Data breaches continue to be an overwhelming problem for Americans, who can feel like their information is not safe in any company. The latest to make the news concerns the company UnitedLex, who, in March 2023 suffered a digital hack that majorly compromised all of their users’ personal information.

UnitedLex is a legal data analytics and management company founded in 2006, which makes it even more concerning for its users when it failed to protect both employee and contractor data during the cyber attack.

This is why some of the affected individuals decided to file a class action lawsuit against the company and ensure that they could recoup some of their losses. But first, what is a class action lawsuit?

Class action lawsuits are filed by one or more individuals on behalf of a larger group with similar complaints against a company or organization. When the suit gains class action status, it applies to all people who may have been affected in the same way. Companies often choose to settle these cases, offering payments to class members, who then give up their right to pursue further legal action. These settlements typically include statements from the company denying any wrongdoing.

For those who were affected by the breach they have a chance to join the lawsuit and present a receipt to get their money back, as well as some compensation for the tie and money spent on dealing with the consequences of the breach. This is possible because, while the company has denied any wrongdoing, it has agreed to pay a total of $1.3 million to resolve the allegations and not drag the process out any longer.

What you need to claim your part in the UnitedLex lawsuit data breach settlement

To file a claim and get reimbursement for your expenses you will need proof of your expenses with a receipt. Other means by which you can prove expenses are account statements, tax documents, police reports, or fraud claims. Plaintiffs can get up to $15,000, but the conditions to receive that amount of money are fairly stringent. According to the settlement website:

“The Settlement Fund will be used to reimburse Settlement Class Members for out-of-pocket expenses or losses fairly traceable to the Data Breach, up to $15,000.00 per individual. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Out-of-pocket costs, expenses, losses, or other charges incurred as a result of identity theft or identity fraud, falsified tax returns, or other possible misuse of a Settlement Class Member’s Personal Information;
• Out-of-pocket costs incurred after the Data Breach was disclosed associated with changing accounts or engaging in other mitigative conduct; such costs may include notary, fax, postage, copying, mileage, and long-distance telephone charges;
• Out-of-pocket professional fees incurred to address the Data Breach; and
• Out-of-pocket purchases of credit monitoring or other mitigative services after the Data Breach was disclosed, through the date of the Settlement Class Member’s Claim submission.”

Most affected individuals will not get as much reimbursement, they will likely get Reimbursement for Lost Time, which is “used to reimburse Settlement Class Members who spent money addressing issues related to the Data Breach for up to twenty (20) hours at twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per hour, totaling $500.00 per individual.”

The deadline to submit your claim is Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

As a last resort, and according to the settlement website “If there is money remaining after reimbursing Settlement Class Members for Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Lost Time, and other Settlement-related obligations, the remaining funds will be split pro rata among participating Settlement Class Members

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. Please note that additional cash payments are not guaranteed and the amount of these payments will depend on the number of individuals who submit valid claims.”