Peco Foods Data Breach Settlement: Up to $6,550, Awaiting Approval

A proposed class action accuses Peco Foods Inc. of failing to prevent a data breach around December 4, 2023, in which the lawsuit claims an unauthorized outside party accessed people's Personally Identifiable Information. Peco denies any wrongdoing or legal responsibility, and no court has ruled against the company. Instead, Peco has agreed to a $950,000 settlement fund to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation while offering benefits to those affected.

The deal is not yet final. A judge will hold a Final Approval Hearing on December 14, 2026 to decide whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate, and payments will only be issued if it's approved, a process that can take some time.

You may be eligible if you live in the United States and received a written notice from Peco, mailed or emailed around July 24, 2024, stating that your personal information may have been involved in the breach. To participate, you'll need to submit a Claim Form by the deadline, selecting the benefits you want.

Documentation requirements vary by benefit. Claiming the cash payment or credit monitoring only requires a valid Claim Form. But if you're seeking reimbursement for ordinary or extraordinary out-of-pocket losses, you'll need to provide supporting documentation along with a signed attestation made under penalty of perjury, self-prepared records alone won't be enough.

To file online, you'll need the Settlement Claim ID found in your notice letter. If you can't locate it, the claims website offers a "Help Me Locate My Settlement Claim ID" tool to assist. Note that the Claims Administrator may request additional information, and failing to respond in time could result in your claim being denied.