$3.75M Chattanooga Heart Institute Data Breach Settlement, Are You Eligible to Claim? The deadline to File is July 13, 2026

A class action lawsuit accused Memorial Heart Institute LLC, doing business as Chattanooga Heart Institute, of failing to protect the private medical and personal information of approximately 460,000 individuals during a data breach in March 2023. The company agreed to pay $3,750,000 to settle those claims. The settlement is open for claims, and the deadline to file is July 13, 2026.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$3,750,000
Claim Deadline	July 13, 2026
Who Qualifies	Living individuals whose private information the March 8–16, 2023 data breach may have compromised
Payout Per Person	Up to $5,500 in documented losses + 2 years of credit/medical monitoring; pro rata cash payment for SSN subclass
Proof Required	Yes (for documented losses); No (for credit monitoring and SSN pro rata payment)
Settlement Status	Proposed — Final Approval Hearing May 28, 2026
Administrator	Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
Official Website	chattanoogaheartsettlement.com

Current Status & What Happens Next

• The court has scheduled a Final Approval Hearing for May 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Chattanooga Division.
• The opt-out and objection deadlines are both June 12, 2026 — if you miss the opt-out window, you remain bound by the settlement and cannot sue Chattanooga Heart Institute separately over this breach.
• If the court approves the settlement and no appeals follow, Kroll will issue payments approximately 105 days after final approval — putting estimated payment distribution in late fall 2026.

What Is the Chattanooga Heart Institute Lawsuit About?

The lawsuit, Cahill, et al. v. Memorial Heart Institute LLC d/b/a The Chattanooga Heart Institute, Case No. 1:23-cv-00168-CLC-CHS, alleges that Chattanooga Heart Institute failed to adequately protect sensitive personal and medical data stored on its systems. Unauthorized individuals accessed that data during a cybersecurity incident that ran from March 8 to March 16, 2023.

The exposed information reportedly included names, mailing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, health insurance details, diagnosis and condition information, lab results, medications, and other clinical, demographic, or financial data. For patients who trusted a cardiac care provider with some of their most sensitive health information, that exposure created real risks — including identity theft, medical fraud, and unauthorized use of benefits.

The plaintiffs alleged claims for negligence and failure to maintain adequate cybersecurity safeguards. Memorial Heart Institute LLC denies all wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of continued litigation. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Southern Division at Chattanooga.

Related article: $1.08M South Texas Oncology and Hematology Data Breach Settlement, Are You Eligible? Deadline to File is July 6, 2026

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim?

The settlement covers two groups — the Total Class and the SSN Subclass. Every SSN Subclass member is also part of the Total Class, but not every Total Class member is in the SSN Subclass.

You may qualify for the Total Class if:

• You are a living individual whose private information the Chattanooga Heart Institute data breach that occurred between March 8 and March 16, 2023, may have compromised
• You received a data breach notification letter from Chattanooga Heart Institute about this incident
• You are not a judge assigned to this case, a government entity, or an officer or employee of the defendant

You may also qualify for the SSN Subclass if:

• Your Social Security number was specifically identified as accessed or accessible during the breach
• The SSN Subclass consists of approximately 287,000 of the roughly 460,000 total affected individuals

If you received a notice letter, check it carefully — it will indicate whether you are a Total Class member only or also a member of the SSN Subclass.

How Much Can You Receive?

The $3,750,000 settlement fund splits into two separate pools:

• $2,000,000 reserved for the SSN Subclass
• $1,750,000 reserved for the Total Class

All Total Class members may claim:

• Documented Losses Reimbursement (up to $5,500): You can claim reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs fairly traceable to the breach. Eligible expenses include unreimbursed monetary losses from identity theft or fraud, costs for purchasing or extending credit monitoring or identity theft protection services on or after March 16, 2023, costs to freeze or unfreeze your credit, falsified tax return losses, and miscellaneous related expenses such as postage, copying, notary fees, mileage, and long-distance telephone charges. Supporting documentation is required.
• Two Years of Free Medical Monitoring: All class members can elect to receive two years of medical monitoring — which includes dark-web scanning and credit monitoring — valued at approximately $120 per year.

SSN Subclass members may also claim:

• Pro Rata Cash Payment: SSN Subclass members who file a valid claim receive a proportional share of the $2,000,000 SSN fund after deducting administration costs, attorneys’ fees, and service awards. The exact per-person amount depends on the total number of valid SSN Subclass claims filed — the settlement administrator will calculate the final figure once the claim period closes.

Note that attorneys’ fees of up to $1,250,000, expenses up to $50,000, and service awards of $4,500 per class representative come out of the total fund before distribution to claimants.

How to File a Claim

Step 1 — Visit the official claim website: Go to chattanoogaheartsettlement.com to file online, or download a paper claim form from the Documents page.

Step 2 — Locate your Class Member ID: You need the Class Member ID printed on the settlement notice letter you received from Chattanooga Heart Institute. Contact Kroll at (833) 754-9442 if you cannot locate your notice.

Step 3 — Choose your benefit(s): Select the documented losses reimbursement, two years of free medical monitoring, the SSN pro rata cash payment (if applicable), or any combination of available benefits.

Step 4 — Upload supporting documents (if claiming documented losses): Gather and attach receipts, bank or credit card statements showing fraudulent charges or fees, invoices for identity theft protection services, police reports, or other proof that ties your losses to the breach.

Step 5 — Submit your claim online or by mail: Submit your form online by July 13, 2026, or mail your completed paper form postmarked no later than July 13, 2026, to: Settlement Administrator – 83322, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, PO Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324.

Step 6 — Save your confirmation: Keep a copy of your completed form and your online confirmation number for your records.

Estimated time to complete: 5–10 minutes (longer if gathering documentation for a documented losses claim)

Important Deadlines & Dates

Milestone	Date
Data Breach Occurred	March 8–16, 2023
Lawsuit Filed	Case No. 1:23-cv-00168-CLC-CHS
Claims Period Opens	TBD (notice issued)
Opt-Out Deadline	June 12, 2026
Objection Deadline	June 12, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	May 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Claim Filing Deadline	July 13, 2026
Expected Payment Date	Approximately 105 days after final approval (est. late fall 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim in the Chattanooga Heart Institute settlement?

 No. Court-appointed Class Counsel represents all Settlement Class Members at no direct cost to you. You can file your claim online at chattanoogaheartsettlement.com in minutes without hiring a personal attorney.

Is the Chattanooga Heart Institute settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The settlement is a court-authorized proceeding pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Kroll Settlement Administration LLC — one of the country’s most established claims administrators — manages the official settlement website.

When will I receive my Chattanooga Heart Institute settlement payment? 

The court must grant final approval at the May 28, 2026 hearing first. After approval and the resolution of any appeals, Kroll will distribute payments approximately 105 days later. If no complications arise, claimants can realistically expect payments in late fall 2026.

What if I missed the claim deadline?

 The claim deadline of July 13, 2026 has not passed yet. If you miss it, you will lose your right to any cash or monitoring benefits — but you will still be bound by the settlement and cannot sue separately unless you opt out by June 12, 2026.

Will my settlement payment affect my taxes?

 It depends on what the payment compensates. Reimbursements for documented out-of-pocket losses are often non-taxable, while general cash payments may count as income. Speak with a tax professional about your specific situation.

What type of information did the Chattanooga Heart Institute breach expose?

 The breach exposed a wide range of sensitive data, including names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, health insurance information, diagnosis details, lab results, medications, and other clinical and financial records.

What is the difference between the Total Class and the SSN Subclass? 

The Total Class includes all approximately 460,000 people whose private information the breach may have affected. The SSN Subclass is a smaller group of approximately 287,000 people whose Social Security numbers were specifically identified as accessed or accessible. SSN Subclass members can claim a pro rata cash payment from the additional $2,000,000 SSN fund.

Can I opt out of the Chattanooga Heart Institute settlement? 

Yes — but you must mail a written opt-out request to Kroll postmarked by June 12, 2026. Opting out means you receive no settlement benefits but keep the right to sue separately. Consult an attorney before opting out, as individual data breach cases are expensive and difficult to pursue on your own.

If you or someone you know received a notice about a similar healthcare provider breach, you may also want to review the General Physician P.C. $2.5M data breach settlement claims or the CAMC data breach settlement for affected patients — both involve medical provider breaches with similar eligibility structures and June 2026 deadlines.

Sources & References

1. Official Settlement Website: chattanoogaheartsettlement.com
2. Official Settlement FAQ (Kroll/Court-Authorized): chattanoogaheartsettlement.com/faq
3. Maine Attorney General Data Breach Filing: maine.gov — Chattanooga Heart Institute Breach Notice
4. Court Docket Reference: Cahill, et al. v. Memorial Heart Institute LLC, Case No. 1:23-cv-00168-CLC-CHS, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Southern Division

Last Updated: April 16, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.