Ascendum Machinery $300,000 Data Breach Settlement

Current and former employees who received notice that the May 2023 Ascendum Machinery data breach compromised their personal information may be eligible to submit a claim for up to $3,000 and credit monitoring services from a class action settlement.

Ascendum Machinery agreed to pay $300,000 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging the company failed to adequately protect personal information, including employee names and Social Security numbers, during a data breach.

Who can file a claim for a settlement payment?

Class members must meet the following criteria:

• They reside in the United States.
• The Ascendum Machinery data breach that occurred on or around May 27, 2023, compromised their personal information.
• They received a notice from Ascendum regarding the security incident.

How much is the data breach class action payout?

Class members have the following benefit options:

• Credit monitoring services: All class members can elect to receive three years of three-bureau credit monitoring, which includes at least $1,000,000 in identity protection insurance.
• Extraordinary losses: Class members can claim up to $3,000 for documented, unreimbursed monetary losses due to identity theft, fraud or misuse that are traceable to the data breach and that occurred between March 23, 2023, and Jan. 15, 2026.
• Ordinary losses: Class members can claim up to $750 per person for documented out-of-pocket expenses, such as credit monitoring, credit reports or identity theft insurance purchased after the breach occurred.
• Lost time: Class members can claim up to four hours at $25 per hour (a maximum of $100) for time spent responding to the breach. Lost time claim amounts are included in the $750 cap for ordinary losses claims.

• Alternative cash payment: Class members who do not submit a claim for extraordinary losses, ordinary losses, lost time or credit monitoring can claim a $40 alternative cash payment.

How to claim a class action rebate

To receive a settlement payment, class members must submit a claim form. Individuals can file a claim online or download and print the PDF claim form and mail it to the settlement administrator.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Ascendum Machinery Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch St., Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Class members must submit a claim online or postmark it by Jan. 15, 2026.

Required proof and claim information

• To submit a claim, class members must provide the notice ID and confirmation code from their official settlement notice.
• Extraordinary losses claims require supporting documentation showing actual, unreimbursed monetary losses due to identity theft, fraud or misuse, that the data breach likely caused. Claimants must also show that they made reasonable efforts to avoid or recover the loss.
• Ordinary losses claims require supporting documentation, which may include receipts or bank and credit card statements showing unreimbursed expenses.
• Lost time claims require a written description of the time spent dealing with the data breach.

Payout options

Claimants can select one of the following payment options:

• PayPal
• Venmo
• Zelle
• Virtual prepaid card
• Check mailed to the address provided on claim form

Data breach settlement fund breakdown

The settlement funds will include the following:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees and expenses: Up to $200,000
• Service award to class representative: Up to $5,000
• Credit monitoring services: Cost determined by number of claims filed
• Payments to approved claimants: Up to $300,000 (separate from all other settlement costs and expenses)

Important dates

• Opt-out deadline: Dec. 16, 2025
• Deadline to file a claim: Jan. 15, 2026
• Final approval hearing: Jan. 22, 2026

When is the Ascendum Machinery data breach settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will issue payments and credit monitoring codes to eligible class members after it completes claim processing and the court grants final approval to the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged Ascendum Machinery Inc. experienced a data breach on or around May 27, 2023, which allegedly exposed employees' personal information. The plaintiff claimed that Ascendum failed to adequately protect this information.

Ascendum denies any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the case to avoid the expense and risk of further litigation.

Sources

1. Official settlement notice
2. Settlement website FAQ page
3. Official claim form