In May 2022, Arizona pecan producer Green Valley Pecan Company experienced a major data breach that compromised the data of thousands of customers. The company immediately notified those affected by the breach, which meant their data was already in the wrong hands.
green valley pecan company suit
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the company say Green Valley Pecan Company did not take sufficient steps to protect their data from cyberattacks, and that its security measures were insufficient to at least mitigate the impact of a breach. states. This customer’s disregard for cybersecurity means that settlements for “typical” losses from data breaches are extremely high, up to $400.
Not everyone will be able to receive that much money, but for those who have been charged fees by their banks, expenses related to phone use, travel costs, and even those who have lost time responding to the fallout. Compensation is set at $15 an hour. 3 hours. Before receiving compensation, you must substantiate your claim with appropriate evidence.
But not everyone suffered a minor inconvenience, and the damages in the lawsuit reflect that. Some of the affected individuals have had to deal with serious issues such as identity theft and fraud, and their compensation reflects that. Restitution for people with such serious problems as a result of a violation can reach up to $4,000, but their claims must also be proven and there is no guarantee that they will be awarded the maximum amount.
Green Valley has not admitted any wrongdoing, but has agreed to settle the matter by paying a certain sum, but has not disclosed the exact amount, only a tiered compensation package. In addition to financial compensation, all litigation participants will receive two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection.
If you do not plan to participate in the class action lawsuit or wish to file your own lawsuit, you must opt out of or object to the settlement by November 15, 2024. For everyone else, the deadline to file a claim is December 16, 2024. To successfully file a claim, you must provide evidence of violation-related costs to support your claim. This includes things like bank statements, phone bills, travel receipts, and even invoices and credit reports showing additional expenses incurred. A final hearing to approve the settlement is scheduled for January 10, 2025.
The importance of class actions when dealing with data breaches
Class action lawsuits, like this one, allow groups of people with similar complaints against a company to join forces and file a lawsuit together. Often only a few people, sometimes even individuals, file an initial lawsuit, but if a class action is approved, more people may file a lawsuit. This will help cover your legal costs and will make your payout more generous due to the large amount of evidence presented.
When a company being sued decides to settle, it usually means they are trying to avoid a long and expensive legal battle, but also to avoid future litigation that could depend on an admission of fault. A no-contest is often requested. This is a way for companies to move forward without admitting guilt while paying the costs of settling a case, and class action members who accept the settlement typically waive their right to take additional legal action in the same matter. I will. Such agreements are common in cases where many people are affected by the same act, such as pollution, discrimination, and false advertising.
