Shields Health $15.35M Data Breach Class Action Settlement

Individuals who received notice that their personal information was affected by the Shields Health Care Group data breach in March 2022, may qualify to submit a claim for up to $25,000 from a class action settlement. The settlement class consists of an estimated 2,382,578 current and former patients.

Shields Health Care Group has agreed to pay $15.35 million to settle a class action lawsuit related to a 2022 cyberattack that exposed sensitive patient information. The class action alleged that Shields Health failed to adequately protect patient data, leading to unauthorized access to files containing private information.

Who is eligible for a data breach settlement payment?

Class members are individuals in the United States who were identified by Shields Health as potentially having their personal information compromised in the 2022 data incident. Shields began mailing notice of the breach to impacted individuals on or around July 25, 2022.

There are two sub-classes:

• Federal Action Settlement Class: U.S. residents who are not Massachusetts residents
• State Action Settlement Class: Massachusetts residents

Both sub-classes are eligible for the same settlement benefits.

How much is the class action payout?

Claimants have the following benefit options:

• Ordinary out-of-pocket losses: Class members may submit to receive up to $2,500 for documented losses which includes costs with accessing credit reports or freezing/unfreezing credit reports with any bureau, credit monitoring services purchased after the breach or notary, fax, copying mileage and other charges.
• Ordinary attested time: Class members can claim up to five hours of time at $30 per hour spent responding to the data incident, for a total of $150. The ordinary attested time claim must be included in the out-of-pocket losses $2,500 maximum.
• Extraordinary Losses: Class members can claim up to $25,000 in document losses traceable to the data breach, caused by identity theft, falsified tax returns, real estate title fraud, government benefits fraud and other financial fraud.
• Extraordinary attested time: Class members can claim up to 20 hours of lost time dealing with identity theft and fraud at $30 per hour for time spent remedying these losses, for a total of $600. The extraordinary time claim must be included in the $25,000 maximum.
• Alternative Cash Payment: Class members that to do submit a claim for ordinary losses, extraordinary losses, or any lost time can submit to receive a $50 flat payment.

How to claim a Shields Health class action rebate

To receive a settlement payment, a claim form must be submitted by the Dec. 3, 2025 deadline. Class members can file a claim online or print a PDF claim form and mail it to the settlement administrator.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Shields Data Incident Settlement c/o Analytics Consulting LLC P.O. Box 2006 Chanhassen, MN 55317-2006

Required proof and claim information

• Login ID and PIN from settlement notice required to submit an online claim.
• Ordinary and extraordinary losses claims require supporting documentation, which may include receipts, bank or credit card statements, invoices for services, police report and other proof of identity theft or fraud.
• Attested time claims require a brief description of the hours spent responding to the data incident.

Payout options

Class members can choose from several payment methods:

• PayPal
• Venmo
• Zelle
• Virtual prepaid card
• Paper check mailed to address provided

$15.35 Million data breach settlement fund

The $15,350,000 settlement fund will include:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees: Not to exceed $5,116,666.67
• Attorneys' expenses: Up to $150,000
• Service awards to class representatives: $2,500 each for 15 plaintiffs, a total $37,500
• Payments to approved claimants: Remaining settlement funds

Important dates

• Deadline to file a claim: Dec. 3, 2025
• Opt-out deadline (Federal class members only): Nov. 25, 2025
• Final approval hearing: Dec. 16, 2025

When is the Shields Health Care Group settlement payout date?

Payments will be issued to class members with valid claims after the court grants final approval of the settlement and any appeals are resolved.

Why was there a class action settlement?

This class action settlement resolves claims that Shields Health Care Group Inc. failed to protect patient information during a cyberattack in March 2022. The class action alleged that unauthorized actors accessed sensitive files, potentially exposing private health and personal data.

Shields Health denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of continued litigation and a possible trial.

Sources

1. Official settlement website FAQ page
2. Class notice
3. Settlement claim form