The proposed class action settlement will provide cash compensation and other remedies to those affected by the The Merchant of Tennis cybersecurity incidents.
Costa Mesa, California, October 29, 2026 / PRNewswire / -- The court-appointed settlement administrator Simpluris, Inc. Regarding the proposed class action settlement in case Victor Estrada v. The Merchant of Tennis Inc (Case Number: 24STCV09656), the following statement is issued.
In this class-action lawsuit, The Merchant, of, Tennis, Inc, U.S, Merchants Financial Group, Inc, as well as U.S, Optical Merchants, and Inc have reached a proposed settlement. The lawsuit concerns a cyberattack ("cybersecurity incident") that occurred in February 2024 against the defendants' computer systems, during which files containing private information were accessed.
The defendant denies any improper conduct, and the court has not yet ruled which party is in the right. All parties agree to settle the matter to avoid the risks, disruptions, and uncertainties associated with continued litigation.
Who is included in the scope of reconciliation?
The reconciliation group includes individuals whose information was affected by this cybersecurity incident, among whom are employees of the defendant as well as third-party truck drivers.
What compensations can be obtained?
Members of the settlement collective are eligible to receive cash compensation: Individuals residing in California at the time of the cybersecurity incident are entitled to an initial compensation amount of $45; all other members of the settlement collective are entitled to an initial compensation amount of $15, with the final amount subject to adjustment upwards or downwards proportionally.
Non-employees who wish to receive this cash compensation or any other settlement benefits must submit a valid and timely claim form by January 27, 2027. Other members of the settlement group will automatically receive this cash compensation without the need to submit a claim form.
Members of the settlement group can also submit a claim form to apply for reimbursement of up to $2,000 for documented losses, and/or to receive two years of credit monitoring services. Individuals whose notified mailing address is not in California but who actually resided in California in February 2024 can also submit a claim form to prove their residency in California. Claims must be submitted online by January 27, 2027, or mailed by the postmark date.
What rights and choices do I have?
Members of the settlement group who do not wish to participate in the settlement must apply to withdraw by December 28, 2026. Members who choose to remain in the settlement will waive any related claims arising from this cybersecurity incident or the facts stated in the complaint. Members of the settlement group who wish to object to the settlement may submit their objections by December 28, 2026.
When will the court review and finally approve it?
The court will hold a final approval hearing on March 30, 2027, to consider whether to approve the settlement, as well as the fee requests made by the class action attorneys, which include: attorney fees not exceeding one-third of the settlement fund (228,333.33 US dollars), a maximum of 20,000 US dollars in expense reimbursement, payment of 2,500 US dollars to the plaintiffs, and payment of 53,972 US dollars for the costs of the settlement administrator.
This press release is for summary purposes only. For complete information regarding the settlement, including the settlement agreement, claim forms, deadlines, and instructions on how to exercise your rights, please visit https :// www.USMSettlement.com or call (855) 444-5824.
