Nemeth v. Columbia University Health Care, Inc

1. What is the Notice and why should I read it?

   The Court authorized this Settlement Website and the Notice to inform you about a proposed settlement with Defendant. The case is called Nemeth v. Columbia University Health Care, Inc., Case No. 655570/2024. You have legal rights and options that you may act on before the Court decides whether to approve the proposed settlement. The Notice explains the lawsuit, the settlement, and your legal rights.

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2. What is a class action lawsuit?

   A class action is a lawsuit in which one or more plaintiffs—in this case, Margaret Nemeth and Juanita Huggins—sue on behalf of a group of people who have similar claims. Together, this group is called a “class” and consists of “class members.” In a class action, the court resolves the issues for all class members, except those who exclude themselves from the class.

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3. What is this lawsuit about?

   Plaintiffs claim that Defendant failed to implement and maintain reasonable security measures to adequately protect the Private Information in its possession and to prevent the Data Incident from occurring.

   Defendant denies that it is liable for the claims made in the lawsuit and denies all allegations of wrongdoing. More information about the complaint in the lawsuit can be found in the documents on the Documents page of this Settlement Website.

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4. Why is there a settlement?

   The Court has not decided whether the Plaintiffs or Defendant should win this case. Instead, both sides agreed to this settlement. That way, they can avoid the uncertainty, risks, and expense of ongoing litigation, and Settlement Class Members will be eligible to get compensation now rather than years later—if ever. The Class Representatives and attorneys for the Settlement Class Members, called Class Counsel, agree the settlement is in the best interests of the Settlement Class Members. The settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing by the Defendant

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5. How do I know if I am in the Settlement Class?

   You are part of the settlement as a Settlement Class Member if you received a notification letter from Defendant stating that your Private Information was or may have been impacted in the Data Incident.

   Settlement Class Members were also mailed a double-sided postcard by the Settlement Administrator providing them with notice of their eligibility. If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can contact the Settlement Administrator by calling 1-888-887-7407, emailing info@ColumbiaHealthCareDataBreach.com, or writing to Columbia Data Incident Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 4118, Portland, OR 97208- 4118.

   This Settlement Class does not include (1) the Judge presiding over this Action, and members of their direct family; (2) Defendant, and its current and former officers and directors; and (3) Settlement Class Members who submit a valid Request for Exclusion prior to the Opt-Out Deadline.

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6. What does the settlement provide?

   Under the proposed settlement, Defendant will pay (or cause to be paid) $600,000 into a Settlement Fund. The Settlement Fund, plus interest accrued thereon, will pay Notice and Administrative Expenses, Court-approved attorneys’ fees and costs, Court-approved Service Awards for Class Representatives, and certain Settlement Fund Taxes and Tax-Related Expenses (the “Net Settlement Fund”). The Net Settlement Fund will be used to provide eligible Settlement Class Members with payments and benefits described below. If the benefits claimed by all Settlement Class Members meets or exceeds the amount of the Net Settlement Fund, then the payments and/or benefits for your Claim may be reduced pro rata pursuant to Paragraph 62 of the Settlement Agreement by the Settlement Administrator so that the aggregate cost of all payments and benefits does not exceed the amount of the Net Settlement Fund.

   Credit/Medical Monitoring Services: Settlement Class Members may claim two years of CyEx Medical Shield Complete to monitor medical and healthcare data. The product includes one-bureau credit monitoring, health insurance plan ID monitoring, Medicare beneficiary monitoring, medical record number monitoring, dark web monitoring, health savings account monitoring, national provider identifier monitoring, high-risk transaction monitoring, security freeze assist, and victim assistance.

   Monetary Relief: Adult Subclass members may claim reimbursement of Documented Losses and/or a Pro Rata Cash Payment.

   • Documented Losses: Settlement Class Members may claim reimbursement for up to $10,000 of losses related to the Data Incident, provided those losses are supported by documentation.
     • Types of Losses: Documented Losses can include (but are not limited to) bank fees, long-distance phone charges, cell phone charges (only if charged by the minute), data charges (only if charged based on the amount of data used), postage, gasoline for local travel, and fees for credit reports, credit monitoring, or other identity theft insurance products purchased between December 21, 2023 and November 25, 2025.
     • Supporting Documents: To receive reimbursement for any Documented Monetary Loss, Settlement Class Members must submit supporting documentation of the loss and a description of how the loss is fairly traceable to the Data Incident, if not readily apparent from the documentation. Documented monetary losses can be supported with receipts or other documentation not “self-prepared” by the claimant and that demonstrates the reasonable costs actually incurred by the claimant. “Self-prepared” documents such as handwritten receipts are, by themselves, insufficient to receive reimbursement, but may be considered to add clarity or support other submitted documentation.
   • Pro Rata Cash Payment: In addition to claiming the Documented Losses set forth above, Settlement Class Members may claim a Pro Rata Cash Payment. Pro Rata Cash Payments will be calculated by dividing the funds remaining in the Settlement Fund after payment of Settlement Administration Fees, Fee Award and Expenses, Service Awards, Credit Monitoring and Identity Restoration Services, and Documented Monetary Losses.
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7. How do I make a claim?

   The deadline to submit a Claim Form passed on November 25, 2025.

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8. When will I get my payment?

   Payments to qualified class members were distributed on February 27, 2026, with checks sent by mail and digital payments sent via email from the sender “Columbia Data Incident Settlement Administrator.” If you elected to receive your payment electronically, you should have received an email (please check your junk or spam folder) containing instructions on how to access your digital payment.

   If you select ACH, Venmo, Zelle or PayPal you will receive your payment within approximately 7-10 business days. If you select paper check through the digital portal, your payment will be issued approximately 45 calendar days after March 29, 2026.

   If your address has changed, please inform the Settlement Administrator promptly to avoid any delays in receiving your payment.

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9. I have not received my payment, what do I do?

   If you selected to receive your payment via check and you have not received it, you can contact us to request a check be reissued to you. You can email us at info2@ColumbiaHealthCareDataBreach.com or write to us at:

   Columbia Data Incident Settlement Administrator
   PO Box 4118
   Portland, OR 97208-4118

   When requesting a reissue please provide your full name and if your address has changed, please provide both your old and your new address, so that we can locate and update your record.

   If you selected to receive your payment via a digital payment and your digital payment failed or you were unable to claim your digital payment, at the conclusion of the digital campaign at the end of March, 2026, failed digital payments will all be reissued as checks and mailed to the address you provided when you submitted your claim. At this time, we are not expecting that payment reissue to be completed until May, 2026. We appreciate your patience, as we wait for the digital payment campaign to be completed.

   If your address has changed, please inform the Settlement Administrator promptly to avoid any delays in receiving your payment.

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10. Do I have a lawyer in this case?

    The Court has appointed Edward Ciolko of Sterlington PLLC, Gary E. Mason of Mason LLP, and Daniel Srourian of Srourian Law Firm P.C. as “Class Counsel” to represent you and all Settlement Class Members. You will not be charged for these lawyers. You can ask your own lawyer to appear in Court for you at your own expense if you want someone other than Class Counsel to represent you.

    Gary Mason Mason LLP 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Ste. 640 Washington, DC 20015 202-640-1160

    Daniel Srourian Srourian Law Firm, P.C. 468 N. Camden Dr., Suite 200 Beverly Hills, California 90210

    Ed Ciolko Sterlington PLLC 530 Fifth Avenue, Ste. 804 New York, NY 100036 212-433-2993

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11. How will the lawyers be paid?

    The Court awarded attorney’s fees in the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) and Costs in the amount of Thirteen Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty-Nine and Forty-Three Cents ($13,989.43) to be paid from the Settlement Fund.

    The Court also granted Service Award payments of $2,500 for each of two Class Representatives, to be paid from the Settlement Fund.

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12. What claims do I give up by participating in this settlement?

    If you do not exclude yourself from the settlement, you will not be able to sue Defendant about the Data Incident, and you will be bound by all decisions made by the Court in this case, the settlement, and its included Release. This is true regardless of whether you submit a Claim Form. However, you may exclude yourself from the Settlement (see FAQ 14). If you exclude yourself from the settlement, you will not be bound by any of the Released Claims, which are described in the Settlement Agreement available here.

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13. What happens if I do nothing at all?

    If you do nothing, you will receive no benefits under the settlement. You will be in the Settlement Class, and if the Court approves the settlement, you will also be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court, the settlement, and its included Release. You will be deemed to have participated in the settlement and will be subject to the provisions of the Settlement Agreement. Unless you exclude yourself, you won’t be able to file a lawsuit or be part of any other lawsuit against Defendant for the claims or legal issues released in this settlement

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14. What happens if I ask to be excluded?

    If you exclude yourself from the settlement, you will receive no benefits under the settlement. However, you will not be in the Settlement Class and will not be legally bound by the Court’s judgments related to the Settlement Class and Defendant in this class action.

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15. How do I ask to be excluded?

    The deadline to exclude yourself passed on October 27, 2025.

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16. If I don’t exclude myself, can I sue Defendant for the same thing later?

    Unless you exclude yourself, you give up any right to sue Defendant for the claims or legal issues released in this settlement, even if you do nothing.

    The deadline to exclude yourself passed on October 27, 2025.

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17. If I exclude myself, can I get anything from this settlement?

    No. If you exclude yourself, do not submit a Claim Form to ask for any benefits.

    The deadline to exclude yourself passed on October 27, 2025.

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18. How do I object to the settlement?

    The deadline to object yourself passed on October 27, 2025.

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19. What’s the difference between objecting and excluding myself from the settlement?

    Objecting simply means telling the Court that you don’t like something about the settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Settlement Class. Excluding yourself from the Settlement Class is telling the Court that you don’t want to be part of the Settlement Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the case no longer affects you.

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20. When and where will the Court hold a hearing on the fairness of the settlement?

    The Court granted Final Approval on December 5, 2025.

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21. Do I have to come to the hearing?

    No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. However, you are welcome to attend the hearing at your own expense. If you send an objection, you don’t have to come to Court to talk about it. If your written objection was filed or mailed on time and meets the other criteria described in the settlement, the Court will consider it. However, you may appear on your behalf or pay a lawyer to attend on your behalf to assert your objection if you would like.

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22. May I speak at the hearing?

    The Court granted Final Approval on December 5, 2025.

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23. Where can I get additional information?

    This Settlement Website summarizes the proposed settlement. More details are available in the Settlement Agreement, which is available on the Documents page, or by writing to Columbia Data Incident Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 4118, Portland, OR 97208-4118, calling 1-888-887-7407 or emailing info@ColumbiaHealthCareDataBreach.com.

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DO NOT CALL THE COURT, THE CLERK OF THE COURT, THE JUDGE OR THE DEFENDANT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT OR CLAIMS.

Please contact the Settlement Administrator or Class Counsel if you have any questions about the settlement.