Tift Regional Health System / Southwell Data Breach Settlement: $1.2M Fund
Tift Regional Health System / Southwell Data Breach Class Action Settlement
Tift Regional Health System, Inc. and Southwell, Inc. agreed to a $1.2 million settlement over a targeted cyberattack on Tift's computer systems in August 2022 that may have exposed names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and medical information. U.S. residents whose Private Information was compromised or who received notice of the breach can claim an estimated $75 pro rata cash payment or reimbursement of documented losses up to $5,000, plus two years of credit monitoring. The claim deadline is October 15, 2026.
Settlement fund
$1.2M
Common fund
Top payout
~$75 cash
Pro rata + up to $5,000 documented losses
Claim deadline
Oct 15, 2026
78 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Oct 15, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You reside in the United States.
- Your Private Information may have been compromised or otherwise impacted in the August 2022 Tift Regional Health System / Southwell Data Security Incident, including anyone who received notice of the breach.
- Excluded: Excluded from the Class are: (1) the Judge(s) presiding over the Litigation, and the Judge's immediate family and staff; (2) Tift and its officers, directors, related companies, successors, predecessors, and any entity in which Tift has a controlling interest; and (3) anyone who validly excludes themselves from the Settlement.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the Settlement Administrator toll-free 24/7 at (833) 421-7345, email info@TiftDataSettlement.com, or visit TiftDataSettlement.com.
What happened
The lawsuit alleges that during a targeted cyberattack on Tift's computer systems in August 2022 (the Data Security Incident), certain files containing private information were accessed. These files may have contained personal information such as names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and medical information. Plaintiffs Chaka Davis, Brooke Dobbins, Janice Farley, and Zoie Walsh filed suit on behalf of Class Members alleging inadequate data security practices, in a case captioned In re Tift Regional Health System, Inc. Data Breach Litigation, pending in the Superior Court for Tift County, Georgia.
Tift denies that it did anything wrong, and the Court has not decided who is right. The parties agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the costs and risks, disruptions, and uncertainties of continuing the litigation.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are eligible
You must be a U.S. resident whose Private Information may have been compromised or otherwise impacted in the August 2022 Data Security Incident, including anyone who received notice of the breach from Tift.
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2. Choose your cash payment option
All Class Members are eligible for two years of CyEx Medical Shield Complete credit monitoring with $1 million in medical identity theft insurance, plus one of two cash options: reimbursement of documented out-of-pocket losses up to $5,000 incurred between August 11, 2022 and October 15, 2026, or a one-time pro rata Alternative Cash Payment estimated at $75 (no proof required). You may claim only one of the two cash options.
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3. File online or by mail
Submit the Claim Form online at TiftDataSettlement.com by October 15, 2026, or mail a paper Claim Form (postmarked by October 15, 2026) to: Tift Data Security Incident Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958.
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4. Receive your payment
Payments are issued after the Court grants final approval at the September 14, 2026 Final Approval Hearing and any appeals are resolved. The appeal process can take a year or more. No follow-up is required once your claim is submitted.
Key dates
- Sep 15, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Upcoming
- Oct 15, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Sep 14, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (10:00 a.m. ET, in person) Upcoming
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for September 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time at the Superior Court for Tift County, Georgia, 237 E 2nd St, Tifton, GA 31794. The date and time may change without further notice, so check TiftDataSettlement.com for updates before traveling.
Where the money is going
This is a non-reversionary common fund. Attorneys' fees, service awards, and notice/administration costs come out of the $1.2 million before payments are calculated for class members.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval at the Final Approval Hearing. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. The Documented Loss Payment is capped at $5,000 per class member and requires supporting proof such as bank statements or receipts. The Alternative Cash Payment is estimated at $75 but may be larger or smaller depending on the total number of valid claims filed, since it is calculated as a pro rata share of the money remaining in the fund after all other benefits and costs are paid.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
You can claim one of two cash benefits: (1) reimbursement of documented, actual out-of-pocket losses up to $5,000 for losses incurred between August 11, 2022 and October 15, 2026; or (2) a one-time pro rata Alternative Cash Payment estimated at $75, which requires no proof and may be larger or smaller depending on the total number of valid claims filed. All Class Members are also eligible to enroll in two years of CyEx Medical Shield Complete credit monitoring with $1 million in medical identity theft insurance, regardless of which cash option is chosen.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
Documentation is required only if you are claiming the Documented Loss Payment. You need to send proof, like bank statements or receipts, showing how much you spent or lost because of the Data Security Incident. Self-prepared notes or papers alone are not enough to make a valid claim, though they can support other proof. You cannot claim a payment for expenses already reimbursed by a third party. No proof is required for the Alternative Cash Payment or the credit monitoring enrollment.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
Tift's records indicate who is a Class Member, and you may have received a previous notice directly from Tift. If you are not sure whether you are a Class Member, contact the Settlement Administrator toll-free 24/7 at (833) 421-7345, email info@TiftDataSettlement.com, or visit TiftDataSettlement.com.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
If you stay in the Class, you won't be able to be part of any other lawsuit against Tift about the issues this Settlement covers. To opt out instead, you must submit a written Request for Exclusion, including your name, address, phone number, email, signature, and a clear statement that you want to be excluded, postmarked or emailed by September 15, 2026. If you opt out, you keep the right to sue Tift on your own but will not receive any Settlement benefits.
When will payments be sent out?
The Court will hold the Final Approval Hearing on September 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time at the Superior Court for Tift County, Georgia. Settlement payments will be distributed if the Court grants final approval, and after any appeals are resolved. The appeal process can take a year or more. No follow-up is required once your claim is submitted.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
Similar open settlements
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Tift Regional Health System, Inc. and Southwell, Inc., Tift Data Security Incident Settlement Administrator (Simpluris) (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Gary Mason of Mason LLP, William B. Federman of Federman & Sherwood, Bryan L. Bleichner of Chestnut Cambronne PA, and Kevin Laukaitis of Laukaitis Law LLC. The case is In re Tift Regional Health System, Inc. Data Breach Litigation, Case No. 2023CV0313, pending in the Superior Court for Tift County, Georgia before TBD - verify before publishing. Class representatives are Chaka Davis, Brooke Dobbins, Janice Farley, and Zoie Walsh. Tift / Southwell denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
