California Northstate $400K Data Breach Settlement

Individuals who received notification that a data incident involving California Northstate University potentially impacted their private information may be eligible to claim up to $5,000 plus credit monitoring from a class action settlement.

California Northstate University LLC agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to adequately protect students' and employees' personal information during a February 2023 data breach. The lawsuit also claimed the university did not provide timely and adequate notice of the incident.

Who can file a claim?

Class members must meet the following criteria:

• They are a person in the United States.
• The February 2023 data incident potentially compromised their private information.
• They received notification from California Northstate University that the data incident potentially compromised their private information.

This includes current, former and prospective students and employees.

How much can class members get?

Class members may claim one of two types of cash payments plus optional credit monitoring services:

• Cash Payment A – Documented losses: Up to $5,000 per class member for documented out-of-pocket losses related to the data incident. Supporting documentation is required.
• Cash Payment B – Flat cash payment: An estimated $100 flat payment as an alternative to documented losses. No documentation is required.
• Credit/data monitoring: Up to one year of three-bureau credit monitoring, including dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance coverage up to $1,000,000 and fully managed identity recovery services. No documentation is required.

The settlement administrator may increase or decrease the actual amount each class member receives depending on the total number of valid claims submitted. This is known as a pro rata adjustment.

• If the total amount all class members claim is less than the available settlement fund (after deductions for administration, attorneys’ fees and service awards), the settlement administrator may increase each class member’s payment proportionally.
• If the total amount all class members claim exceeds the available settlement fund (after deductions for administration, attorneys’ fees and service awards), the settlement administrator may decrease each class member’s payment proportionally.

How to claim a settlement payment

Eligible class members can file a claim online or download, print and complete a PDF claim form to mail to the settlement administrator. The claim deadline is April 6, 2026.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Sankar v. California Northstate University LLC, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, PO Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324

What proof or documentation is required to submit a claim?

• All class members must provide the class member ID located on their postcard or email notice.
• For documented losses, class members must provide reasonable documentation supporting their losses (such as receipts or bills) and attest that the data incident most likely caused the losses. Handwritten receipts alone are not sufficient, but class members may use them to clarify other documentation.
• For the flat cash payment and/or credit monitoring, class members must select the appropriate option on the claim form.

Payout options

• Electronic transfer (online claims only)
• Mailed check (default payment option)

$400,000 California Northstate settlement fund breakdown

The $400,000 settlement fund covers:

• Settlement administration costs: Up to $75,600
• Attorneys' fees: Up to $100,000
• Attorneys' costs: To be determined
• Service awards to class representatives: Up to $2,000 per representative ($8,000 total)
• Credit monitoring costs: Dependent on number of valid claims
• Payments to eligible class members: Remainder of the fund

Important dates

• Opt-out deadline: March 23, 2026
• Deadline to file a claim: April 6, 2026
• Final fairness hearing: April 20, 2026

When is the California Northstate University settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments approximately 60 days after the court resolves any appeals and grants final approval of the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged California Northstate University LLC failed to adequately protect the personal information of students and employees during a data breach that occurred in February 2023. The plaintiffs claimed the university did not safeguard private information or provide timely and adequate notice of the breach.

The university denies all allegations but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of litigation.

Sources

1. Class notice
2. Claim form
3. Settlement agreement
4. Settlement FAQ