Google Plus Settlement, Get Up to $12 If Eligible

Google Plus Settlement

Google operated the Google+ social media platform for consumers from June 2011 to April 2019. In 2018, Google announced that the Google+ platform had experienced software bugs between 2015 and 2018, which allowed app developers to access certain Google+ profile field information in an unintended manner. Plaintiffs Matthew Matic, Zak Harris, Charles Olson, and Eileen M. Pinkowski thereafter filed this lawsuit asserting various legal claims on behalf of a putative class of Google+ users who were allegedly harmed by the software bugs. Google denies Plaintiffs’ allegations, denies any wrongdoing and any liability whatsoever, and believes that no Class Members, including the Plaintiffs, have sustained any damages or injuries due to the software bugs.

Who’s Eligible?

All persons within the United States who had a consumer Google+ account for any period of time between January 1, 2015 and April 2, 2019, and had their non-public Profile Information exposed as a result of the software bugs Google announced on October 8, 2018 and December 10, 2018, are eligible.

Excluded from the Settlement Class are Google and its officers, directors, employees, subsidiaries, and Google Affiliates; all judges and their staffs assigned to this case and any members of their immediate families; the Parties’ counsel in this litigation; and any Excluded Class Member.”

Related: See All Settlement Rebates Here

Settlement Payout

Under the Settlement, Google has agreed to create a Settlement Fund of $7,500,000. This Settlement Fund will provide compensation to Settlement Class Members, pay for notice and administration costs, provide for any approved Service Awards to the Class Representatives who filed the case, and compensate the attorneys for any approved fee, cost, and expense awards.

The Net Settlement Fund shall be allocated to Claimants on a pro rata basis up to an initial maximum distribution of US$5.00 per Claimant. If there are insufficient funds to pay claimants $5.00 based on the number of claimants, the payment to each claimant will be reduced pro ratably. If sufficient funds remain after calculation of the aggregate initial maximum distribution of US$5.00 per Claimant, the allocation shall be recalculated on a pro rata basis up to a maximum distribution of up to US$12.00 per Claimant. For clarity, the maximum Settlement Payment to be made to any single Claimant shall not exceed US$12.00.

If you are a Settlement Class Member and would like to receive a Settlement Payment, you must submit a Claim Form no later than October 8, 2020.