General Electric data breach class action settlement

General Electric (GE) agreed to a class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims it failed to prevent a 2020 data breach.

The settlement benefits consumers who received a notification from General Electric warning them their information may have been compromised in a February 2020 data breach.

In March 2020, General Electric announced its current and former employees may have had their information stolen through a data breach of one of GE’s third-party providers — Canon Business Process Services. The breach, which occurred in early February 2020, reportedly compromised sensitive information such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, driver’s license information, bank account numbers, passport data, birth dates and more.

General Electric employees and beneficiaries took legal action against the company in August 2020, arguing GE and Cannon could have prevented the breach with reasonable cybersecurity measures. Plaintiffs in the case note that the breach was likely the result of “elementary” strategies such as phishing emails and keyboard-logging malware.

“One thing is clear: the Data Breach could have been avoided through basic security measures, including multifactor authentication and user security training,” the data breach class action lawsuit contends.

The GE data breach class action lawsuit contends plaintiffs and other consumers now face a heightened risk of fraud, identity theft and other harm. This risk will remain for the indefinite future, the plaintiffs argue.

GE and Cannon haven’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a class action settlement to resolve these allegations. The settlement agreement does not disclose the total settlement amount.

Under the terms of the General Electric settlement, class members can receive reimbursement for lost time and out-of-pocket expenses. 

Class members may claim up to four hours of lost time at a rate of $18 per hour, for a total maximum lost time payment of $72. Out-of-pocket expenses covered by the settlement include unreimbursed fraudulent charges, professional fees, credit-repair services, credit-freeze costs and other miscellaneous expenses. Combined compensation for lost time and out-of-pocket expenses is capped at $3,500 per class member.

All class members are eligible for 18 months of free credit monitoring through Financial Shield Services, even if they did not experience lost time or out-of-pocket expenses.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Nov. 22, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the General Electric lawsuit settlement is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2023.

In order to receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Dec. 22, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

Consumers who received a notification from General Electric warning them their information may have been compromised in a February 2020 data breach

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase applicable

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

12/22/2022

Case Name

Data Breach Litigation, Case No. 1:20-cv-02903-KPF, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Final Hearing

02/22/2023

Settlement Website

GEBPSSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

GE/Canon Settlement
RG/2 Claims Administration LLC
P.O. Box 59479
Philadelphia, PA 19102-9479
GECBPSsettlement@rg2claims.com
866-742-4955

Class Counsel

Gary M. Klinger
MILBERG COLEMAN PHILLIPS GROSSMAN PLLC

Rosemary M. Rivas
GIBBS LAW GROUP LLP

Joseph I. Marchese
Alec M. Leslie
BURSOR & FISHER PA

Defense Counsel

Kenneth L. Chern
ARNOLD & PORTER KAYE SCHOLER LLP