Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?

Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?

The Google Plus litigation is not a scam. If you have received an email from google-noreply@google.com regarding the 'Notice of Class Action Settlement re Google Plus,' it is because Google’s records indicate that you may be a Settlement Class Member, and you may be eligible to receive a payment from the Settlement. Google operated the 'Google Plus' or Google+ social media platform for consumers from June 2011 to April 2019. In 2018, Google announced that the Google+ platform had experienced software bugs between 2015 and 2018, which allowed app developers to access certain Google+ profile field information in an unintended manner. Plaintiffs Matthew Matic, Zak Harris, Charles Olson, and Eileen M. Pinkowski thereafter filed this lawsuit asserting various legal claims on behalf of a putative class of Google+ users who were allegedly harmed by the software bugs (“Class”). Google denies the Plaintiffs’ allegations, denies any wrongdoing and any liability whatsoever, and believes that no Class Members, including the Plaintiffs, have sustained any damages or injuries due to the software bugs.

On June 10, 2020, the Honorable Edward J. Davila of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, granted preliminary approval of this class action Settlement and directed the litigants to provide this notice about the Settlement. Please visit www.GooglePlusDataLitigation.com for more information. The Final Approval Hearing on the adequacy, reasonableness, and fairness of the Settlement will be held at 9:00 am on November 19, 2020 in San Jose Courthouse, Courtroom 4, 5th Floor located at 280 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113. You are not required to attend the Final Approval Hearing, but you are welcome to do so at your own expense.

Summary of Settlement Terms

Settlement Fund: Under the Settlement, Google will pay $7.5 million which will be used to fund: (1) Class Member Settlement payments; (2) attorneys’ fees not to exceed 25% of the Settlement Fund and costs and expenses not to exceed $200,000.00; (3) four service awards to the Class Representatives in an amount not to exceed $1,500 each for their services on behalf of the Settlement Class and for a general release of all claims they may have against Google; (4) administration fees and costs; and, if necessary, (5) cy pres distribution of any residual funds. No portion of the Settlement Fund can be returned to Google.

Amount of Payments: Class Members who submit a Valid Claim may receive a pro rata share of the Net Settlement Fund up to a cash payment of $12.00 depending on the number of claimants. Each Class Member can submit only one claim. Any funds remaining in the Net Settlement Fund after distribution(s) to Class Members will be distributed to Cy Pres Recipients that have been selected by a neutral third party and approved by the Court.

Method of Payment: The payments above for Class Members who submit a Valid Claim will be made by Electronic Payment (Paypal or Digital Check).

Your Options Under the Settlement

Option 1 - Submit a Claim Form to Be Eligible for a Cash Payment

If you submit a Valid Claim by October 8, 2020, you may receive a payment. You will also give up your rights to sue Google and/or any other released entities regarding the legal claims in this case.

Option 2 - Opt Out of the Settlement

This is the only option that allows you to sue Google and/or other released parties on your own regarding the legal claims in this case. You will not receive a payment from the Settlement. The deadline for excluding yourself is October 8, 2020.

Option 3 - File an Objection with the Court

Write to the Settlement Administrator about why you do not like the Settlement. The deadline for objecting is October 8, 2020. These Objections will be shared with the Court. If you object to the Settlement, you will be bound by the Settlement’s terms and will not be allowed to exclude yourself from the Settlement; you will lose the right to sue Google and/or any other released entities regarding the legal claims in this case.

Option 4 - Do Nothing

If you do nothing, you will not receive any payment. You will be bound by the Settlement’s terms and will lose the right to sue Google and/or any other released entities regarding the legal claims in this case.

Additional Information

How do I know if I am part of the Settlement Class?

The Settlement Class is defined as: “all persons within the United States who (a) had a consumer Google+ account for any period of time between January 1, 2015 and April 2, 2019, and (2) had their non-public Profile Information exposed as a result of the software bugs Google announced on October 8, 2018 and December 10, 2018. Excluded from the Settlement Class are (a) Google and its officers, directors, employees, subsidiaries, and Google Affiliates; (b) all judges and their staffs assigned to this case and any members of their immediate families; (c) the Parties’ counsel in this litigation; and (d) any Excluded Class Member.”

What are the terms of the Settlement?

Under the Settlement, Google has agreed to create a Settlement Fund of $7,500,000.

This Settlement Fund will provide compensation to Settlement Class Members, pay for notice and administration costs, provide for any approved Service Awards to the Class Representatives who filed the case, and compensate the attorneys for any approved fee, cost, and expense awards. If the Settlement is finally approved, Settlement Class Members will be prevented from bringing any further claims against Google for any conduct relating to the software bugs affecting Google+ profile fields.

How will the Settlement Fund be distributed?

The lawyers for the Settlement Class (“Class Counsel”) will ask the Court to approve the following payments from the Settlement Fund:

  • The costs of providing notice and administration of the Settlement;
  • Service Awards to each of the Class Representatives, not to exceed $1,500 each, as compensation for their active participation in the case on behalf of the Settlement Class;
  • Class Counsel’s compensation for the time and effort incurred litigating the case, which will not exceed 25% of the Settlement Fund, and costs and expenses they incurred not to exceed $200,000.00;
  • Payments to Settlement Class Members who file timely and Valid Claim Forms according to the Plan of Allocation outlined below; and
  • Any residual funds remaining after payments to Settlement Class Members will be distributed to Approved Cy Pres Recipients as approved and directed by the Court.

More information regarding the Settlement, including the Settlement Agreement, can be found at the Settlement Website, www.GooglePlusDataLitigation.com.

How can I get a Settlement Payment?

If you are a Settlement Class Member and would like to receive a Settlement Payment, you must submit a Claim Form no later than October 8, 2020.

You may complete the Claim Form online at www.GooglePlusDataLitigation.com, or you may mail your Claim Form to the following address:

Google Plus Data Litigation, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA, 19103

If you do not file a Claim Form, you will not receive a payment. Note that for each Valid Claim, the payment method will be the Electronic Payment method specified on the Claimant’s Claim Form.

How much will I receive from the Settlement?

The Plan of Allocation provides for Settlement Payments to Claimants as follows: The Net Settlement Fund shall be allocated to Claimants on a pro rata basis up to an initial maximum distribution of US$5.00 per Claimant. If there are insufficient funds to pay claimants $5.00 based on the number of claimants, the payment to each claimant will be reduced pro ratably. If sufficient funds remain after calculation of the aggregate initial maximum distribution of US$5.00 per Claimant, the allocation shall be recalculated on a pro rata basis up to a maximum distribution of up to US$12.00 per Claimant. For clarity, the maximum Settlement Payment to be made to any single Claimant shall not exceed US$12.00.

How do I get out of the Settlement?

If you do not want to be part of the Settlement, you must submit an Opt-Out Form no later than October 8, 2020. You may obtain the Opt-Out Form at www.GooglePlusDataLitigation.com. Your completed Opt-Out Form may be submitted via e-mail to Info@GooglePlusDataLitigation.com, or via postal mail to the following address: Google Plus Data Litigation, Attn: Opt-Out Requests, P.O. Box 58220, Philadelphia, PA, 19102. If you opt-out of the Settlement, you will not be bound by the Settlement Agreement, you will not receive a Settlement Payment, and you will not be allowed to object to the Settlement.

Do I have a lawyer in this case?

Yes. The Court has appointed Class Counsel to represent you and other Settlement Class Members. In this case, Class Counsel are John A. Yanchunis and Ryan J. McGee of the law firm Morgan & Morgan Complex Litigation Group; Clayeo C. Arnold and Joshua H. Watson of the law firm Clayeo C. Arnold Professional Law Corporation; and Franklin D. Azar and Margeaux R. Azar of the law firm Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C. You will not be charged for these lawyers. If you want to be represented by another lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

How will the lawyers be paid?

The attorneys representing the Settlement Class have not yet received any payment for their legal services or any reimbursement of the costs or out-of-pocket expenses they have incurred. Class Counsel plans to ask the Court to award attorneys’ fees from the Settlement Fund not to exceed $1,875,000 which is 25% of the Settlement Fund, and reimbursement of costs and expenses in the approximate amount of $200,000.

How do I object to the Settlement?

If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not opt out of the Settlement Class, you may object to any aspect of the Settlement. This includes commenting on the applications for Class Representative Service Awards or the award of attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.

Your completed Objection must be submitted no later than October 8, 2020 online at www.GooglePlusDataLitigation.com, or via postal mail to the following address:

Google Plus Data Litigation, Attn: Settlement Objections, P.O. Box 58220, Philadelphia, PA, 19102.

Any Objection must be in writing and must:

  1. Clearly identify the case name and number, In re Google Plus Profile Litigation, Case No. 5:18-cv-06164-EJD;
  2. Include the full name, address, telephone number, and email address of the person objecting;
  3. Include the full name, address, telephone number, and email address of the Objector's counsel (if the Objector is represented by counsel);
  4. State whether the objection applies only to the objector, to a specific subset of the Class, or to the entire Class, and also state with specificity the grounds for the Objection; and
  5. Be verified by an accompanying declaration submitted under penalty of perjury or a sworn affidavit.

Settlement Class Members who fail to submit timely written Objections in the manner specified above will waive their right to object to any aspect of the Settlement.

Do I need to attend the Final Fairness Hearing?

No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. However, any Settlement Class Member who timely submits an Objection has the option to appear and request to be heard at the Final Fairness Hearing, either in person or through their counsel. If you choose to make an Objection through an attorney or have an attorney appear at the Final Fairness Hearing on your behalf, you will be solely responsible for paying that attorney’s fees.

How can I get more information?

This Notice summarizes the Settlement. It does not describe all of its details. For the precise terms and conditions of the Settlement, please see the Settlement Agreement and related documents. Additional information about the Settlement, including a copy of the Settlement Agreement, may be obtained by:

  • Visiting the Settlement Website at www.GooglePlusDataLitigation.com;
  • Contacting the Settlement Administrator toll-free by phone at 1-833-509-1101 or by email at Info@GooglePlusDataLitigation.com;
  • Accessing the Court docket in this case through the Court’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at ecf.cand.uscourts.gov; or
  • Visiting the office of the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 280 South 1st Street, 2nd Floor, San Jose, CA 95113, between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays.

Please do not telephone the Court or the Court Clerk’s Office to inquire about the Settlement.

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Comments, Questions, Answers, or Reviews

Comments (Total: 9)

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August 10, 2020 at 7:29 PM by
Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?
an anonymous user from: Pasadena, California, United States

What happens if I opt-out? Does Google only need to pay $7.499995 million, or does my part go to the cy pres distribution, or does it go to the attorneys, or... what?

Delete

August 7, 2020 at 5:59 PM by
Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?
an anonymous user from: Berkeley, California, United States

I agree - I would not enter bank account info! Seems very strange.

Delete

August 6, 2020 at 9:55 AM by
Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?
an anonymous user from: Washington, District of Columbia, United States

What's interesting is the methods of payments for the settlement- either Paypal or digital check. Although with Paypal, you need to give your email, but when doing a digital check, it's asking for a routing and acct number for my checking acct. Hmmm...now that sounds like a scam. Why can't a paper check get sent like any of the others?

Delete

August 5, 2020 at 4:18 AM by
Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?
an anonymous user from: Springfield, Virginia, United States

Typical class action. Scraps for the injured parties, and the injury in this case is probably not worth more than a scrap, but the huge payday for the attorneys is not in alignment with that at all.

Delete

August 6, 2020 at 6:36 AM by
Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?
an anonymous user from: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

IF the attorneys couldn't make $MegaBucks, they wouldn't bother with protecting peoples rights. This is the problem with money. Everybody wants more money. IF we didn't need money to have a upper middle class standard of living, then there'd be much less litigation and more people would just go out and play and having fun rather than wasting their time scamming people or robberies, burglaries etc...

Delete

August 4, 2020 at 11:07 PM by
Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?
an anonymous user from: United States

So the lawyers get $1.8 million and we get $12.00...laughable.

Delete

August 5, 2020 at 2:12 AM by
Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?
an anonymous user from: United States

No no, UP TO $12 per claimant. So potentially(and probably) less.

Delete

August 5, 2020 at 12:38 AM by
Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?
an anonymous user from: Piñon Hills, California, United States

that's what I read in there also! (it WOULD be laughable, but for all of the litigation incoming to this... really? $12.?) It begs the deeper question here:

what has this done? but the further dilution of citizen interest in our judiciary, a decision to primarily to protect & reward officers of the court (attorneys).

Delete

August 5, 2020 at 2:52 PM by
Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?
an anonymous user from: Kansas City, Kansas, United States

I am glad I read the comments. I won't be giving out any more of my information.

Delete

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Is Google Plus Data Litigation Settlement Class Action Lawsuit a Scam?