ECSI Data Breach Class Action Settlement
ECSI Data Breach Class Action Settlement
Educational Computer Systems, Inc. (ECSI) agreed to a $6.5 million settlement over a criminal cyberattack on its website between October 29, 2023 and February 12, 2024 that may have exposed personal information. People in the United States whose Personal Information was potentially accessed can claim reimbursement of up to $5,000 in documented losses or an alternative cash payment estimated at about $100, subject to pro rata adjustment. The claim deadline is December 21, 2026.
Settlement fund
$6.5M
Non-reversionary settlement fund
Top payout
About $100 or up to $5,000
Pro rata cash, or documented losses
Claim deadline
Dec 21, 2026
69 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Dec 21, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You reside in the United States and your Personal Information was potentially accessed in the ECSI Security Incident between October 29, 2023 and February 12, 2024.
- No proof is needed for the alternative cash payment. Documented loss claims require supporting documentation.
- The online claim form asks for the ID and confirmation code on your settlement notice. You can also file a paper Claim Form by mail.
- Excluded: Anyone who requests exclusion by the November 20, 2026 deadline.
- Excluded: The assigned judge, their staff and immediate family, and anyone found guilty of initiating or aiding the cyberattack.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the Settlement Administrator at 1-877-726-4268, write to ECSI Security Incident Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or visit DataSettlementECSI.com.
What happened
The lawsuit concerns a criminal cyberattack on the website of Educational Computer Systems, Inc. (ECSI) between October 29, 2023 and February 12, 2024. According to the court's preliminary approval order, the incident involved a guest tax search feature on ECSI's website and may have exposed Form 1098-E and 1098-T information, including names, addresses, email addresses, school names, internal ECSI identifiers, dollar amounts such as tuition paid, scholarships or grants, and student loan interest, the last four digits of Social Security numbers, and in limited cases full Social Security numbers. The order states that information of approximately 2,577,994 individuals may have been impacted.
ECSI denies the allegations and any liability, and the Court has not decided who is right. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the cost, risk, and delay of continued litigation. Attorneys' fees, costs, service awards, and administration costs are paid from the $6.5 million fund.
How to file a claim
-
1. Confirm you are eligible
You qualify if you reside in the United States and your Personal Information was potentially accessed in the ECSI Security Incident between October 29, 2023 and February 12, 2024. If you received a settlement notice, you are likely a class member. If you are unsure, call the Settlement Administrator at 1-877-726-4268.
-
2. Choose your benefit
You may choose only one of two benefits. Option 1 reimburses documented, unreimbursed out-of-pocket losses more likely than not caused by the incident, up to $5,000, such as bank fees, postage, local gasoline, and fees for credit reports, credit monitoring, or identity theft services bought between October 29, 2023 and December 21, 2026. Self-prepared documents such as handwritten receipts alone are not enough. Option 2 is an alternative cash payment estimated at about $100 with no documentation required, which may be adjusted up or down pro rata based on the number of approved claims.
-
3. File online or by mail
Submit your claim online at the official claim portal by December 21, 2026, or mail a signed paper Claim Form postmarked by that date to ECSI Security Incident Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103. The online form asks for the ID and confirmation code on your notice; if you do not have a notice, download the paper Claim Form or call 1-877-726-4268. The notice, Claim Form, and Settlement Agreement are posted at DataSettlementECSI.com.
-
4. Receive your payment
Payments are made only after the Court grants final approval at the January 11, 2027 Final Approval Hearing and any appeals are resolved.
Key dates
- Nov 20, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Upcoming
- Dec 21, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Jan 11, 2027 Final Fairness Hearing (9:30 a.m. ET) Upcoming
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for January 11, 2027 at 9:30 a.m. ET before the Honorable Christy Criswell Wiegand and will be held by telephone. The Court will also consider Class Counsel's request for attorneys' fees and expenses of up to $2,166,666.66 and service awards. Exclusion requests must be postmarked, and objections postmarked or filed, by November 20, 2026. Written objections go to the Clerk of Court, Joseph F. Weis, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 700 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The Court may move the hearing, so check DataSettlementECSI.com for updates.
Where the money is going
ECSI will pay $6,500,000 into a non-reversionary settlement fund. The fund pays settlement administration costs, taxes, any service awards, and any attorneys' fees and expenses award first, and the remaining Net Settlement Fund pays approved claims. Because the alternative cash payment is adjusted pro rata, the final amount per claimant depends on how many valid claims are filed. Money left more than 180 days after distribution goes to a second payment to class members who cashed their first payment if each share is at least $5, and otherwise to a court-approved cy pres recipient.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval at the Final Approval Hearing. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. The alternative cash payment of about $100 is an estimate and is subject to pro rata adjustment based on the number of approved claims and the funds remaining after deductions.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
You can choose reimbursement of documented losses up to $5,000, or an alternative cash payment estimated at about $100. The cash payment may go up or down pro rata depending on the number of approved claims. You can receive only one of the two benefits.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
No documentation is required for the alternative cash payment. Out-of-pocket loss claims require supporting documentation, and self-prepared documents such as handwritten receipts alone are not enough. All Claim Forms must be signed.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
If you believe your information was involved in the ECSI Security Incident but did not receive a notice, you can download and mail a paper Claim Form from DataSettlementECSI.com, or call the Settlement Administrator at 1-877-726-4268, before the December 21, 2026 deadline.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
If you stay in the settlement, you give up the right to sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against ECSI and the other released parties over the released claims, whether or not you file a claim. The full release is in the Releases section of the Settlement Agreement. To keep your rights, you must exclude yourself by November 20, 2026.
When will payments be sent out?
Payments are made after the Court grants final approval at the January 11, 2027 Final Approval Hearing and after any appeals are resolved. An appeal can add a year or more to that timeline.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
Similar open settlements
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Educational Computer Systems, Inc., Angeion Group, LLC (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Nicholas A. Colella of Lynch Carpenter LLP and Nickolas J. Hagman of Cafferty Clobes Meriwether & Sprengel LLP. The case is Hood, et al. v. Educational Computer Systems, Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-00666-CCW, pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania before the Honorable Christy Criswell Wiegand. Class representatives are Joel Hood, Elias Nemiri, Gideon Bauer, Elizabeth Golec, and Alexys Taylor. ECSI denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.