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Current and former employees who received a notice stating the February 2025 Lee Enterprises data security incident compromised their private information may qualify to submit a claim for up to $3,000 from a class action settlement. The data breach impacted an estimated 39,779 individuals.
Lee Enterprises Inc. agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to adequately protect personal information during a cybersecurity incident. The data breach may have resulted in unauthorized access to files containing names, Social Security numbers and medical information.
Who can file a claim for a data breach payout?
Class members are individuals whom the data breach, which occurred in February 2025, impacted and who received notice of the incident from Lee Enterprises.
How much is the settlement payment?
Class members have following benefit options:
- Option A – Ordinary losses and lost time: Class members can claim up to $1,000 in out-of-pocket expenses that occurred between June 1, 2025, and May 26, 2026, and are traceable to the data breach. Eligible expenses include fees for credit reports, credit monitoring, bank fees, postage and gasoline for local travel. Class members can also claim up to four hours of lost time at $20 per hour for a maximum $80.
- Option B – Extraordinary losses: Class members who experienced identity theft or fraud due to the data breach can claim up to $3,000 for unrecovered monetary losses the incident likely caused between June 1, 2025, and May 26, 2026.
- Alternative cash payment: Class members who do not claim ordinary losses, lost time or extraordinary losses can submit a claim to receive a one-time cash payment estimated to be $35.
- Credit monitoring: All class members can elect to receive one year of CyEx Financial Shield Total, which includes three-bureau monitoring and financial fraud insurance of up to $1,000,000.
How to claim a class action rebate
To receive a settlement payment, class members can file a claim online or print a PDF claim form to complete and mail to the settlement administrator.
Settlement administrator's mailing address: Lee Enterprises Data Security Incident Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA 92799
The claim deadline is May 26, 2026.
Required proof and claim information
- Online claims require the unique ID and PIN from the settlement notice the class member received.
- Ordinary losses claims require supporting documentation, which may include receipts and bank or credit card statements showing expenses.
- Extraordinary losses claims require supporting documentation, which may include receipts, invoices for services, bank or credit card statements showing unreimbursed fraudulent charges, police reports and other proof of identity theft or fraud.
Payout options
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Zelle
- Virtual prepaid card
- Paper check mailed to the address provided
Settlement fund breakdown
The $600,000 settlement fund will include the following:
- Settlement administration costs: To be determined
- Attorneys' fees and costs: Up to $200,000
- Service awards to class representatives: $1,000 each
- Credit monitoring services: Cost determined by number of claims filed
- Payments to approved claimants: Remaining settlement funds
Important dates
- Opt-out deadline: April 24, 2026
- Claim deadline: May 26, 2026
- Final approval hearing: June 30, 2026
When is the Lee Enterprises data breach settlement payout date?
The settlement administrator will issue payments and credit monitoring information to approved claimants approximately 90 days after it completes claim processing and the court grants final approval to the settlement.
Why is there a class action settlement?
This class action lawsuit alleged Lee Enterprises experienced a cybersecurity incident in February 2025 that may have exposed personal information. The plaintiffs claimed Lee Enterprises failed to adequately protect their data, which led to the breach.
Lee Enterprises denies the allegations but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of further litigation.
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