San Diego Family Care data breach $1M class action settlement

San Diego Family Care agreed to resolve claims surrounding its 2020 data breach with a $1 million settlement fund.

The settlement benefits San Diego Family Care patients — or their parents or guardians — who received a notice of the 2020 data breach dated May 7, 2021.

San Diego Family Care is a health system that provides primary care, dental care and mental health care visits to thousands of patients at eight health centers in San Diego County. 

In May 2021, the health system disclosed it may have been targeted in a data breach. The breach compromised names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, account numbers, treatment information, insurance data and other sensitive patient data, the Times of San Diego reports.

Two class action lawsuits against the health system claimed patients of the health system received notice of the data breach around the same time in form letters. According to these letters, the health system’s technology hosting provider was the victim of a breach in December 2021. San Diego Family Care allegedly learned of the breach in January 2021.

Plaintiffs in the cases claim the healthcare company failed in its duty to protect patients’ information during the 2020 data breach. San Diego Family Care should have taken reasonable measures to protect consumer data and, upon learning of the breach, should have informed plaintiffs and other patients in a prompt fashion so they could take steps to protect themselves, the data breach class action lawsuits contend.

San Diego Family Care hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve these allegations with a $1 million settlement.

Under the terms of the settlement, each class member can collect a cash payment. 

All class members are eligible for a base payment of up to $100. Class members may also be able to receive up to $1,000 for ordinary out-of-pocket expenses and up to $5,000 for extraordinary out of pocket expenses resulting from the breach. In order to qualify for these payments, class members must provide documentation of fraudulent claims, fees, phone charges, lost time, credit monitoring and other expenses. 

The settlement also provides free identity theft protection services that must be redeemed within 90 days of receiving a code from Experian. Redemption codes will be sent after class members submit a claim form.

The deadline for exclusion and objection passed on May 31, 2022. Class members who did not exclude themselves or object by this date no longer have the option to do so. 

The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for July 29, 2022.

In order to receive a payment from the settlement, class members must submit a valid claim form by July 15, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits San Diego Family Care patients — or their parents or guardians — who received a notice of the 2020 data breach dated May 7, 2021.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

Provide documentation of fraudulent claims, fees, phone charges, lost time, credit monitoring and other expenses. 

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

07/15/2022

Case Name

Doe, et al. v. San Diego Family Care, Case No. 37-2021-00023006-CU-BT-CTL, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego

Thomas v. San Diego Family Care, Case No. 37-2021-00026758-CU-BT-CTL, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego

Final Hearing

07/29/2022

Settlement Website

SDFCPrivacyClassAction.com

Claims Administrator

ILYM Group Inc.
P.O. Box 2031
Tustin, CA 92781
888-250-6810

Class Counsel

Patrick N. Keegan
KEEGAN & BAKER LLP

Rachele R. Byrd
WOLF HALDENSTEIN ADLER FREEMAN & HERZ LLP

Defense Counsel

Jon P. Kardassakis
Heidi S. Inman
LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH LLP