Brandt Equities Data Incident Settlement

The settlement is for people who were sent notice by Brandt about possible involvement of their Private Information in the November 2025 Data Incident. Receiving that notice is part of the class definition.

• You must be a living person residing in the United States who received Brandt’s notice that your Private Information may have been involved.
• The notice excludes Brandt’s directors, officers, and agents; entities Brandt controls; government entities; the assigned judge, that judge’s immediate family, and court staff; people who opt out on time; and people found criminally responsible for the incident or who entered a nolo contendere plea to such a charge.

The notice says class members may seek credit monitoring and/or cash benefits. It describes cash benefits for documented losses and/or lost time, so the listed benefits are not presented as choices that require giving up another listed benefit. A valid, timely Claim Form is required.

• Two years of CyEx Identity Defense Complete credit monitoring, with $1 million in identity-theft insurance.
• Up to $3,500 for qualifying documented out-of-pocket losses.
• Up to $80 for up to four hours spent responding to the incident, paid at $20 per hour.

For an out-of-pocket-loss payment, the maximum is $3,500. The notice requires records supporting the amount spent or lost, such as bank statements or receipts. Notes or papers you prepare yourself may explain other evidence, but cannot be the only proof.

• Losses must be actual, documented, and fairly traceable to the Data Incident.
• They must have occurred between November 8, 2025, and December 17, 2026.
• Examples listed include identity-theft or fraud losses, credit-report or credit-freeze fees, ID replacement costs, and postage for contacting banks.
• You cannot claim an expense already reimbursed by someone else.

You may request payment for time spent responding to the Data Incident. The notice requires a Claim Form for benefits but does not state that separate supporting documents are required for this lost-time payment.

• The time must have been spent on tasks related to the Data Incident.
• The notice gives examples: changing passwords, investigating suspicious account activity, and researching the incident.
• The limit is four hours at $20 per hour, or $80 total.

You can submit a Claim Form online or download and mail a printable form. You may also contact the Settlement Administrator by phone, email, or mail to request a paper Claim Form.

• Submit online by December 17, 2026.
• Or mail a completed and signed Claim Form to the Settlement Administrator; it must be postmarked no later than December 17, 2026.
• For a mailed claim, include supporting documentation when it is required for the benefit requested.

The notice does not give a payment date. It says the timing depends on final approval and any appeals.

• The Court is scheduled to consider final approval on January 14, 2027.
• Even if the Court approves the settlement, appeals may be filed.
• Payments will be distributed only after final approval and after any appeals are resolved.

Opting out means leaving the settlement. The notice says an exclusion request must include the case name and number, your contact information, your personal signature, and a statement that you do not want to participate. The notice’s instructions conflict about whether email can be used to submit the request; it specifically says telephone and email cannot be used, while another sentence mentions email.

• You will not receive settlement benefits.
• You will keep any rights you may have to sue Brandt or the Released Parties over the claims resolved by this settlement.
• The notice sets November 17, 2026 as the opt-out deadline.

Objecting asks the Court not to approve some or all of the settlement or the requested attorneys’ fees, costs, and service awards. You can still submit a claim if you object.

• File your complete objection with the Clerk of Court by November 17, 2026.
• Send a copy to the Settlement Administrator, Class Counsel, and Brandt’s counsel.
• You must be a class member and must not have opted out.
• The objection must include the detailed information listed in the notice, including proof of class membership and your personal signature.