Frequently Asked Questions

The Court authorized this Notice to inform you about a proposed Settlement with Defendant. You have legal rights and options that you may act on before the Court decides whether to approve the proposed Settlement. You may be eligible to receive a cash payment as part of the Settlement.  This Notice explains the Litigation, the Settlement, and your legal rights.

Judge Pamela A. Barker of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is overseeing this class action. The case is called In re TalentLaunch Data Breach Litigation, Case No. 1:24-cv-0456 (N.D. Ohio).

James Christian, Steve Buyck, Charles Leland Perry III, David Barker, and Amanda Lenz are the Plaintiffs or Class Representatives. The company they sued, Alliance Solutions Group, LLC d/b/a TalentLaunch, is the Defendant.

A class action is a lawsuit in which one or more plaintiffs—in this case, James Christian, Steve Buyck, Charles Leland Perry III, David Barker, and Amanda Lenz, sues on behalf of a group of people who have similar claims. Together, this group is called a “Class” and consists of “Class Members.” In a class action, the Court resolves the issues for all Class Members, except those who exclude themselves from the Class. After the Parties reached an agreement to settle this case, the Court granted preliminary approval of the Settlement and recognized it as a case that should be treated as a class action for Settlement purposes.

The Plaintiffs claim that Defendant failed to implement and maintain reasonable security measures necessary to protect Private Information that it maintained on its database. 
Defendant denies any wrongdoing and denies that it is or can be held liable for the claims made in the lawsuit. More information about the allegations in the lawsuit and Defendant’s responses can be found in the “Documents” section of this Settlement Website.
 

The Court has not decided whether the Plaintiffs or Defendant should win this case. Instead, both sides agreed to this Settlement. That way, they can avoid the uncertainty, risks, and expense of ongoing litigation, and Class Members will get compensation now rather than years later—if ever. The Class Representatives and Class Counsel, attorneys for the Class Members, agree the Settlement is in the best interests of the Class Members. The Settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing by Defendant.

You are part of the settlement as a Class Member if Alliance Solutions Group, LLC d/b/a TalentLaunch sent you a notice indicating that your Private Information may have been compromised in the Data Incident, which occurred in May 2023. You may know TalentLaunch by one of the names listed below in FAQ 6. The Class specifically excludes: (i) all Persons who timely and validly request exclusion from the Class; (ii) the Judge assigned to evaluate the fairness of this settlement (including any members of the Court’s staff assigned to this case); (iii) Defendant’s officers and directors, and (iv) any other Person found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be guilty under criminal law of initiating, causing, aiding or abetting the criminal activity occurrence of the Data Incident or who pleads nolo contendere to any such charge. Eligible Class Members will have been mailed notice of their eligibility by the Settlement Administrator, and Class membership will be verified against that mailed list. If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can contact the Settlement Administrator by calling toll-free at (833) 421-8132 or by visiting the Contact Us page on this website.

You may know TalentLaunch by one of the following names: 

This Settlement provides eligible Class Members with (1) up to $5,000 in reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Losses consisting of actual documented Out-of-Pocket Losses or expenses that are fairly traceable to the Data Incident, and (2) a cash payment of approximately $53.77 (assuming a claims rate of 10% of the roughly 199,000-person Class) that will be pro rata increased or reduced based on the money remaining in the Settlement Fund after the payment of attorneys’ fees and costs, Administrative Expenses, Class Representative Service Awards, and Approved Claims for Out-of-Pocket Losses. Approved Claims for Out-of-Pocket Losses and pro rata cash payments may be combined. 

• If you are a Class Member and you incurred documented out of pocket losses fairly traceable to the Data Incident and/or documented unreimbursed expenses incurred in or after May 2023 that are related to the Data Incident, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement of your losses and expenses up to a total of $5,000 per Class Member. Eligible losses or expenses include, without limitation: (1) unreimbursed costs, expenses, losses or charges incurred a result of identity theft or identity fraud, falsified tax returns, or other possible misuse of a Class Member’s Social Security Number; (2) unreimbursed costs incurred in or after May 2023 associated with accessing or freezing/unfreezing credit reports with any credit reporting agency; (3) other unreimbursed miscellaneous expenses incurred related to any Out-of-Pocket Expenses such as notary, fax, postage, copying, mileage, and long-distance telephone charges; (4) other mitigative costs fairly traceable to the Data Incident that were incurred in or after May 2023 through the date of the Class Member’s claim submission; and (5) unpaid time off work to address issues fairly traceable to the Data Incident at the actual hourly rate of that Class Member.
• Class Members who elect to submit a claim for reimbursement of Out-of- Pocket Losses must provide to the Settlement Administrator information required to evaluate the claim, including: (1) the Class Member’s name and current address; (2) documentation reasonably supporting their claim; and (3) a brief description of the nature of the loss, if the nature of the loss is not apparent from the documentation alone. Documentation supporting Out-of-Pocket Losses can include receipts or other documentation not “self-prepared” by the Class Member concerning the costs incurred. “Self-prepared” documents such as handwritten receipts are, by themselves, insufficient to receive reimbursement, but can be considered to clarify or support other submitted documentation. For complete details, please see the Settlement Agreement, whose terms control, available at www.TLDataSettlement.com. The Settlement Administrator will post additional information about the payment amount on this website, if necessary.

All Class Members may make a claim to receive a cash payment of approximately $53.77 (assuming a claims rate of 10% of the roughly 199,00-person Class) that will be adjusted up or down to account for the money remaining in the Settlement Fund after the payment of attorneys’ fees and costs, Settlement Administration costs, Class Representative Service Awards, and valid claims for Out-of-Pocket Losses. Class Members do not need to suffer Out-of-Pocket Losses for eligibility to file a claim for a pro rata cash payment. 

Maximum Settlement Contribution: Under this Settlement, the maximum total amount Defendant may be required to pay is $1,225,000. This maximum includes reimbursements for Out-of-Pocket Losses up to $5,000 and pro rata cash payments of approximately $53.77 (assuming a claims rate of 10% of the roughly 199,000-person Settlement Class), attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses awarded by the Court to Class Counsel, any awarded Class Representative Service Awards, and notice and Administrative Expenses for the settlement. In no event shall Defendant’s total financial obligation under the Settlement exceed $1,225,000.

By submitting a valid Claim Form on or before the Claims Deadline of July 25, 2025. If you received the May 2023 data breach notification letter, you can make a claim by filling out and submitting the Claim Form available on this website.

You can also contact the Settlement Administrator to request a paper Claim Form by telephone, (833) 421-8132, or by U.S. mail to Settlement Administrator – 83169, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324.

Claims will be subject to a verification process. You will need the Unique ID provided on the front of your Short Form Notice to fill out a Claim Form. If you do not know your Unique ID, please contact the Settlement Administrator. 

The hearing to consider the fairness of the Settlement is scheduled for August 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM ET. If the Court approves the Settlement, eligible Class Members whose claims were approved by the Settlement Administrator will be sent payment after all appeals and other reviews, if any, are completed. Please be patient. Eligible claims will be paid to Class Members via written check unless a Class Member chooses to receive payment electronically. All checks will expire and become void 180 days after they are issued. 

Yes, the Court has appointed Terence R. Coates of Markovits, Stock & DeMarco, LLC, Gary M. Klinger of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips, PLLC, Brian Flick of DannLaw, Cassandra P. Miller of Strauss Borrtelli, and Tyler Bean of Siri & Glimstad LLP as “Class Counsel.” 

You don’t need to hire your own lawyer because Class Counsel are working on your behalf. These lawyers and their firms are experienced in handling similar cases. You will not be charged for these lawyers. You can ask your own lawyer to appear in Court for you, at your own cost, if you want someone other than Class Counsel to represent you.

Class Counsel will ask the Court for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses that will be paid from the Settlement Fund. Class Counsel will not seek more than one-third (1/3) of the Settlement Fund ($408,333.33) in attorneys’ fees and up to $45,000 in litigation costs and expenses. Class Counsel will also request a Service Awards of up to $5,000 each for the Class Representatives. The Court will determine the proper amount of any attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses to award Class Counsel and the proper amount of any Service Award to the Class Representatives. The Court may award less than the amounts requested.

If you do not exclude yourself from the settlement, you will not be able to sue the Defendant about the issues in this case, and you will be bound by all decisions made by the Court in this case, the settlement, and its included release. This is true regardless of whether you submit a Claim Form. You can read the Settlement Agreement on the Documents page of this website. However, you may exclude yourself from the settlement. If you exclude yourself from the settlement, you will not be bound by any of the Released Claims.

“Released Claims” means any and all past, present, and future claims and causes of action related to the Data Incident, including but not limited to, any causes of action arising under or premised upon any statute, constitution, law, ordinance, treaty, regulation, or common law of any country, state, province, county, city, or municipality, including 15 U.S.C. § 45, et seq., and all similar statutes in effect in any states in the United States as defined below; state consumer-protection statutes; negligence; negligence per se; breach of contract; breach of implied contract; breach of fiduciary duty; breach of confidence; invasion of privacy; fraud; misrepresentation (whether fraudulent, negligent or innocent); unjust enrichment; bailment; wantonness; failure to provide adequate notice pursuant to any breach notification statute or common law duty; and including, but not limited to, any and all claims for damages, injunctive relief, disgorgement, declaratory relief or judgment, equitable relief, attorneys’ fees and expenses, pre-judgment interest, credit monitoring services, the creation of a fund for future damages, statutory damages, punitive damages, special damages, exemplary damages, restitution, and/or the appointment of a receiver, whether known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued, fixed or contingent, direct or derivative, and any other form of legal or equitable relief that either has been asserted, was asserted, or could have been asserted, by any Class Member against any of the Released Parties based on, relating to, concerning or arising out of the alleged Data Incident or the allegations, transactions, occurrences, facts, or circumstances alleged in or otherwise described in the Litigation. 

The Settlement Agreement in Paragraphs 68, 80-85 describes the Release, Released Claims, and timeline to submit Valid Claims in necessary legal terminology, so please read these sections carefully. The Settlement Agreement is available on the Documents page of this website or in the public court records on file in this lawsuit. 

The Released Claims do not include any claims arising from or relating to any conduct by Defendant after the date the Agreement is executed. The Released Claims shall also not include the right of Plaintiffs, any Class Member, or any Releasing Party to enforce the terms of the Settlement Agreement.

If you do nothing, you will receive no payment under the settlement for any losses incurred as a result of the Data Incident. You will be in the Class, and if the Court approves the settlement, you will also be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court, the settlement, and its included release. You will be deemed to have participated in the settlement and will be bound by the Released Claims. Unless you exclude yourself, you won’t be able to file a lawsuit or be part of any other lawsuit against Defendant for the claims or legal issues resolved in this Settlement.

If you opt-out of the settlement, you will not have any rights as a Class Member under the settlement terms; you will not receive any payment as part of the settlement; you will not be bound by any further orders or judgments in this case; and you will keep the right, if any, to sue on the claims alleged in this lawsuit at your own expense.

You can ask to be excluded from the settlement. To do so, you must mail a letter or Request for Exclusion form stating: (1) the name of the proceeding, In re TalentLaunch Data Breach Litigation, Case No. 1:24-cv-0456 (N.D. Ohio); (2) your full name; (3) your current address; (4) your personal signature; and (5) the words “Request for Exclusion and a clear statement of your intent to opt-out of or exclude yourself from the settlement. You must mail your Request for Exclusion, postmarked no later than June 25, 2025 to the following address:

Settlement Administrator - 83169

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC

P.O. Box 5324

New York, NY 10150-5324

You cannot exclude yourself by phone or email. Each individual who wants to be excluded from the settlement must submit his or her own Request for Exclusion. No group opt-outs shall be permitted.

No. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up any right to sue Defendant for the claims being resolved by this Settlement even if you do nothing.

No. If you exclude yourself, do not submit a Claim Form to ask for a payment.

If you did not exclude yourself from the Class and think that the Court should not approve the settlement, you can object to the settlement and provide reasons why you think the settlement should not be approved. Such notice must state: (i) the name of the proceedings; (ii) the Class Member’s full name, current mailing address, and telephone number; (iii) a statement of the specific grounds for the objection, as well as any documents supporting the objection; (iv) the identity of any attorneys representing the objector; (v) a statement regarding whether the Class Member (or his/her attorney) intends to appear at the Final Approval Hearing; (vi) a statement identifying all class action settlements objected to by the Class Member in the previous five (5) years; and (vii) the signature of the Class Member or the Class Member’s attorney. 

To be timely, written notice of an objection in the appropriate form must be mailed, with a postmark date no later than June 25, 2025. You or your counsel shall file any objection with the Court through the Court’s ECF system or by submitting your objection to the Clerk of Court.

Objecting simply means telling the Court that you don’t like something about the settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Class. Excluding yourself from the Class is telling the Court that you don’t want to be part of the Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the case no longer affects you.

The Court will hold the Final Approval Hearing on August 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM. ET. The purpose of the hearing is for the Court to determine whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of the Class. At the hearing, the Court will hear any objections and arguments concerning the fairness of the proposed settlement, including those related to the amount requested by Class Counsel for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses and the Service Awards to the Class Representatives.

Note: The date and time of the Final Approval Hearing are subject to change by Court Order. Any changes will be posted at the Settlement Website, or through the Court’s publicly available docket. You should check the Settlement Website to confirm the date and time have not been changed.

No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have, but you are welcome to attend the hearing at your own expense. If you send an objection, you don’t have to come to court to talk about it. As long as your written objection was filed or mailed on time and meets the other criteria described above, the Court will consider it. You may also pay a lawyer to attend on your behalf at your own expense, but you don’t have to.

Yes. If you do not exclude yourself from the Class, you may ask the Court for permission to speak at the Final Approval Hearing concerning any part of the proposed settlement. 

The Notice summarizes the proposed settlement. More details are in the Settlement Agreement, which is available on this website.

YOU MAY CONTACT THE SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR ONLINE, BY CALLING TOLL-FREE AT, (833) 421-8132, or WRITING to:

Settlement Administrator - 83169

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC

P.O. Box 5324

New York, NY 10150-5324

Please Do Not Call the Court, the clerk of the court, the Judge, or the Defendant with Questions about the settlement or Claims Process