Published
June 25, 2026
If you received a breach notice from American International College, you can claim up to $5,000 in documented losses or a pro rata cash payment, plus two years of credit monitoring, before the July 22, 2026 deadline.
What Is This Settlement About?
American International College, a private college in Springfield, Massachusetts, agreed to a $315,000 class action settlement to resolve litigation over a November 2023 data breach. The case is Kelly Shea v. American International College, No. 1:24-cv-11449-AK, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.According to the lawsuit, a targeted cyberattack on the college's computer systems in November 2023 allowed an unauthorized party to access certain files that may have contained private information. The complaint alleges American International College failed to adequately protect that information. The college denies the allegations and any wrongdoing, and no court has decided who is right. The two sides agreed to settle to avoid the costs, risks, and uncertainty of continued litigation.
Status
Claims Open
Claim Deadline
July 22, 2026
Estimated Payout
Up to $5,000
Documented losses up to $5,000, or a pro rata cash payment (est. ~$50) from the $315K fund · plus 2 years credit monitoring
Proof Required
Yes
Documentation required for the out-of-pocket reimbursement (Cash Payment B) · the online claim form requires the ID from your mailed notice
What Happened?
A targeted cyberattack on American International College's computer systems in November 2023 allowed an unauthorized actor to access certain files. Those files may have contained private information. The college later began notifying affected individuals.About 11,822 people were notified. The information involved varied by person and may have included names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and financial information. If you received a notice letter about this incident, your information was among the data the college identified as potentially affected.
Who Qualifies?
The settlement class is defined as all individuals residing in the United States whose Personal Information was potentially compromised in the data incident discovered by the college in November 2023, including, but not limited to, individuals who received notice of the incident. Excluded are the judge and the judge's family and staff, AIC and its officers and directors, and anyone who validly excludes themselves. In practical terms, if the college mailed or emailed you a breach notice about this incident, you are a class member and may file a claim.You will need the ID printed on your notice to file through the online claim form, so keep that notice handy. If you believe you were affected but cannot locate your notice, you can request a paper Claim Form or filing details through the contact options on the official settlement website at AICDataSettlement.com.
How Much Can You Get?
The settlement offers class members a choice between reimbursement of documented losses and a flat pro rata cash payment, plus credit monitoring that everyone can claim.Documented loss reimbursement. You can claim up to $5,000 for documented, unreimbursed out-of-pocket losses fairly traceable to the breach, for losses incurred between November 14, 2023 and July 22, 2026. This can include losses such as bank fees, professional charges, the cost of credit reports, credit monitoring, or identity theft protection you purchased, and other unreimbursed expenses. You must provide supporting documents showing the loss and the date it occurred.
Pro rata cash payment. Instead of documented losses, you can choose a pro rata cash payment from the $315,000 settlement fund. The exact amount depends on how many valid claims are filed and is calculated after the deadline; the notice estimates it at about $50, though it may be larger or smaller depending on the total claims filed. This option requires no supporting documentation.
Two years of credit monitoring. Every class member can also enroll in two years of CyEx Financial Shield Complete credit monitoring, which includes $1 million in fraud insurance. No documentation is required to select this benefit.
Is Proof Required?
Yes. The up to $5,000 out-of-pocket reimbursement (Cash Payment B) requires documentation — receipts, bank or credit card statements, or similar records showing the loss and that it was tied to the data incident — so the page is marked proof required. A personal statement on its own is not enough to support that claim.The pro rata Cash Payment A and the two years of credit monitoring do not require supporting documents. The online claim form asks for the ID from the notice the college sent you, so keep that notice handy; if you cannot locate it, or you believe you are a class member but never received one, request a paper Claim Form or filing details through the contact options on the official settlement website.
How to File a Claim
File your claim online or by mail through the official settlement website, AICDataSettlement.com. You will need the ID from your notice to file through the online claim form. Choose either documented losses up to $5,000 or the pro rata cash payment, add the two years of credit monitoring if you want it, and upload supporting documents if you are claiming documented losses. The deadline is July 22, 2026.File a Claim
Important Dates
• Data incident: November 2023
• Opt-Out (Exclusion) Deadline: June 22, 2026 (passed)
• Objection Deadline: June 22, 2026 (passed)
• Claim Deadline: July 22, 2026 (online or postmarked)
• Final Approval Hearing: August 6, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. ET (Room 8, U.S. District Court, 1 Courthouse Way, Boston, MA)
The opt-out and objection deadlines have already passed. If you are a class member, the remaining option that provides a benefit is to file a claim by July 22, 2026. Payments are issued only after the settlement receives final approval and any appeals are resolved, so the timeline can shift; the hearing date can also change, so check the official settlement website for updates.
Attorneys' Fees and Service Award
Class Counsel — Cassandra P. Miller of Strauss Borrelli PLLC — will ask the Court to approve $105,000 in attorneys' fees plus reimbursement of litigation costs, and a service award of $5,000 for the Class Representative. These amounts are paid from the $315,000 settlement fund before the net is distributed, and they are subject to Court approval; the Court may award less than requested.Beware of Scams
Legitimate settlement administrators never ask you to pay a fee to file a claim or to receive a payment. File only through the official settlement website and never share more information than the claim form requires.If you have been affected by other data incidents, you may have additional open claims — see our roundup of active data breach settlements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the American International College data breach settlement?
The settlement covers United States residents whose Personal Information was potentially compromised in the data incident American International College discovered in November 2023, including those who received a notice of the incident. About 11,822 people were notified. If you received a settlement notice with an ID, you are a class member.
How much can I get from the AIC settlement?
You can claim reimbursement of up to $5,000 for documented, unreimbursed out-of-pocket losses fairly traceable to the breach, or instead a pro rata cash payment from the $315,000 fund (estimated around $50, depending on how many valid claims are filed). Every class member can also enroll in two years of CyEx Financial Shield Complete credit monitoring with $1 million in fraud insurance.
Is proof required to file a claim?
Yes. The up to $5,000 out-of-pocket reimbursement (Cash Payment B) requires documents such as receipts, bank statements, or credit card records showing the loss and its date. No documentation is required for the pro rata cash payment (Cash Payment A) or the credit monitoring, but the online claim form asks for the ID from the settlement notice you were sent.
What is the deadline to file an AIC settlement claim?
The claim deadline is July 22, 2026. Claims can be filed online or by mail through the official settlement website, AICDataSettlement.com. The final approval hearing is scheduled for August 6, 2026.
What happens if I do nothing?
If you do nothing, you will not receive a payment or credit monitoring, and you will give up your right to sue American International College over this data breach unless you formally exclude yourself. The only way to receive a benefit is to file a claim by July 22, 2026.
Sources
• Official Settlement Website: AICDataSettlement.com• Kelly Shea v. American International College, No. 1:24-cv-11449-AK, U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · administered by Simpluris, Inc.
• Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement (PDF)
OpenClassActions.com is a consumer news site and is not a settlement administrator or a law firm.
Official Settlement Notice
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Amount
$315,000
Case Title
Kelly Shea v. American International College
Case Number
1:24-cv-11449-AK
Court
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
Final Approval Hearing
August 6, 2026, 11:30 a.m. ET
Room 8, 1 Courthouse Way, Boston, MA
Administrator
Simpluris, Inc.
Official Website
AIC Data Settlement.com
