Welcome to the In re Philadelphia Inquirer Data Security Litigation Settlement Website
Notice of Philadelphia Inquirer Data Security Class Action Settlement
This is not a solicitation from a lawyer. Please read this Notice carefully and completely.
THIS NOTICE MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.
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- A proposed Settlement arising out of a data breach has been reached with The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC (“Philadelphia Inquirer”). On May 11, 2023, certain subscribers, employees, former employees, applicants, and employees’ family members on company benefit plans may have had their personal information exposed in a cyberattack (the “Data Incident”). Impacted Private Information may have included Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information, and medical information. If you were notified by the Philadelphia Inquirer that your Private Information may have been compromised because of the Data Incident, you are included in this Settlement as a member of the Settlement Class.
- Under the Settlement, the Philadelphia Inquirer has agreed to establish a $525,000 Settlement Fund to pay for one year of credit monitoring and insurance services and $1 million in identity theft insurance (“Credit Monitoring and Insurance Services” or “CMIS”). In addition to CMIS, the Settlement also permits Class Members to elect one of the following Settlement Payments, to be paid from the Settlement Fund: (1) cash payments of up to $5,000 per Class Member for reimbursements of certain Documented Losses (“Documented Loss Payment”); or (2) pro rata cash payments from the Settlement Fund (“Cash Fund Payment”). The Settlement Fund will also be used to pay for the costs of the Settlement Administrative Expenses, Court approved Service Awards for Class Representatives, and the Fee Award and Costs. In addition, the Philadelphia Inquirer has undertaken certain remedial measures and enhanced security measures.
- Your legal rights will be affected whether you act or do not act. Please review this website carefully.
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT
These rights and options—and the deadlines to exercise them—are explained in this Notice.
The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether to approve the Settlement. No Settlement Benefits or Payments will be provided unless the Court approves the Settlement, and it becomes final.
DO NOTHING
If you do nothing, you will not receive any of the Settlement Benefits and you will give up your rights to sue the Philadelphia Inquirer and other Released Parties for the claims this Settlement resolves.
EXCLUDE YOURSELF
This is the only option that allows you to sue, continue to sue, or be part of another lawsuit against the Philadelphia Inquirer or certain other Released Parties, for the claims this Settlement resolves.
If you exclude yourself, you will give up the right to receive any Settlement Benefits from this Settlement.
OBJECT TO OR COMMENT ON THE SETTLEMENT
You may object to the Settlement by writing to the Court and informing it of why you do not think the Settlement should be approved. You will still be bound by the Settlement if it is approved, and you will not be allowed to exclude yourself from the Settlement.
If you object, you may also file a Claim Form to receive Settlement Benefits, but you will give up the right to sue the Philadelphia Inquirer and other Released Parties in a separate lawsuit about the legal claims this Settlement resolves.
FILE A CLAIM FORM
You must “opt in” by filing a Claim Form to receive any of the benefits provided by this Settlement, including Credit Monitoring and Insurance Services, a Documented Loss Payment, or a Cash Fund Payment (collectively, the “Settlement Benefits").
Submitting a Claim Form is the only way that you can receive any of the Settlement Benefits (a claim for CMIS and a Cash Fund Payment may also be made by submitting to the Settlement Administrator, Verita Global, LLC, the tear-off “Claim Form for CMIS and Cash Fund Payments Only” you may have previously received by mail).
If you submit a Claim Form, you will give up the right to sue the Philadelphia Inquirer and certain other Released Parties (as defined in the Settlement Agreement) in a separate lawsuit about the legal claims this Settlement resolves.