Frequently Asked Questions

Basic Information

1. Why was the Notice issued?

The District Court for Washington County, Minnesota, authorized the Notice. You have a right to know about the proposed Settlement of this class action lawsuit, and about all of your options, before the Court decides whether to grant final approval of the Settlement. The Notice explains the lawsuit, your legal rights, what benefits are available, and who can receive them.

The lawsuit is called Anderson v. Self Esteem Brands, LLC d/b/a Purpose Brands, Case No. 82-CV-25-643. It is pending in the District Court for Washington County, Minnesota. The person that filed this lawsuit is called the “Plaintiff” (or “Class Representative”) and the company they sued, Self Esteem Brands, LLC d/b/a Purpose Brands, is called the “Defendant.”

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2. What is this lawsuit about?

This lawsuit alleges that during the Security Incident, certain files that contained private information were potentially accessed. These files may have contained personal information such as names, Social Security numbers, tax identification numbers, driver’s license numbers, state identification numbers, passport or other government identification numbers, financial account information, payment card information, health information, and health insurance information.

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3. What is a class action?

In a class action, one or more individuals sue on behalf of other people with similar claims. These individuals are called the “Plaintiffs” or “Class Representatives.” Together, the people included in the class action are called a “Class” or “Class Members.” One court resolves the lawsuit for all Class Members, except for those who opt out from the settlement. In this Settlement, the Class Representative is Ashley Anderson, and everyone included in this Action are the Class Members.

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4. Why is there a Settlement?

The Court did not decide whether the Plaintiff or the Defendant are right. Both sides have agreed to a Settlement to avoid the costs and risks of a trial, and to allow the Class Members to receive benefits from the Settlement. The Plaintiff and their attorneys think the Settlement is best for all Class Members.

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Who is in the Settlement?

5. Who is included in the Settlement?

The court has defined the Class this way: “All living individuals residing in the United States whose Personal Information may have been compromised in the Security Incident discovered by Self Esteem Brands in June 2024, including all those who were notified of the Security Incident.”

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6. Are there exceptions to being included?

Yes. Excluded from the Settlement Class are: (i) Defendant, its insurers, agents, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, officers and directors; (ii) all Settlement Class Members who timely and validly request exclusion from the Settlement Class; (iii) any judges assigned to this case and their staff and immediate family; and (iv) any other person found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be guilty under criminal law of initiating, causing, aiding or abetting the criminal activity occurrence of the Security Incident or who pleads nolo contendere to any such charge.

If you are not sure whether you are a Class Member, you can ask for free help any time by contacting the Settlement Administrator at:

Self Esteem Brands Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
(844) 496-1286
info@SelfEsteemSettlement.com

You may also view the Settlement Agreement here.

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The Settlement Benefits

7. What does the Settlement provide?

Self Esteem Brands has agreed to pay for a number of different benefits. All Class Members can enroll in two years of Credit Monitoring Services from a credit agency. In addition to Credit Monitoring Services, Class Members may choose between two cash payment options:

More information about each of these benefits is below. Full details are in Paragraphs 41 and 42 of the Settlement Agreement, available here.

Credit Monitoring Services: All Class Members are eligible to enroll in two years of Credit Monitoring Services from a credit agency. This benefit includes $1 million of identity theft protection insurance.

Cash Payment Option 1:

Documented Ordinary Losses (Out-of-Pocket Expenses). If you incurred actual, documented out-of-pocket expenses due to the Security Incident, you can get back up to $2,000.00. The losses must have occurred between December 19, 2023, and December 31, 2025.

This benefit covers out-of-pocket expenses like:

  • fees for credit reports, credit monitoring, or freezing and unfreezing your credit

  • cost to replace your IDs

  • postage to contact banks by mail

You need to send proof, like receipts, to show how much you spent or lost. You can also send notes or papers you made yourself to explain or support other proof, but those notes or papers alone are not enough to make a valid claim.

Documented Extraordinary Losses (Losses for Identity Theft or Fraud). If you lost money because of identity theft or fraud, you can get back up to $5,000.00.

You will need to show that:

  • the theft or fraud was more likely than not caused by the Security Incident

  • the losses are not already covered by Ordinary Losses

  • you tried to prevent the loss or get your money back, such as by using insurance you already have

The losses must have occurred between December 19, 2023, and December 31, 2025.

You need to send proof, like bank statements, to show how much you spent or lost or did not get reimbursed. You can also send notes or papers you made yourself to explain or support other proof, but those notes or papers alone are not enough to make a valid claim.

Compensation for Lost Time. Class Members who spent time responding to the Security Incident may claim up to four hours, at $20.00 per hour, for a maximum of $80.00. This benefit counts toward the $2,000.00 cap for Ordinary Losses.

You must have spent the time on tasks related to the Security Incident. Some examples include things like:

  • changing your passwords

  • investigating suspicious activity in your accounts

  • researching the Security Incident.

You must provide a brief description and attest that you spent the time claimed on tasks related to the Security Incident.

Cash Payment Option 2:

Alternative Cash Payment. Instead of the benefits in Option 1, you may claim a one-time $25.00 cash payment. You do not have to provide any proof or explanation to claim this payment.

If you have questions about these benefits, you can ask for free help any time by contacting the Settlement Administrator at:

Self Esteem Brands Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
(844) 496-1286
info@SelfEsteemSettlement.com

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8. What claims am I releasing if I stay in the Class?

If you stay in the class, you won’t be able to be part of any other lawsuit against Self Esteem Brands about the issues that this Settlement covers. The “Release” section of the Settlement Agreement (Section XI) describes the legal claims that you give up if you remain in the Class. The Settlement Agreement is available here.

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Submitting a Claim Form for a Settlement Payment

9. How do I submit a claim for a Settlement benefit?

The fastest way to submit your Claim Form is online. If you prefer, you can download a printable Claim Form and mail it to the Settlement Administrator at:

Self Esteem Brands Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799

You may also contact the Settlement Administrator to request a Claim Form by telephone, toll free, (844) 496-1286, by email info@SelfEsteemSettlement.com, or by U.S. mail at the address above.

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10. Are there any important Settlement payment deadlines?

If you are submitting a Claim Form online, you must do so by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2025. If you are submitting a claim by U.S. mail, the completed and signed Claim Form, including supporting documentation, must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2025.

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11. When will the Settlement benefits be issued?

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on January 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (see FAQ 18). If the Court approves the Settlement, there may be appeals. We do not know if appeals will be filed, or how long it will take to resolve them if they are filed.

Settlement payments will be distributed if the Court grants final approval, and after any appeals are resolved.

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The Lawyers Representing You

12. Do I have a lawyer in the case?

Yes, the Court appointed attorneys Raina C. Borrelli and Brittany Resch of Strauss Borrelli PLLC, to represent you and other Class Members (“Class Counsel”).

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13. Should I get my own lawyer?

You will not be charged for Class Counsel’s services. If you want your own lawyer, you may hire one at your expense.

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14. How will Class Counsel be paid?

Class Counsel will ask the court to approve $150,000.00, which will be paid by Self Esteem Brands.

Class Counsel will also ask for a Service Award Payment of $3,000.00 for the Class Representative. The Service Award Payment will also be paid by Self Esteem Brands.

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Excluding Yourself from the Settlement

15. How do I opt out of the Settlement?

If you do not want to be part of the Settlement, you must formally exclude yourself from the Settlement. This is called a Request for Exclusion, and is sometimes also called “opting out.” If you opt out, you will not receive Settlement benefits or payment. However, you will keep any rights you may have to sue Self Esteem Brands on your own about the legal issues in this case.

If you exclude yourself, you are telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement. You will not be eligible to receive any Settlement benefits if you exclude yourself.

The deadline to exclude yourself from the Settlement is December 1, 2025.

To be valid, your Request for Exclusion must have the following information:

  • the name of the Action: Anderson v. Self Esteem Brands, LLC d/b/a Purpose Brands, Case No. 82-CV-25-643, pending in the District Court for Washington County, Minnesota;

  • your full name, current mailing address, telephone number, and email address;

  • personal signature; and

  • the words “Request for Exclusion” or a clear and similar statement that you do not want to participate in the Settlement.

You may only exclude yourself—not any other person.

Mail your Request for Exclusion to the Settlement Administrator at:

Self Esteem Brands Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799

Your Request for Exclusion must be submitted, postmarked, or emailed to info@SelfEsteemSettlement.com by December 1, 2025.

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Commenting on or Objecting to the Settlement

16. How do I tell the Court if I like or do not like the Settlement?

If you are a Class Member and do not like part or all of the Settlement, you can object to it. Objecting means telling the Court your reasons for why you think the Court should not approve the Settlement. The Court will consider your views.

You cannot object if you have excluded yourself from the Settlement (see FAQ 15)

You must provide the following information for the Court to consider your objection:

  • the name of the Action: Anderson v. Self Esteem Brands, LLC d/b/a Purpose Brands, Case No. 82-CV-25-643, pending in the District Court for Washington County, Minnesota;

  • your full name, current mailing address, telephone number, and email address;

  • a statement that states with specificity the grounds for the objection, as well as any documents supporting the objection;

  • the name, address, and telephone number of any attorney(s) representing the objector;

  • a statement regarding whether the Settlement Class Member (or his/her attorney(s)) intends to appear at the Final Approval Hearing;

  • the signature of the Settlement Class Member or the Settlement Class Member’s attorney;

  • a list, by case name, court, and docket number, of all other cases in which the objector and/or the objector’s counsel has filed an objection to any proposed class action settlement within the last three (3) years.

For your objection to be valid, it must meet each of these requirements.

To be considered by the Court, you must file your complete objection with the Clerk of Court by December 1, 2025. You must also send a copy of the objection to the Settlement Administrator.

Clerk of the Court

Settlement Administrator

Clerk of the Court
14949 62nd St. N
P.O. Box 3802
Stillwater, MN 55082

Self Esteem Brands Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799

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17. What is the difference between objecting and excluding?

Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can object to the Settlement only if you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement. Excluding yourself from the Settlement is opting out and stating to the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement. If you opt out of the Settlement, you cannot object to it because the Settlement no longer affects you.

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The Court’s Final Approval Hearing

18. When is the Court’s Final Approval Hearing?

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on January 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time via Zoom. To join, visit https://zoomgov.com/join and enter the Meeting ID: 161 296 6205 and Passcode: 898468.

At the Final Approval Hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement. The court will also decide how much Class Counsel should be paid, and whether to award Service Award Payment to the Class Representative. The Court will also consider any objections to the Settlement.

If you are a Class Member, you or your lawyer may ask permission to speak at the hearing at your own cost (see FAQ 16).

The date and time of this hearing may change without further notice. Please check this website for updates.

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19. Do I have to come to the Final Approval Hearing?

No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. You may attend at your own expense if you wish, but you do not have to.

If you file an objection, you do not have to come to the Final Approval Hearing to talk about it; the Court will consider it as long as it was filed on time. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but you do not have to.

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If I Do Nothing

20. What happens if I do nothing at all?

If you do nothing, you will not receive a benefit from this Settlement. You will also give up the rights described in FAQ 8.

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Getting More Information

21. How do I get more information?

This website and the Notice are a summary of the proposed Settlement. The full Settlement Agreement and other related documents are available on the Important Documents page of this website.

If you have additional questions, you can ask for free help any time by contacting the Settlement Administrator at:

Self Esteem Brands Data Incident Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
(844) 496-1286
info@SelfEsteemSettlement.com

You can obtain copies of publicly filed documents by visiting the office of the Clerk of the Court, 14949 62nd St. N, P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082.

Do Not Contact The Court or Clerk of Court Regarding This Settlement.

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