Berger & Williams Data Breach Lawsuit Investigation
Received a May 2026 breach notice from Berger & Williams?
Dapeer Law, P.A. is investigating a potential class action against Berger & Williams, LLP, a San Diego labor and employment law firm, on behalf of clients and staff whose personal information may have been exposed in the February 2025 employee email account compromise.
Who may qualify
You may be eligible to participate in a class action if any of the following applies:
- You received a data breach notification letter from Berger & Williams dated May 2026.
- Your letter offered enrollment in 12 months of free Cyberscout (a TransUnion company) Single-Bureau Credit Monitoring and fraud-resolution assistance.
- You had personal or employment-related information held by the firm in its capacity as a labor and employment law firm or as your employer.
- No proof of harm required to consult with counsel. You do not need to have already suffered identity theft to explore your legal options.
- Excluded: individuals who did not receive a breach notice and whose information was not involved in the incident.
Not sure if you qualify?
Send us your notice, we'll confirm your eligibility at no cost.
What happened
On April 6, 2026, Berger & Williams, LLP ("Berger & Williams"), a labor and employment law firm headquartered at 401 B Street, Suite 2000 in San Diego, California, discovered during a cybersecurity investigation that an unauthorized outside actor had accessed an employee email account on or about February 6, 2025, approximately 14 months earlier. According to the notice filed with the Maine Attorney General on May 5, 2026, the impacted mailbox contained personal information for individuals affiliated with the firm.
Berger & Williams reports that it immediately launched a technical investigation with outside cybersecurity professionals and completed an extensive manual review of the email account contents to determine what data was accessible. The firm's notice describes the exposed data only as "a limited amount of personal information," without itemizing specific categories in the public filing. Affected individuals are being offered 12 months of complimentary Single-Bureau Credit Monitoring and fraud-resolution assistance through Cyberscout, a TransUnion company. As of the notification date, Berger & Williams reported no evidence of misuse of the information.
Because labor and employment law firms routinely hold sensitive client and employee records, including Social Security numbers, payroll and wage data, medical leave and disability information, severance and EEOC matter records, and tax identification numbers, the categories of information potentially exposed in this incident, as well as how an intrusion went undetected for roughly 14 months, are among the issues being evaluated.
What to do if you received a letter
Keep your notice letter
Do not discard it. Your letter contains the enrollment code for credit monitoring and is important evidence if you decide to participate in a lawsuit.
Enroll in the free 12-month credit monitoring
Enroll in the Cyberscout (TransUnion) Single-Bureau Credit Monitoring and fraud-resolution services offered in your letter before the deadline stated in the notice. Accepting this benefit does not waive your right to pursue legal action.
Place a fraud alert or credit freeze
Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to place a fraud alert or freeze on your file. Request a free weekly credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com, and use the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov recovery guide. For law firm and employment-related cases, also watch for unauthorized changes to financial accounts, unexpected tax filings under your Social Security number, and any unfamiliar communications referencing legal matters in which you were involved.
Speak with a data breach attorney
Consultations with Dapeer Law are free and confidential. We'll review your notice, explain your options under California and other state breach-notification and consumer-protection laws, and advise whether you may be eligible to join a class action.
Submit your notice for a free review
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Breach timeline
Compensation you may be entitled to
Out-of-pocket expenses
Credit freezes, identity restoration services, and other costs incurred responding to the breach.
Time spent monitoring
Hours spent reviewing accounts, disputing fraudulent charges, and dealing with identity theft issues.
Identity theft & fraud losses
Unreimbursed funds stolen from accounts, unauthorized credit lines, employment-related identity theft, or tax refund fraud tied to the breach.
Statutory damages
Certain state data breach and consumer protection statutes provide for fixed damages regardless of actual loss.
Injunctive relief
Court orders requiring Berger & Williams to implement stronger email security, monitoring, and data retention practices going forward.
Compensation categories depend on applicable state law, the types of data exposed, and documented losses. No recovery is guaranteed.
Common questions
I received a data breach letter from Berger & Williams. What should I do? +
Keep the letter, enroll in the free 12-month Cyberscout (TransUnion) Single-Bureau Credit Monitoring and fraud-resolution services before the deadline printed on your notice, place a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit file, monitor your bank, credit card, and tax accounts for unfamiliar activity, and contact a data breach attorney for a free consultation. Accepting credit monitoring does not waive your right to sue.
Am I eligible to join a class action against Berger & Williams? +
If you received a May 2026 data breach notice from Berger & Williams, LLP, you are likely eligible for a free case evaluation. Eligibility depends on your state of residence, the categories of your data that were exposed, and any losses you have suffered. Dapeer Law will review your notice at no cost.
How much money could I receive from a class action lawsuit? +
Data breach class action recoveries vary significantly. Settlements typically range from a few hundred dollars for basic out-of-pocket losses to several thousand dollars for documented identity theft, with class size, damages, and negotiation all affecting the final amount. No payout is guaranteed, and this investigation has not yet resulted in a settlement.
What personal information was exposed in the breach? +
The firm's public notice describes only "a limited amount of personal information" affiliated with Berger & Williams, without listing the specific data fields. Because labor and employment firms typically hold Social Security numbers, payroll and wage data, medical and disability information, and tax identifiers, the categories involved may be sensitive. Check your individual notice letter for the precise data elements identified for you.
Did Berger & Williams offer free credit monitoring? +
Yes. Berger & Williams is providing 12 months of complimentary Single-Bureau Credit Monitoring and fraud-resolution assistance through Cyberscout, a TransUnion company. Recipients can activate the services using the enrollment code printed in the notice before the deadline stated in the letter. Enrollment is separate from, and does not waive, your right to pursue a claim.
How many people were affected by the Berger & Williams breach? +
The total number of affected individuals was not disclosed in the May 5, 2026 filing with the Maine Attorney General. This page will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Is there a deadline to take legal action? +
Yes. Statutes of limitations for data breach claims vary by state and legal theory, typically ranging from one to six years. Waiting can permanently bar your claim. Contact us as soon as possible for a free evaluation.
How do I get a copy of the official breach notice? +
The notice filed with the Maine Attorney General is available through the Maine AG's public data breach portal (linked in Sources below). If you received a letter but no longer have it, Dapeer Law can assist you in obtaining a copy during your free consultation.
Sources & references
- Official breach notice filing · Maine Attorney General, Berger & Williams Breach Notice
- Company · Berger & Williams, LLP (bergerwilliams.com)
- Credit bureau freezes · Equifax · Experian · TransUnion
- Free weekly credit reports · AnnualCreditReport.com
- Identity theft recovery guide · FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Don't let the deadline decide for you. Submit your claim today.
You only have a limited window to act. Our team will review your notice, explain your options, and tell you whether you may be eligible to recover compensation, at no cost to you.
