Paul Tassin  |  March 12, 2018

Category: Closed Class Actions

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academy-art-university

Employees of Academy of Art University can now claim benefits from a data breach settlement that provides identity theft protection services and total reimbursements worth $250,000.

The settlement resolves claims over a data breach that exposed federal tax information of 3,374 current and former employees of Academy of Art University. According to the university’s April 2016 announcement, the breach happened when a university employee erroneously sent employees’ W-2 tax forms to an unauthorized third party, allegedly in response to a fraudulent email request.

Plaintiffs Matthew Pagoga and Anthony Jones each filed a lawsuit over the data breach. Jones later dismissed his own claims and joined as a plaintiff in Pagoga’s data breach lawsuit. Both plaintiffs’ tax information was exposed in the data breach.

The two plaintiffs claim the data breach happened because Academy of Art University failed to put reasonable security measures in place and failed to train its employees in basic information security, including how to spot and avoid fraudulent spoofing emails from unauthorized senders.

After a mediation session and several rounds of settlement negotiations, the parties reached a settlement in principle in July 2017. Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow granted preliminary approval of the settlement in February 2018.

The settlement offers Class Members a few different benefits to mitigate the effects of the data breach. Academy of Art University will provide Class Members with reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses related to the data breach, credit monitoring services, and identity restoration services. Total claims for out-of-pocket expenses for all Class Members are limited to $250,000.

Academy of Art University also agrees to changes in its business practices designed to improve information security and prevent similar data breaches. The company will set up new security systems and will provide its employees with training on information security.

Claims can be filed by mail or through the settlement website. Class Members who do not have a Claim Form can download a form from the settlement website or request a form from the settlement administrator.

Class Members may exclude themselves from the settlement or object to its terms by submitting a written request no later than May 14, 2018.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement Class includes all current and former employees of Academy of Art University whose personal information was exposed in the data breach announced in April 2016.

Potential Award

Up to $2,500.

The settlement provides for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses that Class Members incur to deal with the breach. Reimbursements are limited to $2,500 per individual for the purchase of professional services and $1,000 per individual for other breach-related expenses.

Class Members can also get two years’ worth of 3B Credit Plus credit monitoring services from Experian. This service is separate from and in addition to the ProtectMyID.com service that Academy of Art University began offering in 2016.

Class Members will also have access to identity theft resolution services offered through Experian.

Proof of Purchase

Class Members claiming out-of-pocket expenses will need to submit documentation of those expenses, in addition to the Claim Form.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

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

6/13/2018

Claims for out-of-pocket losses may still be acceptable after the claim deadline if the settlement funds have not been exhausted by that date. See the settlement website or class notice for details.

Case Name

Pagoaga, et al. v. Stephens Institute d/b/a Academy of Art University, Case No. CGC 16-551952, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco

Final Hearing

7/16/2018

Settlement Website

AAUSettlement.WorldSecureSystems.com

Claims Administrator

AAU Settlement
Settlement Administrator
c/o Angeion Group
1801 Market Street, Suite 660
Philadelphia PA 19103
1-877-346-5225
AAUSettlement@AdministratorClassAction.com

Class Counsel

Norman E. Siegel
J. Austin Moore
STUEVE SIEGEL HANSON LLP

Daniel C. Girard
Simon Grille
GIRARD GIBBS LLP

Defense Counsel

Michael C. Sullivan
Jeffrey P. Michalowski
PAUL PLEVIN SULLIVAN & CONNAUGHTON

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.