Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did I receive a Notice?
- What is a class action?
- What is this lawsuit about?
- Why is there a Settlement?
WHO IS IN THE SETTLEMENT
THE SETTLEMENT BENEFITS—WHAT YOU GET
- What does the Settlement provide?
- How can I get a payment from the Settlement?
- When will I get my payment?
REMAINING IN THE SETTLEMENT
THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU
- How do I get out of the Settlement?
- If I don't exclude myself, can I sue Lemonade for the same thing later?
- If I exclude myself, can I get anything from this Settlement?
OBJECTING TO THE SETTLEMENT
- How do I object to the Settlement?
- What's the difference between objecting and excluding myself from the Settlement?
THE COURT’S FINAL APPROVAL HEARING
- When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?
- Do I have to come to the hearing?
- May I speak at the hearing?
GETTING MORE INFORMATION
BASIC INFORMATION
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Why did I receive a Notice?
A Court authorized the Notice because you have a right to know about a proposed Settlement of this class action lawsuit and about all of your options, before the Court decides whether to give final approval to the Settlement. This Notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, and your legal rights.
The case is pending in the Circuit Court of Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, DuPage County, Illinois. The case is called Clarke, et al. v. Lemonade, Inc. et al., Civil Action No. 2022LA000308.
The persons who sued are called the Plaintiffs. The Defendants are Lemonade, Inc.; Lemonade Insurance Company; Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC; Lemonade, Ltd.; and Lemonade Life Insurance Agency, LLC.
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What is a class action?
In a class action, one or more people called class representatives (in this case, Alexander Clarke, Milton Citchens, Andrew Garcia, Ebony Jones, Kyle Swerdlow, Marla Walker, and Ryann Webb) sue on behalf of a group or a "class" of people who have similar claims. In a class action, the court resolves the issues for all class members, except for those who exclude themselves from the Class.
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What is this lawsuit about?
This lawsuit claims that Lemonade violated Illinois, New York, California, and other state laws and common law by unlawfully collecting, capturing, receiving, or otherwise obtaining and/or storing its insureds' Biometric Identifiers and/or Biometric Information through its insurance software. Lemonade denies the claims in the lawsuit, contends that it did not do anything wrong, and denies that class certification is warranted or appropriate. The Court did not resolve the claims and defenses raised in this action. Nor has the Court determined that Lemonade did anything wrong or that this matter should be certified as a class action except if the Settlement is fully approved by the Court. Rather, the Parties have, without admitting liability, agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the uncertainties and expenses associated with ongoing litigation.
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Why is there a Settlement?
The Court has not decided whether the Plaintiffs or Lemonade should win this case. Instead, both sides agreed to a Settlement. That way, they avoid the uncertainties and expenses associated with ongoing litigation, and Class Members will get compensation sooner rather than, if at all, after the completion of a trial.
The issuance of the Notice is not an expression of the Court's opinion on the merit or the lack of merit of Plaintiffs' claims or the defenses in the lawsuit. Both parties recognize that to resolve the issues raised in the lawsuit would be time-consuming, uncertain, and expensive.
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WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT?
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How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?
The Court decided on the following Class descriptions:
Illinois Settlement Sub-Class:
All Defendants' policyholders in the State of Illinois who, between June 25, 2019, and May 27, 2021, provided first notice of loss through a video claim submission from which Defendants or Released Parties could have collected, captured, received, or otherwise obtained or disclosed data or information that could be construed as biometric identifiers of any kind and/or biometric information of any kind.
Nationwide Settlement Class:
All Defendants' policyholders in the United States who, between June 25, 2019, and May 27, 2021, provided first notice of loss through a video claim submission from which Defendants or Released Parties could have collected, captured, received, or otherwise obtained or disclosed data or information that could be construed as biometric identifiers of any kind and/or biometric information of any kind.
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THE SETTLEMENT BENEFITS—WHAT YOU GET
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What does the Settlement provide?
Monetary Relief: A Settlement Fund has been created totaling $4,000,000, of which $3,000,000 will be allocated to members of the Illinois Settlement Sub-Class, and $1,000,000 will be allocated to members of a Nationwide Settlement Class. Settlement Class Member payments as well as the cost to administer the Settlement, the cost to inform people about the Settlement, attorneys' fees, and an award to the Class Representatives, will come out of this fund (see FAQ 12).
Prospective Relief: On or about May 27, 2021, Lemonade stopped collecting biometric identifiers or biometric information. Within seven days after the entry of the Final Approval Order, Lemonade will delete all previously collected biometric information and/or biometric identifiers from all Settlement Class Members. If, in the future, Lemonade starts collecting biometric identifiers or biometric information, it will comply with BIPA and all other applicable laws.
A detailed description of the settlement benefits can be found in the Settlement Agreement.
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How can I get a payment from the Settlement?
If you are a Settlement Class Member, you must submit a timely and properly completed Claim Form no later than August 22, 2022 to receive a pro rata payment. Claim Forms can be found and submitted online or you may have received a Claim Form in the mail as a postcard attached to a summary of the Notice. To submit a Claim Form online, go to the Submit a Claim page on this website here. To request that a paper claim form be mailed to you call toll free, 1-866-977-1153.
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When will I get my payment?
The hearing to consider the fairness of the settlement is scheduled August 25, 2022. If the Court approves the settlement, eligible Class Members whose claims were approved by the Settlement Administrator will receive their payment shortly after the Settlement has been finally approved and/or after any appeals process is complete. Please be patient; this process could take a while. Class Members will receive their payments via check or direct deposit, at your election, provided however that that the default payment method will be check. All checks will expire and become void 180 days after they are issued.
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REMAINING IN THE SETTLEMENT
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What am I giving up if I stay in the Class?
If the Settlement becomes final, you will give up your right to sue Lemonade and other Released Parties for the claims being resolved by this Settlement. The specific claims you are giving up against Lemonade are described in the Settlement Agreement. You will be "releasing" Lemonade and certain of its affiliates, employees and representatives as described in Section 3.2 of the Settlement Agreement. Unless you exclude yourself (see FAQ 13), you are "releasing" the claims, regardless of whether you submit a claim or not. The Settlement Agreement is available here.
The Settlement Agreement describes the released claims with specific descriptions, so read it carefully. If you have any questions you can talk to the lawyers listed in FAQ 11 for free or you can, of course, talk to your own lawyer if you have questions about what this means.
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What happens if I do nothing at all?
If you do nothing, you will not be entitled to receive a payment. You will give up rights to sue Defendants about the legal claims in this case.
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THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU
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Do I have a lawyer in the case?
The Court has appointed Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC; Scott+Scott Attorneys At Law LLP; Freed Kanner London & Millen LLC; Lynch Carpenter LLP; and Bursor & Fisher, P.A to be the attorneys representing the Settlement Class. They are called "Class Counsel." They believe, after conducting an extensive investigation, that the Settlement Agreement is fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the Settlement Class. You will not be charged for these lawyers. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer in this case, you may hire one at your expense.
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How will the lawyers be paid?
Any Class Counsel attorneys' fees and costs awarded by the Court will be paid out of the Settlement Fund in an amount to be determined by the Court. The fee petition will seek no more than 33 1/3% of the Settlement Fund, plus the value of the injunctive relief; the Court may award less than this amount. Under the Settlement Agreement, any amount awarded to Class Counsel will be paid out of the Settlement Fund.
Subject to approval by the Court, the Class Representatives may be paid up to $2,500 each from the Settlement Fund.
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EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENT
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How do I get out of the Settlement?
To exclude yourself from the Settlement, you must mail or otherwise deliver a written request for exclusion stating that you want to be excluded from the Clarke, et al. v. Lemonade, Inc. et al., Civil Action No. 2022LA000308.
Your letter or request for exclusion must also include your name, your address, your signature, the name and number of this case, and a statement that you wish to be excluded. You must mail or deliver your exclusion request no later than August 8, 2022 to:
Lemonade Settlement Administrator
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P.O. Box 5376
Portland, OR 97228-5376 -
If I don't exclude myself, can I sue Lemonade for the same thing later?
No. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up any right to sue Lemonade for the claims being resolved by this Settlement.
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If I exclude myself, can I get anything from this Settlement?
No. If you exclude yourself, you will not receive a pro rata payment from the Net Settlement Fund.
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OBJECTING TO THE SETTLEMENT
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How do I object to the Settlement?
If you are a Class Member and do not exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you can object to the Settlement if you don't like any part of it. You can give reasons why you think the Court should not approve it. The Court will consider your views. To object, you must file with the Court a letter or brief stating that you object to the Settlement in Clarke, et al. v. Lemonade, Inc. et al., Civil Action No. 2022LA000308 identify all your reasons for your objections (including citations and supporting evidence), and attach any materials you rely on for your objections. Your letter or brief must also include your name, your address, the basis upon which you claim to be a Class Member, the name and contact information of any and all attorneys representing, advising, or in any way assisting you in connection with your objection, and your signature. If you, or an attorney assisting you with your objection, have ever objected to any class action settlement where you or the objecting attorney has asked for or received payment in exchange for dismissal of the objection (or any related appeal) without modification to the settlement, you must include a statement in your objection identifying each such case by full case caption. You must also mail or deliver a copy of your letter or brief to Class Counsel and Defendants' Counsel listed below.
Class Counsel will file with the Court and post on this website its request for attorneys' fees by July 25, 2022.
If you want to appear and speak at the Final Approval Hearing to object to the Settlement, with or without a lawyer (explained below in the answer to FAQ 20), you must say so in your letter or brief and file the objection with the Court and mail a copy to Class Counsel and Defendants' Counsel postmarked no later than August 8, 2022.
Court Class Counsel Defendant's Counsel Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
DuPage County, Illinois
505 N. County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187Gary M. Klinger
Milberg Coleman
Bryson Phillips
Grossman, PLLC 227
W. Monroe Street
Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60606Joel Griswold
Baker & Hostetler LLP
200 South Orange Avenue
Suite 2300
Orlando, FL 32801 -
What's the difference between objecting and excluding myself from the Settlement?
Objecting simply means telling the Court that you don't like something about the Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Class. Excluding yourself from the Class is telling the Court that you don't want to be part of the Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the Settlement no longer affects you.
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THE COURT'S FINAL APPROVAL HEARING
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When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?
The Court will hold the Final Approval Hearing on August 25, 2022 at the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court for the County of DuPage, Courtroom 2016, 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. The purpose of the hearing will be for the Court to determine whether to approve the Settlement as fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of the Class; to consider the Class Counsel's request for attorneys' fees and expenses; and to consider the request for an incentive award to the Class Representatives. At that hearing, the Court will be available to hear any timely filed objections and arguments concerning the fairness of the Settlement.
The hearing may be postponed to a different date or time without notice, so it is a good idea to check this website or call 1-866-977-1153. If, however, you timely objected to the Settlement and advised the Court that you intend to appear and speak at the Final Approval Hearing, you will receive notice of any change in the date of such Final Approval Hearing.
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Do I have to come to the hearing?
No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have, but you are welcome to come at your own expense. If you send an objection or comment, you don't have to come to Court to talk about it. As long as you filed and mailed your written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You may also pay another lawyer to attend, but it's not required.
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May I speak at the hearing?
Yes. So long as you timely filed an objection to the settlement, you may ask the Court for permission to speak at the Fairness Hearing, but do not have to. To do so, you must include in your letter or brief objecting to the settlement a statement saying that it is your "Notice of Intent to Appear in Clarke, et al. v. Lemonade, Inc. et al., Civil Action No. 2022LA000308." It must include your name, address, telephone number, and signature as well as the name and address of your lawyer, if one is appearing for you. Your objection and notice of intent to appear must be filed with the Court and postmarked no later than August 8, 2022 and be sent to the addresses listed in FAQ 16.
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GETTING MORE INFORMATION
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Where do I get more information?
This website summarizes the Settlement. More details are in the Settlement Agreement. You can get a copy of the Settlement Agreement on the Documents page here. You may also write with questions to the Settlement Administrator at Lemonade Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 5376, Portland, OR 97228-5376. You can call the Settlement Administrator at 1-866-977-1153 or Class Counsel at 1-646-837-7150, if you have any questions. Before doing so, however, please read the full Notice carefully.
Please do not telephone the Court to inquire about the settlement or the claims process.
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