A Settlement has been reached with Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (“Lee Enterprises” or “Defendant”) in a class action lawsuit. This case is about the cybersecurity incident that Lee Enterprises experienced in February 2025 (the “Data Security Incident”). Certain files that contained Private Information may have been accessed. These files may have contained personal information such as names , Social Security numbers and medical information.
The lawsuit is called Fetes, et al. v. Lee Enterprises, Inc., Case No. 3:25-cv-00067-SMR-SBJ. It is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (the “Litigation”). Lee Enterprises denies that it did anything wrong, and the Court has not decided who is right. The parties have agreed to settle the lawsuit (the “Settlement”) to avoid the costs and risks, disruptions, and uncertainties of continuing the Litigation.
Your rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Please read the Notice carefully and completely.
Summary Of Your Legal Rights and Options in this Settlement | Deadline | ||
Submit a Claim | The only way to receive benefits or payments from this Settlement is by submitting a valid and timely Claim Form. The fastest way to submit your Claim Form is online here. If you prefer, you can download the Claim Form here and mail it to the Settlement Administrator. You may also call or email the Settlement Administrator to receive a paper copy of the Claim Form. | May 26, 2026 | |
Opt Out of the Settlement | You can choose to opt-out of the Settlement and receive no Cash Payment or Credit Monitoring. This option allows you to sue, continue to sue, or be part of another lawsuit against the Defendant related to the legal claims resolved by this Settlement. You can hire your own lawyer at your own expense. | April 24, 2026 | |
Object to the Settlement and/or Attend a Hearing | If you do not opt-out of the Settlement, you may object to it by writing to the Court about why you don’t like the Settlement. You may also ask the Court for permission to speak about your objection at the Final Approval Hearing. If you object, you may also file a claim for Settlement Class Member benefits. | April 24, 2026 | |
Do Nothing | Unless you opt-out of the Settlement, you are automatically part of the Settlement. If you do nothing, you will not receive benefits or payments from this Settlement. You will give up the right to sue, continue to sue, or be part of another lawsuit against the Defendant related to the legal claims resolved and released by this Settlement. | No Deadline | |
These rights and options—and the deadlines to exercise them—are explained on the FAQs page.
The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether to approve the Settlement.
Upcoming Important Dates
Notification Mailing
2/23/2026
Objection Deadline
4/24/2026
Opt Out Deadline
4/24/2026
Claim Deadline
5/26/2026
Final Approval Hearing
6/30/2026