M.A. Ford $425,000 Data Breach Class Action Settlement

Individuals who received notice from M.A. Ford that a December 2023 data security incident may have compromised their personal information could be eligible to claim up to $6,000 and/or credit monitoring from a class action settlement.

M.A. Ford Mfg. Co. Inc. agreed to pay $425,000 to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to adequately protect private information, resulting in a targeted cyberattack in December 2023 that allowed unauthorized access to files containing personally identifiable information.

Who can file a claim?

Class members must meet the following criteria:

• They received notice from M.A. Ford that the December 2023 data security incident may have compromised their information.
• Their name appears in M.A. Ford's records as an affected individual.

How much can class members receive?

The settlement provides the following compensation options:

• Reimbursement for out-of-pocket losses: Up to $500 for documented expenses related to the data breach, such as costs for credit reports, credit monitoring, freezing/unfreezing credit, replacing IDs or postage to contact banks
• Reimbursement for losses from identity theft or fraud: Up to $5,000 for documented monetary losses resulting from identity theft or fraud related to the data breach and not already covered by out-of-pocket expenses or reimbursed by a third party
• Reimbursement for attested time: Up to five hours at $25 per hour (maximum $125) for time spent dealing with the data breach, such as changing passwords, investigating suspicious activity or researching the incident
• Pro rata cash payment: All class members may claim a pro rata cash payment, which the settlement administrator will calculate by dividing the remaining settlement fund by the number of valid claims.
• Credit monitoring: All class members can enroll in three years of CyEx Identity Defense Total, which includes $1 million in identity theft insurance, real-time credit monitoring, dark web scanning and public records monitoring.

The combined total for losses and attested time is capped at $6,000 per person.

How to claim an award

Class members can file a claim online or download, print and complete the PDF claim form and mail or email it to the settlement administrator. The claim deadline is May 25, 2026.

Settlement administrator's contact information: M.A. Ford Data Security Incident Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958, info@MAFordSettlement.com

What proof or documentation is necessary to submit a claim?

• To file an online claim form, class members must log in with the unique ID and PIN from the settlement notice they received. Those who are unable to locate their ID and PIN should contact the settlement administrator by emailing info@MAFordSettlement.com and providing their full name and mailing address.
• To file an out-of-pocket losses and/or identity theft or fraud claim, class members must submit receipts, bank statements or other supporting documents showing how the expense or loss was related to the data breach. Notes or self-prepared statements alone are not sufficient.
• To file an attested time claim, class members must briefly describe the tasks they performed and the time they spent.
• To file a credit monitoring and/or pro rata cash payment claim, class members must select the correct option(s) on the claim form.

Payout options

• PayPal
• Venmo
• Zelle
• Virtual prepaid card
• Physical check

$425,000 settlement fund breakdown

The $425,000 settlement fund covers:

• Settlement administration costs: Amount not specified
• Attorneys' fees and costs: $141,666.67
• Service awards to class representatives: $2,500 each
• Credit monitoring costs: Determined by number of valid claims
• Payments to approved class members: Remainder of the fund

If the total amount claimed by class members exceeds the remaining fund, the settlement administrator will reduce payments on a pro rata basis.

Important dates

• Opt-out deadline: March 23, 2026
• Claim deadline: May 25, 2026
• Final approval hearing: June 30, 2026

When is the M.A. Ford data breach settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments after the court resolves any appeals and grants final approval of the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged a targeted cyberattack on M.A. Ford's computer systems in December 2023 allowed unauthorized users to access files containing personally identifiable information. The plaintiffs claimed M.A. Ford failed to adequately protect private information.

M.A. Ford denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the costs and risks of litigation and to provide benefits to affected individuals.

Sources

1. Class notice
2. Claim form
3. Settlement agreement
4. Settlement FAQ
5. Important dates