2015 National Book Festival $450K receipt privacy class action settlement

Centerplate agreed to a $450,000 settlement to resolve claims it violated federal receipt laws by printing too much payment card information on receipts during the 2015 National Book Festival, in violation of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA).

The settlement benefits consumers who attended the 2015 National Book Festival on Sept. 5, 2015, and used a credit or debit card to make a food or beverage purchase at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

The National Book Festival is a Library of Congress event held each year at the Washington Convention Center. The festival hosts authors and book fans for panel discussions, book signings, author talks and other events.

In 2015, Volume Services America — doing business as Centerplate — provided food and drink services to the Washington Convention Center for the National Book Festival. However, the company may have violated federal laws by including too much information on consumer receipts.

According to a class action lawsuit, Centerplate receipts included the expiration date of payment cards or more than the last five digits of payment card numbers. Plaintiffs in the case argue these receipts violated FACTA.

FACTA is a federal law that, in part, standardizes the amount of information that can be included on electronically printed receipts. The law allows only the last five digits of payment card numbers to be printed on receipts and does not allow any expiration date information to be printed. These regulations aim to reduce the risk of fraud by either physical or electronic means.

Businesses like Centerplate may violate FACTA through human or computer error, but can still face up to $2,500 per non-compliant receipt. Plaintiffs in the FACTA class action lawsuit sought these damages from Centerplate for the thousands of receipts which allegedly violated the federal law.

Centerplate hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve these allegations with a $450,000 class action settlement.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can collect a cash payment of $1,000. In order to receive these payments, class members must provide proof in the form of their non-compliant receipt or a credit or debit card statement showing they made a purchase at the 2015 National Book Festival.

Any residual funds from the FACTA settlement will be donated to Legal Assistance for Seniors.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Sept. 29, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for Oct. 17, 2022.

In order to receive a payment from the 2015 National Book Festival FACTA class action settlement, class members must submit a valid claim form by Sept. 29, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits consumers who attended the 2015 National Book Festival on Sept. 5, 2015, and used a credit or debit card to make a food or beverage purchase at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Potential Award

$1,000

Proof of Purchase

Must provide proof in the form of their non-compliant receipt or a credit or debit card statement showing they made a purchase at the 2015 National Book Festival.

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

09/29/2022

Case Name

Jeffries v. Volume Services America, Inc. d/b/a Centerplate, et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-01788-CKK, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Final Hearing

10/17/2022

Settlement Website

CenterPlateDCSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Centerplate Settlement
c/o Atticus Administration
P.O. BOX 64053 St. Paul, MN 55164
CenterplatedSettlement@atticusadmin.com

Class Counsel

Chant Yedalian
CHANT & COMPANY A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORP

Brian Herrington
CHHABRA GIBBS & HERRINGTON PLLC

Defense Counsel

Mark W Bayer
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP