Fischer, et al. v. Instant Checkmate LLC, et al.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Case No. 1:19-cv-04892
IF YOU LIVE IN ALABAMA, CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, NEVADA, OHIO OR SOUTH DAKOTA AND SOMEONE SEARCHED YOUR NAME AND PURCHASED A REPORT ON INSTANTCHECKMATE.COM, INTELIUS.COM, TRUTHFINDER.COM, OR USSEARCH.COM YOU CAN CLAIM A PAYMENT FROM A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT.
A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit between people from certain U.S. States and Instant Checkmate LLC, Truthfinder LLC, Intelius LLC, PeopleConnect, Inc., and The Control Group Media Company, LLC (“Defendants”). The Defendants operate websites that provide directory services offering information about people. The lawsuit claims that Defendants violated these states’ right of publicity laws when they used individuals’ names, ages, contact information, former residence locations, lists of possible relatives, likenesses, photographs, images, or other identifying information to advertise or promote subscriptions to Defendants’ people-search websites. Defendants deny that they violated any law. The Court has not decided who is right or wrong.
If you received a notice of the Settlement in the mail or by e-mail, our records indicate that you are included in the Settlement, and you may submit a claim form online or by mail to receive a payment through Venmo, Zelle, or a check. Those included in the Settlement (i) have an Alabama, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, Ohio, or South Dakota address, (ii) were searched for on InstantCheckmate.com, Intelius.com, Truthfinder.com, or USSearch.com, and (iii) had a report on them purchased.
If the Court approves the Settlement, those included who submit valid claims will receive an equal share of a settlement fund that Defendants will provide for each state, after all notice and administration costs, incentive award, and attorneys’ fees have been paid. Individual payments are expected to be as follows for each state: Alabama, $577 to $960; California, $82 to $137; Illinois, $635 to $1,058; Indiana, $111 to $185; Nevada, $82 to $137; Ohio, $286 to $477; and South Dakota, $107 to $178. These payments could be more or less than these amounts depending on the number of valid claims submitted. Those eligible to submit claims and all residents in these states in Defendants’ database will also receive prospective relief: their names will not be displayed on pages of Defendants’ websites that include a subscription offer to Defendants’ products or services.
Please read the notice carefully. Your legal rights are affected whether you act, or don’t act.
SUBMIT A CLAIM FORM | This is the only way to receive a payment. You must submit a complete and valid claim form either online or by mail by December 27, 2023. |
DO NOTHING | You will receive no payment under the Settlement and give up your rights to sue Defendants and certain related companies and individuals about the issues in this case. |
EXCLUDE YOURSELF | If you don’t want to be a part of the Settlement, you must submit a request to be excluded by December 27, 2023. You will receive no payment, but you will retain any rights you currently have to sue Defendants and certain related companies and individuals about the issues in this case. |
OBJECT | Write to the Court explaining why you don’t like the Settlement by December 27, 2023. |
ATTEND A HEARING | Ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement. |
These rights and options—and the deadlines to exercise them—are explained in the notice.
The Court in charge of this case must still decide whether to approve the Settlement. Payments will be provided only after any issues with the Settlement are resolved. Please be patient.
Case Documents
Important Dates
| Preliminary Approval Granted | 09/08/2023 | |
| Objection Deadline | 12/27/2023 | |
| Opt Out Deadline | 12/27/2023 | |
| Claim Deadline | 12/27/2023 | |
| Final Approval Hearing | 02/15/2024 |