Consumers who received a data breach notice from Contra Costa County may be eligible to claim up to $5,500 and/or two years of credit monitoring under a class action settlement.
Contra Costa County agreed to resolve a lawsuit alleging it failed to adequately safeguard personal information during a September 2022 email phishing incident. According to the lawsuit, unauthorized individuals may have accessed emails and attachments in two county employee accounts.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify, class members must meet both of the following conditions:
- They had a California mailing address.
- They received a data breach notification letter from Contra Costa County on or about May 10, 2023.
Approximately 15,591 individuals are included in the settlement.
How Much Can Class Members Receive?
Ordinary out-of-pocket expenses:
Up to $500 for documented expenses related to the incident, including:
- Credit reports
- Credit freeze fees
- Replacement card fees
- Late or overlimit fees
- Payday loan interest
- Bank or credit card fees
- Postage, mileage, gasoline for local travel
- Credit monitoring or identity theft insurance purchased due to the incident
Lost time:
Up to 4 hours at $25 per hour (maximum $100). Lost time may be combined with ordinary expenses but cannot exceed $500 total.
Extraordinary expenses:
Up to $5,000 for documented, unreimbursed expenses from identity theft or fraud related to the incident, including:
- Professional fees
- Unreimbursed bank or credit card fees
- Overdraft charges
- Charges due to lack of access to funds
- Payday loan interest related to card cancellation or over-limit issues
Credit monitoring:
Two years of three-bureau credit monitoring through Equifax, provided regardless of whether the person previously accepted credit monitoring from the county.
How to Submit a Claim
Class members must file their claim by January 20, 2026. They may:
- Submit an online claim form, or
- Download, print, complete, and mail the PDF form to: Contra Costa Data Incident Claims Administrator
PO Box 3353
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
The settlement administrator may request additional information; failure to provide it may result in denial.
Required Documentation
- All claimants: Must provide the claim ID from their settlement notice.
- Ordinary expenses: Receipts, invoices, or statements showing the amounts paid and how they relate to the incident.
- Lost time: A written explanation describing the tasks performed and how they relate to the incident, plus an attestation that the time was spent addressing the issue.
- Extraordinary expenses: Proof of the loss, documentation of fraud or identity theft, and a statement confirming the loss was unreimbursed and that reasonable efforts were made to recover it.
Settlement Fund Breakdown
The settlement fund covers:
- Settlement administration costs: To be determined
- Attorneys’ fees and expenses: Up to $150,000
- Service award to class representative: Up to $2,500
- Credit monitoring costs: Based on the number of valid claims
- Payments to eligible class members: Remaining funds
If total approved claims exceed available funds, payments may be reduced on a pro rata basis.
Important Dates
- Exclusion deadline: December 22, 2025
- Claim deadline: January 20, 2026
- Final approval hearing: February 5, 2026
When Will Payments Be Issued?
Payments will be distributed after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved.
Why Was This Settlement Reached?
The lawsuit alleged that an incident discovered on September 20, 2022, resulted in unauthorized access to two county employee email accounts, exposing personal information.
Contra Costa County denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the uncertainties and cost of litigation.
Award: Up to $5,500 plus credit monitoring
Deadline: January 20, 2026
