Knox College data breach $462.5K class action lawsuit settlement

Knox College agreed to a $462,500 settlement to resolve a data security class action lawsuit claiming it negligently failed to prevent a 2022 data breach. 

The settlement benefits individuals whose personal information was compromised or potentially compromised in the November 2022 data breach Knox College disclosed in January 2023.

The November 2022 data breach compromised names, birth dates, ID numbers, Social Security numbers and other sensitive information belonging to current and former students, applicants and family members. According to the class action lawsuit, Knox College could have prevented the data breach by implementing reasonable cybersecurity measures to protect its computer systems.

Knox College is a liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois.

Knox College hasn’t admitted wrongdoing but agreed to a $462,500 settlement to resolve the data breach class action lawsuit.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive up to $2,500 in reimbursement for documented out-of-pocket losses they sustained due to the data breach. This includes credit expenses, communication charges, professional fees, bank fees and up to four hours of lost time at a rate of $25 per hour. Class members who claim out-of-pocket expenses will also be eligible for up to three years of free credit monitoring and identity theft insurance provided by Experian.

Instead of receiving up to $2,500 in reimbursement and three years of credit services, class members can choose a one-time payment of $100. No proof is required to receive this one-time payment. 

The deadline for exclusion and objection was Dec. 26, 2023.

The final approval hearing for the Knox College data security settlement is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2024.

To receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Jan. 24, 2024.

Who’s Eligible

Individuals whose personal information was compromised or potentially compromised in the November 2022 data breach Knox College disclosed in January 2023.

Potential Award

$2,500

Proof of Purchase

Receipts, emails, bank statements, reports and other documentation of data breach-related expenses. “Self-prepared” documents, such as handwritten receipts, are not sufficient to receive reimbursement but can be considered as clarification or support of other submitted documentation.

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

01/24/2024

Case Name

Doe, et al. v. Knox College Inc., Case No. 2023LA9, in the 9th Judicial Circuit Court for Knox County, Illinois

Final Hearing

01/19/2024

Settlement Website

KnoxDataSecuritySettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Knox College Data Breach 
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
PO Box 5324
New York, NY 10150-5324
833-383-9695

Class Counsel

Raina Borrelli
Samuel Strauss 
TURKE & STRAUSS LLP

Gary Klinger 
MILBERG COLEMAN BRYSON PHILLIPS GROSSMAN PLLC

Carl Malmstrom
WOLF HALDENSTEIN ADLER FREEMAN & HERZ LLC

Defense Counsel

Anjali C Das 
Jennifer S Stegmaier 
WILSON ELSER MOSKOWITZ EDELMAN & DICKER LLP