1. WHY WAS THE NOTICE ISSUED?
2. WHAT IS THIS LAWSUIT ABOUT?
3. WHAT IS A CLASS ACTION?
4. WHY IS THERE A SETTLEMENT?
5. WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT?
6. ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS TO BEING INCLUDED?
7. WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE?
8. HOW MUCH WILL MY PAYMENT BE?
9. WHAT CLAIMS AM I RELEASING IF I STAY IN THE SETTLEMENT CLASS?
10. HOW DO I SUBMIT A CLAIM AND GET A CASH PAYMENT?
11. WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING A CLAIM?
12. WHEN WILL I GET MY PAYMENT?
13. DO I HAVE A LAWYER IN THE CASE?
14. SHOULD I GET MY OWN LAWYER?
15. HOW WILL THE LAWYERS BE PAID?
16. HOW DO I OPT OUT OF THE SETTLEMENT?
17. HOW DO I TELL THE COURT IF I LIKE OR DO NOT LIKE THE SETTLEMENT?
18. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OBJECTING AND EXCLUDING?
19. WHEN IS THE COURT’S FINAL APPROVAL HEARING?
20. DO I HAVE TO COME TO THE FINAL APPROVAL HEARING?
21. WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOTHING AT ALL?
22. HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION?
A state court authorized the Notice because you have a right to know about the proposed Settlement of this class action lawsuit and about all of your options before the Court decides whether to grant final approval of the Settlement. This Notice explains the lawsuit, your legal rights, what benefits are available, and who can receive them.
The lawsuit is captioned Ostashen et al. v. Idea 247 Inc., d/b/a Idea Financial, 2023-021182-CA-01 (11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Fla.). The people that filed this lawsuit are called the “Plaintiffs” and the company they sued, Idea Financial, is called the “Defendant.”
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This lawsuit alleges that personal information was impacted by the cybersecurity incident that affected Idea Financial in or around April 2023 (“Security Incident”).
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In a class action, one or more individuals sue on behalf of other people with similar claims. These individuals who sue are known as “Class Representatives” or “Plaintiffs.” Together, the people included in the class action are called a “class” or “class members.” One court resolves the lawsuit for all settlement class members, except for those who exclude themselves (sometimes called, “opting out”) from a settlement. In this Settlement, the Class Representatives are Jeffrey Ostashen, Michael Rose, and Wayne English.
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The Court did not decide in favor of the Plaintiffs or the Defendant. The Defendant denies all claims and contends that it has not violated any laws. Plaintiffs and the Defendant agreed to a Settlement to avoid the costs and risks of a trial, and through the Settlement, Settlement Class Members are eligible to claim payments and other benefits. The Plaintiffs and their attorneys, who also represent the Settlement Class Members, think the Settlement is best for all Settlement Class Members.
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The Settlement Class consists of all individuals who reside in the United States and to whom Defendant sent a notice concerning the Security Incident.
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Yes. Excluded from the Settlement Class are (i) Idea Financial, its officers and directors; (ii) all Settlement Class Members who timely and validly request exclusion from the Settlement Class; (iii) any judges assigned to this case and their staff and family; and (iv) any other person found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be guilty under criminal law of initiating, causing, aiding or abetting the criminal activity occurrence of the Security Incident or who pleads nolo contendere to any such charge.
If you are not sure whether you are included in the Settlement Class, you can ask for free help by calling, emailing or writing to the Settlement Administrator at:
Toll-Free: (833) 200-8003
info@IdeaDataSettlement.com
Idea Financial Data Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
PO Box 25412
Santa Ana, CA 92799
You may also view the Settlement Agreement and Release (“Settlement Agreement”) here.
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Under the Settlement, Idea Financial will pay all valid and timely claims for Credit Monitoring, Ordinary Losses, Lost Time, and Extraordinary Losses.
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Payments and other benefits will vary - Settlement Class Members may submit a claim using the Claim Form for: (1) 2 years of credit monitoring; (2) Ordinary Loss Claims – up to a total of $525 per claimant; (3) Lost Time - $18.75 per hour for up to 4 hours (for a total of $75, subject to the $525 cap on Ordinary Loss Claims); and (4) Extraordinary Loss Claims- up to a total of $5,250 per claimant.
Credit Monitoring Services. All Settlement Class Members shall have the ability to make a claim for 2 years of one-credit bureau credit monitoring services and identity protection services by choosing this benefit on the Claim Form. Even if Settlement Class Members previously accepted the Defendant’s offer of complimentary credit monitoring services, they may still claim this benefit.
Ordinary Losses up to a total of $525 per claimant, upon submission of a valid claim with supporting documentation for out-of-pocket losses incurred or spent between April 26, 2023 and seven days after the Court approved notice of settlement is sent to the Settlement Class, including: i) Out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the Security Incident, including unreimbursed bank fees, long distance phone and cell phone charges (only if charged by the minute), data charges (only if charged based on the amount of data used), postage or gasoline for local travel; and ii) Fees for credit reports, credit monitoring or other identity theft insurance products purchased as a result of the Security Incident.
Lost Time Claims for reimbursement of $18.75 per hour up to 4 hours (for a total of $75) with a brief description of the activities engaged in and the time spent on each such activity and an attestation on the Claim Form that the activities performed were related to the Security Incident. Claims for Lost Time are subject to the $525 cap for Ordinary Losses (discussed above).
Extraordinary Losses up to a total of $5,250 per Settlement Class Member in compensation on submission of a valid and timely claim for monetary losses that meet the following conditions: i) The loss is an actual, documented and unreimbursed monetary loss caused by (A) misuse of the Settlement Class Member’s Personal Information or (B) fraud associated with the Settlement Class Member’s Personal Information; ii) The loss noted in i.(A) or i.(B) was more likely than not caused by the Security Incident; iii) The loss occurred between April 26, 2023 and seven days after the Court approved notice of settlement is sent to the Class; iv) The loss is not already covered by the Ordinary Loss or Lost Time categories and v) the Settlement Class Member made reasonable efforts to avoid, or seek reimbursement for, the loss, including but not limited to exhaustion of all of the Settlement Class Member’s credit monitoring insurance and identity theft insurance, if any.
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Unless you opt out of the Settlement, you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendant about any of the legal claims this Settlement resolves. The “Releases” section in the Settlement Agreement describes the legal claims that you give up if you remain in the Settlement Class. The Settlement Agreement can be found here.
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Claim Forms may be submitted online here or downloaded here and mailed to the Settlement Administrator at:
Idea Financial Data Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
PO Box 25412
Santa Ana, CA 92799
You may also contact the Settlement Administrator to request a Claim Form by telephone at (833) 200-8003, by email at info@IdeaDataSettlement.com, or by U.S. mail at the address above.
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If you submit a claim by U.S. mail, the completed and signed Claim Form must be postmarked by October 1, 2024. If submitting a Claim Form online, you must do so by October 1, 2024.
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The short answer is – after the Settlement is “finally approved” and challenges, if any, to that approval are finally resolved. The Court is scheduled to hold a final approval hearing on October 21, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. E.T., to decide whether to approve the Settlement, how much attorneys’ fees and costs to award to Settlement Class Counsel for representing the Settlement Class, and whether to award Service Awards to the Class Representatives who brought this Action on behalf of the Settlement Class.
If the Court approves the Settlement, there may be appeals. It is always uncertain whether appeals will be filed and, if so, how long it will take to resolve them. Settlement payments will be distributed as soon as possible, if and when the Court grants final approval to the Settlement and after any appeals are resolved.
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Yes, the Court appointed Andrew Shamis of Shamis & Gentile, P.A., Gary Klinger of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, LLC, and Raina C. Borrelli of Turke & Strauss LLP to represent you and other members of the Settlement Class (“Settlement Class Counsel”). You will not be charged directly for these lawyers; instead, they will receive compensation from Idea Financial (subject to Court approval).
If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.
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It is not necessary for you to hire your own lawyer because Settlement Class Counsel works for you. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.
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Settlement Class Counsel will file a motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and litigation costs and expenses to be paid by Idea Financial. Idea Financial has agreed not to oppose Settlement Class Counsel’s request for an award of attorneys’ fees and litigation costs and expenses not to exceed Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Dollars ($260,000). If Settlement Class Counsel seeks more than $260,000 in attorneys’ fees and expenses, Idea Financial has reserved all rights to object and oppose such requests.
Settlement Class Counsel will also seek a service award payment for the Class Representatives in recognition for their contributions to this Action. Idea Financial has agreed not to oppose Settlement Class Counsel’s request for service awards not to exceed One Thousand Five Dollars ($1,500) for each of the three Class Representatives. To the extent more than $1,500 service awards are sought for the Class Representatives, Idea Financial has reserved all rights to object and oppose such a request.
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If you do not want to receive any benefits from the Settlement, and you want to keep your right to separately sue the Defendant about the legal issues in this case, you must take steps to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. This is called “opting out” of the Settlement Class. The deadline for requesting exclusion from the Settlement is August 29, 2024.
To exclude yourself from the Settlement, you must submit a written request for exclusion to the Court that includes the following information:
the case name: Ostashen et al. v. Idea 247 Inc., d/b/a Idea Financial, 2023-021182-CA-01 (11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Fla.);
your full name;
current address;
personal signature; and
the words “Request for Exclusion” or a comparable statement that you do not wish to participate in the Settlement.
Your request for exclusion must be mailed to the Settlement Administrator at the address below, postmarked no later than September 1, 2024.
Idea Financial Data Settlement
ATTN: Exclusion Request
PO Box 25412
Santa Ana, CA 92799
If you exclude yourself, you are telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement. You may only exclude yourself – not any other person.
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If you are a Settlement Class Member, you can choose (but are not required) to object to the Settlement if you do not like it or a portion of it, whether that be to the Settlement benefits, the request for attorneys’ fees or service awards, the releases provided to the Defendant, or some other aspect of the Settlement. Through an objection, you give reasons why you think the Court should not approve the Settlement.
For an objection to be considered by the Court, the objection must include: (i) the name of the proceedings; (ii) the Settlement Class Member’s full name and current mailing address; (iii) a statement that states with specificity the grounds for the objection, as well as any documents supporting the objection; (iv) the identity of any attorneys representing the objector; (v) a statement regarding whether the Settlement Class Member (or his/her attorney) intends to appear at the Final Approval Hearing; and (vi) the signature of the Settlement Class Member or the Settlement Class Member’s attorney.
Any Settlement Class Member who does not file a timely and adequate objection in accordance with the above paragraph waives the right to object to the Settlement at the Final Approval Hearing, and shall be bound by the terms of the Settlement Agreement and by all orders and judgments in the Action.
Objections must be filed with the Court no later than September 1, 2024.
Clerk of the Court
73 W. Flagler Street
Miami, Florida 33130
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Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can object to the Settlement only if you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement. Excluding yourself from the Settlement means telling the Court you do not want to be part of the Settlement. If you opt out of the Settlement, you cannot object to it because the Settlement no longer affects you.
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The Court is scheduled to hold a final approval hearing on October 21, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. E.T., to decide whether to approve the Settlement, how much attorneys’ fees and costs to award to Settlement Class Counsel for representing the Settlement Class, and whether to award a service award payment to each Class Representative who brought this Action on behalf of the Settlement Class. If you are a Settlement Class Member, you or your attorney may ask permission to speak at the hearing at your own cost. If you do not like the Settlement, remember you may object to it but you have to follow certain requirements (see Question 17). The date and time of this hearing may change without further notice. Please check this website for the latest updates.
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No. Settlement Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. You may attend at your own expense if you wish. If you file an objection, you may but you do not have to come to the Final Approval Hearing to talk about it. If you file your written objection on time and in accordance with the requirements above, the Court will consider it. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but such attendance is not necessary for the Court to consider an objection that was filed on time and meets the requirements above.
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If you are a Settlement Class Member and you do nothing, you will give up your right to start a lawsuit, continue a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendant and the Released Parties, as defined in the Settlement Agreement, about the legal issues resolved by this Settlement. In addition, you will be bound by the releases of the Released Parties in the Settlement and not be eligible to receive a payment from this Settlement.
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The Notice summarizes the proposed Settlement. Complete details are provided in the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement and other related documents are available here.
If you have additional questions, you may contact the Settlement Administrator by email, phone, or mail:
Email: info@IdeaDataSettlement.com
Toll-Free: (833) 200-8003
Mail: Idea Financial Data Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 25412, Santa Ana, CA 92799
Publicly filed documents can also be obtained by visiting the office of the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida or by reviewing the Court’s online docket. For those planning to visit the Court for more information, please contact the Court for its regular business hours and for any costs associated with obtaining documents maintained by the Court.
You may also contact your counsel in this matter, the Settlement Class Counsel, as follows:
Raina C. Borrelli
TURKE & STRAUSS LLP
613 Williamson Street, Suite 201
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
raina@turkestrauss.com
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR IDEA FINANCIAL
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