Atlantic General Data Breach Settlement: $2.25M

Anyone who received a mailed data breach notification from Atlantic General Hospital informing them that their personal information may have been compromised in the January 2023 breach.

For documented expense reimbursement or identity theft claims, you will need to submit receipts, account statements, invoices, bills, travel documentation for any breach-related trips, credit reports, and any other documents that prove your out-of-pocket and/or financial losses,

A class action lawsuit filed against Atlantic General Hospital, a healthcare system serving Maryland and Delaware, has been settled for $2.25 million. The plaintiffs alleged that lax cybersecurity measures at Atlantic General allowed a data breach to occur in January 2023. Hackers reportedly gained unauthorized access to a critical hospital network, compromising the personal information of patients.

The lawsuit specifically claimed that Atlantic General failed to implement reasonable cybersecurity measures to safeguard patient data. These alleged failures could have included:

• Outdated security software or systems
• Inadequate data encryption protocols
• Insufficient employee training on cybersecurity best practices
• Weak password policies or a lack of multi-factor authentication

The lawsuit further alleges that the data breach resulted in the unauthorized access of sensitive patient information, potentially including:

• Social Security numbers
• Health insurance information (names of providers, policy numbers, medical history)
• Financial account details (bank account numbers for co-pays or deductibles)
• Driver's license numbers
• Contact information (addresses, phone numbers, email addresses)

This compromised information places patients at risk of identity theft, medical fraud, and other financial harm.

While Atlantic General Hospital denies any wrongdoing, they have agreed to the $2.25 million settlement to avoid the costs of further litigation. The settlement aims to compensate affected patients for the potential consequences of the data breach.

By participating in the settlement, you are giving up your right to sue Atlantic General for any claims related to the data breach.