$900K Gandara Mental Health Center Data Breach Settlement, Check If You Qualify for a Payment Deadline is July 23

The Gandara Mental Health Center data breach settlement is a class action where eligible Massachusetts residents can receive up to $5,000 in cash — or a flat $60 alternative payment — by filing a claim before July 23, 2026. Cybercriminals gained unauthorized access to Gandara’s network on or around June 20, 2024, compromising the personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI) of approximately 17,543 individuals. The case is pending before the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Hampden County, as Civil Action No. 2479CV00652.

Gandara Mental Health Center Settlement: Key Facts at a Glance

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$900,000 aggregate cap
Claim Deadline	July 23, 2026
Who Qualifies	Massachusetts residents whose private information was compromised in the June 2024 data security incident at Gandara Mental Health Center
Payout Per Person	Up to $500 for ordinary losses; up to $5,000 for extraordinary losses; up to $100 for lost time; or a flat $60 alternative cash payment
Proof Required	Yes for losses — documentation required; attestation only for lost time; no proof needed for the $60 alternative payment
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved
Administrator	Angeion Group
Official Website	gandarasettlement.com
Last Updated	April 30, 2026

Current Status of the Gandara Mental Health Center Case

• The court granted preliminary approval of the settlement; the Angeion Group is now administering claims
• The deadline to file a claim or object is July 23, 2026 — both fall on the same date
• The Final Approval Hearing is set for August 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET, in Courtroom 4, 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103
• Settlement checks expire 90 days after issuance — deposit yours promptly once received

What Is the Gandara Mental Health Center Lawsuit About? Eugene Mitchell v. Gandara Mental Health Center, Inc., No. 2479CV00652

On or around June 20, 2024, cybercriminals infiltrated Gandara Mental Health Center’s network and exfiltrated approximately 450 gigabytes of data. The stolen information included both personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI) — the kind of sensitive data that mental health patients and employees entrust to healthcare providers.

Gandara began notifying affected individuals on October 24, 2024, ultimately reaching roughly 17,543 people. Plaintiffs Eugene Mitchell, Wanda Delrio, and Raffaele Santaniello filed suit on January 29, 2025, alleging that Gandara failed to maintain adequate security safeguards to protect private data. This type of data breach compensation lawsuit holds healthcare organizations accountable when preventable security failures expose patients’ most sensitive records.

Gandara denies all liability and maintains it did nothing wrong. Both sides agreed to settle rather than proceed to trial, and Gandara has committed to implementing ongoing security improvements. For more on how data privacy attorney cases like this work, see the AllAboutLawyer.com overview of data breach class action settlements.

Who Qualifies for the Gandara Mental Health Center Settlement?

If you received a notice from Gandara or the Angeion Group, you are likely already identified as a class member. Here is how to confirm.

You may qualify if:

• You reside in Massachusetts
• Your private information — including PII or PHI — was compromised in the Gandara data security incident discovered in June 2024
• You are not an officer or director of Gandara Mental Health Center

You do NOT qualify if:

• You live outside Massachusetts
• Your information was not part of the June 2024 breach
• You were identified by a court as having aided or caused the breach

If you are unsure whether you are included, contact the Angeion Group directly at (855) TBD (check gandarasettlement.com for the current toll-free number) or email the administrator through the contact page. Your personal data stolen settlement eligibility is based on Gandara’s own records.

How Much Can You Get from the Gandara Mental Health Center Settlement?

This settlement offers multiple claim tiers depending on what you experienced after the breach. You can choose the option that applies to you — but you cannot double-dip between the ordinary loss/extraordinary loss tiers and the alternative cash payment.

Ordinary Out-of-Pocket Losses — up to $500 Covers documented expenses caused by the breach, such as credit monitoring services you purchased, bank fees, postage, or phone charges traceable to the incident. Documentation is required.

Lost Time — up to $100 Covers time you spent dealing with the breach, at $25 per hour for up to 4 hours. You submit an attestation on the claim form — no receipts needed for this tier.

Extraordinary Losses — up to $5,000 Covers actual, documented financial harm caused by misuse of your stolen information — for example, identity theft or fraud directly tied to this breach. This is the highest tier and requires the strongest documentation, including proof the loss stems from this specific incident.

Alternative Cash Payment — $60 flat If you have no documented losses, you can skip the documentation process entirely and claim a straightforward $60 cash payment. This is the fastest path to compensation for damages and requires no supporting paperwork.

Free Credit Monitoring — 3 Years All class members — regardless of which cash tier they choose — can also enroll in 3 years of CYEX’s Medical Shield Complete through one credit bureau, which includes $1,000,000 in identity theft protection insurance. This benefit is available whether or not you file a cash claim.

Note: all cash payments combined are subject to the $900,000 aggregate cap. If total valid claims exceed the cap, individual payments will be reduced proportionally.

How to File Your Gandara Mental Health Center Claim Form

Filing online takes about 10 minutes. Have any supporting documents ready if you are claiming losses.

1. Visit gandarasettlement.com/submit-claim
2. Select your claim tier — ordinary losses, extraordinary losses, lost time, or the $60 alternative payment
3. Complete the Claim Form with your name, address, and contact details
4. Upload or attach supporting documentation if claiming losses (bank statements, receipts, identity theft records)
5. Check the box if you also want to enroll in the 3-year CYEX credit monitoring service
6. Submit online or print, sign, and mail to: Angeion Group, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Estimated time to complete: 5–15 minutes depending on which tier you claim.

You can also download a paper Claim Form from the Important Documents page at gandarasettlement.com. Mailed forms must be postmarked by July 23, 2026.

Gandara Mental Health Center Settlement — Important Dates

Milestone	Date
Data Security Incident Discovered	June 20, 2024
Notice to Affected Individuals Began	October 24, 2024
Lawsuit Filed	January 29, 2025
Preliminary Approval Granted	TBD — order referenced on official site but specific date not published
Claim Filing Deadline	July 23, 2026
Objection Deadline	July 23, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	TBD — check gandarasettlement.com for confirmation
Final Approval Hearing	August 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET
Expected Payment Date	TBD — approximately 30–60 days after final approval and resolution of any appeals

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a Gandara Mental Health settlement claim?

 No. Class Counsel from Kopelowitz Ostrow P.A., Strauss Borrelli PLLC, and EKSM, LLP represent all class members at no cost. You file directly at gandarasettlement.com — no consumer rights lawyer required to participate.

Is the Gandara Mental Health Center settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Hampden County Superior Court preliminarily approved this settlement. The Angeion Group, a nationally recognized class action administrator, manages the claims process. Case No. 2479CV00652 is a matter of public court record.

When will I receive my Gandara settlement payment? 

The Final Approval Hearing is August 25, 2026. If the court approves and no appeals delay the process, payments will issue within approximately 30–60 days after that. Settlement checks expire 90 days after issuance, so cash yours promptly.

What if I missed the July 23, 2026 claim deadline?

 If you miss the deadline, you will remain bound by the settlement’s release of claims but will receive no payment. You will forfeit the right to sue Gandara separately for the same breach. There is no late-filing process — the July 23 deadline is hard.

Will my Gandara settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Payments for out-of-pocket losses are generally treated as reimbursements and may not be taxable. The $60 alternative cash payment could be treated as ordinary income. Speak with a tax professional about your individual situation before filing your return for the year you receive the check.

My mental health records were exposed — can I claim more than $5,000?

 The extraordinary loss tier caps at $5,000 per person and requires documented financial harm — identity theft, fraud, or direct monetary losses — traceable to this breach. Emotional distress or exposure of sensitive records alone does not qualify for the extraordinary tier under the current settlement terms. If you believe your harm exceeds the settlement’s limits, consult a private data privacy attorney before the opt-out deadline to evaluate your options.

What security improvements is Gandara required to make? 

As part of the settlement, Gandara has agreed to implement and maintain appropriate security measures going forward. Upon request from plaintiffs’ counsel, Gandara must provide details about those measures and their costs. The specific improvements are not publicly listed in the settlement documents.

Do I have to claim both cash and credit monitoring separately?

 Yes. The credit monitoring enrollment and the cash payment are separate choices on the claim form. You can select the $60 alternative cash payment and still enroll in 3 years of free CYEX Medical Shield Complete coverage — both boxes are available on the same form.

Sources & References

• Official Settlement Website — gandarasettlement.com
• Settlement Agreement — via Angeion Group
• Claim Form — via Angeion Group

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official settlement website at gandarasettlement.com and the Revised Settlement Agreement on April 30, 2026. Last Updated: April 30, 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.