Dental Patients May Receive Up to $6,000 from Data Breach Settlement: Check Your Notifications

According to The Sun, Thousands of dental patients could be in line for one-time payments of up to $6,000 as part of a multi-million dollar settlement involving Great Expressions, a network of 246 dental care centers across the U.S.

Data Breach Allegations

Great Expressions faced a lawsuit for allegedly failing to protect consumer information following a data breach in September 2023. The company settled the lawsuit without admitting any wrongdoing but agreed to compensate those affected by the breach due to insufficient cybersecurity measures that allowed unauthorized access to sensitive consumer data.

Settlement Details

The settlement benefits individuals who received notification from Great Expressions regarding the data breach. There are two subclasses within the settlement based on whether Social Security numbers were compromised.

For Individuals Whose Social Security Numbers Were Accessed:

• • Compensation includes reimbursement for ordinary losses up to $500 and extraordinary losses up to $5,000.
  • Additionally, claimants can receive compensation for up to two hours of lost time at a rate of $20 per hour.

For Individuals Whose Social Security Numbers Were Not Impacted:

• • Compensation includes up to $40 for two hours of lost time at the same rate of $20 per hour.

Claim Submission Process

Class members must submit a valid claim form by November 8, 2024, to receive their settlement benefits. Claims should include proof of losses related to the data breach, such as receipts, bills, invoices, or credit reports.

The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for December 12, 2024. It is crucial to file claims under penalty of perjury, as fraudulent claims could negatively affect other eligible class members. Claim forms can be filled out online, and individuals unsure of their eligibility are encouraged to check the FAQ section on the Settlement Administrator’s website.

The case is officially titled Great Expressions Data Security Incident Litigation, with the case number 2:23-cv-11185-JJCG-CI, being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Also read: Discover the Three Coins Worth More Than $20 Million: A Numismatic Insight

Other Settlement Opportunities

In addition to the Great Expressions settlement, there are other notable class action settlements currently available:

Magid Glove Settlement:

• • A $5.175 million settlement has been reached against Magid Glove for allegedly violating Illinois laws by using “fingerprint time clocks” and temperature scanners without proper notification. Individuals who used these devices at Magid’s Romeoville, Illinois, facility from January 8, 2016, to August 30, 2024, may be eligible for compensation.

Tubi Settlement:

• • Streaming service Tubi has agreed to pay $19.99 million to settle a privacy lawsuit alleging that it shared users’ personal information with third parties without consent, violating the Video Privacy Protection Act. Tubi users could be eligible for a share of the settlement.

Costco Refunds:

• • Certain Costco shoppers may receive refunds as part of a $3.875 million settlement related to overcharges.

Cash App Settlement:

• • Eligible claimants on Cash App could receive up to $2,500 from a $15 million settlement related to a data breach.