Washington State Auditor $3.09M Data Breach Settlement

Consumers who received a notice from the Office of the Washington State Auditor indicating their personal information may have been compromised in a December 2020 data breach could qualify to claim up to $5,000 from a class action settlement.

The Office of the Washington State Auditor agreed to pay $3,085,152.73 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging its negligent data security practices allowed a cybercriminal to access sensitive personal information through the Accellion file transfer application.

Who are the class members?

The settlement class includes all individuals residing in the United States who received a notice from the Office of the Washington State Auditor or its authorized representative regarding the December 2020 data breach. There are approximately 1.6 million class members.

How much is the data breach payout?

• Out-of-pocket losses: Up to $5,000 per person for documented expenses related to the data breach. Eligible expenses include:
• Postage
• Copying or scanning costs
• Mileage, travel-related charges and parking
• Notary and research charges
• Bank fees
• Professional fees (such as accountants or attorneys)
• Other actual, documented and unreimbursed monetary losses due related to the data breach that occurred between Dec. 24, 2020, and the date of claim submission

• Reimbursement for lost time: Up to three hours at $30 per hour (maximum $90) for time spent dealing with the effects of the data breach. This is available to those who submit valid claims for out-of-pocket losses.
• Alternative compensation: Instead of claiming out-of-pocket losses or attested time, class members can opt for a cash payment. The amount will be divided evenly among eligible claimants and depends on the number of valid claims and the remaining settlement fund after deductions for other payments and expenses.

How to claim a class action payment

Class members can submit the online claim form or download and print the PDF claim form, fill it out and mail it to the settlement administrator. The claim deadline is Oct. 24, 2025.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: SAO Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 911, Baton Rouge, LA 70821

What proof or documentation is required to submit a claim?

• All class members must submit the claim ID located at the top of their email notice or on their postcard notice. Those who do not have a claim ID should call the claims administrator at 1-844-978-4141 or info@SAOFTASettlement.com to verify eligibility and obtain the ID.
• For out-of-pocket loss claims, class members must provide documentation, such as:
• Credit card or bank statements
• Emails
• Invoices
• Receipts

Personal statements or self-prepared documents are not sufficient on their own but can be used to clarify or support other documentation.

• For attested time or alternative payment claims, class members only need to select their choice on the form.

Payout options

• PayPal
• Venmo
• Zelle
• Paper check

$3.09 million settlement fund breakdown

The $3,085,152.73 settlement fund includes:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees and costs: Up to $1,028,384.24
• Service awards to class representatives: $7,500 each for five representatives (total $37,500)
• Payments to eligible class members: Remainder of the fund

Important dates

• Deadline to request exclusion: Sept. 24, 2025
• Deadline to file a claim: Oct. 24, 2025
• Fairness hearing: Oct. 28, 2025

When is the Stone v. Accellion USA LLC payout date?

Payments will be made approximately 30 to 60 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement and any appeals are resolved.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged a cybercriminal gained unauthorized access to the Accellion file transfer application the Office of the Washington State Auditor uses, potentially exposing Washington residents' sensitive personal information. The plaintiffs claimed SAO was negligent in its data security practices.

SAO denies any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the costs and risks of continued litigation.

Sources

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