AMERICANS could be in line for cash payments of up to $5,000 after a $1.1million settlement was reached over a major data breach.
Columbus Regional Healthcare System (CRHS) has agreed to the payout to settle a class action lawsuit following a massive cyberattack on May 21, 2023.
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Hackers exposed sensitive patient information, including Social Security numbers and health insurance data.
CRHS hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve the lawsuit.
Plaintiffs argue the healthcare system failed to implement strong enough cybersecurity protections to safeguard patient data.
Those affected can now file claims to recoup fraud losses, professional fees, credit expenses and more.
READ MORE ON DATA BREACHES
And all it takes is a receipt, bank statement, or invoice to prove the cost.
How to claim your cash
Class members can receive up to $5,000 for unreinbursed fraud losses, identity theft expenses, and credit monitoring fees.
In addition, all claimants will get a share of the remaining settlement fund, with an estimated $50 payout per person.
This amount could change on how many people file claims.
The deadline to submit a claim form is April 2, 2025.
Class members also have until March 3, 2025, to exclude themselves or object to the settlement.
A final approval hearing is set for April 9, 2025.
For more details and to file a claim, you can visit the settlement website at ColumbusRegionalDataSettlement.com.
Previous data breaches
This isn’t the only big payout up for grabs.
Just last month, the District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange Authority agreed to a $1.45million settlement after hackers stole sensitive information from 170,000 people in a 2023 breach.
Those impacted can claim up to $10,000 for fraud and identity theft expenses — or opt for an alternative cash payout.
Eligible claimants will also get one year of free credit monitoring and $1 million in identity theft insurance.
Another major case involves Mulkay Cardiology Consultants, which settled a lawsuit after hackers stole Social Security numbers and insurance data from patients in September 2023.
Victims could be eligible for up to $5,000 in compensation.
And senior citizens affected by a breach at Vi, a luxury senior living chain, could claim up to $6,500 — with just a bank statement as proof.
What’s a class-action settlement?
Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or ‘classes,’ a way to band together in court.
These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.
When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all “class members,” or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.
Companies often settle class actions – offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.
These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.
Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company’s doorstep.
