Johnson & Wales University Security Incident

A court authorized the Notice because you have the right to know about the Settlement of this class action lawsuit and about all of your rights and options before the Court decides whether to grant final approval to the Settlement. The Notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, and your legal rights, as well as what Settlement Class Member Benefits are available, who is eligible for to receive those benefits, and how Settlement Class Members can get them.

The Honorable John J. McConnell, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is overseeing this class action. The lawsuit is known Springer v. Johnson & Wales University, Case No. 1:24-cv-399 (“lawsuit”). The individuals who filed this lawsuit are called the “Plaintiffs” and/or “Class Representatives” and the company sued, Johnson & Wales University, is called the “Defendant.”

The Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit against the Defendant on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated related to a Security Incident involving the unauthorized access of Defendant’s network by a third-party criminal actor in July 2024, in which Settlement Class Members’ information may have been affected.

The Defendant denies the legal claims and denies any wrongdoing or liability.

The Court has not made any determination of any wrongdoing by the Defendant, or that any law has been violated. Instead, the Plaintiffs and the Defendant have agreed to a settlement to avoid the risk, cost, and time of continuing the lawsuit.

The Plaintiffs and Defendant do not agree about the merits of the legal claims made in this lawsuit. The lawsuit has not gone to trial, and the Court has not decided in favor of the Plaintiffs or Defendant. Instead, the Plaintiffs and Defendant have agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of continuing with the lawsuit.

In a class action, one or more people (called “class representatives”) sue on behalf of all people who have similar legal claims. Together, all these people are called a class or class members. One court then resolves the issues for all class members, except for those class members who timely exclude themselves (“opt-out”) from the class.

You are included in the Settlement Class if you are a living individual residing in the United States who was sent a notice about the Security Incident by the Defendant.

Yes. Excluded from the Settlement Class are: (a) the Defendant and the Defendant’s parents, subsidiaries, affiliates officers, and directors, and any entity in which Defendant has a controlling interest; and (b) all judges assigned to hear any aspect of this litigation, as well as their immediate family members.

If you are still not sure whether you are a Settlement Class Member, you may go to the Documents page, to review the Settlement Agreement or call toll-free 1-877-745-7766.

If you are a Settlement Class Member, you can submit a Claim Form for the following Settlement Class Member Benefits:

Cash Payment A – Documented Losses

You may submit a Claim Form along with reasonable supporting documentation for losses related to the Security Incident for up to $1,000 per Settlement Class Member if: (i) the claimed losses are actual, documented, and have not been reimbursed; (ii) you contend that the loss was more likely than not caused by the Security Incident; (iii) the loss was incurred after the July 2024 date of the Security Incident; and (iv) you made reasonable but unsuccessful efforts to avoid, or seek reimbursement for, the loss.

Examples of reasonable documentation includes (but is are not limited to): unreimbursed losses relating to fraud or identity theft; costs associated with freezing or unfreezing credit with any credit reporting agency; and miscellaneous expenses such as notary, fax, postage, copying, and mileage.

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

If you do not submit reasonable documentation supporting a loss, or if your Claim Form is invalid as determined by the Settlement Administrator, and you do not cure your Claim Form, your Claim Form will be denied.

Cash Payment B – Alternate Cash Payment

Instead of selecting Cash Payment A, without providing documentation, you may submit a Claim Form to receive a flat cash payment in the amount of $50.

Your Cash Payment may be subject to a pro rata (a legal term meaning equal share) increase if the amount of Valid Claims does not use the entire net Settlement Fund. Alternatively, if the amount of Valid Claims exceeds the amount of the net Settlement Fund, your Cash Payment may be subject to a pro rata reduction.

For purposes of calculating the pro rata increase or decrease, the Settlement Administrator must distribute the funds in the net Settlement Fund first for payment of Credit Monitoring and then for Cash Payments. Any pro rata increases or decreases to Cash Payments will be on an equal percentage basis.

Credit Monitoring

In addition to Cash Payment A – Documented Losses or Cash Payment B – Alternate Cash Payment, you may also submit a Claim Form to receive up to three years of free Credit Monitoring.

Unless you exclude yourself (opt out), you will remain in the Settlement Class. If the Settlement is approved and becomes final, all Court orders and any judgments will apply to you and legally bind you. You will not be able to sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Released Parties about the Released Claims in this lawsuit. The specific rights you are giving up are called “Released Claims.”

The Settlement Agreement describes the Releases, Released Claims, and Released Parties, in necessary legal terminology, so please read it carefully. The Settlement Agreement is available under the Documents page. For questions regarding the Releases, Released Claims, or Released Parties and what the language in the Settlement Agreement means, you can also contact Settlement Class Counsel for free, or you can talk to your own lawyer at your own expense.

The Claim filing deadline was April 6, 2026 and has passed.

If you change your mailing address or email address after you submit a Claim Form, then it is your responsibility to inform the Settlement Administrator of your updated information. You may notify the Settlement Administrator of any changes by writing to:

Johnson & Wales University Security Incident
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3578
Portland, OR 97208-3578

This Court granted final approval of the Settlement on May 15, 2026. Settlement Class Member Benefits will be sent out in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement once the Settlement becomes final and claims administration is complete. Please be patient and visit this website for updates.

The deadline to exclude yourself from the Settlement was April 6, 2026 and has passed.

No. If you opt out, you will not be able to receive Settlement Class Member Benefits, and you will not be bound by the Settlement or any judgments in this lawsuit. You can only get Settlement Class Member Benefits if you stay in the Settlement and submit a timely and valid Claim Form.

No. Unless you opt out, you give up any right to sue any of the Released Parties for the legal claims this Settlement resolves and Releases, and you will be bound by all the terms of the Settlement, proceedings, orders, and judgments in the lawsuit. You must opt out of this lawsuit to start or continue your own lawsuit or be part of any other lawsuit against the Released Parties about the Released Claims in this Settlement. If you have a pending lawsuit, speak to your lawyer in that lawsuit immediately.

The deadline to object to the Settlement was April 6, 2026 and has passed.

Objecting is simply telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Settlement Class. Opting out is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement Class. If you opt out, you cannot object because you are no longer part of the Settlement.

Yes. The Court has appointed Leanna A. Loginov of Shamis & Gentile, P.A.; Grayson Wells of Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC; and Leigh Montgomery of EKSM, LLP as Settlement Class Counsel to represent you and the Settlement Class for the purposes of this Settlement. You may hire your own lawyer at your own cost if you want someone other than Settlement Class Counsel to represent you in this lawsuit.

Settlement Class Counsel will file a motion asking the Court to award attorneys’ fees up to 1/3 of the Settlement Fund, plus reimbursement of reasonable costs. Settlement Class Counsel will also ask the Court to approve the Service Awards for the Settlement Class Representatives of up to $2,500 each for their efforts. If awarded by the Court, the attorneys’ fees and costs, and Service Awards will be paid from the Settlement Fund. The Court may award less than these amounts.

The Court granted final approval of the Settlement on May 15, 2026. A copy of the Order is here.

No. Settlement Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. However, you are welcome to attend at your own expense. If you file an objection, you do not have to attend the Final Approval Hearing to speak about it. As long as you file your written objection by the deadline, the Court will consider it.

The Final Approval Hearing was held on May 13, 2026, and the Court granted final approval of the Settlement on May 15, 2026.

The Notice summarizes the Settlement. Complete details about the Settlement are provided in the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement and other related documents are available here. You may get additional information by calling toll-free 1-877-745-7766, or by writing to the following address:

Johnson & Wales University Security Incident
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3578
Portland, OR 97208-3578

Please do not telephone the Court, the Court’s Clerk office, or Johnson & Wales University regarding the Notice.