Class action settlement
Academy Mortgage Corp. $1.99 Million Data Breach Settlement
Last updated from the official settlement website (forms.academymortgagesettlement.com). Re-checked .
Individuals who received notice from Academy Mortgage about the 2023 data breach may qualify to claim a cash payment and credit monitoring from a settlement.
Who qualifies and how to claim
What you could get
- Up to$3,000Reimbursement for documented losses: Class members can claim up to $3,000 for documented, unreimbursed losses related to the data incident or efforts to mitigate its effects.
Pulled from the write-up below. The official settlement website and the court's documents have the final word.
Academy Mortgage Corp. $1.99 Million Data Breach Settlement
Current and former employees whose private information the March 2023 Academy Mortgage Corp data incident impacted and who received a notice about the incident may be eligible to claim a cash payment and credit monitoring from a class action settlement .
Academy Mortgage agreed to pay $1.99 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging negligence, breach of implied contract, invasion of privacy and violations of several state consumer protection laws. The lawsuit claims the March 2023 data breach potentially exposed sensitive personal information, including names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and financial account details.
Who can file a claim?
The settlement class includes all residents of the United States whom Academy Mortgage notified that the March 2023 data incident may have impacted their personal information.
Read the full details
How much is the Academy Mortgage Corp. payout?
Class members who submit valid claims can receive any or all of the following benefits:
- Reimbursement for documented losses: Class members can claim up to $3,000 for documented, unreimbursed losses related to the data incident or efforts to mitigate its effects. Eligible expenses include unreimbursed costs for credit monitoring services purchased between March 21, 2023, and Jan. 27, 2027, losses from actual fraud or identity theft, unreimbursed banking fees, long-distance phone charges, postage and local travel expenses.
- Pro rata cash payment: This one-time payment is available to all class members who submit a valid claim. California residents who provide a sworn attestation of residency will receive double the standard pro rata cash payment.
- Credit monitoring: All class members can claim three years of credit monitoring services, including single-bureau credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance up to $1,000,000 and identity recovery services
The settlement administrator will pay the cost of valid credit monitoring claims first. It will then pay claims for documented losses. If the total amount claimed for credit monitoring and documented losses exceeds the net settlement fund, the settlement administrator will reduce the payments for documented losses proportionally and will not issue any pro rata cash payments.
How to claim an award
To claim an award, class members must submit an online claim form or print and complete the PDF claim form and mail it to the settlement administrator.
Settlement administrator's mailing address: Stern, et al. v. Academy Mortgage Corp., c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391
The deadline to submit a claim is Jan. 27, 2027.
Required proof and documentation
- Reimbursement for documented losses : Class members must submit documentation, such as receipts, bills or correspondence, to show the loss is related to the data incident
- Pro rata cash payment : Class members do not need to submit documentation, but California residents must provide a sworn attestation of residency.
- Credit monitoring : Class members do not need to provide documentation beyond the claim form.
- Online claim form: Class members using the online claim form must provide the class member ID they received in their settlement notice.
Payout options
- Class members who file by mail will receive payment by check.
- Class members who file online can elect to receive payment via electronic transfer.
$1.99 million settlement fund breakdown
The $1,990,000 settlement fund includes:
- Settlement administration costs: Amount not specified
- Attorneys’ fees : Up to $665,000
- Attorneys’ expenses : Up to $50,000
- Service awards to class representatives : Up to $2,500 each ($15,000 total)
- Payments to eligible class members : Remaining settlement funds
Important dates
- Deadline to opt-out : Dec. 28, 2026
- Deadline to file a claim : Jan. 27, 2027
- Final fairness hearing : March 31, 2027
Documents & history
The public record, word for word. Every line below is what the court or the settlement administrator published; we only add short notes on what each item means. The original document has the final word, and it is always one click away.
The story so far
Claims are open until Jan 27, 2027, 88 days left. The final approval hearing is on Mar 31, 2027.
- Next
- Opt-out deadline Dec 28, 2026 · in 8 weeks
Below is every step on record. The key moments come first; tap one to read about it, or pick a filter to see more. Read the graph left to right: each line is one place where things happen, the 0 court cases and the settlement’s website, and the big labelled marks are the moments that matter. Tap one to read about it. Puzzled by a word? See court words, in plain English.
- A decision by the judge
- A date to know
- Money paid out
- A request to the judge
- Paperwork or an update
- Still to come
Coming up 3
- DeadlineDeadline coming up
Deadline to opt out
- DeadlineDeadline coming up
Claim deadline
- HearingCourt hearing scheduled
Final approval hearing
Nothing of this kind in the list.
Court filings come from the court's public docket through the free RECAP archive; official documents from the settlement administrator's own site. Other dates come from the official settlement site and the summary above. We show the record as published and do not interpret it for your case. Nothing here is legal advice.
Where this information comes from
- Official settlement websiteforms.academymortgagesettlement.com
Court words, in plain English What words like “motion” or “docket” mean. You never need them to file a claim.
- Attorneys’ fees money
What the lawyers for the group ask to be paid for bringing the case. It comes out of the settlement fund, and the judge decides the amount, often less than asked.
For example: The lawyers asked for a quarter of the fund in attorneys’ fees; the judge decides how much they get.
- Claim form what you fill in
The form you send to get your share of the settlement, online or by mail. Filing one is free.
For example: Send the claim form before the deadline, or you may not be paid.
- Class member you, probably
Anyone who fits the group the settlement covers. If you qualify, you are a class member, even if you never heard of the case before.
For example: If you bought the product during the years the notice lists, you are likely a class member.
- Class certification a decision
The judge agreeing that one case can speak for a whole group of people in the same situation.
For example: After class certification, the case went ahead for all the customers, not only the two who sued.
- Docket /DOK-it/ the court’s record
The court’s diary for a case: a numbered list of every paper filed and every step taken, in order.
For example: The judge’s order was added to the docket on May 20.
- ECF number /E-C-F/ a page number
ECF is the courts’ online filing system (Electronic Case Filing). "ECF 233" is item 233 on the case’s docket; "ECF 213-1" is the first attachment to item 213.
For example: A settlement agreement filed as ECF 251 is the 251st item on that case’s docket.
- Final approval hearing a date
Also called the fairness hearing: the day the judge listens to anyone with concerns, then decides whether the settlement is approved for good.
For example: The final approval hearing is usually the last big date before payments go out.
- Motion a request
A formal "please" to the judge: one side asks for something, like more time or approval of the deal. Nothing changes until the judge answers.
For example: The lawyers filed a motion to extend the claim deadline.
- Object /ob-JECT/ your choice
Staying in the settlement but telling the judge what you think should be better. You can still be paid.
For example: If you think the fees are too high, you can object before the deadline.
- Opt out your choice
Choosing to leave the settlement. You get nothing from it, but you keep your right to bring your own case.
For example: If you opt out, you will not get a payment from this settlement.
- Order a decision
The judge’s answer, and the part that counts. "Granted" means yes, "denied" means no, "granted in part" means yes to some of it.
For example: An order granting the motion means the judge said yes.
- Preliminary approval /pre-LIM-in-airy/ a decision
The judge’s first "this looks fair enough to move ahead". Notices go out and claims open, but it is not the final say.
For example: After preliminary approval in June, the claim form went online.
- RECAP /REE-cap/ a source
A free public library of federal court papers run by the non-profit Free Law Project. The court documents on this page link to its copies.
For example: We found the judge’s order in the RECAP archive.
- Service award money
A small thank-you payment to the people who brought the case on everyone’s behalf (the class representatives). It comes from the fund and the judge decides it.
For example: The two people who started the case each asked the judge for a service award.
- Settlement administrator a company
The company that runs the claims for the court: it sends the notices, checks the claims and mails the payments. Questions about your claim go to them.
For example: The settlement administrator mails the checks once the judge approves the deal.
- Unopposed /un-uh-POZED/ a word in requests
Both sides agree on the request, so it usually goes through smoothly.
For example: An unopposed motion to move a deadline is almost always granted.
Academy Mortgage in the news
The newest US news about Academy Mortgage, newest first. News reports, not the settlement's official notice, and not always about this settlement.
- Why more lenders are opting to make big payouts in data breach cases americanbanker.com · and 1 other outlet
- Academy's $2M data breach deal: Why litigating rarely beats settling nationalmortgagenews.com
- Academy Mortgage agrees to $825K fine for 2023 data breach nationalmortgagenews.com
- Lender AnnieMac OKs $2 million data breach settlement | National Mortgage News nationalmortgagenews.com