Deadline: April 6, 2026
Last updated: 2026-03-26
California Northstate University Didn't Protect Student Data. Claim Up to $5,000 Before April 6, 2026
California Northstate University apparently skipped the unit on data security. A February 2023 breach exposed names and Social Security Numbers of current, former, and prospective students and employees, and the school didn't even notify anyone until December of that year. A class action settlement is now available: claim up to $5,000 for documented losses, or a flat $100 with no paperwork, plus one year of free three-bureau credit monitoring with up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. Deadline is April 6, 2026.
Deadline: April 6, 2026
File Your Claim →
Applies to
Nationwide
Main deadline
April 6, 2026
Benefit
Eligible class members can choose between a flat $100 cash payment (no documentation required) or up to $5,000 for documented losses tied to the breach. All valid claimants can also add one year of free three-bureau credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, up to $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance, and fully managed identity recovery services.
Official site
https://www.cnusettlement.com/
What happened
Class period: February 12–13, 2023 (date of unauthorized access)
- Between February 12 and 13, 2023, an unauthorized actor accessed and potentially obtained files stored on California Northstate University, LLC's servers
- The exposed data included names combined with Social Security Numbers of current, former, and prospective students and employees
- Defendant did not begin notifying affected individuals until on or about December 21, 2023, nearly ten months after the breach occurred
- A class action lawsuit was filed alleging negligence, breach of implied contract, invasion of privacy, breach of fiduciary duty, and related claims
- California Northstate University denies all wrongdoing but has agreed to a settlement and undertaken steps to improve its data security systems
What you can get
Flat Cash Payment
\~$100
No documentation required, just a valid claim form; amount may increase or decrease pro rata depending on total valid claims Documented Losses Payment
Key dates
| Action | Date | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Claim deadline | April 6, 2026 | Last day to file a claim |
| Final hearing | April 20, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. PT, United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Courtroom 4 (may be held remotely; check cnusettlement.com for updates) | Judge decides whether to approve |
Who may qualify
- U.S. residents whose Private Information was potentially accessible as a result of the February 2023 Data Incident at California Northstate University, LLC
- Current, former, or prospective students of California Northstate University
- Current or former employees of California Northstate University
- Individuals who received a notification letter from California Northstate University about the Data Incident
How to file
- 1. Visit the online claim portal at https://forms.ksacms.com/efiling/fr/eform/CNUsettlement_claimform/new?form-version=1
- 2. Or download the paper Claim Form at https://www.cnusettlement.com/files/12-29-25%20Cali%20Northstate%20-%20Printable%20Claim%20Form\_%20Final%20Template%20v1.pdf
- 3. Select your Cash Payment type: Cash Payment A (Documented Losses, up to $5,000 with supporting documentation) OR Cash Payment B (Flat $100, no documentation needed)
- 4. Optionally add the Credit/Data Monitoring benefit to your claim
- 5. If claiming documented losses, attach third-party receipts, invoices, or other supporting records
- 6. Submit online by April 6, 2026, or mail your completed form postmarked by April 6, 2026, to: Sankar v. California Northstate University, LLC, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, PO Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324
- 7. Note: To receive payment via electronic transfer or ACH, you must file online
Proof required
- Cash Payment B (flat $100): no documentation required
- Cash Payment A (up to $5,000): reasonable supporting documentation for each claimed loss, receipts, invoices, bank statements, or other third-party records; self-prepared documents alone are not sufficient
- Do not claim losses you have already been reimbursed for from another source, including any credit monitoring or identity theft protection provided in the original breach notification from the university
Payment timing
Payments will be distributed after the Final Approval Hearing (April 20, 2026) and after any appeals are resolved. Electronic/ACH payment is available for online filers only; paper filers will receive payment by check.
Important links
Contact
Phone: (833) 754-8080
Mail: Sankar v. California Northstate University, LLC, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, PO Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324
Extra details
- Online contact form: https://forms.ksacms.com/efiling/fr/contactus/general2/new?form-version=1&case_code=83331
- Attorneys' fees are capped at 25% of the settlement fund or $100,000, whichever is less, plus reimbursement of costs
- Settlement administration costs are capped at $75,600
- Class Representatives may receive service awards of up to $2,000 each
- Cash payments are subject to pro rata increase if total valid claims are below the fund amount, or pro rata decrease if claims exceed it
- Do not contact the Court, the Clerk of the Court, or California Northstate University directly, all questions should go to the Settlement Administrator
- Case: Ganesh Sankar, Erika Titus-Lay, Jared Cavanaugh, and Kimberly Vongnalith v. California Northstate University, LLC, Lead Case No. 2:24-cv-00473-DAD-JDP, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
FAQ
What is this settlement about?
California Northstate University suffered a data breach in February 2023, during which an unauthorized actor accessed files containing students' and employees' names and Social Security Numbers. To add insult to injury, the university didn't notify anyone until December 2023, a roughly ten-month delay that forms part of the basis for this lawsuit. A class action settlement has been reached to compensate those affected.
Who qualifies for this settlement?
You may qualify if you are a U.S. resident whose Private Information was potentially accessible as a result of the breach, including current, former, or prospective students or employees of California Northstate University who received a notification letter about the incident.
What can I receive?
You can choose between two cash payment options. Cash Payment B is a flat \~$100 with no documentation required, just file the form. Cash Payment A reimburses documented losses up to $5,000, but requires supporting records. Either way, you can also add one year of free three-bureau credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, up to $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance, and fully managed identity recovery services. Not a bad return for a university that already cost you plenty.
Do I need paperwork to file?
Only if you want the bigger payout. The flat $100 option requires nothing but a completed claim form. For up to $5,000 in documented losses, you'll need third-party receipts, bank statements, or other records supporting each expense. Self-prepared documents alone won't suffice.
How do I get paid electronically?
You must file your claim online to receive payment via electronic transfer or ACH. Paper filers will receive a check. Both options are available at cnusettlement.com.
What happens if I do nothing?
You'll receive no benefits, and if the settlement receives Final Approval, you'll lose your right to sue California Northstate University over anything related to this data breach. The deadline is April 6, 2026, a date that, unlike the university's breach notification, is coming up fast.
Can I still sue California Northstate University if I participate in the settlement?
No. Filing a claim releases your right to sue the university and its affiliated parties over claims related to this data incident. If preserving that right matters to you, note that the opt-out deadline has already passed.
Use the official website
Always confirm details on the official site. If something feels off, stop and verify before sharing personal info.
Info only. Verify details on the official site. Not legal, financial, or tax advice. Legal
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