Seattle & Federal Way Public Schools Data Breach Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Fitch v. Seattle Public Schools, No. 25-2-04060-7 SEA

You can claim up to $599 in cash, plus up to $5,000 for documented losses, if your data went from Seattle Public Schools or Federal Way Public Schools to Carruth Compliance Consulting. The districts agreed to pay $300,000. File by December 2, 2026.

How to file a Seattle Public Schools settlement claim in Fitch v. Seattle Public Schools, No. 25-2-04060-7 SEA? Use the free online form. You don’t need a lawyer.

Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Data Breach Settlement — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$300,000 non-reversionary fund
Claim Deadline	December 2, 2026 (online, or mailed and postmarked)
Who Qualifies	People whose information the districts gave to Carruth Compliance Consulting, Inc. and that was compromised in the breach Carruth disclosed in January 2025
Estimated Payout	Cash payment up to $599 (may be less), or up to $5,000 for documented losses
Proof Required	Cash payment: No. Loss claims: Yes
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved August 4, 2026; final hearing December 18, 2026
Court & Case Number	Superior Court of Washington, King County; Fitch, et al. v. Seattle Public Schools, et al., No. 25-2-04060-7 SEA
Law Alleged	Negligence, breach of implied contract, unjust enrichment
Administrator	Angeion Group
Official Claim Site	www.carruthsettlement.com
Last Updated	September 24, 2026

Who Are Seattle Public Schools and Federal Way Public Schools and Why Are They Being Sued for a Data Breach?

Both districts sent employee data to Carruth Compliance Consulting, the vendor that runs their retirement savings plans. When Carruth’s network was breached in December 2024, the plaintiffs say the districts were still responsible for keeping that information safe. Skip the form and you get nothing.

What Happened to Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Employees’ Data Between December 19 and December 26, 2024?

Carruth says unauthorized users got into its systems between December 19 and December 26, 2024, and copied files. Social Security numbers were in the mix. Financial account details could be too, plus driver’s license numbers, W-2 information, medical billing information, and tax filings.

Here’s the part many people miss. Seattle Public Schools has used Carruth since 2008, and Federal Way Public Schools said the breach could reach employees back to the late 1990s, even those without a 403(b) account, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit lists negligence, breach of implied contract, and unjust enrichment. Both districts deny any wrongdoing. A settlement isn’t an admission of fault.

We covered a similar breach settlement with the same $5,000 and $599 tiers in Proliance Surgeons $4.45M Data Breach Class Action Settlement, Claim Deadline Is May 28, 2026.

If you got a breach notice letter in early 2025, this case is about you.

Who Qualifies for the Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Data Breach Settlement?

Here’s exactly how class action settlement eligibility works here. The test is simple. Your information must have gone from either district to Carruth and been compromised in the January 2025 breach.

• Current or former Seattle Public Schools employees whose data the district sent to Carruth
• Anyone who worked at Federal Way Public Schools, past or present, whose data went to Carruth
• Not included: district directors and officers, government entities, the judge and family, anyone who opts out, and anyone found criminally responsible for the breach

Did you get a breach letter in early 2025 after working for Seattle Public Schools or Federal Way Public Schools? Then this one is about you.

Seattle and Federal Way School Employees Outside Washington — Are You Still Covered?

Yes. It’s a Washington state court case, but the class covers everyone whose data the districts gave to Carruth, wherever they live now.

Not sure if you qualify for the Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools data breach settlement? A free legal consultation with a data privacy attorney can help you sort out your options before the November 2 opt-out and objection deadline. Class Counsel costs you nothing.

How Much Can Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Data Breach Settlement Class Members Get? Up to $5,000 Per Person

Seattle and Federal Way Payout With Proof — Up to $5,000

You can claim unreimbursed losses from December 19, 2024 onward that trace to the breach, such as bank fees, postage, mileage, and credit monitoring the districts didn’t cover. Send third-party proof like statements or receipts, redacting all but the first and last four digits of account numbers. Handwritten notes alone won’t work.

Seattle and Federal Way Payout Without Proof — Up to $599

Every class member can elect a pro rata cash payment of up to $599 without proving any loss, whether or not they also claim losses. It may be less.

What Pro-Rata Means for Your Seattle and Federal Way Check

The $300,000 fund also pays for administration, attorneys’ fees of up to $100,000, and service awards of up to $15,000. That leaves at most $185,000 for claims, which covers only 308 full $599 payments. More filers means smaller checks.

Honestly, $599 is a ceiling, not a forecast. For scale, Circle K Data Breach Settlement Claim $50 Or $2,000 By Sept. 3 offered a flat $50 or up to $2,000 in documented losses.

Payments come only after final approval and any appeals. Payments over $600 may appear on a 1099, so check with a tax professional.

How to File Your Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Data Breach Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to www.CarruthSettlement.com and click Submit Claim, or mail the form to Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
2. Enter your name, address, phone, and email.
3. Verify you’re a class member with the unique ID from your notice, or your name and the address the January 2025 breach letter went to.
4. Pick your payout. Elect the cash payment, list documented losses, or do both.
5. Upload proof for any losses. Skip this if you want only the cash payment.
6. Sign the attestation and submit. Mailed claims must be postmarked by December 2, 2026.

December 2, 2026 is 69 days away. The cash-only route is the shortest path, and you can file today.

Should Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Class Members Opt Out or Object Before November 2, 2026?

What Opting Out of the Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Settlement Actually Means

Opting out means no payment, and you keep the right to sue the districts on your own. Mail a signed request with the case name and number, postmarked by November 2, 2026, to ATTN: Exclusion Request, P.O. Box 58220, Philadelphia, PA 19102. No phone or email opt-outs.

How to Object to the Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Settlement

You stay in the class and tell the court what you dislike, and you can still file a claim. Mail a written objection, postmarked by November 2, 2026, to ATTN: Objections, P.O. Box 58220, Philadelphia, PA 19102, plus Class Counsel and both districts’ lawyers at the addresses in the notice. The notice lists nine required items.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before November 2, 2026 if you’re considering either option. Most people shouldn’t opt out without legal advice.

Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Data Breach Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Preliminary Approval	August 4, 2026
Claims Period Opens	Open now, online
Claim Filing Deadline	December 2, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	November 2, 2026 (postmark)
Objection Deadline	November 2, 2026 (postmark)
Final Fairness Hearing	December 18, 2026, 8:30 a.m. PT, King County Courthouse, Seattle
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — no date published

November 2 is 39 days from today. Mark both dates now, because the opt-out and objection window closes a month before the claim deadline.

Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Data Breach Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 25-2-04060-7 SEA

Do I need a lawyer to file a Seattle Public Schools data breach settlement claim?

No. Filing is free, and Class Counsel M. Anderson Berry, Brook E. Garberding, and Gregory Haroutunian of Emery Reddy, PC already represent you at no charge.

Is the Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools data breach settlement legitimate?

Yes. King County Superior Court Judge Tenaya Scheinman granted preliminary approval on August 4, 2026, and Angeion Group is the court-appointed administrator.

When will Seattle and Federal Way settlement payments be sent?

Only after the court considers final approval on December 18, 2026 and any appeals end or the appeal period expires. No payment date is published.

What if I missed the Seattle Public Schools settlement claim deadline?

Miss December 2, 2026 and you get no benefits, but you still give up the right to sue unless you opted out by November 2. A mailed claim with no postmark counts if received within seven days.

Will my Seattle and Federal Way settlement payment go on a 1099?

The settlement documents don’t say. Payments over $600 may appear on a 1099, so ask a tax professional about your situation.

How do I prove I’m part of the Seattle and Federal Way class?

Enter the unique ID on your mailed notice, or your name and the address where the January 2025 breach letter was sent. The claim form accepts either.

How much will I get from the Seattle and Federal Way settlement?

Up to $599 in a pro rata cash payment, or up to $5,000 for documented losses. Administration, fees, and awards come out of the $300,000 first, so cash checks may be smaller.

Sources Used in This Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools Data Breach Settlement Article

• Angeion Group — Official settlement website, accessed September 24, 2026: https://www.carruthsettlement.com/
• Angeion Group — Long Form Notice, No. 25-2-04060-7 SEA: https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.carruthsettlement.com/docs/Seattle+Public+Schools+Fitch_Long+Form+Notice_FINAL.pdf
• Angeion Group — Claim Form: https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.carruthsettlement.com/docs/Seattle%20Public%20Schools%20Fitch_Claim%20Form_FINAL.pdf
• King County Superior Court — Preliminary Approval Order, August 4, 2026: https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.carruthsettlement.com/docs/Prelim%20Approval%20Order%20Fitch.pdf
• King County Superior Court — First Amended Class Action Complaint, March 20, 2025: https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.carruthsettlement.com/docs/2025-03-20.%20SeattleSchools%20-%20Amended%20Complaint.pdf

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. Facts checked against the court documents posted by the settlement administrator, Angeion Group, on September 24, 2026. Last Updated: September 24, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.