Selected Americans could receive big money in a one-time distribution from a recent settlement that arose in the wake of a data breach. The direct payment opportunity arises after a class action was taken against a legal data analysis provider.
Plaintiffs in the settlement claimed that the provider, UnitedLex, failed to prevent a cyberattack where criminals penetrated its servers, contractors and staff, according to a website that was created for the case. The data breach compromised confidential information belonging to beneficiaries, contractors, and staff. In the information, They allegedly included financial account numbers, Social Security numbers and names.
Who Is Eligible for This Class Action
Although, UnitedLex did not accept wrongdoing, agreeing to a settlement in the amount of $1.3 million to resolve the claims and avoid further legal costs. There are various qualifying criteria that people have to meet to get their share of the settlement fund.
- First, must be current or former beneficiaries, contractors, or employees of UnitedLex.
- Your personal information must also have been heavily affected by the hacking incident in March 2023.
Those who are automatically eligible to be part of the class would have received a notification by postal mail or email informing them that their data was vulnerable, at risk during the data breach. It would have included a claim ID and a special PIN.
How to Submit the Claim
That claim ID and PIN can be used to submit a claim form online through the settlement website, you want If you do not have your claim ID and PIN, you can still file your claim securely on the website using an alternative option.
Claim forms are also available to download and complete in the Case Documents section, and then email them to the settlement administrator. The deadline to make a claim is quickly approaching: November 12, 2024. The possibilities of exclusion and objection have already passed on September 23, 2024.
How Much Could the Beneficiaries of This Class Action Receive as Payment?
Those who qualify will be able to get several benefits from the agreement, including free credit monitoring, identity theft protection services, and refunds. Candidates who provide valid documentation of expenses, bank fees, travel costs, credit costs, damages and more incurred due to identity theft or fraud can obtain up to $15,000.
Additionally, $500 is added to cover lost time that eligible claimants spent addressing any issues caused by the March 2023 data breach. Any remaining cash in the fund, after all deductions for qualified applicants, will be sent on a prorated basis.
Free credit monitoring and identity theft protections are also available for applicants who enroll by July 11, 2027. UnitedLex also made a commitment to implement additional cybersecurity measures. The final approval hearing for the agreement is scheduled for December 10, 2024.
What is a Class Action
The Class Action allows a group of people to come together legally to demand to a company or entity. They are generally brought by individuals who allege that an organization has harmed large numbers of people. When the Settlement becomes a Class Action, it extends to all “class members” who have complaints similar to those of the plaintiffs original.
Companies solve Class Action paying group members, who waive future legal action. These agreements usually include statements of the defendant denying responsibility. Companies prefer to reach settlements to avoid the costs of protracted litigation. The common causes of Class Action include pollution, discrimination or misleading advertising, situations that can put a company in front of a Settlement on a large scale.