1. What is the Notice and why should I read it?
2. What is a class action?
3. What is this lawsuit about?
4. Who is included in the Settlement Class?
5. How do I know if I am in the Settlement Class?
6. What does the Settlement provide?
7. How do I get a payment?
8. When will I get my payment?
9. Do I have a lawyer in the case?
10. Should I get my own lawyer?
11. How will the lawyers be paid?
12. What happens if I do nothing at all?
13. What happens if I ask to be excluded?
14. How do I ask to be excluded?
15. If I don't exclude myself, can I sue Sequencing for the same thing later?
16. If I exclude myself, can I get anything from this Settlement?
17. How do I object to the Settlement?
18. What's the difference between objecting and excluding myself from the Settlement?
19. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?
20. Do I have to come to the hearing?
21. May I speak at the hearing?
22. Where do I get more information?
The Court authorized the Notice to let you know about a proposed Settlement with Sequencing. You have legal rights and options that you may act on before the Court decides whether to approve the proposed Settlement. You may be eligible to receive a cash payment as part of the Settlement. The Notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, and your legal rights.
Judge Elaine E. Bucklo of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is overseeing this class action. The case is called Melvin v. Sequencing, Inc., No. 21-cv-02194. The individual who filed the lawsuit, David Melvin, is the Plaintiff. The company he sued, Sequencing, Inc., is the Defendant.
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A class action is a lawsuit in which an individual called a "Class Representative" brings a single lawsuit on behalf of other people who have similar legal claims. All of these people together are a "Class" or "Class Members." Once a settlement class is certified, a class action settlement finally approved by the Court resolves the issues for all Settlement Class Members, except for those who ask to be excluded.
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The Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act ("GIPA"), 410 ILCS 513, et seq., restricts what companies may do with genetic information and testing results that they have in their possession, including results from direct-to-consumer commercial genetic testing.
This lawsuit alleges that Sequencing violated GIPA by sharing---without the proper written authorization---its users' genetic information and genetic testing with third parties in connection with the reports provided through www.sequencing.com. Sequencing denies these allegations and denies that it violated GIPA.
More information about Plaintiff's complaint in the lawsuit and the Defendant's defenses can be found on the Important Documents page of this website.
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The Court decided that this Settlement Class includes all individuals located in Illinois with a Sequencing.com account who had their genetic information shared with a third party between January 28, 2016, and April 8, 2021.
However, the following individuals are excluded from the Settlement Class: (1) any Judge or Magistrate presiding over this action and members of their families; (2) Defendant, Defendant's subsidiaries, parent companies, successors, predecessors, and any entity in which Defendant or its parents have a controlling interest; (3) persons who properly execute and file a timely request for exclusion from the Settlement Class; (4) the legal representatives, successors or assigns of any such excluded persons; and (5) individuals who signed up for a Sequencing.com account by checking a box next to a hyperlink to terms of use containing an arbitration clause and information-sharing disclosure.
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If you are or were located in Illinois with a Sequencing.com account and had your genetic information shared with a third party between January 28, 2016, and April 8, 2021, and are not subject to any of the exclusions listed above, then you are a member of the Settlement Class and are entitled to a cash payment.
If you received a notice of the Settlement in the mail or by email, our records indicate that you are a Settlement Class Member and are included in the Settlement.
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If the Court approves the Settlement, Sequencing has agreed to create a Settlement Fund of $356,500.00. Each Class Member is expected to receive a Settlement Payment of approximately TBD after all fees and costs are deducted.
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If you are a Class Member, you will receive a check in the mail automatically at your last known address. You can also select to receive your payment electronically, via Venmo or Zelle (instead of a check), click here to update your address and select your payment method.
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The hearing to consider the fairness of the Settlement is scheduled for January 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. If the Court approves the Settlement, and there are no objections or appeals, eligible Settlement Class Members will automatically be sent their payment within 60 days after the Court finally approves the Settlement via check or the electronic payment method they chose (see FAQ 7 above). Please be patient. All checks and electronic payments that are unable to be completed will expire and become void after 180 days. Uncashed checks and electronic payments unable to be processed will be re-distributed to the Settlement Class Members who cashed their checks or successfully received their electronic payments, if feasible and in the interests of the Settlement Class. If redistribution is not feasible, or if residual funds remain after redistribution, such funds will be donated to a non-profit recipient selected by the Court following application by Class Counsel.
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Yes, the Court has appointed lawyer Michael W. Ovca of Edelson PC as the attorney to represent you and other Settlement Class Members. This attorney is called "Class Counsel." In addition, the Court appointed Plaintiff David Melvin to serve as the Class Representative. He is a Class Member like you. Class Counsel can be reached by calling 1-312-589-6370.
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You don't need to hire your own lawyer because Class Counsel is working on your behalf. You may hire your own lawyer, but if you do so, you will have to pay that lawyer.
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Class Counsel will ask the Court for reimbursement of their expenses and attorneys' fees of up to 35% of the Settlement Fund and will also request an incentive award of $5,000.00 for the Class Representative. The Court will determine the proper amount of any attorneys' fees and expenses to award Class Counsel and the proper amount of any incentive award to the Class Representative. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. The request will be posted on the Settlement Website by December 5, 2025.
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If you do nothing you will remain a Settlement Class Member, which means that if the Court approves the Settlement, you will automatically be sent a payment and you will be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court. Unless you exclude yourself from the Settlement, you also won't be able to start a lawsuit or be part of any other lawsuit against Sequencing or any other Released Parties (a term defined in the Settlement Agreement) for the claims or legal issues being resolved by this Settlement.
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You may exclude yourself from the Settlement. If you do so, you will not receive any payment, but you will not release any claims you may have against Sequencing or the Released Parties and can pursue whatever legal rights you may have against Sequencing and the Released Parties at your own risk and expense.
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You can mail or email a letter stating that you want to be excluded from the Settlement. Your email or letter must: (a) be in writing; (b) identify the case name Melvin v. Sequencing, Inc., No. 21-cv-02194 (N.D. Ill.); (c) state the full name and current address of the person seeking exclusion; (d) be signed by the person seeking exclusion; and (e) be postmarked or received by the Settlement Administrator on or before December 22, 2025. Your request to be excluded must also include a statement to the effect that: "I hereby request to be excluded from the settlement in Melvin v. Sequencing, Inc., No. 21-cv-02194 (N.D. Ill.)." You must mail or email your exclusion request no later than December 22, 2025, to:
Melvin v. Sequencing Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
info@SequencingGIPASettlement.com
You can't exclude yourself over the phone. No person may request to be excluded from the Settlement Class through "mass" or "class" opt-outs. Each request for exclusion must be separately signed and submitted.
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No. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up any right to sue Sequencing and any other Released Party for the claims being resolved by this Settlement.
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No. If you exclude yourself, you will not receive a payment.
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If you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement Class and you are a Settlement Class Member, you can object to the Settlement if you don't like any part of it. You can give reasons why you think the Court should deny approval by filing an objection. To object, you must file a letter or brief with the Court stating that you object to the Settlement in Melvin v. Sequencing, Inc., No. 21-cv-02194 (N.D. Ill.), no later than December 22, 2025. Your objection must be e-filed or delivered to the Court at the following address:
Clerk of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse
219 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
The objection must be in writing, must be signed, and must include the following information: (a) your full name and current address; (b) a statement that you believe yourself to be a member of the Settlement Class; (c) whether the objection applies only to you, a specific subset of the Settlement Class, or the entirety of the Settlement Class; (d) the specific grounds for your objection; (e) all documents or writings that you want the Court to consider; (f) the name and contact information of any and all attorneys representing, advising, or in any way assisting you in connection with the preparation or submission of the objection or who may profit from the pursuit of the objection; and (g) a statement indicating whether you intend to appear at the Final Approval Hearing (either personally or through counsel, who must file an appearance or seek pro hac vice admission).
You must submit any objection in writing by December 22, 2025, in order to be heard by the Court at the Final Approval Hearing. If you hire an attorney in connection with making an objection, that attorney must file an appearance with the Court or seek pro hac vice admission to practice before the Court, and electronically file the objection by the objection deadline of December 22, 2025. If you do hire your own attorney, you will be solely responsible for payment of any fees and expenses the attorney incurs on your behalf. If you exclude yourself from the Settlement, you cannot file an objection.
In addition to filing your objection with the Court, you must send via mail, email, or delivery service, by no later than December 22, 2025, copies of your objection and any supporting documents to both Class Counsel and the Defendant's Counsel at the addresses listed below:
Class Counsel | Defendant's Counsel |
Michael W. Ovca | Joel Griswold |
Class Counsel will file with the Court and post on the settlement website its request for attorneys' fees and Plaintiff's request for incentive awards on December 5, 2025.
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Objecting simply means telling the Court that you don't like something about the Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Settlement Class as a Settlement Class Member. Excluding yourself from the Settlement Class is telling the Court that you don't want to be a Settlement Class Member. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the case no longer affects you.
The chart below summarizes each of your options:
Do Nothing | Object | Opt Out | |
Can I receive settlement money if I . . . | YES | YES | NO |
Am I bound by the terms of this lawsuit if I . . . | YES | YES | NO |
Can I pursue my own case if I . . . | NO | NO | YES |
Will the class lawyers represent me if I . . . | YES | NO | NO |
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The Court will hold the Final Approval Hearing on January 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before the Honorable Elaine E. Bucklo in Courtroom 2243 at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604, or via remote means as instructed by the Court. Instructions for participating remotely will be posted on this Settlement Website. The purpose of the hearing is for the Court to determine whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of the Settlement Class Members. At the hearing, the Court will hear any objections and arguments concerning the fairness of the proposed Settlement, including those related to the amount requested by Class Counsel for attorneys' fees and expenses and the incentive awards to the Class Representative.
Note: The date, time, and location of the Final Approval Hearing are subject to change by the Court. Any changes will be posted on this Settlement Website.
The Court's webpage can be accessed at https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov.
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No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. You are welcome to come at your own expense. If you send an objection, you don't have to come to Court to talk about it. As long as your written objection was filed or mailed on time and meets the other criteria described in the Settlement, the Court will consider it. You may also pay a lawyer to attend, but you don't have to.
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Yes. If you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you may ask the Court for permission to speak at the hearing concerning any part of the proposed Settlement. If you filed an objection (see the FAQ 17 above) and intend to appear at the hearing, you must state your intention to do so in your objection.
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This website summarizes the proposed Settlement. More details, including the Settlement Agreement and other documents are available on the Important Documents page of this website or at the Clerk's Office in the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays. You can also contact Class Counsel at 1-312-589-6370 with any questions.
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