1. Why is there a notice?
2. What is this lawsuit about?
3. Why is this lawsuit a class action?
4. Why is there a Settlement?
5. How do I know if I am a part of the Settlement?
6. What if I am not sure whether I am included in the Settlement?
7. What does the Settlement provide?
8. What payments are available for reimbursement under the Settlement?
9. How do I get a benefit?
10. How will claims be decided?
11. When will I get my payment?
12. What am I giving up as part of the Settlement?
13. If I exclude myself, can I get a payment from this Settlement?
14. If I do not exclude myself, can I sue Defendant for the same thing later?
15. How do I exclude myself from the Settlement?
16. How do I Tell the Court that I do not like the Settlement?
17. What is the difference between objecting and asking to be excluded?
18. Does the Class have a lawyer in this case?
19. How will the lawyers be paid?
20. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?
21. Do I have to attend the hearing?
22. May I speak at the hearing?
23. What happens if I do nothing?
24. How do I get more information?
The Court authorized the Notice because you have a right to know about the Settlement, and all of your options, before the Court decides whether to give final approval to the Settlement. The Notice explains the nature of the lawsuit that is the subject of the Settlement, the general terms of the Settlement and your legal rights and options.
Judge Gregory W. Pollack of Department C-71 of the Superior Court of the State of California, San Diego County is overseeing this case, captioned as Jane Roe, et al. v. Sweetwater Union High School District, Case No. 37-2023-00028588-CU-BT-CTL. The people who brought this lawsuit are called the Plaintiffs. The entity being sued, Sweetwater Union High School District, is called the Defendant.
Back To Top
The lawsuit claims that Sweetwater Union High School District was responsible for the Data Incident and asserts claims such as: violation of the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act for those who had medical information potentially compromised; invasion of privacy; negligence and negligence per se; breach of confidence; violation of The Information Practices Act of 1977; and declaratory relief.
Defendant denies these claims and says it did not do anything wrong. No court or other judicial entity has made any judgment or other determination that Defendant has any liability on these claims or did anything wrong.
Back To Top
In a class action lawsuit, one or more people called “Class Representatives” or “Representative Plaintiffs” sue on behalf of all people who have similar claims. Together, all of these people are called a “Class,” and the individuals are called “Class Members.” One court resolves the issues for all Class Members, except for those who exclude themselves from the class.
Back To Top
The Court has not decided in favor of the Plaintiffs or Defendant. Instead, both sides agreed to the Settlement. The Settlement avoids the cost and risk of a trial and related appeals, while providing benefits to Class Members. The Class Representatives appointed to represent the Class, and the attorneys for the Class (“Settlement Class Counsel,” see Question 18) think the Settlement is best for all Class Members.
Back To Top
You are affected by the Settlement and potentially a member of the Settlement Class if you reside in the United States and your private information was compromised in connection with the Data Incident, and if you were mailed a notification by or on behalf of Sweetwater Union High School District on or around June 2023 regarding the Data Incident.
Only Class Members are eligible to receive benefits under the Settlement. Specifically excluded from the Class is: (i) all Persons who timely and validly request exclusion from the Class; (ii) the judge assigned to evaluate the fairness of this Settlement; and (iii) any other Person found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be guilty under criminal law of initiating, causing, aiding or abetting the occurrence of the Data Incident or who pleads nolo contendere to any such charge.
Back To Top
If you are not sure whether you are included in the Settlement, you may call (833) 360-6809 with questions. You may also write with questions to:
Sweetwater Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
info@SWUSDDataSettlement.com
Back To Top
The Settlement provides that Class Members who visits this website and submits a Unique ID from their class Notice will automatically be enrolled in one (1) year of free credit monitoring. Upon registration, they will receive a notice of enrollment either in the mail or by email from noreply@ SWUSDDataSettlement.com confirming their enrollment and the date it has been initiated.
The Settlement also provides that Defendant will make the various payments to Class Members who submit a timely and valid Claim Form, as set forth in Question 9 below.
Also, as part of the Settlement, Defendant either has undertaken or confirmed it will undertake certain steps to further secure its systems and environments.
Payment of attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses (see Question 19) and to the Class Representatives, and the costs of notifying the Settlement Class and administering the Settlement will also be paid by Defendant.
Back To Top
Class Members who submit a timely and valid claim with appropriate documentation as may be required are eligible to receive:
Ability to enroll in one (1) year of free credit monitoring. Nothing more is required other than entering the Unique ID on the short form Class Notice on this Settlement Website. No additional documentation or attestation is required.
Reimbursement of actual, documented, unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses resulting from the Data Incident (up to $5,000.00 in total), such as:
late fees, declined payment fees, overdraft fees, returned check fees, customer service fees, and/or card cancellation or replacement fees;
late fees from transactions with third parties that were delayed due to fraud or card replacement;
unauthorized charges on credit, debit or other payment cards that were not reimbursed;
parking expenses or other transportation expenses for trips to a financial institution to address fraudulent charges or receive a replacement payment card;
credit freeze fees, or credit monitoring costs that were incurred on or after February 1, 2023; and
other expenses that are reasonably attributable to the Data Incident that were not reimbursed.
Compensation for time spent remedying issues related to the Data Incident, up to the amount of $100.00 (subject to a pro rata decrease based on the amount of claims submitted).
Compensation for verified and documented instances of fraud at $250.00 per occurrence, up to $5,000.00 in total.
Back To Top
To receive a benefit under the Settlement, you must complete and submit a claim for that benefit (a “Claim”). Every Claim must be made on a form (“Claim Form”). Claim Forms can be submitted online here, are available for download here, or by calling (833) 360-6809. Read the instructions carefully, fill out the Claim Form, provide the required documentation, sign the Claim Form under penalty of perjury, and submit it according to the instructions on the Claim Form.
The deadline to submit a Claim Form online, or mail is January 26, 2026.
Back To Top
The Settlement Administrator will decide whether and to what extent any Claim made on each Claim Form is valid. The Settlement Administrator may require additional information. If you do not provide the additional information in a timely manner the Claim will be considered invalid and will not be paid, either in whole or in part (except for the credit monitoring portion of the settlement).
Back To Top
The Court will hold a hearing on April 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. PST to decide whether to approve the Settlement. If the Court approves the Settlement, there may be appeals from that decision and resolving them can take time. It also takes time for all the Claim Forms to be processed. Please be patient.
Back To Top
The Defendant gets a release from all claims covered by this Settlement. If the Settlement becomes final and you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will be a Class Member and you will give up your right to sue Defendant and other persons (“Released Parties”) as to all claims (“Released Claims”) arising out of or relating to the Data Incident.
This release is described in the Settlement Agreement, which is available here. If you have any questions you can talk to the law firms listed in Question 18 for free or you can talk to your own lawyer.
Back To Top
If you do not want to be part of this Settlement then you must take steps to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. This is sometimes referred to as “opting out” of the Settlement Class.
No. If you exclude yourself you will not be entitled to receive any benefits from the Settlement, but you will not be bound by any judgment in this case.
Back To Top
No. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up any right to sue Defendant (and any other Released Parties) for the claims that this Settlement resolves. You must exclude yourself from the Settlement Class to start your own lawsuit or to be party of any different lawsuit relating to the claims in this case. If you exclude yourself, do not submit a Claim Form to ask for any benefit under the Settlement.
Back To Top
To exclude yourself, send a letter that says you want to be excluded from the Settlement in Jane Roe, et al. v. Sweetwater Union High School District, Case No. 37-2023-00028588-CU-BT-CTL (Cal. Sup. Ct. San Diego Cty.). The letter must: (i) state your full name, address, and telephone number; (ii) contain your personal and original signature or the original signature authorized by law to act on your behalf; and (iii) state your intent to be excluded from the Settlement. You must mail your exclusion request postmarked by December 12, 2025, to:
Sweetwater Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
Back To Top
You can tell the Court that you do not agree with the Settlement or some part of it by objecting to the Settlement. The Court will consider your reviews in its decision whether to approve the Settlement. The Court can only approve or deny the Settlement and cannot change the terms. To object, you must mail your objection to the Clerk of the Court, Settlement Class Counsel and the Defendant’s Counsel, at the mailing addresses listed below, postmarked by no later than the objection deadline, December 12, 2025.
Court | Defendant’s Counsel | Settlement Class Counsel |
Clerk of Court | Marcus McCutcheon | Alan M. Mansfield |
Your objection must be written and must include all of the following: (i) your full name and address; (ii) the case name and docket number, Jane Roe, et al, v. Sweetwater Union High School District., Case No. 37-2023-00028588-CU-BT-CTL; (iii) information identifying you as a Class Member, including proof that the objector is a member of the Class (e.g., your claim number, a copy of the objector’s settlement notice, copy of the original notice of the Data Incident, or a statement explaining why you believe you are a Class Member); (iv) a written statement of all grounds for the objection, accompanied by any legal support for the objection the objector believes applicable; (v) the identity of any and all counsel representing the objector in connection with the objection and the name and telephone number of your counsel; (vi) a statement whether you and/or counsel will appear at the Final Fairness Hearing; and (vii) your signature or the signature of your duly authorized attorney or other duly authorized representative (if any) representing you in connection with the objection.
If the objecting Settlement Class Member intends to appear at the Final Approval Hearing, either with or without counsel, you must also identify any witnesses you may call to testify at the Final Approval Hearing and all exhibits you intend to introduce into evidence at the Final Approval Hearing, which must also be attached to, or included with, the written objection.
Back To Top
Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like the Settlement and why you do not think it should be approved. You can object only if you are a Class Member. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Class and do not want to receive any payment from the Settlement. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because you are no longer a member of the Class and the case no longer affects you. If you submit both a valid objection and a valid request to be excluded, you will be deemed to have only submitted the request to be excluded.
Back To Top
Yes. The Court appointed Alan M. Mansfield of Whatley Kallas, LLP, William J. Doyle of Doyle APC and April M. Strauss of April M. Strauss, A PC as Settlement Class Counsel, to represent the Class. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer for your own individual claim, you may hire one at your own expense.
Back To Top
Settlement Class Counsel will ask the Court for an award for attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses up to $190,000.00. Defendant has agreed to pay any award of attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses up to those amounts, to the extent approved by the Court. Any such award would compensate Settlement Class Counsel for investigating the facts, litigating the case, and negotiating the Settlement and will be the only payment to them for their efforts in achieving this Settlement and for their risk in undertaking this representation on a wholly contingent basis.
Settlement Class Counsel will also ask the Court for approval of Service Awards collectively up to $10,000.00 for the Settlement Class Representatives, to be approved and apportioned by the Court.
Any award for attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses for Settlement Class Counsel, and for Service Awards to the Settlement Class Representatives, must be approved by the Court. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. Settlement Class Counsel’s papers in support of final approval of the Settlement will be filed no later than November 17, 2025, and their application for attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses, and service awards will be filed no later than November 17, 2025, and will be posted on this Settlement Website.
Back To Top
The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing at 9:30 a.m. PST on April 3, 2026, at Dept. C-71, Hall of Justice, 330 W Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 or by remove or virtual means as ordered by the Court. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are timely and valid objections, the Court will consider them and will listen to people who have asked to speak at the hearing if such a request has been properly made. The Court will also rule on the request for an award of attorneys’ fees and reasonable costs and expenses, as well as the request for service awards for the Class Representatives. After the hearing the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement.
It is not known how long these decisions will take. The hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so Settlement Class Counsel recommend checking this website or calling (833) 360-6809.
Back To Top
No. Class Counsel will present the Settlement Agreement to the Court. You or your own lawyer are welcome to attend at your expense, but you are not required to do so. If you send an objection, you do not have to visit the Court to talk about it. As long as you filed your written objection on time with the Court and mailed it according to the instructions provided in Question 16, the Court will consider it.
Back To Top
You may ask the Court for permission to speak at the final fairness hearing. To do so, you must file an objection according to the instructions in Question 16, including all the information required. Your objection must be mailed to the Clerk of the Court, Settlement Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel, postmarked no later than December 12, 2025.
Back To Top
If you do nothing you will not get any money from this Settlement. If the Settlement is granted final approval and the judgment becomes final, you will not be able to start a lawsuit, continue with a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against Defendant and the other Released Parties based on any of the Released Claims, ever again.
Back To Top
This website and the notice summarize the proposed Settlement. More details are in the Settlement Agreement itself. A copy of the Settlement Agreement, along with other case-related documents, are available on the Important Documents page. You may also call the Settlement Administrator with questions or to get a Claim form at (833) 360-6809.
Back To Top