Panera Bread Class Action Settlement Claim Form, File Your $7,350 Compensation Claim Before November 11, 2025 Deadline
Panera Bread agreed to a $2.5 million settlement for victims of the March 2024 data breach that exposed names and Social Security numbers of 147,321 employees, customers, and contractors. Eligible class members can claim up to $6,500 for extraordinary losses, $500 for ordinary expenses, $100 California statutory payment, and up to $250 residual payment—totaling $7,350 maximum compensation. The claim form deadline is November 11, 2025, with final court approval scheduled for January 29, 2026.
Only individuals who received official breach notification from Panera qualify. The settlement resolves allegations that Panera failed to protect consumer data, though the company denies wrongdoing.
Who Qualifies for the Panera Settlement Payment?
Class members must reside in the United States and have received a notice from Panera stating their private information may have been compromised in the March 2024 incident.
The March 23, 2024 cyberattack affected primarily current and former Panera employees, plus a limited number of customers, contractors, and suppliers. The breach compromised sensitive information including names and Social Security numbers of approximately 147,321 people.
You qualify if you:
- Received an official email or mailed notice from Panera about the data breach
- Are a U.S. resident whose information was compromised
- Have your unique Class Member ID (found in your breach notification)
If you purchased from Panera but didn’t receive a breach notice, you likely don’t qualify for this specific settlement.
How Much Money Can You Get from Panera Settlement?
The settlement offers multiple compensation categories depending on losses suffered:
Ordinary Out-of-Pocket Losses: Up to $500 for documented expenses like credit monitoring, credit report fees, notary expenses, postage, or communication costs incurred between February 9, 2024 and November 11, 2025.
Extraordinary Losses: Up to $6,500 for documented identity theft, unreimbursed fraudulent charges, falsified tax returns, or other fraud directly traceable to the breach, plus up to $250 for 10 hours of time spent resolving issues at $25/hour.
California Statutory Payment: California residents at the time of the March 2024 breach can claim an additional $100 payment.
Residual Cash Payment: Up to $250 distributed from remaining settlement funds after approved claims, with actual amount depending on total valid claims filed.
Maximum possible payout reaches $7,350 for California residents with extraordinary documented losses.
What Documentation Do You Need for Your Claim?
Class members must provide their Class Member ID found on the envelope, postcard, or email notification from Panera.
For ordinary and extraordinary losses, the settlement requires specific documentation:
Acceptable Documentation:
- Bank statements showing fraudulent charges
- Credit card statements
- Receipts for credit monitoring services
- Official correspondence with financial institutions
- Police reports for identity theft
- Credit bureau reports showing unauthorized accounts
- Tax documents for fraudulent returns
Self-prepared documents like handwritten receipts are not sufficient on their own but can be submitted as clarification alongside official records.
All expenses must be unreimbursed and reasonably linked to the March 2024 breach to qualify for payment.
How to Complete the Panera Claim Form
File your claim online at the official settlement website or download and print the PDF claim form to mail.
Step 1: Gather Required Information
- Your Class Member ID from the breach notice
- Documentation of all losses and expenses
- Contact information for payment delivery
Step 2: Choose Filing Method
Online submission through PaneraSettlement.com offers the fastest processing. Mail submissions must be postmarked by November 11, 2025.
Step 3: Select Payment Categories
Check all boxes that apply to your situation—ordinary losses, extraordinary losses, California payment, and residual payment. You can claim multiple categories.
Step 4: Upload or Attach Documentation
For online claims, scan and upload supporting documents. For mail claims, include copies (never originals) of all documentation.
Step 5: Review and Submit
Mail paper claims to: In re Panera Data Security Litigation, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324.
Contact the settlement administrator at 833-890-4542 with questions about claim form completion.
What Was the Panera Data Breach Lawsuit About?
The class action lawsuit alleged Panera was negligent and violated privacy laws including California’s Consumer Privacy Act, invasion of privacy, breach of implied contract, and unjust enrichment.
Plaintiffs claimed Panera failed to implement adequate cybersecurity measures, leaving systems vulnerable to the March 2024 attack. The lawsuit members claim Panera “failed to adequately train its employees on cybersecurity and failed to maintain reasonable security safeguards or protocols to protect” employee and customer information.
The data breach caused a widespread IT outage in March 2024 that affected Panera’s online ordering, POS systems, and in-store kiosks. Social media complaints at the time questioned Panera’s transparency about the service interruption.
Panera denies any wrongdoing but agreed to the $2.5 million settlement to avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation and appeals.
Important Panera Settlement Deadlines You Can’t Miss
Claim Form Deadline: November 11, 2025—submit online or postmark mailed forms by this date
Opt-Out Deadline: October 13, 2025—if you want to preserve your right to sue Panera separately
Objection Deadline: October 13, 2025—if you disagree with settlement terms
Final Fairness Hearing: January 29, 2026 at 10:30 AM CT—when the court decides whether to approve the settlement
Payments will be distributed approximately 90 days after final court approval and resolution of any appeals. Missing the November 11 deadline means forfeiting your right to compensation.
How Will Settlement Payments Be Distributed?
The $2.5 million settlement fund covers all approved claims, administration costs, attorneys’ fees (up to $833,333.33), attorneys’ expenses (up to $50,000), and service awards to class representatives (up to $2,000 each).
If total approved claims exceed available funds after deductions, all payments will be reduced proportionally. If funds remain after paying all claims, residual payments of up to $250 per person will be distributed.
Payment methods include electronic transfer for online claims or paper checks mailed to the address provided on your claim form.
Any unclaimed funds after all payments will be donated to a court-approved nonprofit organization.
What Legal Rights Do You Have in This Settlement?
Submitting a claim form means accepting the settlement and releasing Panera from further liability related to the March 2024 breach. You cannot sue Panera separately for the same issues.
If you disagree with the settlement terms, you have three options:
Opt Out: Request exclusion by October 13, 2025 to preserve your right to sue Panera independently. Your opt-out request must be postmarked by this date.
Object: File written objections with the court and mail copies to class counsel and Panera’s attorneys by October 13, 2025. You can still collect settlement benefits even if you object.
Do Nothing: If you don’t file a claim, opt out, or object, you remain part of the settlement class but receive no payment and cannot sue separately.
The final fairness hearing on January 29, 2026 allows the judge to consider objections before approving the settlement.
What Information Was Exposed in the Breach?
The March 2024 cybersecurity incident compromised confidential employee and customer data including names, Social Security numbers, and payroll details stored within Panera’s internal systems.
An unauthorized third party gained access to Panera’s database containing sensitive personal information. The breach primarily affected employees—both current and former—with a smaller number of customers, contractors, and suppliers also impacted.
Social Security number exposure creates significant identity theft risks, including:
- Fraudulent credit card accounts opened in your name
- Tax return fraud and IRS complications
- Unauthorized loans or credit applications
- Employment identity theft
- Medical identity theft
The lawsuit alleged violations of California’s Consumer Privacy Act along with negligence, invasion of privacy, breach of implied contract, and unjust enrichment claims.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Filing Your Claim
Missing the Class Member ID: Your unique identifier is required for all claims. Find it on your breach notification email or mailed letter.
Submitting Without Documentation: Claims for ordinary or extraordinary losses require supporting documents. Undocumented claims will be denied.
Using Self-Prepared Documents Only: Handwritten receipts alone won’t qualify. You need official records like bank statements or credit reports.
Filing After the Deadline: November 11, 2025 is a hard deadline. Late claims won’t be accepted regardless of circumstances.
Not Reading Settlement Terms: Understand what expenses qualify before filing. Only unreimbursed costs directly traceable to the breach are compensable.
Failing to Keep Copies: Maintain copies of everything you submit. You may need to reference your claim later.
Ignoring the Deadline While Waiting for Losses: Don’t wait to see if identity theft occurs. File for what you’ve already experienced and documented.
How Does This Compare to Other Data Breach Settlements?
Panera’s $2.5 million settlement follows similar corporate data breach cases. The payment structure mirrors recent settlements from T-Mobile, Equifax, and Capital One.
Key differences in Panera’s settlement:
- Higher maximum payout ($7,350) compared to many data breach settlements
- Specific California statutory payment acknowledging stronger state privacy laws
- Relatively short claim period (breach in March 2024, settlement in July 2025)
- Focus on employee data rather than primarily customer information
The settlement reflects growing legal accountability for companies failing to protect sensitive data. Consumer protection laws increasingly require robust cybersecurity measures, with financial penalties for breaches.
What Should You Do If You’re Eligible?
If you received a Panera breach notice:
- Locate your Class Member ID in the notification
- Gather documentation of any losses or expenses related to the breach
- File your claim online at PaneraSettlement.com or mail the completed form
- Monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity
- Consider placing fraud alerts with credit bureaus
- Keep copies of all documentation submitted
If you experienced identity theft:
Document everything meticulously. Extraordinary loss claims require substantial proof connecting the theft to the Panera breach.
File police reports immediately when discovering fraudulent activity. Law enforcement documentation strengthens your claim.
If you haven’t experienced losses yet:
Consider filing for the residual cash payment. You don’t need documented losses to receive this benefit if funds remain after other claims.
What Happens After You Submit Your Claim?
Kroll Settlement Administration LLC reviews all submitted claims for completeness and validity. They may contact you requesting additional documentation if initial submissions are insufficient.
The review process begins after the November 11 deadline and continues through the final fairness hearing. Expect several months between claim submission and payment distribution.
Class action settlement payments will be issued to eligible consumers only if the deal receives ultimate court approval and after any appeals are resolved.
If the court approves the settlement on January 29, 2026, payments will be distributed approximately 90 days later, likely in April or May 2026.
Protecting Yourself After a Data Breach
Beyond filing your settlement claim, take proactive steps to protect your identity:
Monitor Your Credit: Use AnnualCreditReport.com (the only official, federally-supported site) to check all three credit bureau reports annually.
Consider Credit Freezes: Freezing your credit prevents new accounts from being opened without your authorization.
Watch for Phishing: Scammers often target data breach victims with fake settlement emails. Only use the official PaneraSettlement.com website.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Add extra security layers to financial accounts and email.
Review Account Statements: Check bank and credit card statements monthly for unauthorized transactions.
Report suspicious activity immediately to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov and your state attorney general.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Panera Bread class action settlement about?
The settlement resolves a lawsuit over Panera’s March 2024 data breach that compromised names and Social Security numbers of approximately 147,321 people, primarily current and former employees. Panera agreed to pay $2.5 million to affected individuals.
Who is eligible to file a claim?
Anyone who received an official breach notification from Panera and resides in the United States qualifies to file a claim. You must have your Class Member ID from the notification.
How do I complete the Panera claim form?
File online at PaneraSettlement.com using your Class Member ID, or download the PDF form and mail it to In re Panera Data Security Litigation, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324.
What documentation do I need?
For ordinary or extraordinary losses, provide bank statements, credit card statements, receipts, correspondence with financial institutions, or other official records documenting your expenses and losses.
What is the claim deadline?
November 11, 2025 is the final deadline to submit claims online or postmark mailed claim forms. Late claims will not be accepted.
How much compensation can I receive?
Depending on your losses and documentation, you can claim up to $500 for ordinary expenses, $6,500 for extraordinary losses, $100 California payment (if applicable), and up to $250 residual payment—totaling a maximum of $7,350.
When will I receive my payment?
Payments are issued approximately 90 days after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved, following the January 29, 2026 final fairness hearing.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Lawsuit details, eligibility criteria, settlement terms, claim form requirements, and consumer rights may vary based on individual circumstances. Consult official court documents, review settlement terms independently, review the claim form instructions carefully, and contact the settlement administrator at 833-890-4542 or an attorney for specific questions about claim eligibility, claim form completion, or participation.
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About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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