MILLIONS of Americans are eligible to claim up to $5,100 as part of a data breach payout.
It comes after mental health provider Brightline was accused in a class action lawsuit of failing to adequately protect the personal information of patients and employees.
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The company was hit by a data breach in 2023 that saw hackers “gain access to millions” of individuals’ personally identifiable information.
This included names, insurance information and social security numbers, the complaint alleged.
To bring an end to the legal action, Brightline has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum but in doing so has not admitted any wrongdoing.
The payout will benefit individuals who were notified by the company that their information may have been compromised in the 2023 breach.
But there are just weeks left to file a claim.
Under the terms of the settlement, eligible individuals will have two options – cash payment A or cash payment B.
Under cash payment A, class members can get up to $5,000 for documented losses related to the breach.
This could include any expenses such as credit monitoring fees, bank charges, or losses from fraud or identity theft.
To claim under this option, class members will have to show proof of loss which could be through telephone records, receipts, bank statements etc.
Under option B, class members can apply for a flat rate payment of $100.
This is for those who do not have documented losses or do not wish to claim for them.
Regardless of which option is chosen, claimants who live in California can claim an additional statutory award of $100.
As well as financial compensation, claimants are eligible for additional support due to the risks posed by the breach.
All claimants can file for three years of free credit monitoring.
What’s a class-action settlement?
Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or ‘classes,’ a way to band together in court.
These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.
When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all “class members,” or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.
Companies often settle class actions – offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.
These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.
Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company’s doorstep.
Those who have already accepted two years of free monitoring offered by Brightline can claim an additional year for free as part of the settlement.
This includes three bureau monitoring of the credit file, dark web scanning, public record monitoring, medical identity monitoring, identity theft insurance, and access to fraud resolution agents.
All valid claims must be submitted here to the settlement website by February 26, 2025.
The final approval hearing for the payout is being held on February 10 and the exclusion deadline passed on January 9.
This means if you are eligible and did not exclude yourself you must file a claim in time or you will not receive any money or be able to bring future legal action against the company regarding the breach.
Meanwhile, if you are an Apple user, see if you are eligible for a one-off payment from a $20 million settlement.
