1. Why is the Notice being provided?
2. What is this lawsuit about?
3. Why is this a class action?
4. Why is there a settlement?
5. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?
6. What if I am not sure whether I am included in the Settlement?
7. What benefits does the Settlement provide?
8. What are the details about enrollment in the Credit Monitoring plan?
9. What are the details about getting reimbursement of Economic Losses?
10. What are the details about filing claim for Non-Economic Losses?
11. How can I enroll in the Credit Services?
12. How do I obtain reimbursement of Economic Losses related to the Data Security Incident?
13. How do I obtain reimbursement of Non-Economic Losses related to the Data Security Incident?
14. When will I receive my reimbursement payment under the Settlement?
15. What am I giving up as part of the Settlement?
16. Do I have a lawyer in the case?
17. How will the lawyers be paid?
18. What does it mean to exclude myself from the Settlement?
19. If I exclude myself, can I get anything from this Settlement?
20. If I do not exclude myself, can I sue later?
21. How do I exclude myself from the Settlement?
22. How do I tell the Court if I do not like the Settlement?
23. What is the difference between objecting and asking to be excluded?
24. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?
25. Do I have to come to the hearing?
26. May I speak at the hearing?
27. What happens if I do nothing at all?
28. How do I get more information about the proposed Settlement?
The Class Notice was provided pursuant to an order issued by the Court to inform you of the proposed Settlement and the Final Approval Hearing to be held by the Court to consider, among other things, (a) whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate and should be approved; and (b) Class Counsel’s request for Class Counsel Fees and Expenses and the Class Representatives’ request for a Service Award. The Class Notice explains the nature of the lawsuit, the general terms of the proposed Settlement (including the benefits available), and your legal rights and obligations. The Class Notice is not an expression of any opinion by the Court as to the merits of the claims or defenses asserted in the Action.
The Honorable Judge Rochelle East of the San Francisco County Superior Court is overseeing this action, which is known as Richard Cresse v. RINA Accountants & Advisors, No. CGC-22-601995 (“Lawsuit”). The person that filed the lawsuit is called the “Plaintiff.” RINA Accountants & Advisors is the “Defendant.”
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The lawsuit alleges that as the result of a cyberattack by an unauthorized third party to certain computer systems of RINA Accountants & Advisors (“RINA”), personally identifiable information (“PII”) including Social Security Numbers, may have been compromised on or about February 28, 2022.
Plaintiff claims that RINA did not adequately protect personal information and that as a result of the Data Security Incident people were harmed. RINA denies any wrongdoing, and no court or other entity has made any judgment or other determination of any wrongdoing or that any law has been violated.
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In a class action, one or more people called “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of themselves and other people with similar claims. The Plaintiff (the Class Representative here), together with the people he represents, are called Settlement Class Members. One court resolves the issues for all Settlement Class Members, except for those people who timely exclude themselves from the Settlement Class. In this case, the Class Representative is Richard Cresse.
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The Court has not decided in favor of Plaintiff or RINA. Instead, both sides agreed to a settlement. Settlement avoids the costs and uncertainty of trial and related appeals, while providing benefits to members of the Settlement Class. The Class Representatives and attorneys for the Settlement Class (“Settlement Class Counsel”) believe the Settlement is in the best interestsof the Settlement Class Members.
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You are included in the Settlement Class if you are a member of the following:
“All individuals whose personally identifiable information (“PII”), including Social Security Numbers, was compromised in the Data Breach disclosed by RINA on or about August 1, 2022.”
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If you are not sure whether you are in the Class, or have any other questions about the Settlement, call the toll-free number, (833) 647-9036. You also may write with questions to:
RINA Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
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RINA will provide Settlement Class Members the following benefits under the Settlement: (1) Settlement Class Members can elect to enroll in one (2) years of three-bureau credit monitoring and identity theft protection services with at least $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance per Settlement Class Member: (2) the opportunity for Non-Economic Loss Claims; and (3) reimbursement of documented Economic Losses up to $10,000.00 per Settlement Class Member, which are: (a) related to the Data Security Incident; (b) not otherwise reimbursable by another third party; (c) supported by required documentation; and (d) meets all requirements set forth in the Claim Form and the Settlement Agreement.
Complete details regarding the settlement benefits are available in the Settlement Agreement, which is available here.
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All persons potentially affected by the Data Security Incident, including Settlement Class Members or persons who were excluded themselves from the settlement are entitled to immediately enroll in free credit monitoring and identity restoration services (“Credit Services”) provided by CyEx for a period of two years, which will begin upon timely activation by the Class Member. Credit Monitoring Services Include:
Credit Services Include:
This includes:
real time monitoring of the Settlement Class member’s credit file at a credit bureau;
dark web monitoring;
identity theft insurance coverage for up to $1,000,000; and
fully managed identity recovery services
Credit Services provided by CyEx are being provided to all persons potentially affected by the Data Security Incident, including Settlement Class Members and those who exclude themselves from the settlement. Unique enrollment codes and related instructions are being provided within a letter accompanying the mailed notice of settlement sent to all Settlement Class Members. If you elect to receive Credit Services provided by CyEx, you must timely enroll using the enrollment code you were mailed, by following the enrollment instructions accompanying the code. If you have any questions regarding enrollment in the Credit Services, you may contact CyEx as indicated the in the letter containing your enrollment code, or you may contact the Settlement Administrator.
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Any Settlement Class Member may submit a Claim for reimbursement for documented Economic Losses related to the Data Security Incident that have not been reimbursed by other third parties, up to an aggregate total of $10,000.00 per Settlement Class Member. Any Settlement Class Member whose Reimbursement Claim is rejected for failure to submit a claim within required time period may not submit a Claim for reimbursement under this process.
Settlement Class Members who wish to make a timely and properly supported Claim for reimbursement of Economic Losses related to the Data Security Incident must provide to the Settlement Administrator the information required to evaluate the claim, including: (a) the Claimant’s name and current address; (b) if applicable, a signed copy of IRS Form 14039 along with a statement under penalty of perjury that the form was submitted to the Internal Revenue Service; (c) the bills. invoices, or other evidence documenting the amount of the Claim and proof that the bills or invoices were paid; and (d) a statement signed under penalty of perjury indicating that: (i) the Economic Losses claimed are fairly traceable to the Data Security Incident; and (ii) the total amount claimed has not been reimbursed by any other person or entity. Third-party documentation of Economic Losses is required to establish a Claim. Economic Losses that are compensated under this Agreement are those that are reasonable and customarily incurred when experiencing and/or responding to the type of fraud or identity theft suffered by the Settlement Class Member from the Data Security Incident.
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Settlement Class Member may submit a Claim for their Non-Economic Losses related to the Data Security Incident. Claims may be submitted electronically or in paper format.
Settlement Class Members who wish to make a timely and properly supported Claim for reimbursement of Non-Economic Losses related to the Data Security Incident must provide to the Settlement Administrator the information required to evaluate the claim, including: (a) the Claimant’s name and current address; and (b) a statement signed under penalty of perjury indicating that: (i) the Non-Economic Losses claimed is fairly traceable to the Data Security Incident.
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To receive the Credit Services from RINA, Settlement Class Members must timely enroll in the Credit Services by using the unique enrollment code and related instructions that will be sent after the Settlement is approved by the Court.
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For reimbursement of documented Economic Losses related to the Data Security Incident that have not been reimbursed by Equifax or other third party, up to an aggregate total of $10,000.00 in reimbursement per Settlement Class Member, submit a Claim and provide documentation proving the Economic Losses as described above. You can file the Claim Form online here or you can download the Claim Form here or get it by calling (833) 647-9036. For each Reimbursement Form, you must read the instructions carefully, fill out the form completely, attach the required documentation, and either submit the form and documentation online, or mail the form postmarked no later than March 24, 2026, to:
RINA Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
If you have questions about how to file a claim, call (833) 647-9036.
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For reimbursement of Non-Economic Losses related to the Data Security Incident that have not been reimbursed by Equifax or other third party, valued pro-rata of what remains in the Settlement Fund after payment of credit monitoring and Economic Loss claims, submit a claim form as described above. You file a Claim Form online here or you download the Claim Form here or get it by calling (833) 647-9036. For each Claim Form, you must read the instructions carefully, fill out the form completely, and either submit the form online, or mail the form postmarked no later than March 24, 2026, to:
RINA Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
If you have questions about how to file a claim, call (833) 647-9036.
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If you file a timely and valid Claim Form and submit required documentation, the Settlement Administrator will evaluate your claim to confirm your eligibility and calculate your payment amount. The Settlement Administrator will notify you of any deficiencies with respect to your claim. The Settlement Administrator will then issue a final decision on your claim.
Please ensure you provide a current, valid email address with your claim submission. If the email address you include with your Claim Form changes or becomes invalid for any reason, it is your responsibility to provide accurate contact information to the Settlement Administrator to receive a payment.
Payments for valid claims will not be made until after the Settlement is finally approved and all appeals and other reviews have been exhausted.
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Unless you exclude yourself, you cannot sue RINA or be part of any lawsuit against RINA about any of the issues in this Action. Unless you exclude yourself, all of the decisions by the Court will bind you. The specific claims you are giving up are described in Paragraph 8 of the Settlement Agreement. You will be releasing your claims against RINA and all related people as described in Paragraph 8.
The Settlement Agreement is available here or by calling (833) 647-9036. The Settlement Agreement describes the released claims with specific descriptions, so please read it carefully. If you have any questions about what this means, you can talk to Settlement Class Counsel, or you can talk to your own lawyer at your own expense.
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Yes, you do have a lawyer in the case. The Court appointed the law firm of Meyer Wilson Werning Co., LPA, to represent you and the Settlement Class. This firm is called “Settlement Class Counsel.” You will not be charged by these lawyers for their work on this case. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.
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Class Counsel will ask the Court for RINA to pay for reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of up to $133,333.33, and a Class Representative service award not to exceed $5,000. The Court will decide the amount of attorneys’ fees, expenses, and service awards. Any attorneys’ fees, expenses, and service awards approved will be paid by RINA.
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If you want to keep the right to sue or continue to sue RINA about the legal claims in this case, you must take steps to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. Excluding yourself is also called “opting out” of the Settlement.
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If you exclude yourself, you cannot get anything from the Settlement. If you exclude yourself, you may not apply for any benefits under the proposed Settlement and you cannot object to the proposed Settlement.
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No. If you do not exclude yourself, you cannot sue later. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up the right to sue RINA for all of the claims that this proposed Settlement resolves.
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To exclude yourself from the proposed Settlement, you must timely submit, by U.S. Mail, written notice of your intent to opt-out of the Settlement to the Settlement Administrator’s designated address established for opt-outs. The written notice must clearly manifest your intent to be excluded from the Settlement Class in Richard Cresse v. RINA Accountants & Advisors and must be signed by you. You can only request exclusion for yourself: you cannot request to exclude any other member of the Settlement Class. Mass opt-outs are not permitted.
To be effective, written notice must be postmarked by March 24, 2026, and mailed to:
RINA Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
You cannot ask to be excluded on the phone, by email, or on the website.
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If you are a Settlement Class Member, you can object to or comment on the Settlement, Settlement Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and/or the Settlement Class Representative’ request for service awards. To object, you must state in writing that you object to the Settlement, and include the following information in your written objection:
The name of the Action (Richard Cresse v. RINA Accountants & Advisors, No. CGC-22-601995);
Your full name, mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address;
A statement of the basis on which you claim to be a Settlement Class Member;
A written statement of all grounds for your objection, accompanied by any legal support for the objection, and any evidence you wish to introduce in support of the objection;
The identity of all counsel, if any, representing you, including any former or current counsel who may claim entitlement to compensation for any reason related to the objection to the Settlement or the Fee Application;
A statement confirming whether you intend to personally appear and/or testify at the Final Approval Hearing and identifying any counsel representing you who intends to appear at the Final Approval Hearing;
A list of any persons who will be called to testify at the Final Approval Hearing in support of the objection; and
Your signature signed under oath and penalty of perjury or, if legally incapacitated, the signature of your duly authorized representative (along with documentation setting forth such legal incapacitation and representation) (an attorney’s signature is not sufficient).
Failure to include this information may be grounds for the Court to disregard your objection.
To submit an objection, send a letter the Court either by: (a) mailing it to the Clerk of the Court, San Francisco County Superior Court, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco CA 94102 or; (b) filing the objection in person at San Francisco County Superior Court, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco CA 94102. Mailed objections must be filed or postmarked on or before the Objection Deadline, which is March 24, 2026.
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You can object to the Settlement when you wish to remain a Settlement Class Member and be subject to the Settlement but disagree with some aspect of the Settlement. An objection allows your views to be heard in Court.
Excluding yourself from the Settlement Class means that you are no longer a Settlement Class Member and do not want the Settlement to apply to you. Once you are excluded, you lose the right to receive any benefits from the Settlement or to object to any aspect of the Settlement because the case no longer affects you.
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The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing at 9:00 a.m. on May 14, 2026 at the San Francisco County Superior Court, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco CA 94102. At the Final Approval Hearing, the Court will consider whether the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. The Court may also consider Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and the service awards. If there are objections, the Court will consider them. After the Final Approval Hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the proposed Settlement and how much to award to Class Counsel as fees and expenses, and the service award. You do not need to attend.
The Final Approval Hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so if you wish to attend, it is recommended that you periodically check this website to confirm the date of the Final Approval Hearing.
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You do not have to attend the hearing. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. However, you are welcome to attend the hearing at your own expense. If you submit a written objection, you do not have to come to the Fairness Hearing to raise your objection. As long as you timely mailed your written objection, the Court will consider it. You also may pay your own lawyer to attend the Final Approval Hearing, but their attendance is not necessary.
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Yes, you may speak at the hearing. If you would like to do so, you must indicate your intent to personally appear and/or testify at the Final Approval Hearing, and identify any counsel representing you who intends to appear at the Final Approval Hearing, when providing written notice of your objection as noted above regarding how to object to the Settlement. You cannot speak at the hearing if you exclude yourself from the Settlement.
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If you are a Settlement Class Member and you do nothing, you will be legally bound by the Settlement, but you will not receive any benefits related to the Data Security Incident. You will not be able to bring a lawsuit, continue a lawsuit, or be a part of any other lawsuit against RINA about the claims in this case.
If you would like to request benefits under the Settlement, you must follow the instructions described above.
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This website and the Notice summarize the proposed Settlement. More details are included in the Settlement Agreement. You can get a copy of the Settlement Agreement, Reimbursement and Claim Forms, and review additional documents on the Important Documents page of this website.
You also may write with questions, or request to receive a Claim Form, a copy of the Settlement Agreement, and a detailed notice to the Settlement Administrator, at:
RINA Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
(833) 647-9036
info@RINADataBreachSettlement.com
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