Is a slice of $27.5 million waiting in your account? Find out with these four crucial words!
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Hey, GrayViners! You might have a slice of a $27.5 million pie waiting for you, and it's not a windfall from a long-lost relative or a forgotten lottery ticket—it's the result of a class-action lawsuit that's finally bearing fruit.
If you're one of the thousands of Americans who value their privacy, you'll want to keep an eye on your accounts for a special deposit that could be more substantial than you expected.
But what's more intriguing is that many recipients didn't claim their share. Are you one of those who missed out?
The Backstory: A Battle for Privacy Rights
In a digital era where personal data is as valuable as gold, two vigilant Americans, journalist Rasheed Shabazz and former Oakland mayoral candidate Cat Brooks, sued the tech titan Thomson Reuters.
The heart of the dispute is the CLEAR data collection system. This system was a product sold by Thomson Reuters to law enforcement, government agencies, and corporations, which provided access to personal information, including addresses, DMV records, and details about relatives of Californians.
The lawsuit, which began in 2020, accused Thomson Reuters of selling Californians' identities without their knowledge or consent—a serious allegation in a state that prides itself on pioneering privacy protections.
Recently, the journalist and the mayoral candidate updated their class-action complaint to read, “Because of CLEAR, Californians’ identities are up for sale without their knowledge, let alone consent.”
The Settlement: A Surprising Payout
Fast forward to today, and the legal tussle has culminated in a settlement that provides compensation for Californians who have experienced a compromise in their privacy.
Thomson Reuters, while not admitting any wrongdoing, agreed to a $27.5 million payout.
A San Francisco judge gave the green light to the settlement last October, and Californians who felt their privacy was compromised had the chance to join the class and claim their share.
Now, the moment of truth has arrived. Eligible recipients are receiving Venmo payments of $156.09 from an entity labeled “CLEAR Privacy Settlement Administrator.”
Also read: Check now: You could be eligible for up to $5,000 in this major settlement
When the settlement was approved, lawyer Andre Mura stated that all individuals who met the California residency criteria would qualify. The qualification is that you were a resident of California for any period of time between December 3, 2016 and October 31, 2024.
Efforts to notify the public included social media campaigns, online ads, and coverage in news articles.
Mura projected that roughly three percent of those eligible would file a claim, estimating that between 400,000 and one million individuals might ultimately receive compensation.
At the time, he anticipated payouts to range from $19 to $48 per person. However, the actual amounts turned out to be significantly higher.
Source: Action News Now / Youtube.
Due to the initially low number of claims, the court extended the deadline for submissions. Around 70% less than the approximated 400,000 plaintiffs submitted a claim.
During a mid-December filing, it was reported that 125,000 to 150,000 claims would likely be validated.
The settlement process wasn't without its hiccups. An astonishing 21.6 million claims were submitted by bots, which had to be invalidated.
The Four Words to Look For
Again, if you're scouring your accounts for this unexpected windfall, there are four words to keep your eyes peeled for: “CLEAR Privacy Settlement Administrator.” This is the magic phrase that signifies your share of the settlement has landed in your account.
Understanding Class-Action Lawsuits
For those unfamiliar, class-action lawsuits are legal actions that allow groups of people, or “classes,” to band together in court.
These suits often start with a few individuals alleging wrongdoing by a company, which, if escalated to a class action, extends to all “class members” with similar complaints.
Settlements from such lawsuits typically involve the defendant offering payment to class members, who in turn waive their right to pursue further legal action.
If you want to learn more details about this particular settlement, you can read our earlier coverage of the CLEAR Privacy Settlement in this article.
Read next: $10,000 payout on the table? A new settlement could mean big money for some Americans
Have you checked your Venmo for a payment from the “CLEAR Privacy Settlement Administrator”? Do you have questions about class-action lawsuits and how they work? Share your experiences, insights, and queries in the comments below!
If you're one of the thousands of Americans who value their privacy, you'll want to keep an eye on your accounts for a special deposit that could be more substantial than you expected.
But what's more intriguing is that many recipients didn't claim their share. Are you one of those who missed out?
The Backstory: A Battle for Privacy Rights
In a digital era where personal data is as valuable as gold, two vigilant Americans, journalist Rasheed Shabazz and former Oakland mayoral candidate Cat Brooks, sued the tech titan Thomson Reuters.
The heart of the dispute is the CLEAR data collection system. This system was a product sold by Thomson Reuters to law enforcement, government agencies, and corporations, which provided access to personal information, including addresses, DMV records, and details about relatives of Californians.
The lawsuit, which began in 2020, accused Thomson Reuters of selling Californians' identities without their knowledge or consent—a serious allegation in a state that prides itself on pioneering privacy protections.
Recently, the journalist and the mayoral candidate updated their class-action complaint to read, “Because of CLEAR, Californians’ identities are up for sale without their knowledge, let alone consent.”
Thousands of Californians are receiving payments from a $27.5 million settlement with Thomson Reuters over their CLEAR data collection system. Image source: Straight Arrow News / Youtube.
The Settlement: A Surprising Payout
Fast forward to today, and the legal tussle has culminated in a settlement that provides compensation for Californians who have experienced a compromise in their privacy.
Thomson Reuters, while not admitting any wrongdoing, agreed to a $27.5 million payout.
The class-action lawsuit, initiated by journalist Rasheed Shabazz and former mayoral candidate Cat Brooks, claimed Californians' identities were being sold without their consent. Image source: Straight Arrow News / Youtube.
A San Francisco judge gave the green light to the settlement last October, and Californians who felt their privacy was compromised had the chance to join the class and claim their share.
Now, the moment of truth has arrived. Eligible recipients are receiving Venmo payments of $156.09 from an entity labeled “CLEAR Privacy Settlement Administrator.”
Also read: Check now: You could be eligible for up to $5,000 in this major settlement
When the settlement was approved, lawyer Andre Mura stated that all individuals who met the California residency criteria would qualify. The qualification is that you were a resident of California for any period of time between December 3, 2016 and October 31, 2024.
Efforts to notify the public included social media campaigns, online ads, and coverage in news articles.
Mura projected that roughly three percent of those eligible would file a claim, estimating that between 400,000 and one million individuals might ultimately receive compensation.
At the time, he anticipated payouts to range from $19 to $48 per person. However, the actual amounts turned out to be significantly higher.
Source: Action News Now / Youtube.
Due to the initially low number of claims, the court extended the deadline for submissions. Around 70% less than the approximated 400,000 plaintiffs submitted a claim.
During a mid-December filing, it was reported that 125,000 to 150,000 claims would likely be validated.
The settlement process wasn't without its hiccups. An astonishing 21.6 million claims were submitted by bots, which had to be invalidated.
The Four Words to Look For
Again, if you're scouring your accounts for this unexpected windfall, there are four words to keep your eyes peeled for: “CLEAR Privacy Settlement Administrator.” This is the magic phrase that signifies your share of the settlement has landed in your account.
Understanding Class-Action Lawsuits
For those unfamiliar, class-action lawsuits are legal actions that allow groups of people, or “classes,” to band together in court.
These suits often start with a few individuals alleging wrongdoing by a company, which, if escalated to a class action, extends to all “class members” with similar complaints.
Settlements from such lawsuits typically involve the defendant offering payment to class members, who in turn waive their right to pursue further legal action.
If you want to learn more details about this particular settlement, you can read our earlier coverage of the CLEAR Privacy Settlement in this article.
Read next: $10,000 payout on the table? A new settlement could mean big money for some Americans
Have you checked your Venmo for a payment from the “CLEAR Privacy Settlement Administrator”? Do you have questions about class-action lawsuits and how they work? Share your experiences, insights, and queries in the comments below!
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