Central Valley Meat Data Incident Settlement: Benefits and Closed Deadline

This settlement is tied to receiving the company’s data-breach notice, not simply to believing your information was involved in the incident.

• The class includes U.S. citizens who received a Central Valley Meat Company Inc. data-breach letter on or about December 30, 2024.
• The notice separately defines a California Settlement Subclass for California citizens who received that letter.
• Certain people and entities are excluded, including Central Valley and related companies, valid opt-outs, the parties’ attorneys, the judge and the judge’s family and staff, and anyone who caused the incident.

This benefit requires enrollment. The notice says the codes will be activated after the settlement becomes effective, meaning after the required approval process is complete.

• Two years of CyEx Identity Defense Complete are available.
• The service includes credit-file monitoring, dark-web scanning, public-records monitoring, and up to $1 million in identity-theft insurance.
• Enrollment codes were sent with postcard notices. The notice says to contact the Settlement Administrator if you no longer have your code.

You must submit records such as bank statements or receipts showing the amount and the connection to the data incident. Notes or documents you created yourself can support other evidence, but cannot be the only proof.

• You can seek reimbursement for actual out-of-pocket losses caused by the data incident, up to $5,000.
• The expense must have occurred from May 23, 2024 through September 28, 2026.
• Examples include identity-theft or fraud losses, certain credit-related fees, replacement ID costs, and postage for contacting banks.
• You cannot include an expense already reimbursed by someone else.

A Claim Form is required to receive settlement benefits. The notice does not specifically say whether supporting documents are required for a lost-time claim, unlike its specific documentation rules for expense reimbursement and California residency.

• You may claim up to two hours of qualifying time at $25 per hour, for a maximum of $50.
• The time must have been spent responding to the data incident.
• Examples include changing passwords, looking into suspicious account activity, and researching the incident.

You still need to make a claim for this payment.

• The payment is $75 and is available only to California Settlement Subclass Members.
• It is described as a one-time payment that is available in addition to the other cash benefits.
• You must provide proof that you lived in California when the data incident occurred.
• A sworn attestation meets the notice’s residency-proof requirement.

The notice supports seeking more than one available benefit when the requirements are met. However, it does not clearly explain whether the $75 California payment is included in the stated combined $5,000 cap.

• The notice says Class Members may enroll in identity protection and “claim one or more” cash-payment options.
• It describes the California $75 payment as being available in addition to all other available cash benefits.
• It states that there is a combined $5,000 cap on “these cash benefits.”

The notice says online claims must be submitted by September 28, 2026. Mailed claims must be completed, signed, include supporting documentation, and be postmarked by that date.

• You can submit a Claim Form online.
• You can download a form and mail it to the Settlement Administrator.
• You can email an electronic image of the completed form.
• You can request a paper form by phone, email, or mail.

The notice does not give a calendar payment date. A final approval hearing is scheduled for August 28, 2026, but that hearing alone does not mean payments will be issued then.

• If the court approves the settlement, appeals may still occur.
• Valid claims will be paid by mailed check or electronic distribution.
• Payment is due within 45 days after the Effective Date or within 30 days after a claim is approved, whichever is later.

Opting out means leaving the settlement. You will not receive settlement benefits, but you keep any right you may have to bring your own case about the legal issues covered here.

• To opt out, send a Request for Exclusion by August 7, 2026.
• It must include the case name and number, your contact information, your personal signature, and a clear statement that you want to be excluded.
• The request may be submitted, postmarked, or emailed by the deadline.

An objection tells the court why you think it should not approve some or all of the settlement. You may still file a claim for benefits if you object.

• You may object only if you remain in the settlement; a person who opts out cannot object.
• A written objection must include your contact information, proof that you are a Class Member, your reasons, and your signature, along with other listed information if applicable.
• The objection must be mailed or submitted to the Settlement Administrator by August 7, 2026.