Data breaches have become a growing concern in recent years, especially in the healthcare sector. One such incident that has captured attention is the Circles Of Care data settlement. This blog post aims to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the breach, the class action lawsuit filed against Circles Of Care, and the steps taken by the organization in response to the incident. Read on to learn about the details of this data breach and its implications for both the company and the affected individuals.
About Circles Of Care
Circles of Care is a behavioral healthcare provider based in Florida. They offer a range of mental health and substance abuse services to children, adults and families. As part of their operations, Circles of Care maintains sensitive patient data including names, birthdays, Social Security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s licenses, bank accounts, medical information and more.
This private data was stored in Circles of Care’s computer systems. Patients trusted the organization to keep their information safe and secure. But in September 2022, something went wrong.
What Incident Happened?
On September 6, 2022, Circles of Care suffered a major data breach. Hackers were able to break into the company’s systems and access the personal information of approximately 61,170 patients. The exposed data included:
- Full names
- Dates of birth
- Social Security numbers
- Home addresses
- Phone numbers
- Driver’s license numbers
- Bank account details
- Medical account numbers
- Provider names
- Service dates
- Diagnoses
- Medical procedure codes
That’s a huge amount of extremely sensitive data. In the wrong hands, this information could be used for identity theft, financial fraud, blackmail and more. The data breach put tens of thousands of people at serious risk.
Settlement Details
The Circles of Care data breach occurred on September 6, 2022 and was discovered on September 21, 2022. Over 61,100 individuals had their personal information compromised, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank account details, and medical information.
A class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of the affected individuals. Circles of Care has now agreed to a settlement to resolve these claims. If you received a notice about the data breach around December 29, 2022, you may be included in this settlement as a class member.
Class Action Lawsuit Against Circles Of Care
After the breach, many patients were understandably upset that their private information had been exposed. They felt that Circles of Care had failed to properly protect their data with strong cybersecurity measures.
In response, a class action lawsuit was filed against Circles of Care on February 16, 2023. The lawsuit alleges that the company did not have adequate security systems in place, which allowed the hackers to access patient data.
The legal action seeks damages for the affected patients. It claims they suffered harm and will require ongoing monitoring to prevent identity theft and fraud. The goal is to hold Circles of Care accountable and get justice for those impacted.
Since the incident, Circles of Care says it has taken steps to boost its cybersecurity. It has secured its computer systems to prevent any future breaches. The company also notified all affected individuals about what happened.
The Claim Process
To claim your settlement benefits, you need to submit a claim form. This can be done online or by mail. Make sure you provide all the required information so your claim isn’t rejected.
You have until October 14, 2024 to file your claim. This seems like a long time, but it’s best not to wait until the last minute. Submit your claim promptly to avoid missing the deadline.
Once the claims period ends, the settlement administrator will review all claims and determine if they are valid. Approved claims will then be paid out after the settlement receives final approval from the court.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Here are the key dates to be aware of for this settlement:
- Claim Filing Deadline: October 14, 2024
- Exclusion/Objection Deadline: August 15, 2024
- Final Approval Hearing: October 28, 2024
If you want to be excluded from the settlement or object to its terms, you must take action by August 15, 2024. If you do nothing, you will remain a settlement class member but forfeit your right to sue Circles of Care independently over this data breach.
The Final Approval Hearing is when the court will consider whether to give the settlement final approval. If approved, the settlement benefits will begin to be distributed to class members who submitted valid claims.
Settlement Benefits
Under the settlement, class members are eligible for two main benefits:
- Cash Payment: You can file a claim to receive a cash payment from the settlement fund. The amount will depend on how many people submit valid claims.
- Credit Monitoring: You can also sign up for free credit monitoring services for a period of time. This will help you keep an eye on your credit and quickly spot any suspicious activity.
It’s important to note that you will need to submit a claim to receive these benefits. You can’t receive them automatically by doing nothing.
Options Available To Affected Individuals
If you were affected by the Circles of Care data breach, you have three choices. First, you can file a claim to get money from the settlement, but you must do this before the deadline. This is the only way to receive any compensation. Second, you can do nothing, which means you won’t get any money, and you will also give up your right to sue Circles of Care later.
Third, you can choose to exclude yourself from the settlement. This means you won’t get any money, but you will keep the right to sue the company on your own. If you don’t like the terms of the settlement, you can also object. Even if you object, you can still file a claim to get your share, and the court will consider all objections at the Final Approval Hearing.
Conclusion
The Circles of Care data breach highlights how important it is to protect personal information, especially in healthcare. The breach affected many people, leading to a settlement that offers compensation and credit monitoring. If you were impacted, it’s crucial to take action before the deadlines to either receive these benefits or keep your right to sue on your own. This situation shows how important it is for companies to have strong security measures to keep our information safe.
