December 6 Deadline Approaches for Californians to Claim Payment in $27.5M Thomson Reuters Settlement

California residents have until December 6, 2024, to file claims for monetary relief from a $27.5 million class action settlement reached with Thomson Reuters over its CLEAR platform. This settlement, led by Gibbs Law Group LLP and Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, is open to all current and former California residents who lived in the state anytime from December 3, 2016, to October 31, 2024. Eligible claimants may receive between $19 and $48.

Who is Eligible and How to File a Claim

The settlement is open to any adult who resided in California for any period within the specified dates, even if they no longer live in the state. Importantly, individuals don’t need to have a CLEAR account or have directly used the platform to qualify. To claim, eligible residents can visit the settlement website to file by December 6, 2024: https://clearprivacysettlement.com/.

The lawsuit, initially filed in 2020, alleged that Thomson Reuters shared millions of California residents’ data through CLEAR, selling access to this information to government and corporate clients. Named plaintiffs Cat Brooks and Rasheed Shabazz, both Oakland-based activists, represented the class.

Settlement Terms and Privacy Reforms

Along with offering monetary relief, the settlement mandates changes to Thomson Reuters’ privacy practices on its CLEAR platform. By six months after final approval, Thomson Reuters must implement an improved opt-out process and launch a public website detailing what information is available through CLEAR, as well as a new privacy policy. The website will allow Californians to learn about the data collected on them and the entities using that data.

The Court granted preliminary approval on October 11, 2024, and a final approval hearing is scheduled for February 13, 2025. Claimants can continue to learn more and submit claims at the official settlement page: https://clearprivacysettlement.com/.

About the Legal Firms Leading the Settlement

Gibbs Law Group LLP, a California-based law firm, has earned recognition for its advocacy in privacy cases and data breach lawsuits, representing individuals, employees, and small businesses nationwide. Known for their work in privacy litigation, the firm has received accolades such as “Cybersecurity & Privacy MVP” and “Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar.”

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, a leading U.S. plaintiffs’ firm with over 100 attorneys across eight offices, focuses on championing the rights of individuals and small businesses. The firm is recognized for its commitment to corporate accountability and fair markets for all, and regularly pursues cases aimed at corporate reform for public benefit.

Californians eligible for this class action are urged to file their claims before the December 6, 2024, deadline at https://clearprivacysettlement.com/ to receive their portion of the settlement.