Wayne Memorial Hospital Data Breach Settlement
Wayne Memorial Hospital agreed to a proposed settlement over a 2024 cyberattack that may have exposed private information. Eligible class members may claim up to $5,000 for documented fraud or identity-theft losses or request an estimated $25 cash payment without documentation. They may also enroll in two years of credit monitoring. Claims are due December 7, 2026. Wayne Memorial denies wrongdoing, and final approval is pending.
Benefit Summary
Eligible class members: choose one: Up to $5,000 documented losses plus Two years of credit monitoring or Estimated $25 cash payment plus Two years of credit monitoring.
Aggregate benefits cap: $300,000.00.
Available Awards
Up to $5,000 documented losses OR Estimated $25 cash payment
Who Is Included
People whose private information was accessible in the Wayne Memorial Hospital data incident discovered around June 3, 2024. Wayne Memorial sent notices to potentially affected people around August 27, 2025. Excluded are Wayne Memorial's directors and officers, governmental entities, the assigned judge and immediate family, court staff, and people who validly opt out.
- Products included: Private information potentially accessed between approximately May 30 and June 3, 2024.
- Proof required: A completed claim is required for a cash payment. The documented-loss option requires reasonable third-party records showing actual, unreimbursed fraud or identity-theft losses more likely than not caused by the incident. The estimated $25 alternative cash payment requires no documentation. Credit monitoring enrollment information is provided automatically after final approval.
Claim and Payment Information
- Claim method: Online or U.S. mail
- Claim deadline: 2026-12-07
- Instructions: Submit a valid claim online by December 7, 2026, or mail a completed claim form postmarked by that date. Use the Unique ID and Passcode from the mailed notice. Choose either documented losses up to $5,000 or the estimated $25 alternative cash payment. Include reasonable supporting records for documented losses. Credit monitoring enrollment is available in addition to either cash option.
Questions & Answers
Who is included in the Wayne Memorial settlement?
The class covers people whose private information was accessible in the Wayne Memorial Hospital incident discovered around June 3, 2024. The hospital says unauthorized access may have occurred from about May 30 through June 3, 2024 and mailed notices to potentially affected people in August 2025.
Directors and officers of Wayne Memorial, governmental entities, the assigned judge and immediate family, court staff, and people who opt out are excluded.
Which benefits can I receive?
A class member may choose one of two cash paths and may also enroll in two years of credit monitoring. The cash choices cannot be combined.
- Up to $5,000 for qualifying documented fraud or identity-theft losses.
- Or an estimated $25 alternative cash payment without documentation.
- Two years of single-bureau credit monitoring with $1 million in identity-theft insurance, in addition to either cash choice.
What proof is needed for a cash payment?
The documented-loss option requires reasonable records showing an actual, unreimbursed monetary loss from fraud or identity theft that was more likely than not caused by the incident. Personal declarations may explain other evidence but generally are not enough by themselves.
The estimated $25 alternative payment requires no documentation. Both cash choices still require a valid claim.
How and when do I submit a claim?
Submit the official online form by December 7, 2026, or mail a completed form postmarked by that date. The online process requires the Unique ID and Passcode from the mailed notice. Include supporting records if requesting documented losses.
What happens if I do nothing?
You will not receive cash. The notice says you will receive a credit-monitoring enrollment code, remain in the class, and give up the right to sue Wayne Memorial separately over the released claims if the settlement becomes final.
When will benefits be provided?
The Court is scheduled to consider final approval on January 27, 2027 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Cash payments and monitoring become available only after approval is final. The notice does not give a distribution date; check the official site for hearing updates.
How do opting out and objecting differ?
Opting out removes you from the settlement. You receive no monitoring or cash but preserve any individual rights concerning the released claims. A personally signed request must be postmarked and mailed by November 7, 2026.
Objecting asks the Court not to approve some or all of the settlement while you remain a class member. A written objection must follow all requirements in notice question 20 and be mailed by November 7, 2026.
Other Important Dates
- Exclusion deadline: 2026-11-07
- Objection deadline: 2026-11-07
- Final approval hearing: January 27, 2027 at 1:30 p.m. ET
- Hearing location: Superior Court of Wayne County, 174 N. Brunswick Street, Jesup, Georgia 31546
Case Details
- Case name: Bates, et al. v. Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Inc. d/b/a Wayne Memorial Hospital
- Case number: SUCV2025000239
- Court: Superior Court of Wayne County, Georgia
- Administrator: CPT Group, Inc.
- Official Settlement Website: https://www.wmhdatasettlement.com/Login
Sources
Claim form, FAQ, deadlines, administrator information
Court-approved notice describing eligibility and benefits