sutin Thayer & Brown APC
PO Box 1945
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103
EXCLUDE YOURSELF FROM THE CLASS

At this time, you are considered a member of the class for settlement purposes.  However, if you want to exclude yourself from the proposed class action settlement, you must send a written request specifically stating that you request exclusion. Mail your request to: 

Salas v Guadalupe Credit Union
c/o Settlement Administrator 
PO Box 23668
Jacksonville, FL 32241

Your request must be postmarked no later than November 30, 2026.