TIME is running out for Americans to score up to thousands of dollars from a data breach settlement.
Eligible class members have just days left to file a claim form for the settlement involving a dental company.
A dental company has agreed to pay millions after sensitive consumer information was breached[/caption]
Money is up for grabs in the $2.7 million data breach settlement[/caption]
Great Expressions is a network of 246 dental care centers in the US.
The dental company has wound up in a class-action lawsuit thanks to a 2023 data breach, per the settlement website.
Class members in the case argued that Great Expressions could have averted the breach by implementing reasonable cybersecurity measures.
The company’s failure to do so compromised sensitive consumer information such as Social Security numbers.
Although Great Expressions has not admitted wrongdoing, the dental company agreed to pay $2.7 million to settle the lawsuit.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?
Eligible class members include those who received a data breach notification from Great Expressions regarding the February 2023 data compromise.
The settlement divides class members into two subclasses depending on whether the hacking incident impacted their Social Security numbers.
Great Expressions customers whose Social Security numbers were potentially accessed can be compensated $500 in cash, $500 in ordinary losses, and $5,000 in extraordinary losses.
Accepted forms of proof include receipts, bills, invoices, account statements, and credit reports.
These class members may also receive $20 per hour of lost time for up to two hours.
The second subclass in the lawsuit includes consumers whose Social Security numbers were not potentially accessed during the 2023 breach.
These class members can claim $20 per hour of lost time for up to two hours for a maximum payment of $40.
KEY DATES
There are a few key dates to keep in mind regarding the Great Expressions data breach settlement.
To receive payment from the settlement, class members must submit a valid claim form by Friday, November 8, 2024.
The settlement’s final approval hearing is scheduled for December 12, 2024.
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.
The deadline to exclude or object from the settlement has already passed and was on October 11, 2024.
Check your eligibility to receive compensation from other open settlements.
Users of a popular streaming service have days to claim payment from a $3.74 million “subscription renewal” settlement.
Plus, Breyers customers can claim payment from an $8.85 million “false advertising” settlement.
