Class action lawsuits can either be good or bad, depending on which side you are on. Typically, it is better to be on the plaintiff’s side, as you might not only get some justice but some extra cash as well. This July, one group of people may receive up to $1,500, thanks to a new data breach settlement. Find out today whether you qualify to claim from this settlement.
July’s new data breach class action settlement
A genetic testing company based in San Francisco, California, made some headlines after an unfortunate incident. The company, 23andMe, offers customers ancestry information and health risk information based on their DNA. Between May 1 and October 1, 2023, almost 7 million customers became victims of a data breach. The breach was revealed in October 2023, indicating that customers’ data was exposed, including ancestry reports, names, relationship labels, and the percentage of DNA shared with relatives.
The data breach led to multiple class action lawsuits, but 23andMe denied any wrongdoing. The company eventually agreed to a $30 million settlement in September 2024 to resolve all the allegations. This separate settlement would mainly benefit residents of states with genetic privacy laws that provide for statutory damages, such as:
- California
- Oregon
- Illinois
According to TechCrunch, on March 23, 2025, the company filed for bankruptcy protection in the US, placing the settlement on hold. As per Forbes, when a company files for Chapter 11 protection under the US Bankruptcy Code, the company can restructure its finances and operations. This can be done by selling some or all of its assets whilst continuing operations. While it may be on hold, anyone belonging to a particular group can still claim from the settlement.
This group of people will be eligible to claim
You can claim from this $30 million data breach settlement if you are deemed eligible. You must meet the following criteria to be eligible to claim:
- You received a data breach notice from 23andMe about the data breach in October 2023
- You suffered from documented losses due to the breach
- You experienced related issues due to the breach
- You filed a valid claim form by the deadline
As seen with many other data breach settlements, it is important to provide documentation as proof of any losses experienced due to the breach. This documentation includes credit monitoring charges, identity theft expenses, and bank fees. The following amounts can be claimed:
- Up to $1,500 for documented losses
- Up to $500 for undocumented losses
If you experienced documented losses, you can file a claim as part of the bankruptcy case, however, if the breach resulted in related issues, including issues with DNA test results or telehealth services, you can file a claim under the General Bar Date Package. Ensure that you file a valid claim form by the deadline of July 14, 2025.
You can expect your payout on this date
If you have concerns regarding your personal data that remains with the firm following the 2023 data breach and the bankruptcy protection claim, you are not alone. The California Attorney General Rob Bonta advised customers to prompt 23andMe to:
“Delete your data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company.”
Seeing as the company will continue business as usual as it restructures its finances and operations, the best thing would be to follow the advice. According to Forbes, you can delete your genetic data and account by logging into your 23andMe account. You should download any data you wish to keep and then delete the data section.
When it comes to personal data, rather be safe than sorry. Check to see if you could benefit from other class action lawsuits. For more information about this settlement, you can visit Top Class Actions and get informed about how to file a claim.
Disclaimer: You should not submit false or inflated claims under penalty of perjury, as class‑action claim forms historically required declarations signed “under penalty of perjury” to ensure authenticity. Submitting a fraudulent claim not only carries legal exposure—including potential civil and criminal sanctions—but also harms other eligible class members by diluting the available settlement pool.
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