U.S. DISTRICT COURT- DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA Individuals Whose Minnesota Driver's License Records Were Improperly Accessed May Receive Money from a Class Action Settlement. WHAT IS THIS CASE ABOUT? The lawsuit claims that Minnesota driver's license records were improperly accessed by a Mille Lacs County employee. Plaintiffs alleged that improper access of this information is a violation of several laws, including the Drivers Privacy Protection Act ("DPPA"), the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983, common law invasion of privacy and negligent supervision. Defendants deny any wrongdoing. A class action settlement has been proposed. The settlement provides money to individuals that qualify. If you qualify, you may receive a check, exclude yourself from the settlement, or object to it. The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota will have a hearing to decide whether to approve the settlement. ARE YOU AFFECTED? People whose Minnesota Driver's License Records were improperly accessed by defendant Mikki Jo Peterick from January 1, 2009 to January 28, 2012 while she was employed by Mille Lacs County, Minnesota are class members. All affected individuals should have received a Notice in the mail. If you believe you did not receive this Notice but should have, please contact and immediately request a copy of the Notice from any of the following attorneys and law firms, who serve as class counsel: SIEBEN CAREY PA Jeffrey Montpetit/Sue Holden 901 Marquette Ave. Suite 500 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612.333.4500 SAPIENTIA LAW GROUP, PLLC Jon Strauss/Sonia Miller-Van Oort 120 South 6th St #100 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612.756.7100 Any of these attorneys may also be contacted if you have questions about the settlement. WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE? People whose Minnesota Driver's License Records were considered to be accessed illegitimately will receive a check based on the number of times their records were improperly searched. Not all class members will receive payment. Please refer to the Notice for more information. THE COURT'S FAIRNESS HEARING The Court will hold a hearing in this case called, Gulsvig et al. v. Peterick et al., Case No. 13-cv-1309 ((JRT/LIB) on August 24, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. At the hearing, the judge will consider: (1) whether to approve the settlement; (2) payment of Class Counsel fees not to exceed 40% of the settlement amount plus costs; and (3) payments of $25,000 each to the Class Representatives in addition to their payments for improper searching. WHAT ARE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS? If you received a Notice in the mail and do nothing, you remain in this lawsuit and are bound by all orders and judgments of the Court. This means you cannot sue Defendants about the legal claims in this lawsuit. If you stay in the lawsuit, you may object to the settlement. You or your own lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at your own cost, but you do not have to. Objections and requests to appear at the hearing are due August 19, 2016 and you may speak at the hearing to object to the settlement only if you have filed a written objection. If you do not want to stay in the class, you must exclude yourself by August 19, 2016. The detailed Notice explains how to object and how to ask to appear and speak or request exclusion.
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