Question 1

Why is the Notice being provided?

Accepted Answer

A Court authorized the Notice because you have the right to know about the
proposed Settlement of this class action lawsuit and all of your rights and
options before the Court decides to grant Final Approval of the Settlement.
The Notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, your legal rights, what
benefits are available, who is eligible for the benefits, and how to get them.

The Honorable P. Kevin Castel of the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York is overseeing this class action. The lawsuit is
known as In re Columbia University Data Breach Litigation, Case No.
1:25-cv-05541 (PKC) (the “Action”). The persons who filed this Action are called
the “Plaintiffs” and/or “Class Representatives” and the entity sued, Trustees of
Columbia University in the City of New York, is called the “Defendant.”

Question 2

What is this Action about?

Accepted Answer

Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit against Defendant. Plaintiffs allege that in May
2025, an unauthorized third party accessed certain Private Information
maintained by Defendant, including individuals’ full names, dates of birth,
addresses, contact details, genders, ethnicities, citizenship statuses, Social
Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information
(including, but not limited to, credit and debit card information, as well as
bank account and routing numbers), medical information, health insurance
information, academic histories, financial aid-related information, test scores,
academic grades, admission decisions, expected graduation dates, financial aid
statuses, financial aid awards, and tuition information.

Plaintiffs brought this lawsuit against Defendant alleging legal claims for
negligence, breach of implied contract, unjust enrichment, breach of bailment,
violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, violation of the Texas
Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act, violation of the Maryland
Consumer Protection Act, violation of the New York General Business Law,
violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, violation of the Pennsylvania
Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, invasion of privacy under
California’s constitution, violation of the California Customer Records Act,
violation of the California Unfair Competition Law, violation of the Tennessee
Personal Consumer Information Release Act, and declaratory judgment.

Defendant denies these allegations and denies any wrongdoing or liability. The
Court has not made any judgment or other determination of any wrongdoing or that
the law has been violated. Instead, Plaintiffs and Defendant have agreed to a
settlement to avoid the risk, cost, and time of continuing the Action.

Question 3

Why is the Action a class action?

Accepted Answer

In a class action, one or more people (called plaintiff(s) or class
representative(s)) sue on behalf of all people who have similar legal claims.
Together, all of these people are called a “class” or “class members.” If the
plaintiffs and defendant reach a settlement, the court resolves the issues for
all class members via the settlement, except for those class members who timely
opt out (exclude themselves) from the settlement.

The proposed Class Representatives in this lawsuit are Plaintiffs Khamari Babb,
Raymond Chao, Steven Daley, Randall Erwin, David Guirgis, Alex Hall, Shakeem
Holmes, Rema Khacho, Lauren Kramer, Luke Linich, Nadav Margalit, John McQueen,
Liam Murray, Gabriela Nadeau, Joseph Quintero, Carrick Reider, Andrew Rudick,
and Mary Thomas.

Question 4

Why is there a Settlement?

Accepted Answer

Plaintiffs and Defendant do not agree about the legal claims made in the Action.
The Action has not gone to trial, and the Court has not decided in favor of
Plaintiffs or Defendant. Instead, Plaintiffs and Defendant have agreed to settle
the Action. The Class Representatives believe the Settlement is best for all
individuals in the Settlement Class because of the benefits available to the
Settlement Class and the risks and uncertainty associated with continuing the
Action.

Question 5

How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?

Accepted Answer

You are part of the Settlement Class if you are an individual residing in the
United States whose Private Information was potentially accessed by one or more
unauthorized third parties during the Cyberattack including if you were sent
notice of the Cyberattack. Columbia estimates that there are 2,973,631
Settlement Class Members.

FAQs

BASIC INFORMATION

WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT

THE SETTLEMENT BENEFITS—WHAT YOU GET IF YOU QUALIFY

HOW TO GET BENEFITS FROM THE SETTLEMENT

THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU

OPTING OUT OF THE SETTLEMENT

OBJECTING TO THE SETTLEMENT

THE FINAL APPROVAL HEARING

IF YOU DO NOTHING

GETTING MORE INFORMATION

BASIC INFORMATION

1. Why is the Notice being provided?

2. What is this Action about?

3. Why is the Action a class action?

4. Why is there a Settlement?

WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT

5. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?

6. Are there exceptions to being included in the Settlement?

7. What if I am still not sure whether I am part of the Settlement?

THE SETTLEMENT BENEFITS—WHAT YOU GET IF YOU QUALIFY

8. What does the Settlement provide?

9. What am I giving up to receive Settlement benefits or stay in the Settlement Class?

10. What are the Released Claims?

HOW TO GET BENEFITS FROM THE SETTLEMENT

11. How do I make a Claim for Settlement benefits?

12. What happens if my contact information changes after I submit a Claim?

13. How much will my payment be?

14. When will I receive my Settlement benefits?

15. How will I receive my payment?

THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU

16. Do I have a lawyer in this lawsuit?

17. How will Class Counsel be paid?

OPTING OUT OF THE SETTLEMENT

18. How do I opt out of the Settlement?

19. If I opt out can I still get anything from the Settlement?

20. If I do not opt out, can I sue Defendant for the same thing later?

OBJECTING TO THE SETTLEMENT

21. How do I tell the Court that I do not like the Settlement?

22. What is the difference between objecting and asking to opt out?

THE FINAL APPROVAL HEARING

23. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?

24. Do I have to attend the Final Approval Hearing?

25. May I speak at the Final Approval Hearing?

IF YOU DO NOTHING

26. What happens if I do nothing at all?

GETTING MORE INFORMATION

27. How do I get more information?