Attention: All Associates

To All Associates Impacted By The 2016 W-2 Phishing Incident:
 
As you may be aware, in 2016, a class action was filed against Essex following a "phishing" incident that occurred where an unknown person fraudulently induced an Essex employee to email some employees' personally identifiable information outside the company.  Essex responded immediately upon learning of the incident, including by providing credit monitoring and identity protection services free of charge to those whose information had been emailed.  Essex has carefully reviewed its policies and practices and strongly denies any allegations of intentional wrong-doing. Although the Court has not ruled on the merits of the case, Essex has made a business decision to settle this lawsuit. Essex agreed to and supports the settlement, and would like to see it successfully completed so that the litigation ends and the affected employees obtain the benefits of the settlement.
 
 The Court has preliminarily approved the settlement between the parties and, on June 13th, a third-party settlement administrator will be mailing out notices of the class action settlement to all Class Members, which includes all current and former Essex employees whose personally identifiable information was released in the 2016 "phishing" incident. If the Court finally adopts the proposed settlement, Class Members who participate in the settlement will receive a financial payment, and additional years of identity and credit protection services.  

While the Company does not have a position on whether you should or should not participate in or opt out of the settlement, it is acceptable to the Company if you choose to "Do Nothing" in regard to the notice and participate in the settlement on the terms state in the notice.

The settlement is being supervised by the Court. It has appointed lawyers for the Class Members.  Therefore, if you have questions about the settlement, please carefully review the settlement notice you will be receiving in the mail.  You can also review the settlement website at www.girouxsettlement.com and contact the settlement administrator and lawyers who will be identified in the notice and on the website. 

If you have further questions, we ask that you direct them to Brigitte Hurney, Director of Human Resources, at (949) 863-4239 or bhurney@essex.com.