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Verify My Notice LetterThis case file references a public filing made with the state filing in CA. This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any state government agency.
The University of Pennsylvania was the subject of a data breach notification filed with the CA Attorney General. The AG filing was recorded on December 1, 2025. The breach or discovery date reported in the filing is August 9, 2025.
From the AG filing description
The University of Pennsylvania operates as a prestigious Ivy League institution of higher education and advanced academic research, drawing thousands of students, faculty members, researchers, and patients through its affiliated medical networks. Because of its multifaceted role as an educational powerhouse, employer, and healthcare operator, the institution collects and maintains vast repositories of highly sensitive data. This includes deeply personal student records, comprehensive faculty employment files, academic transcripts, financial aid details, and proprietary research data, all of which require rigorous cybersecurity measures to prevent unauthorized exposure. In 2025, the University of Pennsylvania reported a significant security incident to the California Attorney General, prompting widespread concern among individuals whose information was entrusted to the institution. While specific technical mechanics of university-targeted cyberattacks often involve sophisticated ransomware deployments, phishing campaigns targeting administrative credentials, or vulnerabilities within third-party educational software vendors, breaches of this magnitude typically exploit weak perimeter defenses or unpatched network endpoints. Such intrusions allow malicious actors to quietly infiltrate internal databases and exfiltrate substantial volumes of confidential records before detection occurs. Data breaches at major universities and research institutions routinely compromise a toxic combination of personally identifiable information. When records containing full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, banking details, and educational or medical histories are exposed, victims face immediate and severe risks. Social Security numbers and dates of birth serve as the master keys for identity theft, enabling bad actors to open fraudulent credit lines, file false tax returns, and drain personal financial accounts. Furthermore, the exposure of educational and student financial aid records opens vulnerable populations, such as young adults just establishing their financial profiles, to targeted financial fraud and long-term credit impairment. As an institution operating within the United States, the University of Pennsylvania is bound by strict statutory and common law duties to safeguard the private data entrusted to it. Under federal laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), state data protection statutes, and implied contractual obligations, educational institutions must implement robust administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. The occurrence of a data breach of this scale strongly indicates a potential failure to maintain reasonable security practices, leaving the institution legally accountable for the resulting exposure of private consumer and student data. Receiving a formal data breach notification letter from the University of Pennsylvania is a clear admission that your confidential records were compromised due to inadequate security controls. Legally, this notice serves as confirmation that you possess standing to participate in a class action lawsuit aimed at holding the institution accountable. Importantly, you do not need to show proof of actual financial fraud or out-of-pocket loss to join the fight; the increased risk of future identity theft and the loss of data privacy are actionable harms under the law. Our firm investigates these matters on a strict contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing and owe no legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you may have a legal claim against The University of Pennsylvania if any of the following apply:
Based on the data types reported in this filing:
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.
Combined with a name and other leaked data, date of birth helps criminals pass identity verification questions at banks and government agencies.
Common categories of compensation in data breach class actions
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.
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.
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.
Data breach victims regularly report anxiety, loss of sleep, and ongoing fear of identity theft. These non-economic harms are cognizable injuries in data breach litigation, particularly in cases involving SSN or medical record exposure.
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.
No. Under California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) 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.
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.
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.
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.
Statutes of limitations for data breach claims vary by state but typically run 2–4 years. Depending on when you learned of the breach, you may still have time. Contact our office for a free eligibility review — there is no cost to find out.
Accepting free credit monitoring from The University of Pennsylvania 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.
Not necessarily. Many data breach victims are never notified directly. If your personal information was held by The University of Pennsylvania during the relevant period, you may still qualify even without receiving a letter. A free eligibility review can confirm your status.
Applicable State Law
This breach was reported under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which mandates notification and establishes your right to seek damages.
The University of Pennsylvania breach?
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