Circle K Lawsuit: The Data Breach Settlement and Other Cases
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Most people searching “Circle K lawsuit” are looking at one thing: a data breach settlement with Gas Express, LLC, a Circle K franchisee whose May 2024 cyberattack exposed workers' names and Social Security numbers. The claim deadline was September 3, 2026 and has passed. The final approval hearing was set for September 18, 2026; as of October 6, 2026 the official site has not posted a ruling. If you never worked for that franchisee, this settlement is almost certainly not about you.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Data Breach Lawsuit Says Happened
The case is Brittany Canup, et al. v. Gas Express, LLC d/b/a Circle K. Gas Express operates Circle K stores as a franchisee; it is not the Circle K parent company. According to the lawsuit, a targeted cyberattack hit its systems on or around May 20, 2024, and files containing private information were accessed.
The people affected were mainly current and former employees, not shoppers. Per court documents, the exposed data may have included names, driver's license numbers and Social Security numbers. The lawsuit alleges the company failed to use reasonable cybersecurity measures. Circle K denies that it did anything wrong, and the court has not decided who is right.
Case Details
The settlement case is pending in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia, Case No. 25EV012357. The court granted preliminary approval on April 16, 2026 and scheduled the final approval hearing for September 18, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 3A in Atlanta.
The court-approved website is GasExpressDataSettlement.com. The settlement administrator can be reached at P.O. Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA 92799, or toll free at (833) 386-6575.
Status: Claims Closed, Final Ruling Not Yet Posted
Payments only go out if the court grants final approval and after any appeals are resolved. If you filed a claim, there is nothing more to do. If you missed the deadline, you cannot file now.
Other Circle K cases in the news do not pay consumers:
— The lottery ticket case. Circle K sued in Maricopa County Superior Court, Arizona, asking a judge to decide who owns a $12.8 million Arizona Lottery prize printed at one of its stores. The former store manager who bought the ticket filed a response in July 2026, and the Arizona Lottery is holding the prize while the court decides.
— A patent suit. Alpha Modus Corp. reported in April 2026 that it had sued Circle K in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas over retail-technology patents. That is a dispute between companies.
— The EEOC agreement. On November 29, 2022 the EEOC announced that Circle K Stores Inc. would pay $8 million to resolve disability, pregnancy and retaliation charges. The EEOC said the agreement is in effect for four years.
Who Was in the Settlement Class
The court defined the class as “all living individuals residing in the United States who were sent a notice by Defendant that their Private Information was impacted in the Data Incident.” The defendant is Gas Express, LLC. The settlement documents put the 10% cap on no-proof claims at 700 claims, which implies a class of roughly 7,000 people.
The practical test is your mail. If you got a notice from Gas Express about the May 2024 incident, with a unique ID and PIN for the claim site, you were in the class. Buying gas or snacks at a Circle K does not make you a class member, and neither does working for a different Circle K operator.
What the Settlement Pays
— Documented losses: up to $2,000 for out-of-pocket losses between May 20, 2024 and September 3, 2026, with receipts required. All such claims together are capped at $45,000.
— Alternate cash: a one-time $50 payment with no proof, limited to 700 valid claims.
— Credit monitoring: two years of CyEx Financial Shield Complete, with $1 million of fraud insurance.
Class counsel asked for up to $235,000 in fees and costs and $1,000 service awards for each class representative. Circle K pays those separately; they do not come out of the claim caps. No payment date has been announced, because payments depend on final approval and any appeals.
Circle K Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
November 29, 2022 — EEOC Agreement
Circle K Stores Inc. agrees to pay $8 million through EEOC conciliation, covering employees from July 10, 2009 to September 26, 2022.
- 2
May 20, 2024 — Franchisee Cyberattack
Gas Express, LLC, a Circle K franchisee, is the target of a cyberattack, according to the settlement site. Certain files were accessed that may have contained names and Social Security numbers.
- 3
April 16, 2026 — Preliminary Approval
The State Court of Fulton County, Georgia preliminarily approves the settlement in Case No. 25EV012357. Notices go out with an ID and PIN.
- 4
July 2026 — Lottery Case Answer
In Circle K's Arizona suit over a $12.8 million lottery ticket, the former manager files a response with six employee affidavits.
- 5
September 3, 2026 — Claim Deadline Passes
Last day to file a claim, opt out or object in the data breach settlement. Late claims are no longer accepted.
- 6
September 18, 2026 — Final Approval Hearing
The court was scheduled to decide whether to grant final approval. As of October 6, 2026 no ruling is posted on the official site.
Three Things to Watch For
A well-known brand plus a closed claim window is an easy setup for imposters:
“Late Circle K claim” offers
The deadline was September 3, 2026. A site or caller offering to file a late claim for a fee is not connected to the settlement.
Messages to Circle K shoppers
This settlement covers people who got a Gas Express notice, mostly workers. A text promising Circle K customers cash for buying gas is not from the administrator.
Requests for your full Social Security number
The real claim site used the ID and PIN from your notice. The real administrator is at P.O. Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA.
Circle K Lawsuit — Questions People Actually Ask
Is there a Circle K class action settlement?
Yes, but it is narrow. Gas Express, LLC, a Circle K franchisee, settled a lawsuit over a May 2024 data breach that mainly affected its current and former employees. The case is Canup v. Gas Express, Case No. 25EV012357, in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
Can I still file a claim?
No. Claims, opt-outs and objections were due by September 3, 2026. Mailed claims had to be postmarked by that date.
How much will I get?
Either documented losses up to $2,000 (all such claims capped at $45,000) or a $50 no-proof payment (limited to 700 claims), plus two years of credit monitoring if you claimed it. Your amount depends on what you claimed and on the caps.
When will the Circle K settlement pay?
Only after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved. The hearing was set for September 18, 2026. As of October 6, 2026 the official site has not posted a final order or a payment date.
I shop at Circle K. Am I affected?
Almost certainly not. The class is limited to people who were sent a notice by Gas Express that their information was affected. Ordinary customers were not part of this breach.
What is the Circle K lottery lawsuit?
Circle K asked a court in Maricopa County, Arizona to decide who owns a $12.8 million Arizona Lottery ticket that a store manager bought after a customer left it unsold. The former manager says a store policy required him to buy it. The case is about ownership of one prize, not a class action.
Is the notice I received real?
A real notice points to GasExpressDataSettlement.com and gives a unique ID and PIN. If in doubt, call the administrator at (833) 386-6575 using the number from the official site, not one from an email.
Did Circle K settle with the EEOC?
Yes. On November 29, 2022 the EEOC announced Circle K Stores Inc. would pay $8 million to resolve disability, pregnancy and retaliation charges. The EEOC found reasonable cause to believe the company required some employees to be 100% healed to return to work. It was a pre-litigation agreement, not a lawsuit.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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