Andrews McMeel Universal $350,000 Data Breach Settlement

If you received a notification from Andrews McMeel Universal, Inc. (AMU) regarding a data incident, you may be eligible to claim up to $4,500 in expense reimbursements from a class action settlement.

Andrews McMeel Universal has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a class action lawsuit due to unauthorized access to their systems, which potentially compromised personal information.

Who Are the Class Members?

• Individuals notified by AMU about the data incident.
• Persons whose personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI) was potentially accessed.

How Much Can Class Members Get?

• Ordinary Loss Reimbursement: Up to $450 for documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to the data incident. This includes costs like unreimbursed bank fees, long-distance and cell phone charges, data charges, postage, or gasoline for local travel. It also covers fees for credit reports, credit monitoring, or other identity theft insurance products purchased as a result of the incident.
• Lost Time Reimbursement: Compensation for up to four hours of lost time at $25 per hour, included in the $450 cap.
• Extraordinary Loss Reimbursement: Up to $4,500 for documented extraordinary losses, provided the loss is directly linked to the data incident. This includes actual, documented, and unreimbursed monetary losses caused by misuse or fraud associated with the compromised information.
• Credit Monitoring Services: Three years of single-bureau credit monitoring services with $1,000,000 in identity theft protection.

These benefits are subject to a total settlement fund cap of $350,000.

Is Proof Required to Submit a Claim?

• Receipts or statements for out-of-pocket expenses.
• Documentation of extraordinary losses, such as bank statements or police reports.

How to Claim an Award

To claim an award, class members must submit a claim form by December 19, 2024. Claims can be filed online through the online claim form or by mailing a completed form to the settlement administrator. You can download a PDF version of the claim form to submit your claim by mail.

Payment Methods

• PayPal
• Venmo
• Zelle
• Virtual prepaid card
• Physical check

Important Dates

• Deadline to File a Claim: December 19, 2024
• Final Approval Hearing: December 13, 2024

When is the AMU Data Incident Settlement Payout Date?

After the final approval hearing on December 13, 2024, if the settlement is approved, eligible class members will receive their compensation after any appeals are resolved.

Why Was There a Class Action Settlement?

The lawsuit was initiated due to unauthorized access to AMU's systems in November 2022, which potentially compromised personal information. The settlement was reached to avoid further litigation costs and to provide compensation to affected individuals.