LCC agrees to $1.45 million class action settlement over 2023 data breach

THURSDAY, Oct. 10 — More than 750,000 former, current or even potential Lansing Community College students may be eligible for a portion of a $1.45 million class action settlement tied to an early 2023 data breach, according to mailers sent to some of those impacted.

Mailers that say "You are Eligible for a CASH PAYMENT" began arriving this week. It is unclear how many mailers were sent.

Compromised data, including names and Social Security numbers, could have been accessed by an “unauthorized actor” between Dec. 25, 2022, and March 15, 2023, said the mailers and  documents submitted to U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

Those who file a claim by Dec. 30 are eligible for a cash payment in an undetermined amount based on how many file.

Additionally, individuals who believe they experienced “actual out-of-pocket losses,” so long as they are documented and “more likely than not” related to the breach, are eligible for reimbursements of “up to $2,000 per individual,” according to the mailers.

Shub & Johns LLC, a Pennsylvania-based law firm, filed the class action lawsuit in July 2023. In June, the firm filed an unopposed motion for preliminary settlement approval. According to court documents, final approval could be issued following a hearing before District Judge Paul L. Maloney on Jan. 21, 2025.

As part of the settlement, LCC has agreed to “institute policies, procedures, and additional security-related remedial measures,” according to court documents. These include implementing additional security programs, updating its software and systems, resetting passwords of compromised accounts and “expanding use of multi-factor authorization.”

According to Shub & Johns’ website, “though the company experienced the breach in March 2023, it did not begin informing impacted consumers until June 30, 2023.” Efforts to reach for comment attorney Benjamin F. Johns, who is leading the case for the firm, were not immediately successful.

Asked for comment, LCC media spokesperson Marilyn Twine emailed a statement:

“Lansing Community College has reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in a legal case related to the March 2023 cyber incident. This settlement agreement is subject to the court’s final approval following a January 21, 2025, hearing. A notice regarding this settlement has been mailed to individuals whose personal information may have been involved in the cyber incident.”

To submit a claim or learn more about the settlement, visit www.lansingsettlement.com.