$55K Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers Data Breach Settlement, Are You Eligible? File a Claim by July 20, 2026

A November 2022 cybersecurity incident at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers exposed the personal information of current and former employees. The company agreed to pay $55,000 to settle a class action lawsuit over the breach. Current and former employees who received a notice stating the November 2022 incident may have compromised their personal information can claim an estimated $25 cash payment plus 24 months of free credit monitoring. You must file a claim by July 20, 2026 — nothing happens automatically.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$55,000
Claim Deadline	July 20, 2026
Who Qualifies	Current and former Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers employees affected by the November 2022 data breach
Estimated Cash Payout	~$25 per person (subject to pro-rata adjustment)
Additional Benefit	24 months of three-bureau credit monitoring + identity theft policy
Proof Required	No
Settlement Status	Open for Claims — Preliminarily Approved
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	June 19, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	August 14, 2026
Case Number	37-2023-00019871-CU-MC-CTL
Case Title	Robin Foster v. Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, Inc.
Court	Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
Administrator	CPT Group, Inc.
Official Website	lhfjsettlement.com

Current Status & What Happens Next

• The settlement is open for claims right now. You have until July 20, 2026, to file your claim online at lhfjsettlement.com.
• The deadline to opt out or object is earlier — June 19, 2026. Do not miss this date if you want to preserve the right to sue Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers separately.
• The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for August 14, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., at the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego, 330 W Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, Department 73. If the court approves the settlement and there are no objections, payments are expected to go out approximately 31 business days after that hearing.

What Is the Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers Data Breach Lawsuit About?

The lawsuit alleges that Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers failed to properly secure and safeguard employee personal information, which an unauthorized person accessed during a cybersecurity incident on or about November 10, 2022. The complaint claims the company breached its legal duty to protect employee data and violated promises it made about data security.

Class Representative Robin Foster filed the complaint in the Superior Court of California, San Diego County. The lawsuit claims the company failed to fulfill its legal duty to adequately secure employee information and breached promises made to employees about data security.

Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers denies all allegations and maintains it complied with applicable state law. The company agreed to settle to avoid the additional cost and risk of trial and appellate proceedings. The court has not ruled on the merits of the case.

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim?

You may qualify if you meet all of the following:

• You may qualify if you are a current or former employee of Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, Inc.
• You may qualify if you reside in the United States.
• You may qualify if the cybersecurity incident that occurred on or about November 10, 2022, may have impacted your personal information.

The settlement administrator will base eligibility on the company’s own employment records. If you received a settlement notice in the mail, you are very likely included as a class member.

You do NOT qualify if:

• You are an officer or director of Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, a judge assigned to the case (or their staff or family), or a person found guilty of initiating or aiding the cybersecurity incident.
• You have already submitted a valid request for exclusion from the class.

Important: If you received a notice but did not work for Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, contact the settlement administrator to clarify your status before the claim deadline.

Questions about eligibility? Contact the settlement administrator, CPT Group, at 1-888-977-0617 or email [email protected].

Related article: $1.1M Kickback Jack’s Sex Discrimination Settlement, Are You Eligible to Claim? File a Claim by August 3, 2026

How Much Can You Receive?

This settlement provides two separate benefits. You can claim both on the same form.

Benefit 1: Cash Payment (~$25)

All settlement class members who submit a valid claim are eligible for a cash payment initially set at $25.00, which is subject to pro-rata increase or decrease depending on the number of valid claims filed and the funds remaining after attorneys’ fees, administration costs, and service awards are paid.

In plain terms: if fewer people file claims, your payout could be higher than $25. If a large number of valid claims come in, your share could be lower. The $25 figure is the starting estimate, not a guaranteed amount.

Benefit 2: 24 Months of Credit Monitoring (Free)

All eligible class members who file a valid claim can receive 24 months of credit monitoring services and an identity theft policy. The credit monitoring covers all three national credit reporting bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

This benefit is particularly valuable if your Social Security number, driver’s license number, or financial account information was exposed in the breach. Two full years of three-bureau monitoring is worth well over $100 in retail value — making it the higher-value benefit of the two.

Settlement Fund Breakdown

Class Counsel will ask the court to approve attorneys’ fees not exceeding $18,333.33 (one-third of the fund), litigation costs and expenses up to $15,000, and a service award of up to $1,500 for the class representative. The remaining funds go to eligible class members.

How to File Your Leo Hamel Settlement Claim

You must actively file a claim. No payment goes out automatically.

Step 1 — Visit the official claim portal: www.lhfjsettlement.com/Login

Step 2 — Enter your CPT ID and passcode from the settlement notice you received by mail.

Step 3 — Select your preferred benefits: cash payment, credit monitoring, or both.

Step 4 — Choose your payment method: paper check or electronic payment.

Step 5 — Submit your claim. No documentation or proof of harm is required.

Step 6 — Save your confirmation. Record your confirmation number or take a screenshot.

Lost your CPT ID or passcode? Email [email protected] to request your credentials before the July 20, 2026 deadline. Do not wait until the last minute — retrieval may take a few days.

No PDF mail-in option: There is no PDF claim form for this settlement. Claims must be submitted online through the official website.

Estimated time to complete: Under 5 minutes.

Important Deadlines & Dates

Milestone	Date
Cybersecurity Incident Date	~November 10, 2022
Lawsuit Filed	2023
Settlement Class Notice Issued	April 2026
Claims Period Opens	Open now
Opt-Out Deadline	June 19, 2026
Objection Deadline	June 19, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	July 20, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	August 14, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. PT
Expected Payment Distribution	~31 business days after August 14, 2026
Estimated Payment Date	October–November 2026 (subject to appeals)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to file a claim to receive money from this settlement? 

Yes. The only way to receive settlement benefits is to submit a claim form by the July 20, 2026 deadline. If you do nothing, you will not receive any payment and you will also give up your right to sue Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers over the breach.

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim? 

No. The court appointed Swigart Law Group, APC, and Ben Travis Law, APC, as class counsel to represent all settlement class members at no cost to you. You may hire your own attorney at your own expense if you prefer.

Is the Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers settlement legitimate? 

Yes. The case, Robin Foster v. Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, Inc., is pending in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego (Case No. 37-2023-00019871-CU-MC-CTL). The court authorized the class notice, and the settlement administrator is CPT Group, Inc., a nationally recognized claims administration firm.

When will I receive my settlement payment? 

If the court approves the settlement on August 14, 2026, and no objections delay the process, payments are expected to be sent approximately 31 business days after the final approval hearing. That puts the estimated payment window at October to November 2026, assuming no appeals.

What if I missed the claim deadline? 

The July 20, 2026 claim deadline is firm. If the deadline has passed when you read this, no further action is possible under this settlement. This article remains as an educational record of the case. If you have concerns about your exposed data, you can still take independent steps such as placing a credit freeze or fraud alert at no cost through the three major credit bureaus.

What personal information was exposed in the Leo Hamel data breach? 

The lawsuit alleges that an unauthorized person accessed employee personal information during the November 10, 2022 cybersecurity incident. The specific data types exposed per individual are detailed in the notice each employee received. Common categories in employee data breaches include names, Social Security numbers, financial account details, and addresses. Check your personal notice letter for specifics.

Can I claim both the cash payment and the credit monitoring? 

Yes. You may choose both benefits on the same claim form. There is no penalty or reduction for selecting both — claiming both is the best option for most eligible employees.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Settlement payments may be considered taxable income depending on your situation. Consult a tax professional regarding any reporting obligations. The credit monitoring benefit is generally not taxable.

Sources & References

1. Official Settlement Website — lhfjsettlement.com
2. Court-Authorized Long Form Class Notice (PDF)
3. Settlement Agreement & Release (PDF)
4. Massachusetts Data Breach Registry — Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers (Breach No. 29510)

Last Updated: April 18, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.