According to The Sun, Thousands of dental patients may be eligible for one-time payments of up to $6,000 from a multi-million dollar settlement involving Great Expressions, a network of 246 dental care centers across the United States. The lawsuit alleges that the company failed to adequately protect consumer information following a data breach in September 2023.
Allegations and Settlement Details
Great Expressions is settling the claims concerning insufficient cybersecurity measures that allegedly allowed unauthorized access to sensitive consumer information. Although the chain has not admitted wrongdoing, it has opted to resolve the lawsuit through this settlement.
The settlement specifically benefits individuals who received notifications regarding the data breach. It differentiates between two subclasses based on whether or not Social Security numbers were compromised:
For individuals whose Social Security numbers were accessed:
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- Reimbursement for up to $500 in ordinary losses.
- Up to $5,000 for extraordinary losses.
- 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:
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- Claims of up to $40 for two hours of lost time, compensated at $20 per hour.
Claims Process and Deadlines
Class members must submit a valid claim form by November 8, 2024, to receive their settlement benefits. Claims must include proof of any data breach-related losses, such as receipts, bills, invoices, or credit reports.
The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for December 12, 2024. Claims must be filed under penalty of perjury, and any fraudulent claims can negatively affect other eligible class members.
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Interested parties can fill out the claim form online. For those unsure about their eligibility, it’s recommended to check the FAQ section on the Settlement Administrator’s website before submitting a claim.
The case is officially titled Great Expressions Data Security Incident Litigation, with case number 2:23-cv-11185-JJCG-CI, being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. For more information and to file a claim, visit the settlement website.
Other Settlement Opportunities
If you’re not eligible for this particular settlement, there are additional class action settlements to consider:
- Magid Glove is involved in a $5.175 million settlement due to allegations of violating Illinois laws by using fingerprint time clocks and temperature scanners without proper notification. Anyone who used these devices at Magid’s Romeoville, Illinois facility between January 8, 2016, and August 30, 2024, may be eligible.
- Tubi, a popular streaming service, has agreed to pay $19.99 million to settle a class action lawsuit for allegedly sharing users’ personal information without consent, violating the Video Privacy Protection Act. Tubi users may be able to claim a share of this payout.
- Certain Costco shoppers may soon receive refunds as part of a $3.875 million settlement concerning overcharges.
- Additionally, eligible claimants on Cash App could receive up to $2,500 from a $15 million settlement related to a data breach.
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