Frequently Asked Questions

The Detailed Notice has been posted to this Settlement Website relating to a class action brought against Defendant, South Country Health Alliance, a Joint Powers Board, relating to a Data Breach that occurred on or about June 25, 2020, in which Plaintiff alleges involved a compromise of the the personally identifiable information and/or personal health information of Defendant’s members, including their names, Social Security Numbers, addresses, Medicare and Medicaid numbers, health insurance information, diagnostic or treatment information, dates of death (if applicable), provider name and treatment cost information.

The Court approved the Detailed Notice because Class Members have a right to know about the proposed class action Settlement, and about their options, before the Court decides whether to approve the Settlement. The Detailed Notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, Class Members’ legal rights, what benefits are available, and how to claim those benefits.

The Court in charge of the case is the Third Judicial District Court for County of Steele, State of Minnesota, and the case is known as Carr v. South Country Health Alliance, a Joint Powers Board. The person who sued is called the Plaintiff, and the company he sued is called the Defendant.

The lawsuit claims that the Defendant failed to properly safeguard the personally identifiable information and/or personal health information that Plaintiff alleges was compromised in the Data Breach. Defendant contends that it acted in accordance with applicable law and that it has no liability or fault relating to the Data Breach.

In a class action lawsuit, one or more people called “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of themselves and other people who have similar claims. All of these people are called a Settlement Class or Class Members. This is a class action because the Court has preliminarily determined that the Settlement meets the legal requirements for resolution of a class action. Because the case is a class action, one court resolves the issues for everyone in the Settlement Class, except for those people who choose to exclude themselves from the Settlement Class.

The Court did not decide in favor of the Plaintiff or the Defendant. Instead, both sides agreed to a Settlement. The Plaintiff has the duty to act in the best interests of the Settlement Class as a whole and, in this case, it is his belief, as well as Class Counsel’s opinion, that this Settlement is in the best interest of all Class Members for at least the following reasons:

There is legal uncertainty about whether a judge or a jury will find that Defendant is legally responsible, whether this case could proceed as a class action if litigated, whether Plaintiff would be able to prove causation and damages at trial, and whether any verdict would withstand appeal, which might result in Class Members receiving no recovery, or a substantially smaller recovery than that being offered here. Even if the Plaintiff were to win at trial, there is no assurance that the Class Members would be awarded more than the current Settlement provides, and it may take years of litigation before any payments would be made. By settling, the Class Members will avoid these and other risks and the delays associated with continued litigation in exchange for access to guaranteed benefits now.

While Defendant disputes Plaintiff’s claims, it has agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the costs, distractions, and risks of litigation. Thus, even though Defendant denies that it did anything improper, it believes the Settlement is in the best interests of all the Parties. The Court will evaluate the Settlement to determine whether it is fair, reasonable, and adequate before it approves the Settlement.

To see if you will receive payment or other benefits from this Settlement, you first have to decide if you are a Class Member.

If a Summary Notice was sent to you, then you are a member of the Settlement Class, you will be a part of the Settlement unless you exclude yourself. If you are not sure whether you have been properly included, you can call the Settlement Administrator at (833) 933-9145 or use the Contact page of this Settlement Website.

The Settlement provides for certain benefits, and Class Members can claim all of the benefits to which they are entitled.

First, Class Members who suffered an out-of-pocket loss or Lost Time related to the Data Breach may submit a Claim Form for a cash reimbursement. Defendant will pay valid claims for Economic Losses (up to $2,500.00), including for Lost Time, that a Class Member experienced attributable to the Data Breach. These categories are explained in detail on the Claim Form. If all valid claims exceed $300,000.00, payments will be reduced pro rata.

To receive any of the cash benefits from the Settlement, you must submit a claim using the Claim Form, which may be obtained here or by calling  (833) 933-9145.

In addition to these Settlement benefits, Defendant has agreed to pay for the costs of notice and settlement administration, attorneys’ fees and expenses approved by the Court up to $200,000.00, and a service award to the Class Representative approved by the Court of up to $1,500.00, all in addition to the other benefits described above.

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on November 6, 2023, to decide whether to approve the Settlement. If the Court approves the Settlement, there may be a period when appeals can be filed. Once any appeals are resolved or if no appeals are filed, it will be possible to distribute the funds. This may take several months and perhaps more than a year.

Unless you exclude yourself, you are staying in the Settlement Class, and that means you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against Defendant relating to the legal claims in this case. It also means that all of the Court’s orders will apply to you. Once the Settlement is final, your claims relating to this case will be released.

If you do not want a payment from this Settlement or the other benefits described here, but you want to keep the right to sue or continue to sue the Defendant on your own about the legal issues in this case, then you must take steps to get out. This is called excluding yourself—or is sometimes referred to as “opting out” of the Settlement.

To exclude yourself from this Settlement, you must send a written request for exclusion by mail saying that you want to opt-out or be excluded from Carr v. South Country Health Alliance. The written request must include your name, address, telephone number, and your signature. You must mail your exclusion request postmarked no later than than the deadline to opt-out, September 18, 2023 to:

You cannot exclude yourself on the phone or by email. If you ask to be excluded, you will not get any Settlement benefits, and you cannot object to the Settlement. You will not be legally bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit.

No. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up the right to sue the Defendant for the claims resolved by this Settlement. If the Settlement is finally approved, you will be permanently enjoined barred from initiating or continuing any lawsuit or other proceeding against Defendant about the issues in this lawsuit. Remember that the deadline to opt-out is September 18, 2023.

No. If you exclude yourself, you are not eligible for any money or other benefits from this Settlement.

The Court appointed the law firms of Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC (formerly Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC), Cohen & Malad, LLP, The Johnson Firm, and Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC to represent you and other Class Members. Together, the lawyers are called Class Counsel. You will not be charged for these lawyers. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

Class Counsel will ask the Court for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses of up to $200,000, and service awards to the Plaintiff for $1,500, all to be paid by the Defendant, subject to Court approval, separate from, and in addition to, the Settlement benefits offered to Class Members under the Settlement.

You can tell the Court that you don’t agree with the Settlement or some part of it.

If you’re a Class Member, you can object to the Settlement if you don’t like any part of it. To object, you must send a written objection to the Settlement Administrator saying that you object to the Settlement, or part of it, in Carr v. South Country Health Alliance. To have your objection considered by the Court, you also must file your objection with the Clerk of the Court (identified below). You must state the reasons for your objection and include any evidence, briefs, motions or other materials you intend to offer in support of the objection. You must include your name, address, telephone number, your signature, contain the title of the Lawsuit: “Carr v. South Country Health Alliance,” with the case number and the reasons you object to the Settlement, along with any materials in support of your arguments. If you intend to appear at the Final Approval Hearing either yourself or by a lawyer, you must also state your intention to appear. You must mail the objection to the Settlement Administrator at the following address no later than the deadline to object, September 18, 2023:

Carr v. South Country Health Alliance, Objections c/o Kroll Settlement Administration PO Box 5324 New York, NY 10150-5324

Steele County District Court  Third Judicial District Steele County Courthouse 111 East Main Street Owatonna, Minnesota 55060

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

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlement. You do not need to attend, but you are welcome to do so, if you choose.

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on November 6, 2023 at 8:45 a.m. CT at Steele County Courthouse, 111 East Main Street, Owatonna, Minnesota 55060 (or by telephonic or videoconference if necessary, please check this Settlement Website for updates on the hearing). At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are objections, the Court will consider them. The Court will listen to people who have asked to speak at the hearing and complied with  FAQ 18 of this website. The Court may also decide how much to pay Class Counsel and the Plaintiff. After the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement. We do not know how long these decisions will take.

No. You are welcome to come at your own expense if you wish, but Class Counsel will answer questions the Court may have. If you send an objection, you don’t have to come to Court to talk about it, unless you want to. As long as you mailed your written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but it’s not necessary unless you want to.

You may ask the Court for permission to speak at the Final Approval Hearing along with your objection as set forth in FAQ 14 above.

If you do nothing, you will be a part of this Settlement, but you must submit a Claim Form to receive any Settlement benefits. You won’t be able to start a lawsuit, continue with a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendant relating to the claims brought in this case.

This Settlement Website summarizes the proposed Settlement. More details are in the Settlement Agreement on file with the Court and available on this Settlement Website. You can also call toll free (833) 933-9145.