People who received notice that their personal information may have been compromised in a Peco Foods data breach can submit claims under a proposed $950,000 settlement. Available benefits include documented-loss reimbursement, residual cash and three years of triple-bureau credit monitoring.
The lawsuit concerns unauthorized access to personal information in a data breach that occurred on or around December 4, 2023. Peco Foods denies wrongdoing and denies that the incident caused harm to the plaintiffs or class members. No court has found the company liable, and the settlement still requires final approval.
The class is limited to people who received notice
The settlement covers United States residents who received written notice from Peco Foods that their personally identifiable information may have been compromised in the breach.
The assigned judge and related court staff and family, Peco officers, directors, members and shareholders, valid opt-outs, and anyone found criminally responsible for causing or assisting the breach are excluded.
Class members must submit a valid claim by November 9, 2026. Doing nothing produces no benefit and, if the settlement becomes final, still releases the claims described in the agreement.
Documented losses have two benefit levels
The notice provides up to $1,000 for ordinary unreimbursed losses connected to the breach. Examples include credit-monitoring expenses, replacement-card fees, postage and certain bank charges. Claimants must attest that the loss is actual and unreimbursed and provide reasonable documentation.
Extraordinary losses may be reimbursed up to $5,000. These can include documented losses from identity theft, fraud or other expenses reasonably attributable to the breach that were not reimbursed elsewhere.
People with valid extraordinary losses may also claim up to 10 hours spent addressing breach-related issues at $40 per hour. Time compensation is included within the $5,000 extraordinary-loss cap, not added on top of it. The claim requires an attestation and a brief description of the actions taken and time spent.
Residual cash and monitoring are also available
Class members may elect a residual cash payment of up to $550 in addition to, or instead of, ordinary and extraordinary loss claims. The payment is not guaranteed to reach $550: it will be calculated from money remaining after higher-priority costs and benefits and may be reduced.
Claimants may also select three years of triple-bureau credit monitoring. The settlement fund pays for monitoring, approved claims, administration, service awards and court-approved legal fees. If monitoring costs alone would exhaust the net fund, the notice permits the monitoring period to be shortened.
Every requested benefit must be selected on a timely claim form. Loss claims require supporting records and attestations; time claims also require a description of the work performed.
October 12 controls opt-outs and objections
Requests for exclusion must be postmarked by October 12, 2026. Opting out gives up settlement benefits but preserves the ability to pursue released claims separately. Objections are also due October 12; objecting keeps a person in the class.
The final approval hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2026 at 11 a.m. Central Time at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, 714 Greensboro Avenue, second floor, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, or remotely if the court orders. Class members should check the official settlement website for schedule changes before attending.