Up to $5,000 Telmate Data Breach Settlement: How to Claim

What happened

Class period: August 11, 2020 through August 13, 2020

• Telmate, LLC, doing business as Viapath Technologies, provides communication services to incarcerated people and their families through platforms like GettingOut, VisitNow, Command, Telmate Inmate Telephone, and Guardian
• Unauthorized third parties accessed files on Telmate's computer network between August 11 and August 13, 2020, compromising users' personal information
• Telmate notified 44,360 people in 2020, then informed more people after a Federal Trade Commission investigation in 2024
• The lawsuit claims Telmate failed to use adequate security measures and failed to notify affected people in a timely manner
• Telmate denies all claims and wrongdoing but agreed to pay $4,225,000 into a settlement fund
• The case is Cooper v. Telmate LLC d/b/a Viapath Technologies, Case No. 1:24-cv-01622, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

What you can get

Key dates

Who may qualify

• You are an individual in the United States
• Your personal information was impacted in the Telmate Security Incident between August 11 and August 13, 2020
• You may have used a Telmate service such as GettingOut, VisitNow, Command, Telmate Inmate Telephone, or Guardian
• You may have received a breach notice from Telmate in 2020 or after the 2024 FTC investigation
• You are not the presiding judge or family, Telmate or its related companies, or their officers or directors

How to file

1. Go to the official settlement website and click "Submit Claim"
2. Choose the Pro Rata Cash Payment, Documented Out-of-Pocket Loss reimbursement, or both
3. If claiming documented losses, include your supporting documents
4. Submit your claim online by December 21, 2026
5. Or mail a paper claim form, postmarked by December 21, 2026, to Cooper v. Telmate LLC d/b/a Viapath Technologies, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391

Proof required

• Pro Rata Cash Payment: no documentation required
• Documented Out-of-Pocket Loss: supporting documentation is required
• Losses must be unreimbursed and more likely than not caused by the Security Incident
• Submit documents with your claim form online or by mail

Payment timing

Payments will be sent as soon as possible after the Court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved. Check the settlement website for updates.

Important links

• Official website
• FAQs
• Documents

Contact

Extra details

• You can claim one or both benefits
• The pro rata cash amount depends on the number of valid claims, approved loss claims, and the money left after Court-approved deductions
• Class Counsel will ask for attorneys' fees up to $1,408,333.33, litigation costs up to $35,000, and a $5,000 Service Award for the Class Representative
• Personal Information in this case is defined broadly and can include names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, usernames with passwords, home addresses, driver's license numbers, passport numbers, Social Security numbers, payment card numbers, and financial account information
• The FTC's action against Telmate did not pay affected people; this settlement provides money and is meant to work alongside the FTC's action
• The Settlement Class includes about 431,031 people
• To opt out, mail a signed request with your full name, address, phone number, email address (if any), and a statement that you want to opt out, postmarked by December 21, 2026, to the Settlement Administrator, ATTN: Opt Outs, at the address above
• You may only opt out for yourself; mass or class opt-outs are not valid
• Objections must be filed with the Clerk of the Court, Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse, 401 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314, by December 21, 2026
• The Final Approval Hearing is February 12, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. ET at the same courthouse; the date may change without notice
• Para una notificación en español, llame al (833) 453-3721 o visite la página de documentos
• Watch for scams: use only the official settlement website

FAQ

Related guides