Dameron Hospital Data Breach Settlement: $650K

Individuals who Dameron Hospital identified as being impacted by the December 2023 data breach, including anyone who received an official notice letter regarding the breach.

To claim reimbursement, class members must provide documentation of unreimbursed expenses linked to the breach, such as:

• Bank or credit card statements
• Invoices for credit monitoring or identity theft services
• Receipts for fraud-related expenses
• Travel costs incurred for resolving identity theft issues
• Other third-party documentation showing breach-related losses
• Self-prepared documents (like handwritten receipts) alone are not sufficient, but may be used to clarify other supporting documents.

Dameron Hospital agreed to a $650,000 class action settlement to resolve allegations that it failed to adequately protect patient data from a December 2023 ransomware attack.

The breach, attributed to the RansomeHouse cybercrime group, reportedly compromised names, Social Security numbers, medical records, insurance details, and other sensitive patient data. According to plaintiffs, Dameron Hospital lacked reasonable cybersecurity protections and failed to detect and respond to the breach in a timely manner.

Dameron Hospital is a 200-bed facility in Stockton, California, offering emergency services, surgical care, and specialized treatment programs. The hospital has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the case to resolve the legal claims without further litigation.

Under the Terms of the Settlement

Class members can claim reimbursement for up to $5,000 in out-of-pocket losses directly tied to the data breach. Eligible expenses include:

• Fraud-related charges
• Professional fees for resolving identity theft
• Credit monitoring and identity theft protection services
• Communication and travel costs tied to addressing breach-related issues
• Lost time, compensated at $25 per hour, for up to four hours

All class members can also receive 12 months of free three-bureau credit monitoring and identity theft protection services, including dark web monitoring and $1 million in identity theft insurance. Alternatively, class members can choose a flat $50 cash payment instead of reimbursement and credit monitoring.

California residents within the settlement class are eligible for an enhanced $100 alternative cash payment, reflecting additional statutory protections under California privacy laws. Final cash payments may be adjusted depending on the number of valid claims submitted.