SECOND AMENDED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT - CASE NO. 3:23-cv-830-VC

Sep 19, 2026

Second Amended Class Action Complaint filed in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, Case No. 3:23-CV-830-VC. Plaintiffs Nicholas C. Smith-Washington, Joyce Mahoney, Jonathan Ames, Matthew Hartz, and Jenny Lewis allege that TaxAct, Inc. unlawfully disclosed confidential and private tax return information to unauthorized third-party advertising platforms. Claims include invasion of privacy, violations of California statutes and federal ECPA, breach of contract, and demand for jury trial, based on personal knowledge and investigation of counsel.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages75

Reading Time26 min

AccessFree to download

I. Introduction

Allegations of disclosure and confidential tax return information

Background on TaxAct services and e-filing operations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 | Case 3:23-cv-00830-VC Document 117 Filed 02/20/24 Page 1 of 75
HAMMONDLAW, P.C.
Julian Hammond (SBN 268489) [jhammond@hammondlawpc.com](jhammond@hammondlawpc.com)[ ](jhammond@hammondlawpc.com)Christina Tusan (SBN 192203) [ctusan@hammondlawpc.com](ctusan@hammondlawpc.com)[ ](ctusan@hammondlawpc.com)Adrian Barnes (SBN 253131) [abarnes@hammondlawpc.com](abarnes@hammondlawpc.com)[ ](abarnes@hammondlawpc.com)Ari Cherniak (SBN 290071) [acherniak@hammondlawpc.com](acherniak@hammondlawpc.com)[ ](acherniak@hammondlawpc.com)Polina Brandler (SBN 269086) [pbrandler@hammondlawpc.com](pbrandler@hammondlawpc.com)
1201 Pacific Avenue, 6th Floor Tacoma, WA 98402 Telephone: (310) 601-6766
Facsimile: (310) 295-2385
Attorneys for Plaintiffs and the Putative Classes [Additional counsel listed on next page]
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
NICHOLAS C. SMITH-WASHINGTON, ) Case No. 3:23-CV-830-VC JOYCE MAHONEY, JONATHAN AMES, )
MATTHEW HARTZ, and JENNY LEWIS, ) SECOND AMENDED CLASS on behalf of themselves and all others ) ACTION COMPLAINT FOR:
similarly situated, )
) 1. Invasion of Privacy;
Plaintiffs, ) 2. Invasion of Privacy
) ([Cal. Const. art. 1](Cal. Const. art. 1), § 1);
v. ) 3. Violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code
)
§ 17530.5;
TAXACT, INC., an Iowa corporation, )
4. Violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code
)
Defendant. ) §§ 22250 et seq. (TPA);
) 5. Violation of Cal. Civ. Code) §§ 1799 et seq.;
) 6. Violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510 et) seq. (ECPA);
) 7. Violation of Cal. Penal Code) §§ 630 et seq. (CIPA);
) 8. Violation of Cal. Penal Code § 502) (CCDAFA);
) 9. Violation of Cal. Penal Code) §§ 484, 496;
) 10. Breach of Contract; and
) 11. Violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code) §§ 17200 et seq. (UCL)
)
) DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
) | | --- | | SECOND AMENDED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
CASE NO. 3:23-cv-830-VC | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 | Case 3:23-cv-00830-VC Document 117 Filed 02/20/24 Page 2 of 75
KELLER POSTMAN LLC
Warren D. Postman (SBN 330869) [wdp@kellerpostman.com](wdp@kellerpostman.com)
1101 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20036 Telephone: (312) 741-5220
Facsimile: (312) 971-3502
Ethan H. Ames (SBN 339027) [ethan.ames@kellerpostman.com](ethan.ames@kellerpostman.com)
[150 N. Riverside Plaza](150 N. Riverside Plaza), Suite 4100 Chicago, IL 60606
Telephone: (312) 741-5220
Facsimile: (312) 971-3502
Attorneys for Plaintiffs and the Putative Classes | | --- | | SECOND AMENDED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
CASE NO. 3:23-cv-830-VC | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 | Case 3:23-cv-00830-VC Document 117 Filed 02/20/24 Page 3 of 75
Plaintiffs Nicholas C. Smith-Washington, Joyce Mahoney, Jonathan Ames, Matthew Hartz, and Jenny Lewis (collectively,“Plaintiffs”), on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated (“Class Members”), by and through their attorneys of record, HammondLaw, P.C., file this Class Action Complaint against Defendant TaxAct, Inc. (“TaxAct” and “Defendant”) alleging the following, based upon personal knowledge, where applicable, information and belief, and the investigation of counsel:
I. INTRODUCTION
1. This case is about Defendant’s egregious and unlawful disclosure of Plaintiffs’ and Class Members’ confidential and private tax return information—including but not limited to each taxpayer’s name, phone number, Adjusted Gross Income (“AGI”), refund amount, filing status, typeof return, age range, tax year, employment status, and names of dependents 1 (collectively“Confidential Tax Return Information”)—and personal identifiers

FAQs

What is the case about in the Second Amended Class Action Complaint?

The complaint alleges TaxAct unlawfully disclosed plaintiffs’ confidential and private tax return information, including personal identifiers, to unauthorized third-party advertising platforms.

Who are the named plaintiffs and who is the defendant?

Named plaintiffs are Nicholas C. Smith-Washington, Joyce Mahoney, Jonathan Ames, Matthew Hartz, and Jenny Lewis. The defendant is TaxAct, Inc.

What legal claims are listed in the complaint?

The complaint lists claims including invasion of privacy, violations of California statutes and federal ECPA, breach of contract, and violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law, along with a demand for jury trial.

Sep 19, 2026

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