Hamill & Kaplan Data Breach Lawsuit Investigation
Received an August 2026 breach notice from Hamill & Kaplan?
Dapeer Law, P.A. is investigating a potential class action against Hamill & Kaplan LLP, a California accounting firm based in Westlake Village, on behalf of individuals whose Social Security numbers, bank account information, and other personal information may have been exposed in the cyber incident the firm detected in September 2025.
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 Hamill & Kaplan dated August 2026.
- Your letter offered enrollment in the complimentary credit monitoring services Hamill & Kaplan is providing to affected individuals.
- You had personal, tax, or financial information held by the firm in its capacity as an accounting and tax preparation firm.
- 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 September 19, 2025, Hamill & Kaplan LLP, an accounting firm headquartered in Westlake Village, California, detected unauthorized access to its computer network. According to the firm's notice, it secured its systems and engaged third-party cybersecurity specialists to investigate. That investigation determined that certain files containing client personal information were accessible to the unauthorized party during the intrusion.
Hamill & Kaplan began mailing notification letters to affected individuals on August 3, 2026, and reported the incident to the California Attorney General on August 6, 2026, more than ten months after the intrusion was detected. The notice states that the information involved may include Social Security numbers, other government identification numbers, names, bank account information, and other information individuals provided to the firm. The firm is offering complimentary credit monitoring services, with enrollment instructions included in the letter.
Because accounting firms hold Social Security numbers, bank account details, and complete tax records for clients and often for their spouses and dependents, exposure of this combination of data carries elevated risk of tax refund fraud, fraudulent account openings, and account takeover. Hamill & Kaplan reported the incident to the FBI, the IRS, the California Franchise Tax Board, and the Secret Service. Whether the firm's pre-breach security practices met legal standards, and whether the length of the notification delay caused additional harm, 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 instructions for the credit monitoring being offered and is important evidence if you decide to participate in a lawsuit.
Enroll in the free credit monitoring
Enroll in the complimentary credit monitoring offered in your letter before the stated deadline, following the instructions 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. Because tax records may have been involved, also watch for IRS or Franchise Tax Board notices about returns you did not file, and consider requesting an IRS Identity Protection PIN.
Speak with a data breach attorney
Consultations with Dapeer Law are free and confidential. We'll review your notice, explain your options, 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, fraudulent tax filings, 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 firm to implement stronger data security 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 Hamill & Kaplan. What should I do? +
Keep the letter, enroll in the complimentary credit monitoring using the instructions printed in your notice, place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three credit bureaus, and review bank statements and tax records for activity you do not recognize. If the IRS or the Franchise Tax Board contacts you about a return you did not file, report it to Hamill & Kaplan or your tax preparer right away. Accepting credit monitoring does not waive your right to sue.
Am I eligible to join a class action against Hamill & Kaplan? +
If you received an August 2026 breach notice from Hamill & Kaplan, you are likely eligible for a free case evaluation. Eligibility depends on your state of residence, the categories of your data that were involved, 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 notice states that the information involved may include Social Security numbers, other government identification numbers, names, bank account information, and other information provided to the firm. The categories that apply to you specifically should be listed in your individual letter, so check it against this list.
Did Hamill & Kaplan offer free credit monitoring? +
Yes. Hamill & Kaplan is offering complimentary credit monitoring services to affected individuals, and the enrollment instructions and deadline are printed in the notice letter. The public notice does not name the provider or state the length of coverage. Enrolling is separate from, and does not waive, your right to pursue a claim.
How many people were affected by the Hamill & Kaplan breach? +
The total number of affected individuals has not been publicly disclosed in the California Attorney General filing. 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 sample notice is posted on the California Attorney General's data breach notification page (linked in Sources below) and can be downloaded there. 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 · California Attorney General, Sample Data Incident Notice (PDF)
- Company · Hamill & Kaplan LLP (hamillkaplan.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.
