Word & Brown $330,000 Data Breach Class Action Settlement

Individuals who received a notice stating the Word & Brown Insurance Administrators data incident that occurred in October 2024 potentially impacted their personal information may be eligible to claim up to $1,500 and two years of credit monitoring from a class action settlement.

Word & Brown Insurance Administrators Inc. agreed to pay $330,000 to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to adequately protect personal information, resulting in a data breach.

Who can file a claim?

Class members must meet all of the following criteria:

• They are a living individual residing in the United States.
• They received a notice stating the data incident involving Word & Brown Insurance Administrators that occurred on or around Oct. 23, 2024, potentially impacted their personal information.

How much can class members get?

Class members who submit a valid and timely claim form may be eligible for one or more of the following benefits:

• Reimbursement for out-of-pocket losses: Up to $1,500 per person for documented, unreimbursed expenses that are fairly traceable to the data incident. Eligible expenses may include fraud-related bank fees, credit freeze costs, credit report fees and costs associated with resolving identity theft. The loss must have occurred between Oct. 1, 2024, and seven days after the administrator sent the court-approved notice of settlement to the class.
• Credit monitoring services: Two years of credit monitoring and identity theft protection, including at least $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance. Class members can claim this benefit in addition to reimbursement for out-of-pocket losses.
• Alternative cash payment: $45 to those who do not claim out-of-pocket losses or credit monitoring. The settlement administrator may reduce this amount if the total valid claims exceed the settlement fund after other expenses.

How to claim a settlement payment

Class members must submit a valid claim form by Feb. 19, 2026. They can file a claim online using the online claim form or download, print, complete and mail the PDF claim form to the settlement administrator.

Settlement administrator’s mailing address: Goodwin v. Word & Brown Insurance Administrators Inc., c/o CPT Group Inc., PO Box 19504, Irvine, CA 92623

What proof or documentation is required to submit a claim?

• All class members must provide the CPT ID from the settlement notice they received. Those filing an online claim must also provide the passcode from the same notice. Those who do not have a CPT ID and/or passcode should email WBIASettlement@cptgroup.com.
• Class members claiming out-of-pocket losses must submit supporting documentation, such as receipts, bank statements or invoices, showing the expense is related to the data incident.
• Class members claiming credit monitoring or the alternative cash payment must attest that the data incident impacted their information.

Payout options

• Physical check
• Electronic payment (online claims only)
• Credit monitoring instructions

$330,000 settlement fund breakdown

The $330,000 settlement fund includes:

• Settlement administration costs: $20,500 (estimated)
• Attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses: Up to $110,000
• Service award to class representative: $1,500
• Credit monitoring costs: Dependent on number of valid claims
• Payments to eligible class members: The remainder of the fund

Important dates

• Final fairness hearing: Jan. 7, 2026
• Deadline to opt out: Jan. 20, 2026
• Deadline to submit a claim: Feb. 19, 2026

When is the Word & Brown Insurance Administrators settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments approximately 30 days after it approves claims or 45 days after the court resolves any appeals and grants final approval of the settlement, whichever is later.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged that Word & Brown Insurance Administrators Inc. failed to adequately protect personal information, resulting in a data breach discovered on or about Oct. 23, 2024. The plaintiffs claimed that unauthorized access to the company’s computer systems may have exposed the PII of certain individuals.

The company denies any wrongdoing or liability but agreed to settle to avoid the risk, cost and time associated with ongoing litigation.

Sources

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