CommScope $440,000 Data Breach Settlement (Current & Former Employees)

CommScope has agreed to pay $440,000 to settle a class action lawsuit for alleged exposure of private information due to a data breach. This settlement aims to compensate current and former employees whose personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI) were potentially compromised.

Who Benefits?

Individuals residing in the United States who received a notice from CommScope informing them of the data breach are eligible for the settlement.

How much can I get?

Eligible individuals can receive either three years of credit monitoring services, compensation for unreimbursed economic losses (up to $10,000), and compensation for lost time (up to 6 hours at $25 per hour, totaling $150), or an estimated $100 cash payment.

Important Dates

• Deadline to File a Claim: The deadline to file a claim is July 19, 2024.
• Fairness Hearing: The Final Fairness Hearing is scheduled for July 24, 2024.

Can I Claim an Award?

To be eligible for the settlement, you must be a current or former employee of CommScope who received a notice about the data breach. The data breach, discovered in March 2023, allegedly exposed PII and PHI, including names, Social Security numbers, addresses, financial account information, dates of birth, and medical information provided in connection with employment.

What Awards Can Class Members Claim?

Class Members can choose between two options for compensation:

• Option 1: Three years of credit monitoring services, compensation for unreimbursed economic losses (up to $10,000), and compensation for lost time (up to 6 hours at $25 per hour, totaling $150)
• Credit Monitoring Services: Includes one-bureau credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, real-time inquiry alerts, and $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance.
• Unreimbursed Economic Losses: Covers out-of-pocket costs related to fraud and identity theft, purchase of identity protection services, credit monitoring services, or ID theft insurance that are fairly traceable to the data breach and have not already been reimbursed by a third party. Up to $10,000 can be claimed with valid documentation.
• Lost Time: Time spent remedying issues related to the data breach. Up to 6 hours can be claimed at $25 per hour, totaling $150.

• Option 2: An estimated $100 cash payment.

Details About the Data Breach

The data breach, discovered on March 26, 2023, allegedly exposed the PII and PHI of CommScope’s current and former employees. This includes names, Social Security numbers, addresses, financial account information, dates of birth, and medical information provided in connection with employment.

Is Proof Required to Claim the Reward?

Yes, proof is required to claim compensation for unreimbursed economic losses. This includes documentation such as receipts showing the losses incurred due to the data breach.

• For Credit Monitoring Services: No proof required.
• For Unreimbursed Economic Losses: Documentation such as receipts or other non-self-prepared documents.
• For Lost Time: No proof required, but claimants must declare the number of hours spent remedying issues related to the data breach.

How to Claim Your Award

To claim your award, you must complete and submit a Claim Form by July 19, 2024. Claim Forms are available and may be filed online.

How Can I Get Paid?

Once the Settlement is approved, you will receive instructions on how to enroll in Credit Monitoring Services or receive your cash payment via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or a physical check.

$440,000 Settlement Fund

CommScope has agreed to pay a total of $440,000 into a Settlement Fund. This amount will cover the costs of notice and settlement administration, Court-approved attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses, and Class Representative service awards. The remaining funds will be used to pay Settlement Class Members who submit a valid Claim Form.

The amount of the Alternative Cash Payments will be increased or decreased on a pro-rata basis depending upon the number of valid claims filed and the amount of funds available for these payments. This means that Settlement Class Members who select this option may receive more or less than the estimated $100.

Why is There a Class Action Settlement?

The lawsuit, Huffman et al. v. CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina et al., was filed because of a data breach that allegedly exposed the PII and PHI of CommScope’s current and former employees. The plaintiffs claim that CommScope was hacked on March 26, 2023, and that this hacking exposed sensitive information.

CommScope has denied all claims and charges of wrongdoing or liability. However, the plaintiffs negotiated a settlement with the defendants to avoid the risks and costs of lengthy litigation and the uncertainty of a trial and appeals. The settlement allows Settlement Class Members to be compensated without further delay. The Class Representatives and their attorneys believe the Settlement is best for all Settlement Class Members.