If you were among those patients whose personal information was exposed by Northwestern Memorial Healthcare and Elekta’s 2021 data breach, you have a few days left to opt into a class-action lawsuit settlement that could pay out up to $6,000.
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare, also known as Northwestern Medicine, is a healthcare system based out of the Chicago area currently composed of 11 hospitals and numerous other specialized locations, serving tens of thousands of patients every year. Elekta, meanwhile, is a Swedish company known for producing equipment used to treat cancers and brain disorders.
In April 2021, both companies were at the center of a data breach that exposed the sensitive health information of over 3 million people, including 1.4 million NMH patients in particular. Those affected by the breach were notified that same month via letter. A class-action lawsuit was eventually brought against the two companies alleging that they did not take sufficient steps to avoid such a breach. While not admitting any wrongdoing, NMH and Elekta agreed to pay out a $8.9 million settlement.
Read on to find out if you are eligible for the settlement. For more on other recent settlements, find out if you’re eligible for the recent Charlotte Tilbury settlement or the forthcoming 23andMe settlement.
Who is eligible for this class-action settlement?
Anyone whose personal information was exposed or otherwise compromised by the 2021 data leak is eligible for this settlement, and would have received the aforementioned letter shortly after the breach took place. Claimants will also need to provide proof of losses they suffered as a result of the breach, such as bank statements, credit reports, invoices, bills, receipts or other third-party documentation.
Anyone who thinks they might be eligible can fill out this online claim form.
How much will this class-action settlement pay?
Depending on the losses incurred, claimants can receive up to $5,000 from NMH and Elekta. Additionally, claimants can attempt to file for pro rata payments of up to $1,000. A subclass of claimants who are Illinois residents can also claim pro rata payments of up to $1,000 thanks to the state’s Genetic Information Privacy Act. Pro rata payments are capped at $1,000 for each claimant, making the maximum possible payout $6,000.
When is the deadline for this class-action settlement?
Potential claimants have until the end of Dec. 26, 2024, to opt into this settlement.
For more, find out who’s eligible for the Clear AI privacy breach settlement.