Up to $7,500 in Checks for Americans: How to Claim Your Share of the $18.5M Settlement

According to The Sun, Americans could be eligible for payments up to $7,500 from a $18.5 million settlement following a data breach at East River Medical Imaging. This settlement comes as part of a class action lawsuit filed in New York, alleging that the medical provider failed to protect patient data after hackers targeted the facility between August and September 2023. The breach reportedly allowed access to sensitive personal information, leading to significant concerns among affected individuals.

Details of the Data Breach

The lawsuit claims that East River Medical Imaging did not take adequate measures to safeguard sensitive data, which included insurance information, social security numbers, contact details, and medical procedure results. The plaintiffs argue that the radiology center could have prevented the breach by implementing stronger digital security protocols. While East River Medical has not admitted any wrongdoing, it has agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid further litigation.

Compensation for Affected Individuals

Individuals whose data was compromised in the breach or who received notification of the incident are eligible to apply for compensation. There are two options for receiving compensation:

• Expense Reimbursement: Claimants can receive up to $7,500 for losses related to the breach, such as bank fees, damages from fraud or identity theft, and costs associated with hiring professional services. To qualify for this reimbursement, class members must provide documentation of their losses, including bank statements, receipts, invoices, or other relevant documents.
• Pro Rata Cash Payment: For those who cannot provide proof of their losses or prefer not to claim reimbursement, a pro rata cash payment will be available. This payment will be determined from the remaining funds after all other claims have been processed.

In addition to these compensation options, all claimants will receive one year of access to three-bureau credit monitoring to help detect potential fraud.

Important Deadlines to Remember

Time is running out for eligible individuals to file their claims, with the deadline to submit a valid claim form set for October 22. All class members were previously given until August 23 to exclude themselves from the settlement or object to its terms.

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Failing to submit a claim by the deadline will result in missing out on compensation and credit monitoring benefits. Individuals who excluded themselves from the settlement will retain their legal rights to pursue claims against East River Medical Imaging in the future.

How to Submit a Claim

All valid claims must be submitted through the settlement website before the deadline.

Other Settlement News

In related news, a mall retailer is currently facing claims of false advertising and is set to pay out over $12 million as part of the settlement. This underscores the importance of staying informed about potential compensation opportunities for affected consumers.