Telmate Data Breach Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Cooper v. Telmate LLC d/b/a Viapath Technologies, No. 1:24-cv-01622

There’s $4.23 million waiting for people affected by Telmate’s 2020 data breach — if your personal information was exposed when hackers accessed the inmate-communications company’s network in August 2020. Telmate agreed to pay $4,225,000 to settle claims it failed to protect that data and didn’t notify people in time. You have until December 21, 2026, to file.

Telmate Data Breach Settlement — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$4,225,000
Claim Deadline	December 21, 2026
Who Qualifies	Individuals in the U.S. whose personal information was impacted in Telmate’s August 2020 security incident
Estimated Payout	A Pro Rata Cash Payment (amount depends on total claims filed) plus reimbursement of Documented Out-of-Pocket Loss up to $5,000 per person
Proof Required (Yes/No)	No documentation needed for the base Pro Rata Cash Payment; yes, documentation is required for Out-of-Pocket Loss reimbursement
Settlement Status	Proposed; awaiting final court approval
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia — No. 1:24-cv-01622
Law Alleged	UNVERIFIED — the settlement site describes claims that Telmate failed to implement adequate security measures and failed to notify people in a timely manner, “among other claims,” without naming specific statutes
Administrator	Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
Official Claim Site	telmatedatabreachsettlement.com
Last Updated	September 26, 2026

Who Is Telmate and Why Are They Being Sued Over This Data Breach?

Telmate, LLC does business as ViaPath Technologies and is a subsidiary of Global Tel*Link Corp. — one of the largest providers of phone, video-calling, tablet, and messaging services connecting incarcerated people with their families. That business model means Telmate holds sensitive data not just on its direct customers, but on family members and friends outside prison walls who never chose the company themselves — they just wanted to stay in touch with someone incarcerated. That’s exactly the kind of captive, sensitive dataset a breach like this one puts at risk.

What Did Telmate Do to Users of Its Inmate Communications Service?

Unauthorized third parties accessed Telmate’s computer network between August 11 and August 13, 2020, compromising personal information tied to people who used its services. According to descriptions of Telmate’s own privacy statement, the exposed data included names and contact information, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, Social Security numbers, payment card and financial account information, personal messages, and grievance forms — not every category for every person, but a broad scope overall.

The lawsuit claims Telmate failed to implement adequate security measures to protect this information and failed to notify impacted individuals in a timely manner. Telmate denies all allegations and any wrongdoing.

That’s a Social Security number and a private message sitting in the same exposed file — for people who mostly just wanted to talk to a family member.

Who Qualifies for the Telmate Data Breach Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• Anyone in the United States whose personal information was impacted in the security incident Telmate experienced on approximately August 13, 2020
• People who used Telmate’s phone, video-calling, messaging, or tablet services to communicate with someone incarcerated
• Anyone who received a settlement notice referencing this case

You likely do not qualify if:

• You never used Telmate or ViaPath’s services and never had data on their network
• Your information was affected by a separate, unrelated data incident

Telmate Class Members Outside Virginia — Are You Still Covered?

Yes. This is a nationwide settlement — the class includes anyone in the U.S. whose information was affected, regardless of which state you live in or which facility’s Telmate system you used.

Not sure if you qualify? A free consultation with a data privacy attorney can help before the December 21 deadline.

How Much Can Telmate Settlement Class Members Get?

There are two separate ways to get paid, and you can claim both.

Pro Rata Cash Payment

After documented out-of-pocket loss claims are paid out, whatever’s left in the net settlement fund is divided among everyone who files a valid claim. The exact amount depends on how many people file — more claims means a smaller individual share.

Reimbursement for Documented Out-of-Pocket Loss — Up to $5,000

If the breach cost you money — fraud charges, credit monitoring you paid for, time spent dealing with identity theft — you can claim reimbursement up to $5,000 per person, as long as you can show the loss was most likely caused by this breach.

Class Counsel is asking the court for up to $1,408,333.33 in attorneys’ fees — a third of the fund — plus up to $35,000 in costs and a $5,000 Service Award for the named plaintiff. The court decides whether to approve those amounts at the same hearing where it rules on the settlement itself.

Payments over $600 may appear on a 1099. Check with a tax professional about how a settlement payment could affect your taxes.

A third of the fund goes to attorneys’ fees before anyone else gets paid. That’s standard for a case like this — but it’s worth knowing the pro rata payment and the $5,000 documented-loss cap are two different pots, and filing for both costs you nothing extra.

How to File Your Telmate Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to the official claim site: telmatedatabreachsettlement.com and use the “Submit Claim” link
2. Confirm your personal information was affected by the August 2020 security incident
3. Choose the Pro Rata Cash Payment, the Documented Out-of-Pocket Loss claim, or both
4. Upload supporting documents if you’re claiming out-of-pocket loss
5. Submit and save your confirmation
6. Watch your email or mail — Kroll Settlement Administration will contact you if anything else is needed

You can also request a paper claim form and mail it to: Cooper v. Telmate LLC d/b/a Viapath Technologies, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391.

Filing online takes just a few minutes.

Should Telmate Class Members Opt Out or Object Before December 21, 2026?

What Opting Out of the Telmate Settlement Actually Means

Opting out means mailing a written request for exclusion, postmarked by December 21, 2026. You’d give up any payment from the fund, but you’d keep the right to sue Telmate separately over this breach. Most people shouldn’t opt out of a settlement like this without talking to a lawyer first.

How to Object to the Telmate Settlement

Objecting means staying in the class while telling the court, in writing, what you don’t like about the deal. Your objection, or notice of intent to appear at the Final Approval Hearing, must be submitted or postmarked by December 21, 2026. You can still file a Claim Form and get paid even if you object.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before December 21, 2026, if you’re considering either option.

Telmate Data Breach Settlement — Key Dates, 2026-2027

Milestone	Date
Security Incident	August 11–13, 2020
Claim Filing Deadline	December 21, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	December 21, 2026
Objection Deadline	December 21, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	February 12, 2027, 10:00 a.m. ET
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — payments follow final approval and resolution of any appeals

Telmate Data Breach Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a Telmate settlement claim?

 No. The claim form at telmatedatabreachsettlement.com is designed for consumers to file on their own, and there’s no cost to file.

Is the Telmate data breach settlement legitimate?

 Yes. It resolves Cooper v. Telmate LLC d/b/a Viapath Technologies, No. 1:24-cv-01622, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and is administered by Kroll Settlement Administration LLC — a court-authorized settlement website, not a solicitation from a lawyer.

When will Telmate settlement payments be sent? 

UNVERIFIED — no specific payment date has been announced. Payments typically follow the February 12, 2027 final approval hearing and resolution of any appeals.

What if I missed the Telmate claim deadline?

 If you miss December 21, 2026, you generally lose the right to a payment from this fund, though you’d still be bound by the settlement if you didn’t opt out earlier.

Will my Telmate settlement payment go on a 1099? 

Possibly. Payments over $600 may be reported on a 1099. Check with a tax professional about your specific situation.

What kind of information was exposed in the Telmate breach?

 Reporting on Telmate’s own privacy disclosures describes names and contact information, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, Social Security numbers, payment card and financial account information, personal messages, and grievance forms — though not every category applied to every affected person.

Can I claim both the Pro Rata Cash Payment and the Out-of-Pocket Loss reimbursement?

 Yes. They’re separate claim categories, and filing for the documented-loss reimbursement doesn’t reduce your pro rata payment.

Sources Used in This Telmate Data Breach Article

• Official Settlement Website — Cooper v. Telmate LLC d/b/a Viapath Technologies: https://www.telmatedatabreachsettlement.com/
• Kroll Settlement Administration LLC — PR Newswire statement, September 21, 2026: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/individuals-who-received-a-notice-about-the-telmate-data-security-incident-could-be-eligible-for-money-from-a-class-action-settlement-302883713.html

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. Facts verified against the official settlement website and Kroll Settlement Administration LLC’s September 21, 2026 statement on September 26, 2026. Last Updated: September 26, 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.