Judge grants final approval to $6.7M Novant data-sharing settlement

Novant settlement overview:

• Who: A North Carolina federal judge approved a $6.7 million Novant settlement.
• Why: Novant Health Inc. agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it violated patient privacy by using a Facebook Pixel tracking tool to share patient information without their consent.
• Where: The Novant settlement was reached in North Carolina federal court.

A North Carolina federal judge granted final approval to a $6.7 million Novant settlement over allegations Novant Health Inc. unlawfully shared health-related data with Facebook, Law360 reports.

Settlement class members include Novant patients whose personal or health-related information may have been disclosed to a third party because of the company’s use of tracking tools on its websites or MyChart patient portal from May 2020 through August 2022.

U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles found the terms of the settlement were fair and reasonable. She certified a class of approximately 1.3 million Novant settlement class members, according to the court documents.

Novant settlement resolves data-sharing allegations

Novant is a network of health care clinics, outpatient centers and hospitals operating in three states, the court documents explain.

Several patients sued Novant in August 2022, claiming the company willfully shared their personally identifiable information (PII) and personal health information (PHI) with Facebook using the Facebook Pixel tracking tool.

According to the Novant lawsuit, the tracking tool allowed patient information and website activity to be sent to Facebook without their consent. The plaintiffs claim this data-sharing violated their privacy.

Several similar Novant class action lawsuits were consolidated in October 2022.

Novant sought to dismiss the cases, but the health care company ultimately decided to settle the allegations.

Judge Eagles preliminarily approved the Novant settlement on Nov. 6, 2023. No class members objected to the deal, according to settlement documents.

The deadline to file a claim passed on May 6, 2024.

Novant settlement class members who submitted a timely and valid claim form may receive a pro rata payment from the settlement fund.

What do you think of the Novant settlement? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Scott C. Harris and Gary M. Klinger of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC; Terence R. Coates of Markovits Stock & DeMarco LLC; M. Anderson Berry of Clayeo C. Arnold APC; Rachele R. Byrd of Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP; Bryan L. Bleichner and Philip J. Krzeski of Chestnut Cambronne PA; and Joseph M. Lyon of The Lyon Law Firm.

The Novant lawsuit is In re: Novant Health Inc., Case No 1:22-cv-00697, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Target class action claims retailer captures shopper data through surveillance systems
• Stanley Steemer class action claims company monitors, records customer communication
• Shein class action claims company sends unsolicited texts
• Crumbl class action claims company works with third party to collect customer data