Data BreachInvestigation Open

AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC Data Breach — Official Case File

IN filing|Reported Apr 30, 2026|8 data types exposed

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Quick Facts

State Filed
IN
Date Reported to AG
Apr 30, 2026
Date of Breach
Mar 5, 2026
Records Affected
Not disclosed
Status
Investigation Open
Last Updated
Oct 5, 2026
Data Types Exposed
Full NameSocial Security NumberDate of BirthMailing AddressFinancial Account DetailsBanking Routing InformationWage and Compensation RecordsTax and Employment Documents

About This Security Incident

AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC was the subject of a data breach notification filed with the IN Attorney General. The AG filing was recorded on April 30, 2026. The breach or discovery date reported in the filing is March 5, 2026.

From the AG filing description

AEC Holdco LLC, operating under the trade name Grace Design Studios LLC, functions within the design, architecture, and high-end manufacturing or interior planning sector, often managing complex commercial and residential projects that require extensive client onboarding, contractor coordination, and financial transactions. Because the firm regularly handles comprehensive project portfolios, blueprints, proprietary client intellectual property, and high-value financial agreements, it collects and retains a vast amount of sensitive personal and corporate data. This includes high-resolution personally identifiable information (PII) from private clients, corporate stakeholders, and internal design personnel, making it a lucrative target for malicious cyber actors seeking valuable confidential records. In 2026, AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC formally reported a significant security incident to the Indiana Attorney General. While the full extent of the technical intrusion vector is still under investigation, breaches affecting specialized professional service and design firms typically involve unauthorized access to centralized cloud repositories, compromised employee credentials, or sophisticated ransomware attacks that penetrate internal networks. Such incidents frequently expose vulnerable legacy databases or third-party vendor platforms where administrative records, client onboarding documents, and employee files are stored without adequate multi-factor authentication or robust end-to-end encryption. The exposure resulting from this breach compromises critical categories of sensitive information, creating immediate and severe risks for affected individuals. Unauthorized disclosure of full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, banking details, and residential or corporate addresses opens the door to devastating forms of identity theft and financial fraud. For individuals whose tax documents, direct deposit records, or credit profiles were maintained within the company systems, the risk extends to unauthorized credit card applications, fraudulent loan originations, and the complete takeover of personal financial accounts, requiring years of costly credit monitoring and remediation. Under Indiana state data protection statutes, as well as overarching federal standards governing the handling of consumer and employee data, companies like AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC have a legal and fiduciary duty to implement reasonable security safeguards to protect private records. The occurrence of a data breach of this magnitude strongly indicates potential failures in network segmentation, vulnerability management, and timely threat detection protocols. Failing to secure sensitive PII against foreseeable cyber threats constitutes a breach of common law negligence principles and violates statutory obligations requiring companies to maintain adequate cybersecurity infrastructure. Receiving a data breach notification letter from AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC is a formal admission by the company that your confidential information was compromised due to their inadequate security measures. Legally, this notice serves as confirmation that you have suffered an injury in fact, establishing the necessary standing to participate in a class action lawsuit seeking accountability, restitution, and enhanced protective measures. Importantly, affected individuals do not need to prove that they have already suffered actual financial loss to join a legal claim. Our firm handles these complex data privacy cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is never any out-of-pocket cost to you, and we only collect a fee if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.

Exposed Data — What's at Risk

Based on the data types reported in this filing:

Identity Theftcritical risk

Your SSN is the master key to your identity. Once exposed, criminals can open new lines of credit, take out loans, or file taxes in your name.

Identity Verification Bypassmedium risk

Combined with a name and other leaked data, date of birth helps criminals pass identity verification questions at banks and government agencies.

Check Your Eligibility

You may have been affected by the AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC data breach if:

  • You received a written data breach notification letter from AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC
  • You are or were a customer, patient, or employee of AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC
  • Your information was held by AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC in IN
  • Your bank or payment card data was potentially exposed

Your Rights as a Victim

Common categories of compensation in data breach class actions

Time & Inconvenience

Courts recognize that the time spent monitoring accounts, placing credit freezes, and dealing with the aftermath of a breach has real economic value. This category of damages is recoverable even without direct financial loss.

Credit Monitoring & Identity Restoration

Professional credit monitoring services cost $10–$40 per month. Identity theft restoration services, if needed, can cost hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars. Courts have awarded these costs as direct damages in SSN breach cases.

Financial Losses & Fraudulent Charges

Direct financial losses resulting from the breach — unauthorized charges, fraudulent transfers, or fees incurred through fraud — are recoverable as compensatory damages. Banks may reverse some charges; a class action recovers the remainder and associated costs.

Statutory Minimum Damages

Several state data breach laws provide for statutory minimum damages — fixed amounts recoverable per affected individual regardless of actual loss. These provisions exist specifically to make legal action viable for victims who have not yet experienced direct harm.

Note: an attorney general breach filing does not by itself establish a settlement fund, a payment amount, or a claim deadline. If an official settlement notice is later issued, rely on that notice for payment details and deadlines.

Applicable State Law

This breach was reported under the Indiana data breach notification law, which mandates notification and establishes your right to seek damages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need proof that my data was misused to file a claim against AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC?

No. Under Indiana data breach notification law and federal law, the unauthorized exposure of your personal data — regardless of whether it has been actively misused — can be sufficient grounds for a claim. The breach itself is the injury.

How much does filing a claim cost?

Nothing. The Law Office of David S. Harris handles data breach cases on contingency — you pay zero upfront and owe nothing unless compensation is recovered.

My Social Security Number was exposed. What should I do right now?

Immediately place a free credit freeze at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). A freeze blocks new accounts from being opened in your name. Then file a complaint with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and contact our office — SSN exposure is one of the most serious breach types.

My financial account data was exposed. Can the bank recover my losses?

Banks may reverse fraudulent charges, but they are not obligated to compensate you for time lost, stress, or indirect damages. A class action claim against the breached company can recover those additional categories of harm.

Is there a deadline to file a claim?

State statutes of limitations for data breach claims typically run 2–4 years from the date of the breach or its discovery. Because this breach was recently disclosed, the window is open — but acting early preserves your options and strengthens the case.

What if AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC offered me free credit monitoring after the breach?

Accepting free credit monitoring from AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC does not waive your right to pursue legal action unless you signed a specific release waiving claims. In most cases, victims who accepted monitoring can still file.

Do I need to have received a notice letter to be eligible?

Not necessarily. Many data breach victims are never notified directly. If your personal information was held by AEC Holdco LLC dba Grace Design Studios LLC during the relevant period, you may still qualify even without receiving a letter. A free eligibility review can confirm your status.

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This case file references a public filing made with the state filing in IN. This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any state government agency.

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