Blue Ridge Rural Water Data Incident Settlement

Who is included in the settlement?

• You must live in the United States and have had personal information affected in the Blue Ridge incident around July 2024. This includes people who received an incident notice.
• You are not included if you validly leave the settlement, are Blue Ridge or one of its officers, directors, or related companies, are the judge or the judge’s family or staff, or perpetrated the incident.

What benefits can I claim?

• You may claim two years of three-bureau credit monitoring through CyEx Financial Shield Total. The service includes $1 million in financial-fraud insurance and access to a fraud-resolution agent.
• You may choose reimbursement for qualifying out-of-pocket losses or a $50 cash payment. The $50 payment cannot be received along with out-of-pocket-loss compensation.
• The notice does not clearly state whether extraordinary-loss reimbursement and ordinary-expense reimbursement can be received together.

What losses or expenses may qualify for reimbursement?

• Extraordinary losses may be reimbursed up to $2,500 if they were actual, documented losses caused by the incident, such as losses from identity theft or fraud.
• Ordinary expenses may be reimbursed up to $500 if they were actual, documented expenses caused by the incident. Examples include credit-report or credit-monitoring fees, replacing identification, and postage for contacting banks.
• For either category, the loss or expense must have occurred from July 23, 2024 through January 14, 2027, and amounts already repaid by someone else cannot be claimed.

Do I need documents to claim a payment?

• For loss reimbursement, send documents showing the amount and that the loss or expense was connected to the incident. Examples include bank statements and receipts.
• Personal notes or documents you created yourself may help explain other proof, but cannot be the only proof.
• No proof or explanation is required for the $50 Alternative Cash Payment.

How do I claim benefits, and when is the deadline?

• Submit a Claim Form online, or download a form and mail it to the Settlement Administrator.
• Online claims must be submitted by January 14, 2027. Mailed claims must be completed, signed, include supporting documents when needed, and be postmarked by January 14, 2027.
• A claim is needed for every settlement benefit, including credit monitoring.

• If you do nothing, you will not receive benefits or a payment.
• Unless you opt out, you will remain part of the settlement and give up the rights described in the settlement’s release. The notice says the full description of those released claims is in Section X of the Settlement Agreement.

How do I leave the settlement?

• Opting out means leaving the settlement. You will receive no settlement benefits, but keep any rights you may have to bring your own case against Blue Ridge about the issues in this lawsuit.
• To opt out, mail a request that includes the case name and number, your contact information, your signature, and a clear statement that you want to be excluded.
• The request must be mailed and postmarked by January 25, 2027.

Can I object to the settlement or attend the court hearing?

• You may object only if you remain in the settlement; a person who opts out cannot object.
• Your objection must include your reasons, identifying and contact information, proof that you are a class member, signatures, and other listed information. It must be filed with the Clerk of Court by January 25, 2027, and copies must also be sent to the Settlement Administrator, Class Counsel, and Blue Ridge’s counsel.
• The final approval hearing is scheduled for February 22, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time in Greenville, South Carolina. The court may change that date or time.

When will benefits or payments be sent?

• The court must first grant final approval. Appeals may also occur, and the notice does not say how long they would take.
• Payments will be distributed only after final approval and resolution of any appeals.