$122,500 Watershed Foods Genetic Privacy GIPA Settlement, You Get Paid Automatically Here’s What to Know Before July 6

The Watershed Foods GIPA settlement is a $122,500 Illinois employment privacy settlement where eligible current and former employees and job applicants will receive an automatic cash payment — no claim form required — once the Circuit Court of McLean County, Illinois approves the deal. The case, Tasker v. Watershed Foods, LLC, Case No. 2024CH000013, alleges that Watershed violated Illinois’ Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA), 410 ILCS 513, by asking workers about their family medical history during employment-related medical exams. Watershed denies all wrongdoing. The final approval hearing is set for August 3, 2026.

Watershed Foods GIPA Settlement: Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$122,500
Claim Form Required?	No — identified class members receive payment automatically
Opt-Out Deadline	July 6, 2026
Objection Deadline	July 6, 2026
Who Qualifies	Illinois individuals who applied for or worked at Watershed Foods and had family medical history requested by the company from September 5, 2018 to the present
Estimated Payout Per Person	TBD — pro-rata share of net fund after attorneys’ fees, expenses, and incentive award
Settlement Status	Proposed — Final Approval Hearing August 3, 2026
Settlement Administrator	Simpluris, Inc.
Official Website	www.WatershedGIPASettlement.com
Last Updated	May 14, 2026

Current Status of the Watershed Foods Settlement

• The settlement has received preliminary court approval from the Circuit Court of McLean County, Illinois.
• The opt-out and objection deadline is July 6, 2026.
• The final approval hearing is set for August 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., Courtroom 5D, McLean County Circuit Court — held via Zoom (Meeting ID: 947 194 3584).
• Payments will go out only after final approval and after any appeals are resolved.

What Is the Watershed Foods Lawsuit About? Tasker v. Watershed Foods, LLC, Case No. 2024CH000013

If you applied for a job at Watershed Foods, LLC or worked there, you may have gone through a pre-employment or workplace physical. The lawsuit alleges that during those exams, Watershed — directly or through a medical provider it hired — asked applicants and employees about their family medical history. Under Illinois law, that is not a harmless routine question. It is genetic information.

Illinois’ Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA), 410 ILCS 513, prohibits employers from directly or indirectly soliciting, requesting, or requiring the submission of genetic information — including family medical history — as a condition of employment or a pre-employment application. GIPA was enacted specifically to prevent employers from using genetic data to make discriminatory decisions about hiring or continued employment. The statute carries meaningful teeth: it provides a private right of action and allows statutory damages of $2,500 per negligent violation and up to $15,000 per intentional or reckless violation.

GIPA cases have surged across Illinois courts since 2023, closely following the path carved by the state’s better-known Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Just as BIPA cases targeted employers collecting fingerprints or facial scans without consent, GIPA cases target employers pulling family health information through physical exam forms — often without workers even realizing the question is legally off-limits. Plaintiff Philip Tasker filed this suit on behalf of all workers and applicants who experienced that same request. Watershed firmly denies the allegations and maintains it did nothing wrong. Both sides agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of trial. If you worked at or applied to Watershed Foods in Illinois at any point since September 5, 2018, this settlement may put money in your pocket without you having to lift a finger.

For context on how GIPA compares to Illinois’ other landmark privacy law, see our coverage of the Apple Siri BIPA class action lawsuit, which involves similar statutory privacy protections for Illinois residents.

Are You Part of the Watershed Foods GIPA Settlement?

The class is defined by your employment relationship with Watershed and whether your family medical history was requested. Here is how to know if you are included.

You may be part of this class if you:

• Applied for employment with Watershed Foods, LLC in Illinois on or after September 5, 2018
• Were employed by Watershed Foods, LLC in Illinois at any point from September 5, 2018 to the present
• Had Watershed — directly or indirectly through a third-party medical provider — request your family medical history in connection with your job application or employment
• Received a class notice from the settlement administrator (Simpluris, Inc.) — if you received a notice, you have already been identified as a class member

You do NOT qualify if you:

• Never applied for or held employment with Watershed Foods, LLC
• Are a sitting judge or court staff member presiding over this action, or their immediate family
• Properly submit a timely request for exclusion before the July 6, 2026 deadline

Not sure if you qualify? Call the toll-free number at (833) 417-4973 or email [email protected]. You can also visit www.WatershedGIPASettlement.com for more information.

How Much Will You Get from the Watershed Foods Settlement?

The total settlement fund is $122,500. Before payments reach class members, the court must approve deductions for:

• Attorneys’ fees — Class Counsel Burke Law Offices, LLC is requesting up to 40% of the settlement fund ($49,000)
• Litigation expenses — out-of-pocket costs incurred during the case, also requested at $49,000
• Incentive award — $10,000 for named plaintiff Philip Tasker

After those deductions, the remaining net fund is divided equally among all class members who do not opt out — a pro-rata share per person. The exact per-person amount cannot be calculated until all opt-outs are processed after the July 6, 2026 deadline. The smaller the number of class members who opt out, the more diluted each share becomes; the more who remain, the more predictable the distribution.

One important note: attorneys’ fees in this settlement are high relative to the fund size. Class Counsel is requesting up to 40% of $122,500 — which is above the one-third (33%) benchmark common in consumer class actions. The court will decide the final fee award at the August 3, 2026 hearing.

You Do Not Need to File a Claim — But Here Is What You Should Do

This settlement works differently from most. You do not need to submit a claim form. If you have already been identified as a class member — meaning you received a notice from Simpluris, Inc. — you will automatically receive a payment as long as you do not opt out.

Here is what you should actually do before the deadlines:

If you want your payment: Do nothing. Stay in the class. Your payment will arrive after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved.

If you want to opt out: Send a written letter to the settlement administrator postmarked by July 6, 2026 that includes: your full name, address, email, signature, the case name and number (Tasker v. Watershed Foods, LLC, Case No. 2024CH000013), and a statement that you wish to be excluded. Mail it to:

Watershed GIPA Settlement ATTN: Exclusion Request P.O. Box 25226 Santa Ana, CA 92799

Opting out means you receive no payment but preserve your right to pursue your own employment discrimination lawsuit or data privacy attorney consultation about an individual claim against Watershed.

If you want to object: Submit a written objection to the court and Class Counsel by July 6, 2026, following the detailed instructions in the official settlement notice at www.WatershedGIPASettlement.com.

Important: You cannot both opt out and object. Choose one path.

Watershed Foods Settlement Key Dates

Milestone	Date
Lawsuit Filed	2024 (McLean County Circuit Court)
Settlement Agreement Executed	2025/2026
Preliminary Approval Granted	2026
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	July 6, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	August 3, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. (via Zoom)
Expected Payment Date	TBD — after final approval and resolution of any appeals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action settlement against Watershed Foods? 

Yes. Tasker v. Watershed Foods, LLC, Case No. 2024CH000013, is a class action pending in the Circuit Court of McLean County, Illinois. The $122,500 settlement alleges Watershed violated the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act by requesting family medical history from employees and applicants at pre-employment or workplace physicals.

Do I need to file a claim to get paid from the Watershed Foods settlement?

No. This settlement does not require a claim form. If you received a notice from Simpluris, Inc., you have already been identified as a class member and will receive an automatic pro-rata payment as long as you do not opt out by July 6, 2026.

What is GIPA and why does it matter for Watershed employees? 

GIPA — the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act, 410 ILCS 513 — prohibits employers from requesting genetic information, including family medical history, in connection with hiring or employment. Asking about your parents’ health conditions at a job physical can constitute a GIPA violation, giving workers the right to file a legal claim for statutory damages. This settlement resolves those claims for the Watershed class.

How much will I receive from the Watershed Foods GIPA settlement?

 The exact per-person amount is not yet determined. It depends on the total net fund after attorneys’ fees (up to 40%), expenses, and the incentive award are deducted, divided equally among all class members who do not opt out. Once all opt-out requests are processed after July 6, 2026, the administrator can calculate individual shares.

When will I receive my Watershed Foods settlement payment?

 Payments go out only after the August 3, 2026 final approval hearing and after all appeals are resolved. If no one appeals, expect payments several months after the hearing. There is no confirmed payment date yet. Update your mailing address with the administrator at [email protected] if you have moved.

Is the Watershed Foods settlement legitimate? 

Yes. This is a court-supervised class action authorized by the Circuit Court of McLean County, Illinois, in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. The settlement administrator is Simpluris, Inc., a professional claims administration firm. Class Counsel is Burke Law Offices, LLC, based in Evanston, Illinois. You can review all documents at www.WatershedGIPASettlement.com.

Can I still sue Watershed Foods individually if I stay in the settlement?

 No. If you remain in the class and the court approves the settlement, you release all GIPA-related claims against Watershed arising from the alleged conduct. If you believe your individual damages significantly exceed your pro-rata share, consult a consumer rights lawyer before the July 6, 2026 opt-out deadline to evaluate whether opting out makes sense for your situation.

What if I didn’t receive a notice but think I worked at Watershed? 

Contact the settlement administrator directly at (833) 417-4973 or [email protected]. The class is limited to workers whose information was identified by Watershed as having had family medical history requested — not every employee automatically qualifies.

Sources & References

• Official Settlement Notice — WatershedGIPASettlement.com
• Settlement FAQ — WatershedGIPASettlement.com
• Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act, 410 ILCS 513 — Illinois General Assembly

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official settlement notice authorized by the Circuit Court of McLean County, Illinois, and the official settlement website administered by Simpluris, Inc., on May 14, 2026. Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.