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According to The Sun, An eye care provider has agreed to a $3.45 million settlement following allegations of compromising patient information in a data breach.
Customers of Nationwide Vision affected by the breach may be eligible for payments of up to $5,400.
Nationwide Vision settled for $3.45 million after a data breach exposed the personal information of over 710,000 Americans. Although the eye care provider has not admitted to any wrongdoing, the settlement was reached to resolve the class action lawsuit brought against them.
The breach occurred between April 20, 2021, and May 17, 2021, affecting patients, employees, and covered dependents of Nationwide Optometry, Nationwide Vision Center, and Sightcare. The lawsuit claims that Nationwide and Sightcare failed to implement adequate cybersecurity measures to prevent the breach.
Compensation Details
Under the settlement terms, eligible class members may receive either a pro rata cash payment or reimbursement for actual data breach-related losses. The estimated payment is around $50 per class member, although the final amount will be determined after all claims are filed and the court has issued final approval of the settlement.
Class members who experienced data breach losses, such as credit expenses, unreimbursed financial losses, or lost time, must provide receipts or other proof when filing a claim. Ordinary expenses are capped at $300, with an additional maximum of $100 available for lost time. Those with extraordinary losses may receive up to $5,400. Additionally, claimants are eligible for two years of free credit and identity theft monitoring.
Class-Action Settlement Overview
Class action lawsuits allow groups of people, or “classes,” to collectively bring a claim against a company or entity. These lawsuits typically arise when a small group alleges that a company has wronged a large number of people. Once a lawsuit achieves class action status, it extends to all “class members,” who may have similar complaints to those who initiated the suit.
Companies often choose to settle class actions to avoid the costs of prolonged litigation. These settlements usually include payments to class members, who in turn waive their right to pursue further legal action. Defendants in class action settlements frequently deny any wrongdoing as part of the agreement.
Eligibility and Filing Deadline
Current and former patients, employees, and members who believe their information was compromised between April 2020 and May 2020 are eligible to file a claim. Claimants must provide evidence of their losses, such as account statements, credit reports, communication charges, travel expenses, or tax records.
The deadline to file a claim is September 23, 2024. The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for October 15, 2024.
In a related development, another eyewear brand, LensCrafters, has agreed to a $39 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit regarding deceptive advertising.
