SOA Class Action Settlement

If you were sent a Notice of Data Breach from Southern Orthopedic Associates,
you could get benefits from a class action settlement.

The Settlement provides benefits to settle claims relating to a Data Incident that occurred in or around June-July 2021, when Southern Orthopedic Associates (“SOA”) (“Defendant”) was the victim of a cyberattack resulting in the exposure of personal information and protected health information, including names and Social Security numbers (the “Data Incident”). Defendant denies all liability but has entered into a proposed Settlement to resolve the claims. The settlement benefits include that Defendant will pay $660,000 into a non-reversionary Settlement Fund. The Fund will be used:

To provide the option to enroll in three years of credit monitoring and identity theft protection services (including $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance) through Experian IdentityWorks, at no cost.
To pay valid claims submitted for Ordinary Losses (up to $350) including Lost Time (up to 4 hours at $20 per hour) and Extraordinary Losses (up to $5,000) you experienced related to the Data Incident. If valid claims exceed the amount remaining in the Settlement Fund at the time of payment, payments will be reduced pro rata.
You have the right to do nothing, submit a claim, object to the Settlement or any part of it, or opt out of the Settlement. If you do not opt out of the Settlement, and final approval is granted, you will release any claims you have relating to the Data Incident as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
Your legal rights are affected, so please read this notice carefully.

Your Legal Rights and Options in this Settlement
Submit a Claim	To receive any of the benefits and the identity theft protection services available from the Settlement, you must submit a claim using the Claim Form, which may be found by selecting the File a Claim tab or the Case Documents tab for a personalized claim form to download and mail in. If you submit a claim, you give up the right to bring a separate lawsuit about the same issues, but you are eligible to receive any of the settlement benefits to which you have a valid claim. The deadline to file a claim is February 28, 2024.
Exclude Yourself	If you exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will get no benefits from the Settlement, but you will keep the right to bring a separate lawsuit about the same issues at your own expense, if you choose. The deadline to exclude yourself or opt out of the Settlement is January 29, 2024.
Object	If you object to the Settlement or any part of it, you may write to the Court about your objection. If the Settlement is approved, you will still give up the right to bring a separate lawsuit about the same issues, and you will need to submit a claim to receive any settlement benefits. The deadline to object to the Settlement is January 29, 2024.
Do Nothing	If you do nothing, you will give up the right to bring a separate lawsuit about the same issues, and you will not be eligible to receive any benefits of the Settlement.

These rights and options—and the deadlines to exercise them—are explained in the long-form notice found in the Case Documents tab or in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Please be patient while the Court decides whether to approve the Settlement. Payments will be made if the Court approves the Settlement and after any appeals.