Charter Foods Employee $807.5K Data Breach Settlement

If you received a notification from Charter Foods North, LLC or Charter Foods, Inc. regarding a data breach incident, you may be eligible to submit a claim for up to $5,000 from a class action settlement.

Charter Foods has agreed to pay $807,500 to settle a class action lawsuit known as Haney et al. v. Charter Foods North, LLC, et al., Case No. 2:23-cv-46. The lawsuit alleges that cybercriminals breached Charter Foods' computer systems around January 13, 2023. Charter Foods discovered the breach on April 7, 2023, and subsequently notified approximately 109,194 affected individuals.

This breach potentially exposed sensitive personal information, including names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers belonging to current and former employees.

Who is eligible for a data breach payment?

Class members include:

• Individuals in the United States whose personal information may have been compromised in the 2023 cybersecurity incident involving Charter Foods.
• Current and former Charter Foods employees who received a direct mailed notification from Charter Foods informing them that their personal information may have been impacted by the data breach.

How much is the class action settlement payout?

Claimants can select one or both of the following:

• Documented Out-of-Pocket Losses: Class members can claim up to $5,000 per person for documented expenses incurred due to the data breach. Eligible expenses include: unreimbursed losses due to fraud or identity theft, professional accountant or attorney fees, and credit repair or monitoring services.

• Pro Rata Cash Payment: Class members can also claim a pro rata cash payment, estimated to be $50. Payment amount will be determined by the number of claims filed.

How to claim a data breach class action rebate

To receive a settlement payment, class members must submit a claim form by the deadline of June 5, 2025. You can file a claim online or print and download a PDF claim form to mail to the settlement administrator.

Settlement Administrator's mailing address: Charter Foods Data Incident Litigation, PO Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA, 92799.

Required proof and information

• Unique ID and PIN from notice required to submit an online claim.
• Out-of-Pocket Losses claims require supporting documentation such as service invoices, bank or credit card statements showing unreimbursed fraudulent charges, proof of charges for freezing or unfreezing credit. and other expenses or monetary losses traceable to the data incident.

Claim payment options

Claimants can choose from these payment methods:

• Check mailed to address provided
• Prepaid payment card
• PayPal
• Venmo
• Zelle

$807,500 data breach settlement fund

The settlement fund of $807,500 will include:

• Settlement notice and administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees: Up to $266,475
• Attorneys' expenses: To be determined
• Service awards to class representatives: up to $5,000 each for a total of $25,000
• Payments to class members with approved claims: Remaining settlement funds

Important dates

• Deadline to File a Claim: June 5, 2025
• Final Approval Hearing: July 29, 2025

When is the Charter Foods data breach payout date?

The final hearing will be held on July 29, 2025. Payments will be issued to valid claimants approximately 51 days after the court grants final approval to the settlement.

Why did this class action settlement occur?

The settlement resolves allegations that Charter Foods failed to adequately protect sensitive employee data from cybercriminals, leading to a data breach in 2023. Charter Foods denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid further litigation costs and a possible trial.

Sources

1. Official Settlement Website
2. Class Notice Document