The Florida Aquarium Data Breach Lawsuit Investigation
Received an August 2026 breach notice from Florida Aquarium?
Dapeer Law, P.A. is investigating a potential class action against The Florida Aquarium, the nonprofit aquarium and marine science center known for its marine life exhibits and educational programs, on behalf of individuals whose Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information may have been exposed in the data security incident disclosed in the notice letters mailed in August 2026.
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 Florida Aquarium dated August 2026.
- Your letter offered enrollment in 24 months of complimentary identity theft protection through IDX, with an enrollment code and a November 24, 2026 deadline.
- You had personal information, including your Social Security number, driver's license number, or medical information, held by The Florida Aquarium, whether as an employee, a former employee, a member, a donor, or a program participant.
- 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
The Florida Aquarium disclosed a data security incident involving personal information in a notice filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General under the Commonwealth's breach statute (MGL c. 93H). According to the filing, the organization began mailing notice letters to affected individuals on August 24, 2026. The filing reports two affected Massachusetts residents. The notice states that the incident compromised certain files containing personal information, and that the organization has no evidence of misuse of that information to date. It is notifying affected individuals out of an abundance of caution.
The categories of information listed in the state filing are Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information. The Florida Aquarium is offering affected individuals 24 months of complimentary identity theft protection through IDX, which the organization describes as including credit and CyberScan monitoring, up to $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance reimbursement, and fully managed identity theft recovery services. Enrollment must be completed by November 24, 2026 using the enrollment code printed in the individual letter, either online at app.idx.us or by calling IDX at 1-833-788-9712.
The public filing does not state when the incident occurred, when The Florida Aquarium discovered it, how the files were accessed, or how many people were notified nationwide. Those unanswered questions are central to our investigation, along with whether reasonable safeguards were in place over the Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information the organization held. The combination of a Social Security number, a state identification number, and health information is unusually sensitive. A Social Security number cannot be changed on request, driver's license numbers are difficult and slow to replace, and medical information carries risks of medical identity theft and fraudulent billing that ordinary credit monitoring does not always catch.
What to do if you received a letter
Keep your notice letter
Do not discard your Florida Aquarium notice letter. The letter contains your IDX enrollment code and documents which categories of your information were involved in the incident, which is important evidence if you decide to participate in a lawsuit.
Enroll in the free 24-month IDX identity theft protection
Enroll in the IDX identity theft protection offered in your letter before the November 24, 2026 deadline, using the enrollment code The Florida Aquarium provided. Enrollment is available at app.idx.us/account-creation/protect or by calling 1-833-788-9712. 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. Because a Social Security number and a driver's license number were involved, also place a free security freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, order your free annual credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, consider requesting an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS to guard against fraudulent tax filings, and contact your state motor vehicle agency about flagging or replacing your license number. Because medical information was also involved, review the explanation of benefits statements from your health plan for services you did not receive.
Speak with a data breach attorney
Consultations with Dapeer Law are free and confidential. We'll review your Florida Aquarium notice, explain your options, and advise whether you may be eligible to pursue claims under Massachusetts data breach law (MGL c. 93H), Florida law, or other legal theories.
Submit your notice for a free review
Two minutes online. A licensed attorney reviews every submission.
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, fraudulent accounts or loans opened in your name, fraudulent tax filings, misuse of your driver's license number, medical identity theft and fraudulent billing, credit freeze and restoration costs, and the time you spent responding to the incident, 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 The Florida Aquarium to implement stronger safeguards over the Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information it holds, including data minimization, encryption at rest, and prompt notification of affected individuals in the event of a future incident.
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 Florida Aquarium. What should I do? +
Keep your Florida Aquarium notice letter and the IDX enrollment code it contains, enroll in the 24 months of complimentary identity theft protection before the November 24, 2026 deadline, place a free security freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, order your free annual credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, watch your financial statements for unfamiliar activity, review your health plan's explanation of benefits statements for services you did not receive, consider requesting an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS, document any time or money you spend responding to the incident, and consider speaking with a data breach attorney. If you experience identity theft, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/idtheft or (877) 438-4338 and file a police report, keeping a copy for your records.
Am I eligible to join a class action against Florida Aquarium? +
Individuals who received a Florida Aquarium notice letter dated August 2026 are the most direct candidates. Eligibility for any legal claim will also depend on your state of residence, the categories of your information that were involved, and any documented losses or out-of-pocket expenses. Because the filing reports that Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information were involved, recipients may have stronger claims than in incidents limited to contact information. A free case review can help you understand your options.
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? +
According to the notice filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General, the categories of information involved are Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information. The filing does not state how the files were accessed, and not every recipient's letter will list every category. Your individual letter is the most reliable source for exactly what was involved in your case, so we recommend reviewing it carefully and saving a copy.
Did Florida Aquarium offer free credit monitoring? +
Yes. The Florida Aquarium is offering 24 months of complimentary identity theft protection through IDX, which the organization says includes credit and CyberScan monitoring, up to $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance reimbursement, and fully managed identity theft recovery services. Enrollment requires the code printed in your letter and must be completed by November 24, 2026, either at app.idx.us/account-creation/protect or by calling 1-833-788-9712. Enrolling does not waive your right to pursue legal action.
How many people were affected by the Florida Aquarium breach? +
The notice filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General reports two affected Massachusetts residents. That figure covers Massachusetts only. The Florida Aquarium has not publicly disclosed how many people were notified nationwide, and filings in other states, if any, could raise the total. This page will be updated if 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 Florida Aquarium filed the security breach notice with the Massachusetts Attorney General, and it can be downloaded from the mass.gov link in the Sources & References section below. If you cannot locate your individual letter, Dapeer Law can help you obtain a copy as part of a free consultation.
Sources & references
- Official breach notice filing · Massachusetts Attorney General, The Florida Aquarium Security Breach Notice (PDF)
- Identity protection enrollment · IDX, app.idx.us/account-creation/protect
- Company · The Florida Aquarium (flaquarium.org)
- 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.
