AMERICANS are to get a huge payout of up to $5,000 from a $650,000 data breach settlement – and only one document in needed to cash in.
The money is being handed out by Dameron Hospital to settle claims against it in a class action lawsuit.
2
Americans could claim up to $5,000 from a data breach settlementCredit: Getty
Dameron Hospital is a 200-bed hospital in Stockton, California, that offers a wide range of services and emergency care.
Dameron Hospital allegedly compromised patient information in a 2023 data breach.
Plaintiffs in the case claim the hospital should have done more to safeguard the information from the cyber attack.
Dameron Hospital hasn’t admitted any wrong doing but agreed to the $650,000 settlement to resolve the allegations.
Under the terms of the settlement, class members will be able to receive a cash payment for any data breach-related losses.
The settlement will benefit anyone whose personal information may have been involved in the data breach.
It also benefits those who received a notice of the breach from Dameron Hospital.
The exact figure each plaintiff receives will depend on the number of claims submitted through the lawsuit – but it could be as much as $5,000.
All class members are also eligible for two years of free credit monitoring services.
The final approval hearing for the case is set for May 29.
But the key date to remember is April 22, because this is the deadline for submitting a valid claim form.
And the only documentation required is proof of losses due to the data breach.
Meanwhile, Americans could also cash in from another data breach settlement.
Enzo Biochem has agreed to a $7.5million data breach settlement to settle claims it failed to resolve a 2023 data breach.
The settlement is for those whose personal information was potentially compromised in the Enzo Biochem data breach on April 6, 2023.
It also benefits those who received a mail notice from Enzo informing them their information may have been compromised.
Those affected could get a huge payout of up to $10,000 – but be quick as the deadline to submit a claim form is fast approaching.
If you want to receive settlement benefits as a class member, you must submit a valid claim form by June 23, 2025.
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.
2
Dameron Hospital was involved in a data breach in 2023Credit: Getty