Applebee’s Franchisee Hit with Multiple Class-Action Lawsuits Over April Data Breach
Apple American Group, the largest franchisee of Applebee’s restaurants, is facing at least eight proposed class-action lawsuits following an April data breach that exposed sensitive personal and health information of tens of thousands of individuals. The lawsuits, filed in various jurisdictions, allege that the breach compromised data including names, financial details, and protected health information, leaving affected parties vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.
The incident has prompted legal action from plaintiffs across multiple cases, including MacKenzie v. Apple American Group LLC, Daniels v. Apple American Group, LLC, and Tindale v. Apple American Group LLC, among others. The lawsuits seek damages and accountability for the alleged failure to adequately protect customer and employee data.
Details surrounding the breach’s scope, the exact number of affected individuals, and the specific vulnerabilities exploited remain under investigation. The legal fallout underscores the growing risks businesses face from cybersecurity lapses, particularly in industries handling sensitive consumer data. The cases are expected to proceed as courts evaluate the claims and potential class certifications.
Applebee's - Apple-Metro, Inc. cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/apple-metro
"id": "APP1787716539",
"linkid": "apple-metro",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "4/2026",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "5",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization's existence"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': 'Tens of thousands of '
'individuals',
'industry': 'Restaurant/Hospitality',
'name': 'Apple American Group LLC',
'size': 'Largest franchisee of Applebee’s restaurants',
'type': 'Franchisee'}],
'data_breach': {'number_of_records_exposed': 'Tens of thousands',
'personally_identifiable_information': 'Names, financial '
'details, protected '
'health information',
'sensitivity_of_data': 'High',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['Personal information',
'Financial details',
'Protected health information']},
'date_detected': '2024-04',
'description': 'Apple American Group, the largest franchisee of Applebee’s '
'restaurants, is facing at least eight proposed class-action '
'lawsuits following an April data breach that exposed '
'sensitive personal and health information of tens of '
'thousands of individuals. The lawsuits allege that the breach '
'compromised data including names, financial details, and '
'protected health information, leaving affected parties '
'vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Legal fallout and lawsuits',
'data_compromised': 'Sensitive personal and health information, '
'names, financial details, protected health '
'information',
'identity_theft_risk': 'High',
'legal_liabilities': 'Multiple class-action lawsuits',
'payment_information_risk': 'High'},
'investigation_status': 'Ongoing',
'references': [{'source': 'Legal filings'}],
'regulatory_compliance': {'legal_actions': 'Class-action lawsuits (*MacKenzie '
'v. Apple American Group LLC*, '
'*Daniels v. Apple American Group, '
'LLC*, *Tindale v. Apple American '
'Group LLC*, etc.)'},
'title': 'Applebee’s Franchisee Hit with Multiple Class-Action Lawsuits Over '
'April Data Breach',
'type': 'Data Breach'}