Henry Ford Health System Data Breach Settlement: $700K

All U.S. residents who received a written data breach notification from Henry Ford Health System indicating that their personal information was accessed, viewed, or obtained by an unauthorized party in the cyber incident on or around March 30, 2023.

Proof of damages is required to claim reimbursement for documented expenses, but not for the pro rata cash payment.

Henry Ford Health System has agreed to a $700,000 settlement to resolve claims that it failed to protect patient data during a 2023 data breach. The breach allegedly compromised sensitive information, including names, medical charts, contact details, and other data of approximately 168,000 patients. The settlement benefits consumers who received a written data breach notification from Henry Ford, informing them that their personal information may have been compromised in a cyber incident on March 30, 2023.

In the class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs claimed Henry Ford Health System, an academic medical center in Michigan, failed to implement adequate cybersecurity measures to protect patients' data. They argued that stronger security measures could have prevented the breach. While Henry Ford denies any wrongdoing, it agreed to the settlement to resolve the claims.

Under the settlement terms, class members have two compensation options:

• Reimbursement for Documented Expenses: Class members can receive up to $2,500 for documented expenses directly related to the data breach, such as costs incurred for identity theft protection, legal fees, or other financial impacts.
  
  
• Pro Rata Cash Payment: Class members without documented expenses or those who prefer not to provide proof can opt for a pro rata cash payment. The amount of this payment will depend on the number of valid claims filed and remaining funds.

All class members, regardless of the payment option chosen, are eligible for one free year of two-credit bureau credit monitoring and $1 million in identity theft insurance. This benefit is available even to those who previously enrolled in credit monitoring offered by Henry Ford after the breach.

Class members must submit a valid claim form by October 28, 2024, to receive settlement benefits.