Yahoo! Data Breach Case: $117.5 Million Proposed Settlement Claims Period Begins

Below is some important information about the historic Yahoo! data breach class action

$117.5 Million Yahoo! Data Breach Settlement Claims Information

The following statement is being issued by Morgan & Morgan, P.A., Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, Tadler Law LLP, Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP, and Lockridge Grindal Nauen LLP (“Settlement Class Counsel”) to inform people of their rights and the claims process:

A class action settlement has been granted preliminary approval in the multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) against Yahoo! Inc. (“Yahoo”) arising out of one of the largest known data security breaches in history. As a result, on September 3, 2019, the first Court-approved notice of the proposed Settlement was disseminated, commencing the beginning of the Claims Period. The Claims Period ends on July 20, 2020. Settlement Class Counsel encourages all Settlement Class Members to make a claim for the benefits available under the Settlement.

The class-action litigation concerns several announcements made by Yahoo starting in September 2016, admitting that there had been several data security breaches between 2013 and 2016. The company also announced that in early 2012, they experienced data security intrusions.

Yahoo customers worldwide have been significantly impacted, from alleged identity and credit theft to bank fraud. Plaintiffs in the MDL, represented by Settlement Class Counsel, claim that Yahoo failed to adequately protect their personal information and that they were injured as a result.

Who Is Included?

Residents of the United States and Israel who received a Notice from Yahoo about the Data Breaches, or who had a Yahoo email account at any time between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016, are Settlement Class Members.

What Does the Settlement Provide? 

Yahoo has agreed to make changes to improve the security of its customers’ Personal Information stored on its databases. Defendants will also pay for a Settlement Fund of $117,500,000. The Settlement Fund will provide: a minimum of two years of Credit Monitoring Services to protect Settlement Class Members from future harm, or Alternative Compensation instead of credit monitoring for Class Members who already have Credit Monitoring Services (subject to verification and documentation); Out-of-Pocket Costs for losses related to the Data Breaches; and reimbursement of some costs for those who paid for Yahoo premium or Small Business Services. The Settlement Fund will also be used to pay for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, and Service Awards for the Settlement Class Representatives. These are only a summary of the benefits. For complete information, dates, and details on the settlement benefits, visit the Settlement Website at www.YahooDataBreachSettlement.com.

What Are Yahoo Account Holders’ Options? 

To receive any benefits under the Settlement, Yahoo account holders must file a claim online or by mail by July 20, 2020. Yahoo account holders who want to keep their right to sue the defendants themselves must exclude themselves from the Settlement Class by March 6, 2020. Once excluded, account holders will not receive any credit monitoring or monetary relief from the Settlement. If they stay in the Settlement Class, they may object to the Settlement, and/or the amount of attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, and/or the amount of Class Representative Service Awards by March 6, 2020.  Account-holders who do nothing, will not receive any credit monitoring or monetary benefits, but will still be bound by the Court’s decisions. Complete information and instructions on how account holders can file a Claim, exclude themselves from the Settlement, or Object to the settlement are available on the Settlement Website at www.YahooDataBreachSettlement.com. Only those who File a Claim and are deemed eligible will be permitted to participate in the Settlement and the relief provided.

The Court has scheduled a hearing in this case at 1:30 p.m. on April 2, 2020, in Courtroom 8 of the U.S. Courthouse, 280 South 1st Street, 4th Floor, San Jose, CA 95113, to consider: whether to approve the Settlement as fair, reasonable, and adequate; any objections; a request for Class Representative Service Awards; and attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses for investigating the facts, litigating the case, and negotiating the settlement. The motion for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses will be posted on the website on the date it is filed or as quickly thereafter as practicable. Yahoo account holders may ask to appear at the hearing but are not required to do so.

For More Information

This is only a summary. For complete information and to file a claim for benefits, visit the Settlement Website, www.YahooDataBreachSettlement.com, email info@YahooDataBreachSettlement.com, or call 844-702-2788.