It seemed like the digital age had nothing bad to offer us because everything was much more convenient. No one thought a new era would bring new risks and challenges until now.
A well-known American boat sales company, MarineMax, has been the target of a new massive data breach that has put the confidential and sensitive information of thousands of customers at risk, and now, following a class action lawsuit, the company will have to pay more than one million dollars to compensate those affected. We tell you everything below.
What happened with MarineMax?
In 2024, both MarineMax and its subsidiary Newcoast suffered a cyberattack by hackers that exposed customer personal data, such as Social Security numbers, driver’s license details, and banking information.
After learning about the events, many users decided to file a class action lawsuit for having their information compromised.
And what has happened now?
Although the company has not admitted legal fault, they have agreed to pay financial compensation of $1,018,825.50 to close this chapter without it further affecting the company. And even though no amount of money can undo the exposure of sensitive data, since MarineMax lacked cybersecurity measures that could have prevented the attack, getting some money for a mistake like this doesn’t hurt anyone.
How did the breach happen?
According to reports, the hackers were able to bypass the server security barriers where this information was stored and quickly gain access to it.
Who can receive the money?
Those who received a notification letter from MarineMax or Newcoast informing them that their information may have been compromised in this attack.
How much can I receive?
Members of the class action can receive up to $5,000 for issues related to identity theft and $2,000 for documented expenses resulting from the incident, such as credit monitoring, professional fees, credit-related expenses, and other costs.
For those who did not accept the credit monitoring initially offered, they may receive up to 3 additional years of free monitoring, and if they already accepted the previous 2 years, they may qualify for one extra year.
On the other hand, there is a limit of up to $500 remaining per claimant.
What is the deadline to claim the money?
There are several dates you need to keep in mind, and we’ll highlight them in order:
- The deadline for exclusion and objection will be May 14.
- June 13 will be the last day for affected users to file a claim.
- And finally, the hearing to approve the data breach settlement will take place on June 17.
Do I need anything?
If you have documents showing losses or payments made as a result of the data breach, such as collection letters, credit reports, or similar, keep them and submit them with your claim because they serve as clear proof that your information was exposed and caused you issues.
How do I submit my form?
Just click here to be redirected to the official lawsuit page, but remember that you are submitting a claim under penalty of perjury, which means that if you do not qualify for this settlement, do not file the claim because you could be committing a crime and affecting members who were actually harmed by this error.
Detail | Information |
Company | MarineMax / Newcoast |
What gappened | Data breach exposing Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and banking info |
Settlement amount | $1,018,825.50 |
Who qualifies | Anyone who received a notification letter from MarineMax or Newcoast |
Claim deadline | June 13, 2025 |
Final approval hearing | June 17, 2025 |
Compensation for identity theft | Up to $5,000 |
Reimbursement for expenses | Up to $2,000 with documentation |
Cash payment | Up to $500 per person (if funds remain after reimbursement) |
Credit monitoring | 1–3 years of free credit monitoring depending on your situation |
Exclusion/Objection deadline | May 14, 2025 |