Helgeson v. Campus

Background

Five plaintiffs brought separate proposed class actions against Infinite Campus, Inc. concerning an alleged data breach involving the company’s servers that purportedly occurred on or around March 18, 2026. The complaints assert substantively similar causes of action based on the same alleged event and seek to represent the same group of individuals. The plaintiffs alleged that more than one million individuals were affected. Infinite Campus did not oppose the motions but expressly reserved its rights, remedies, defenses, objections, and arguments, including the right to seek dismissal and oppose class certification.

Consolidation

Applying Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42, the court concluded that the cases share common questions of law and fact and that consolidation would promote efficiency and avoid unnecessary cost or delay. The court granted the motions to consolidate. It consolidated Hall, Clark, Carver, and Helgeson with Stieve, the first-filed case, and designated Stieve as the lead case. Future pleadings, motions, and other documents must be filed in the lead case. The plaintiffs must file a consolidated amended complaint within 21 days of the order. After that complaint is filed, the other four cases will be administratively closed. The consolidation order also applies to later-filed proposed class actions involving similar factual allegations and causes of action relating to the alleged data breach.

Interim Co-Lead Counsel

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(g)(3), a court may appoint interim counsel for a proposed class before deciding whether to certify the class. The court found that interim co-lead counsel was appropriate because the cases overlapped, the alleged breach potentially affected more than one million individuals, and the proposed counsel represented that they would work cooperatively and efficiently. The court also relied on Bryan L. Bleichner’s and David A. Goodwin’s experience with nationwide consumer class actions and data-breach cases and the resources of their respective firms.

The court granted the motions to appoint Bleichner of Chestnut Cambronne PA and Goodwin of Gustafson Gluek PLLC as Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel. Their assigned responsibilities include coordinating plaintiffs’ counsel, organizing litigation work, communicating with the court and Infinite Campus, presenting plaintiffs’ positions, overseeing filings and hearings, coordinating settlement discussions, selecting experts when necessary, preparing status reports, and recommending procedures for fees and expenses subject to court approval.

What the Order Did Not Decide

The order addressed case management and representation before any decision on class certification or the merits of the plaintiffs’ claims. It did not determine whether Infinite Campus is liable for the alleged data breach or whether the proposed class should be certified.