Arcadia Publishing Data Breach Settlement: $450K

Individuals who received a data breach notification letter from Arcadia Publishing, informing them that their personal information may have been compromised in a data breach discovered in April 2023.

To claim reimbursement, class members must provide documentation of expenses related to the data breach, such as:

• Bank and credit card statements
• Receipts for fraud-related costs
• Invoices for credit monitoring or identity theft services
• Documentation of professional fees, such as attorney or accountant costs
• Records of credit freeze or unfreeze fees

Arcadia Publishing has agreed to pay $450,000 to resolve claims that it failed to properly protect employee information from a 2023 data breach.

According to the class action lawsuit, cybercriminals gained access to Arcadia Publishing’s systems in early 2023, compromising sensitive personal information belonging to employees. This included:

• Social Security numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
• Financial account information

Plaintiffs argued that Arcadia could have prevented the breach had it implemented stronger cybersecurity protections and more secure data handling practices. By failing to take these reasonable steps, the company allegedly left employee data exposed to identity theft and fraud risks.

Arcadia Publishing, known for its local and regional history books, denies any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to resolve the litigation and avoid further legal expenses.

Under the Terms of the Settlement

Class members can receive up to $5,000 in reimbursement for documented losses related to the data breach. This can include:

• Fraudulent charges
• Identity theft damages
• Professional fees (such as attorneys or accountants)
• Credit freeze or unfreeze fees
• Up to five hours of lost time at $25 per hour, if the time was spent addressing fraud, freezing accounts, or restoring credit.

In addition to expense reimbursement, class members are eligible for three years of free credit monitoring services through a one-bureau monitoring plan. These services also include $1 million in identity theft insurance to help cover future risks.

Class members who choose not to submit documentation for reimbursement can instead receive an alternative cash payment, estimated to be around $100. This amount could be higher or lower depending on the number of claims submitted.

The Arcadia Publishing settlement reflects ongoing scrutiny of how companies handle sensitive employee and customer data, especially in industries like publishing, where large databases of customer and employee information are maintained.