Final Approval Hearing Scheduled for Data Breach Settlement
A final settlement approval hearing is set for June 25 in a class action lawsuit concerning a data incident at United of Omaha Life Insurance Company.
Kroll Settlement Administration announced the settlement, which stems from the case Skinner v. United of Omaha Life Insurance Company filed in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. The data incident occurred between April 21 and April 23, 2024, potentially exposing personally identifiable information (PII) of current and former employees whose employers received quotes or group insurance from the company.
The lawsuit alleged that United of Omaha failed to adequately protect the PII it collected. While the company denied the allegations and denied any wrongdoing, a settlement has been reached.
Under the terms of the settlement, eligible class members who file claims may receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses and compensation for lost time due to the data incident, with a maximum payout of $1,500 per person. The settlement also provides two years of credit monitoring and identity theft insurance. Class members who choose not to file claims can opt for an alternative cash payment of $50.
To receive benefits, class members must submit a claim with supporting documentation, according to Kroll. Those who take no action will not receive any benefits and will waive their right to sue. Individuals can also exclude themselves from the settlement, retaining their right to pursue legal claims separately, although they would then not receive any benefits. Requests for exclusion must be submitted by April 25, 2025. Those who do not opt out can file objections to the settlement, also with a deadline of April 25.
The June 25 hearing will be held at the Douglas County Hall of Justice. The court will evaluate the settlement’s fairness, consider any objections, and review the class counsel’s request for attorney’s fees, costs, expenses, and service awards for the representative plaintiffs.
In 2023, United of Omaha Life Insurance reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor, requiring the company to modify its administration of requirements for participants in employer-sponsored life insurance plans. This followed the agency’s finding that the company often accepted premiums for extended periods without verifying insurability requirements.
