Texas Court to Rule on AT&T Settlement in December: How Customers Can Claim Thousands

Overview of the $177 Million Settlement with AT&T

A significant legal settlement involving AT&T and its customers is currently under consideration by a federal court in Texas. The proposed agreement, valued at $177 million, aims to address data breaches that affected millions of customers across the United States. If approved, this settlement could provide compensation to individuals whose personal information was compromised in two separate incidents.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas is scheduled to review the settlement in December. This decision will determine whether the agreement moves forward, offering financial relief to those impacted by the leaks. The settlement was reached without any admission of liability or wrongdoing by AT&T, as confirmed by Kroll Settlement Administration, the company overseeing the process.

Details of the Data Leaks

The first data leak, disclosed by AT&T in March, involved a large amount of personal information that ended up on the dark web. The leaked data included social security numbers, account numbers, full names, dates of birth, email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and pass codes. Despite the breach, AT&T stated there was no evidence of unauthorized access within its systems.

The second leak occurred months later and involved the illegal download of phone call and text message records from AT&T's workspace on a third-party platform. According to reports, this incident did not include personal information or the content of the calls and texts.

Eligibility for Compensation

Customers who had their data included in either of the two leaks are eligible to file a claim for related losses. The first leak reportedly affected 73 million former and current account holders with information dating back to 2019 or earlier. The second leak impacted nearly all AT&T cellphone customers between May 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022, with some records from January 2, 2023, affecting a small number of customers.

Potential Compensation Amounts

Claimants from the first leak can seek up to $5,000 if they document losses from 2019 or later that are fairly traceable to the breach. Those affected by the second leak may be eligible for up to $2,500, with losses needing to have occurred on or after April 14. Some customers could claim for losses in both leaks, potentially receiving up to $7,500 from the settlement. However, documentation for each set of losses must be unique.

Filing a Claim

To file a claim, interested individuals must submit a form online or by mail, with a postmark date of November 18. Forms are available on Kroll’s settlement website, telecomdatasettlement.com. Claimants can choose to receive a cash payment for their documented losses or a pro rata share after court fees are deducted.

Notices regarding the settlement were sent via email from the domain "attsettlement@e.emailksa.com." These communications outlined the rights and options available to affected customers.

Timeline for Receiving Compensation

Before any payments can be made, the federal court must approve the settlement. A hearing is scheduled for December 3 at 9 a.m. in Dallas. The timeline for processing claims remains uncertain due to potential appeals and subsequent legal proceedings. Once the settlement is approved and any appeals are resolved, claimants can begin receiving their benefits.

The processing of claim forms also requires time, according to the settlement website. Customers are encouraged to stay informed and follow the guidelines provided by Kroll Settlement Administration.