Docketwise Data Breach Settlement: Claim Deadline October 15, 2026
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Docketwise is case-management software used by immigration law firms, so most people in this case never dealt with the company directly — their lawyer did. After a breach discovered in October 2025, the docketwise lawsuit has settled. If you were sent a breach notice, you can claim a $50 cash payment or up to $5,000 for documented losses, plus two years of credit monitoring. The claim deadline is October 15, 2026.
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What Happened in the Docketwise Data Breach
Docketwise, owned by 8am, LLC and based in Austin, Texas, runs a cloud platform where immigration attorneys keep client files and prepare forms. According to the settlement notice, in or around October 2025 cybercriminals accessed the credentials of one of Docketwise's third-party partner repositories and potentially acquired personal information of current and former clients of firms using the service.
The company's notice says an unauthorized actor used valid credentials to clone repositories, some of which were part of a data migration pipeline. The data involved may include names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, passport and driver's license numbers, immigration information, financial account and payment card numbers, health insurance and medical information.
The docketwise class action alleges the company failed to protect that data and waited too long to warn people: the complaint says Docketwise learned of the incident in October 2025 but only began notifying people in April 2026. Docketwise denies the claims and any wrongdoing.
Case Details
The settlement is in Emerokwam v. 8am LLC d/b/a Docketwise, Case No. 2026-011702-CA-01, in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit in Florida, a state court. Kroll Settlement Administration LLC is the administrator.
The same plaintiff had earlier filed a federal complaint, Emerokwam v. 8am LLC, No. 1:26-cv-00967, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, reported in May 2026. The settlement notice names the Florida case; we could not confirm from the federal docket how the Texas case ended.
Status: Settlement Open, Claims Due October 15, 2026
The settlement still needs final court approval. As of the July 2026 notice, the final approval hearing had not been scheduled. No payments go out before final approval, so expect money later rather than immediately after you file.
Don't miss the claim deadline
Claims are due by October 15, 2026. We'll email you 7 days and 1 day before the deadline.
Who Can File a Claim
You are a class member if you were sent a notice that your personal information may have been involved in the Docketwise data incident. The notice states 116,666 people; a later filing with the Maine Attorney General, as reported by Teiss, put the figure at at least 143,480.
The practical test is your mail. Letters went out starting April 3, 2026 on behalf of the law firms that used Docketwise, so the envelope may carry your immigration attorney's name rather than Docketwise's. Keep it: it is the evidence that you were notified. If you are unsure, the administrator can be reached at (833) 930-0562, the number given in the official press notice.
How Much the Docketwise Settlement Pays
Documented losses and lost time: up to $5,000 per person. This covers out-of-pocket costs and time traced to the breach. You need proof — receipts, bank statements, records of fraud.
Alternative Cash Payment: $50. No documentation needed.
Either way you can also claim two years of credit monitoring. Docketwise pays administration costs, attorneys' fees (up to $300,000, if approved) and $2,500 service awards for the two class representatives separately, so those amounts are not taken from your payment. If you file nothing, you get nothing and still give up the right to sue Docketwise over these claims.
Docketwise Data Breach Timeline
- 1
October 2025 — Unauthorized Access Found
Docketwise detects unauthorized access to a third-party partner repository. Per its notice, valid credentials were used to clone repositories holding law-firm client records.
- 2
April 3, 2026 — Notice Letters Go Out
Letters are mailed on behalf of affected law firms. The complaint puts the start of notification at April 15, 2026 and calls the delay a harm in itself.
- 3
May 2026 — Federal Class Action Reported
Emerokwam v. 8am LLC, No. 1:26-cv-00967, is reported in the Western District of Texas, alleging negligence, invasion of privacy and breach of fiduciary duty.
- 4
July 27, 2026 — Settlement Announced
Kroll announces the settlement in Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit, Case No. 2026-011702-CA-01: $50 cash or up to $5,000 in documented losses, plus credit monitoring.
- 5
September 15, 2026 — Opt-Out and Objection Deadline
The last day to exclude yourself or object. That date has passed.
- 6
October 15, 2026 — Claim Deadline
Claim forms are due by October 15, 2026. Payments follow only after final approval; as of the July 2026 notice, no hearing date had been set.
Three Things to Watch For
The people in this class are immigration clients, which makes them a target for a specific kind of pressure:
Calls tying your claim to your immigration case
Nobody connected to this settlement can affect a visa, green card or asylum file. A caller who links your payment to your status, or asks for a fee to “protect your case,” is running a scam.
Look-alike claim sites
The only official site is DocketwiseSettlement.com, run by Kroll. Type the address yourself rather than clicking a link in a text message, and never pay to file — filing is free.
Requests for your passport or full Social Security number
The leaked data already includes passport and ID numbers, so fraudsters can sound convincing. Check any request for documents or bank details against the official site first.
Docketwise Settlement — Questions People Actually Ask
I never used Docketwise. Why did I get a letter?
Docketwise is software used by immigration law firms. If your attorney stored your file in it, your information was in the system even though you never had an account. The notice letters were sent on behalf of those law firms.
How much can I get from the Docketwise settlement?
Either up to $5,000 for documented out-of-pocket losses and lost time, or a $50 Alternative Cash Payment with no documentation. You can also claim two years of credit monitoring.
What is the deadline?
Claim forms are due October 15, 2026. The opt-out and objection deadline was September 15, 2026 and has passed.
When will I be paid?
Only after the court grants final approval. As of the July 27, 2026 notice, the final approval hearing had not been scheduled, so payment timing is not yet known. Check the official website for updates.
Is the Docketwise settlement email or letter legitimate?
The administrator is Kroll Settlement Administration, the website is DocketwiseSettlement.com, and the phone number in the official notice is (833) 930-0562. If a message points anywhere else or asks for a fee, treat it as suspect.
How many people were affected by the Docketwise data breach?
Docketwise's notice reported 116,666 people. A later filing with the Maine Attorney General, as reported by Teiss, listed at least 143,480. The settlement covers everyone who was sent a notice.
Does filing a claim affect my immigration case?
No. This is a civil settlement with a software company over a data breach. It has nothing to do with any government agency or your immigration status.
What else should I do now?
File your claim before October 15, 2026 and sign up for the credit monitoring. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus — it is free and reversible. Because passport numbers may have been exposed, watch for any application made in your name.
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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