The claim window has closed. If you filed a valid claim by April 27, 2026, your payment is expected after the court grants final approval — there is nothing left to submit.
What Is This Settlement About?
Phil Smith Management, Inc., which does business as the Phil Smith Automotive Group — a South Florida auto-dealership group — reached a class action settlement to resolve claims arising from a data breach the company discovered in February 2025. According to the official settlement notice, an unauthorized party gained access to certain systems and files containing personal information. The case, captioned William Gillis v. Phil Smith Management, Inc. d/b/a Phil Smith Automotive Group, No. 0:25-cv-61610, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Fort Lauderdale Division).Phil Smith Management denies any wrongdoing and agreed to settle to avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation. The settlement is structured as a claims-made program: eligible class members who filed a valid claim could receive reimbursement or an alternative cash payment, plus credit monitoring.
The claim deadline was April 27, 2026, and it has passed. This page is kept for reference: it explains what the settlement offered and what happens next for people who filed on time. There is nothing left to submit.
Who Was Covered?
The settlement class covered individuals who were mailed written notice that their personal information may have been compromised as a result of the security incident Phil Smith Management discovered in February 2025. According to the official settlement notice, the information potentially involved included names, driver's license or state identification numbers, and Social Security numbers. The exact class definition appears in the settlement notice on the official settlement website.What the Settlement Offered
Class members who filed a valid, timely claim could choose among the following benefits:- Up to $5,000 in reimbursement for documented out-of-pocket losses fairly traceable to the breach (for example, fraud losses, unreimbursed bank fees, and certain out-of-pocket costs), supported by documentation.
- An alternative flat cash payment for class members who preferred not to submit loss documentation.
- Three years of credit monitoring.
To file, class members had to provide the Class Member ID printed on the postcard or email notice they received from the settlement administrator.
What Happens Next?
A final approval hearing was scheduled for April 28, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. If the court grants final approval and no appeals delay the process, the settlement administrator will issue payments to class members who filed valid claims. Payment timing after approval varies and can take several weeks to months. The official settlement website is the best place to check the case status and payment updates.If you filed a claim, watch for your payment by the method you selected and be alert for scams: legitimate settlement administrators never charge a fee to release a class action payment and will not ask for your banking passwords or a "processing payment" to send your check. To find cases you can still file, see our roundup of open data breach settlements and our explainer on how a data breach class action works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still file a claim in the Phil Smith Automotive data breach settlement?
No. The claim deadline was April 27, 2026 and it has passed. If you filed a valid claim on time, payments are expected after the court grants final approval. This page is informational — there is nothing left to file.
What did the settlement offer?
Class members could elect reimbursement of up to $5,000 for documented out-of-pocket losses fairly traceable to the breach, or an alternative flat cash payment, plus three years of credit monitoring. Class members who filed a valid claim on time will receive their chosen benefit after final approval.
When will payments be sent?
Payments follow the court's final approval and the resolution of any appeals. A final approval hearing was scheduled for April 28, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Exact payment timing depends on the court's ruling and administrative processing; the official settlement website is the best place to check for updates.
Who was covered by the settlement?
The settlement covered individuals who were mailed written notice that their personal information may have been compromised in the Phil Smith Management (Phil Smith Automotive Group) security incident discovered in February 2025. The class is defined in the settlement notice available on the official settlement website.
