Frequently Asked Questions

A Court authorized this Settlement Website because you have a right to know about the proposed Settlement of this class action and about all of your options before the Court decides whether to grant final approval of the Settlement. This Settlement Website explains the Litigation, your legal rights, what benefits are available, and who can receive them.

The Litigation is called Johnson, et al. v. Legacy Professionals, LLP, Case No. 2025CH00542 pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The people who filed this Litigation are called the “Plaintiffs” and the company they sued, Legacy Professionals, LLP (“Legacy”), is called the “Defendant.”

Plaintiffs allege that in or about April of 2024, unauthorized third parties gained access to Legacy’s network systems and accessed certain files on Legacy’s computer systems containing the personally identifiable information (“PII”) and/or personal health information (“PHI”) of Plaintiffs and Settlement Class Members. The PII and PHI allegedly accessed included names, phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, dates of birth, financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, passport numbers, driver’s license/state ID numbers, medical treatment information, and health insurance information. In February of 2025, the Defendant began notifying potentially impacted individuals about the Data Incident. The Plaintiffs allege claims of negligence, breach of implied contract, and violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defendant denies all of Plaintiffs’ claims and maintains that it did not do anything wrong.

In a class action, one or more individuals sue on behalf of other people with similar claims. These individuals who sue are known as “Class Representatives” or Plaintiffs. Together, the people included in the class action are called a “Settlement Class” or “Settlement Class Members.” One court resolves the lawsuit for all Settlement Class Members, except for those who exclude themselves (sometimes called, “opting out”) from a settlement. In this Settlement, the Class Representatives are Kristin Starns, Latasha Hammon, Dusan Plavsic, Michael Nailor, Matthew Abraham, Scott Tannehill, Jared Weber, Kayla Seymour, and Larbi Moukhlis.

The Court has not decided in favor of Plaintiffs or Defendant. Legacy denies all claims and contends that they have not violated any laws. Plaintiffs and Defendant agreed to a Settlement to avoid the costs and risks of a trial, and through the Settlement, Settlement Class Members are eligible to submit a claim for a payment and other benefits. Plaintiffs and their attorneys, who also represent Settlement Class Members as “Class Counsel,” believe the Settlement is in the best interests of all Settlement Class Members.

The Settlement Class consists of all persons whose personally identifiable information and/or personal health information was potentially accessible in the Data Incident, including all persons who were sent a notice of the Data Incident. 

Yes, Legacy’s officers and directors are excluded from the Settlement Class, as well as (i) all Settlement Class Members who timely and validly request exclusion from the Settlement Class; (ii) the judges assigned to the Litigation and to evaluate the fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy of this Settlement; (iii) governmental entities; and (iv) any other person found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be guilty under criminal law of perpetrating, aiding or abetting the criminal activity occurrence of the Data Incident or who pleads nolo contendere to any such charge.

If approved by the Court, the Defendant will pay $3,300,000 into a Settlement Fund to resolve the lawsuit. The Settlement Fund will provide benefits to Settlement Class Members as well as Notice and Claims Administration Costs, any Service Awards, and any attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.

To receive Settlement benefits, Settlement Class Members must timely submit a valid Claim Form for any or all of the following options:

• Reimbursement of Out-of-Pocket Losses: Reimbursement of up to $5,000 for documented out-of-pocket losses and expenses incurred as a result of the Data Incident; and

• Pro Rata Cash Payment: A pro rata (proportional) cash payment, estimated to be $75.

• Credit Monitoring: Twenty-four (24) months of three (3) bureau credit and identity theft monitoring will be provided for those Settlement Class Members who elect and submit valid claims for such credit and identity theft monitoring. Further details can be found in Question 10 below.

Note: Benefits will be reduced pro rata (proportionally) if the total amount of valid claims exceeds the balance of the Settlement Fund (see Question 11).

Settlement Class Members may file a claim for Reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Losses of up to $5,000 for any documented unreimbursed out-of-pocket losses reasonably related to the Data Incident or to mitigating the effects of the Data Incident. To receive a payment for Reimbursement of Out-of-Pocket Losses, you must attest that the losses or expenses were incurred as a result of the Data Incident and submit reasonable documentation supporting the losses. You may claim Reimbursement of Out-of-Pocket Losses in addition to a Pro Rata Cash Payment.

Out-of-pocket losses may include but are not limited to: out-of-pocket credit monitoring costs that were incurred on or after April 1, 2024, through the Claims Deadline; unreimbursed losses associated with actual fraud or identity theft; and unreimbursed bank fees, long distance phone charges, postage, or gasoline for local travel. 

You cannot be reimbursed for out-of-pocket losses if you have been reimbursed for the same losses by another source, including compensation provided in connection with the credit monitoring and identity theft protection product offered as part of the notification letter provided by Defendant or otherwise. 

Reasonable documentation is third-party documentation such as receipts, invoices, credit card statements, phone bills, or other documentation not “self-prepared” that demonstrates the costs incurred. “Self-prepared” documents, such as handwritten receipts are, by themselves, insufficient to receive reimbursement, but can be considered to add clarity or support to other submitted documentation.

If you do not submit reasonable documentation supporting a loss, or if your claim for Reimbursement of Out-of-Pocket Losses is rejected and you fail to cure the deficiency, the reimbursement portion of your claim will be rejected, but your claim will be treated as a valid claim for a Pro Rata Cash Payment.

Settlement Class Members may also file a claim for a Pro Rata Cash Payment. The amount of the Pro Rata Cash Payments is estimated to be $75, but the payment amount may be adjusted on a pro rata (proportional) basis (see Question 11). No documentation is required to file a claim for a Pro Rata Cash Payment.

In addition to the payment options above, you may also sign up for twenty-four (24) months of three (3) bureau credit and identity theft monitoring through Kroll. The Credit Monitoring includes: real time monitoring of your credit file at all three major credit bureaus; identity theft insurance (no deductible) of $1,000,000; and access to fraud resolution agents to help resolve identity thefts.

After deducting taxes and Court-approved Notice and Claims Administration Costs, Service Awards, and attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, the remaining balance of the Settlement Fund will be used to pay the costs of valid claims for benefits to Settlement Class Members in the following order: (i) Credit Monitoring, (ii) Reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Losses, and (iii) Pro Rata Cash Payments. 

Once the costs of claims for Credit Monitoring and Reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Losses have been determined, any remaining balance will be used to provide Settlement Class Members with valid claims for a Pro Rata Cash Payment with a pro rata (proportional) share of that balance. 

Based on the amount of valid claims filed, the Credit Monitoring duration and/or payment amounts may be adjusted pro rata (proportionally) as needed. If a balance remains in the Settlement Fund after taxes, costs, fees, awards, and initial claims have been paid, it will be distributed to the Settlement Class or to a Non-Profit Residual Recipient organization approved by the Court. A detailed description of how payments will be calculated and benefits distributed is provided in the Settlement Agreement available on the Important Documents page of this Settlement Website.

Unless you opt out of the Settlement, you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendant about any of the legal claims this Settlement resolves. The Release section in the Settlement Agreement describes the legal claims that you give up if you remain in the Settlement Class. The Settlement Agreement can be found on the Important Documents page of this Settlement Website.

To receive benefits under the Settlement, you must submit a Claim Form by January 12, 2027. Claim Forms may be submitted online by using the Submit Claim button on this Settlement Website by 11:59 p.m. CT or by mail, postmarked by January 12, 2027 to the Settlement Administrator at:

Johnson, et al. v. Legacy Professionals, LLP
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
P.O. Box 5324
New York, NY 10150-5324

You only need to submit one Claim Form selecting benefits, as appropriate.

After the Settlement is “finally approved” and any challenges to that approval are finally resolved. The Court is scheduled to hold a Final Approval Hearing on January 26, 2027, at 9:30 A.M. CT to decide whether to approve the Settlement, the attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses for Class Counsel for representing the Settlement Class, and the Service Award to the Class Representatives who brought this Litigation on behalf of the Settlement Class.

If the Court approves the Settlement, there may be appeals. It is always uncertain whether appeals will be filed and, if so, how long it will take to resolve them. Benefits will be distributed to Settlement Class Members as soon as possible, if and when the Court grants final approval of the Settlement and after any appeals are resolved.

Yes, the Court appointed Ben Barnow of Barnow and Associates, P.C., Gary M. Klinger of Milberg, PLLC, Danielle L. Perry of Mason & Perry LLP, Carl V. Malmstrom of Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLC, and Megan E. Shannon of Fegan Scott LLP to represent you and other members of the Settlement Class as Class Counsel. You will not be charged directly for these lawyers; instead, they will receive compensation from the Settlement Fund, (subject to Court approval).

It is not necessary for you to hire your own lawyer because Class Counsel works for you. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

Class Counsel will ask the Court to approve attorneys’ fees up to 35% of the Settlement Fund ($1,155,000), in addition to reasonable costs and expenses, as well as a Service Award to each of the Class Representatives not to exceed $2,500. If approved, these amounts will be paid from the Settlement Fund before providing benefits to Settlement Class Members who submit valid Claim Forms.

If you do not want to receive any benefits from the Settlement, and you want to keep your right to separately sue the Defendant about the Data Incident or legal issues in this case, you must take steps to exclude yourself from the Settlement. This is called “opting out” of the Settlement Class. 

To exclude yourself from the Settlement, you must submit a written “Opt-Out Request” to the Settlement Administrator that includes the following information:

• A statement that clearly states that you wish to opt out of the Settlement Class and the Settlement in Johnson, et al. v. Legacy Professionals, LLP, Case No. 2025CH00542;

• Your full name, current address, telephone number, and email address (if any); and

• Your original signature or the original signature of a person legally authorized (such as a trustee, guardian, or person acting under a power of attorney) to act on your behalf with respect to a claim or right such as those in the Litigation.

Any requests to opt-out that are made in the aggregate or in a group (i.e., request to exclude more than one Settlement Class Member in a single opt-out request), or that attempt to opt out on behalf of any other person without legal authorization, will be void.

If you submit an Opt-Out Request, you may not file an objection to the Settlement (see Question 19).

Your Opt-Out Request must be mailed to the Settlement Administrator at the address below, postmarked no later than December 14, 2026.

Johnson, et al. v. Legacy Professionals, LLP
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
ATTN: Opt-Out Request
P.O. Box 5324
New York, NY 10150-5324

If you are a Settlement Class Member, you can choose (but are not required) to object to the Settlement if you do not like it or a portion of it, whether that be to the Settlement benefits, the request for attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses, the Service Awards, the Release provided to the Defendant, or some other aspect of the Settlement. Through an objection, you give reasons why you think the Court should not approve the Settlement.

To be considered by the Court, your objection must include:

• The case name and number, Johnson, et al. v. Legacy Professionals, LLP, Case No. 2025CH00542;

• Your full name, current address, telephone number, and email address (if any); 

• Information identifying you as part of the Settlement Class (e.g., a copy of the Postcard Notice addressed to you);

• The identity of all attorney(s) who represent you, including any current or former attorney who may be entitled to compensation for any reason related to your objection and/or the Fee Award or Service Award in the Litigation;

• A statement whether you object to the Settlement, in whole or in part; 

• The legal and factual basis for your objection, and all grounds for your objection; 

• Copies of any legal support or other documentary support for your objection known to you or your attorney; 

• A list, by case name, court, and docket number, of all other cases in which you (directly or through a lawyer) have filed an objection to any proposed class action settlement within the last five (5) years, along with copies of any orders related to or ruling on your prior objection(s) that were issued by the court in each listed case;

• A list, by case name, court, and docket number, of all other cases in which you have been a named plaintiff in any class action or served as a lead plaintiff or class representative; 

• A statement of whether you intend to appear at the Final Approval Hearing personally and/or through counsel, and, if so, the names of the attorney(s) representing you who will appear at the Final Approval Hearing along with their address(es), phone number(s), e-mail address(es), state bar(s) to which they are admitted, and their associated state bar number(s); and the names of all individuals who you intend to call to testify at the Final Approval Hearing in support of your objection (if any), with a brief summary of each witness’s expected testimony; and

• Your original, personal signature.

Objections must be filed with the Court and mailed to Class Counsel and Legacy’s Counsel, postmarked no later than December 14, 2026 at the following addresses:

You have the right, but are not required, to attend the Final Approval Hearing. If you intend to appear at the Final Approval Hearing, either with or without counsel, you must also file a notice of appearance with the Court (as well as serve the notice on Class Counsel and Legacy’s Counsel) by December 14, 2026. At the Final Approval Hearing, arguments based on your objection will be limited to only the matters included in your filed objection; you will not be permitted to argue, present evidence, or call witnesses regarding any matter not raised in your written objection. If you fail to identify witnesses or provide copies of your supporting documents in your objection, you will not be permitted to introduce those witnesses, their testimony, or that evidence at the Final Approval Hearing.

Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can object to the Settlement only if you do not exclude yourself from it. Excluding yourself from the Settlement means telling the Court you do not want to be part of the Settlement. If you exclude yourself or opt out of the Settlement, you cannot object to it because the Settlement no longer affects you.

The Court is scheduled to hold a Final Approval Hearing on January 26, 2027 at 9:30 A.M. CT, at Courtroom 2308, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602 (or at such other time and location as the Court may without further notice direct), via Zoom (Meeting ID: 940 2402 4757; Password: 739301), to decide whether to approve the Settlement, Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees of $1,155,000, plus reasonable costs and expenses, and a Service Award to the each of the Settlement Class Representatives who brought this Litigation on behalf of the Settlement Class for up to $2,500. The date and time of this hearing may change without further notice. Please check the Home page of this Settlement Website for updates.

No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. You may attend at your own expense. If you file an objection, you may, but you do not have to, come to the Final Approval Hearing to talk about it. If you file your written objection on time and in accordance with the requirements above, the Court will consider it. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but it is not necessary.

If you are a Settlement Class Member and you do nothing, you will give up your right to start a lawsuit, continue a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against Defendant and the Released Persons, as defined in the Settlement Agreement, about the legal issues resolved by this Settlement. In addition, you will be bound by Release in the Settlement and will not be eligible to receive any Settlement benefits.

This Settlement Website summarizes the proposed Settlement. Complete details are provided in the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement and other related documents are available on the Important Documents page of this Settlement Website.

If you have additional questions or need to update your address, you may contact the Settlement Administrator by telephone at (833) 453-3042, or by mail:

Johnson, et al. v. Legacy Professionals, LLP
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
P.O. Box 5324
New York, NY 10150-5324