$200,000 Sarasota Memorial Health Care System Settlement For Florida Residents, Did They Overbill You After a Car Accident? July 10 Is Last Date to File a Claim 

The Sarasota Memorial Health Care System class action settlement is a Florida consumer protection case where eligible patients who received a collection letter from Sarasota County Public Hospital District for emergency medical services after a car accident may claim up to $1,000 by filing a claim before July 10, 2026. The defendant — operating as Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMHCS) — agreed to settle allegations that it billed patients for amounts above what Florida law permits. The case is open for claims now.

Sarasota Memorial Settlement: Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$200,000 class member payment fund
Claim Deadline	July 10, 2026
Who Qualifies	Florida residents who received a billing/collection letter from SMHCS for auto accident emergency care between June 7, 2017 – May 6, 2026
Payout Per Person	Up to $1,000 pro rata — actual amount depends on total valid claims filed
Proof Required	No — only last name and notice ID from mailed notice
Settlement Status	Open for claims — pending final court approval
Opt-Out Deadline	June 25, 2026
Fairness Hearing	July 29, 2026
Administrator	Atticus Administration, PO Box 64053, St. Paul, MN 55164
Official Website	fldaughertyclasssettlement.com
Last Updated	May 16, 2026

Current Status of the Sarasota Memorial Settlement

• The settlement is open for claims right now — you do not need to wait for court approval to file.
• The opt-out deadline is June 25, 2026. Miss it and you cannot pursue a separate lawsuit for the same claims.
• The court holds a fairness hearing on July 29, 2026 to consider final approval.
• Payments go out after the court grants final approval and any appeal period resolves.

File your claim as early as possible. The more valid claims submitted, the lower each person’s pro rata share. Filing early does not hurt your chances — it locks in your participation.

What Is the Sarasota Memorial Lawsuit About? Christopher Daugherty v. Sarasota County Public Hospital District, Case No. 2019-CA-003178 NC

The lawsuit accuses Sarasota Memorial Health Care System of sending billing and collection letters to Florida patients that demanded more money than Florida law allows. The specific law at issue is Section 559.72(9) of the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA), a state-level consumer protection statute that prohibits debt collectors from attempting to collect amounts they are not legally entitled to receive.

Here is what the plaintiff alleged happened. When a Florida driver gets into a car accident and goes to a hospital emergency room, their personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance pays for a portion of that care. Florida law caps what a hospital can collect from the patient after PIP pays its share. The lawsuit claimed SMHCS sent billing letters demanding amounts above that PIP cap — essentially asking patients to pay more than the law allows.

Christopher Daugherty filed the case in 2019 in Florida state court. SMHCS denies any wrongdoing. The hospital agreed to settle to avoid the costs and risks of continued litigation, and the settlement also requires changes to SMHCS’s billing practices going forward — meaning the case is expected to produce real-world results for future patients, not just cash for current class members.

If you received a similar overbilling letter from another Florida provider, the CAMC Data Breach Settlement covers a different type of healthcare billing harm — that case involves unauthorized access to patient records — but it illustrates how hospital systems across the country face growing legal accountability for how they handle patient finances.

Related article: $1.53M Hustler Hollywood FACTA Settlement, Did Your Receipt Show Too Many Card Digits? No Proof No Claim Form Needed 

Who Qualifies for the Sarasota Memorial Health Care Settlement?

This settlement covers a specific group of Florida patients. Read these criteria carefully — they are more specific than most settlements.

You may qualify if you meet all of the following:

• You are a Florida resident
• You received emergency medical services from SMHCS related to injuries from a car accident
• You held an active automobile insurance policy at the time of the accident
• You received at least one billing or collection letter from SMHCS seeking payment for those emergency services
• The letter sought an amount above what Florida’s PIP law permits
• SMHCS contacted you between June 7, 2017, and May 6, 2026

You are likely NOT included if:

• You received medical services from SMHCS unrelated to a car accident
• You did not have auto insurance at the time of treatment
• You never received a billing or collection letter from SMHCS specifically — only from a third-party collection agency
• You reside outside the state of Florida

The settlement administrator estimates approximately 3,585 individuals are included based on SMHCS’s own billing records. If you received a notice in the mail about this settlement, you are almost certainly a class member.

How Much Can You Get from the Sarasota Memorial Settlement?

The class member payment fund is $200,000. Every eligible class member who files a valid, timely claim receives a pro rata share. Here is exactly how that works:

• If fewer than 200 valid claims are submitted, each claimant receives the maximum of $1,000
• If more than 200 valid claims are submitted, the $200,000 fund is split equally — for example, 400 valid claims would mean $500 per person

The actual payout depends entirely on how many people file. With a class size of approximately 3,585, the per-person amount could be lower if most class members file. Filing is the only way to participate.

Any uncashed checks after 60 days from issuance go to the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation as a cy pres award — so the money does not go back to SMHCS if you miss cashing your check.

The rest of the settlement funds break down as follows: attorneys’ fees and costs of up to $495,000 (paid separately from the class member fund) and a service award to the class representative of up to $1,000.

How to File Your Sarasota Memorial Settlement Claim

Step 1 — Locate the settlement notice you received in the mail from Atticus Administration. It contains your notice ID and last name — you need both to file online.

Step 2 — Visit the official claim portal at fldaughertyclasssettlement.com and log in using your last name and notice ID.

Step 3 — Complete the online claim form. No supporting documents or proof of the billing letter are required.

Step 4 — Submit your claim before July 10, 2026. Online submissions are accepted through the deadline.

Step 5 — Alternatively, complete the paper claim form included in your mailed notice and mail it to: Daugherty Class Action, c/o Atticus Administration, PO Box 64053, St. Paul, MN 55164

Step 6 — Watch for your check after the court grants final approval following the July 29, 2026 fairness hearing. Payments are mailed by paper check only. Cash your check within 60 days of issuance.

Estimated time to complete online: under 5 minutes.

Sarasota Memorial Settlement Key Dates

Milestone	Date
Class Period Begins	June 7, 2017
Lawsuit Filed	2019 (Case No. 2019-CA-003178 NC)
Class Period Ends	May 6, 2026
Claims Portal Opens	Open now
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	June 25, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	July 10, 2026
Fairness Hearing	July 29, 2026
Expected Payment Date	TBD — after final court approval and resolution of any appeals; estimated late 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About the Sarasota Memorial Settlement

Is there a class action lawsuit against Sarasota Memorial Health Care System? 

Yes. Christopher Daugherty v. Sarasota County Public Hospital District d/b/a Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, Case No. 2019-CA-003178 NC, was filed in Florida state court in 2019. The case alleged SMHCS sent collection letters to auto accident patients demanding amounts above Florida’s PIP coverage limits, violating the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act. The parties settled, and the case is now open for claims.

Do I need a lawyer to file my Sarasota Memorial claim? 

No. The online claim form at fldaughertyclasssettlement.com requires only your last name and notice ID. No attorney or consumer rights lawyer is needed to participate. If you believe you suffered losses beyond what this settlement covers, a free legal consultation with a consumer protection attorney can help you evaluate individual options.

When will I receive my Sarasota Memorial settlement payment?

 The court holds its fairness hearing on July 29, 2026. Payments go out after the judge grants final approval and any appeal period resolves. Assuming no appeals, payments could arrive in late 2026. Contact Atticus Administration at 800-314-5731 for updates.

Can I opt out of the Sarasota Memorial settlement?

 Yes, but you must act by June 25, 2026. To opt out, follow the exclusion instructions in your official notice or contact Atticus Administration at [email protected]. Opting out means you give up your settlement payment but retain the right to sue SMHCS separately.

How much will I actually receive from the Sarasota Memorial settlement? 

The maximum is $1,000. The actual amount is pro rata and depends on how many valid claims are filed. If fewer than 200 people file, everyone receives $1,000. If more than 200 file, the $200,000 fund is split equally among all claimants. The class is estimated at approximately 3,585 people.

I never got a mailed notice — can I still file a claim?

 Contact Atticus Administration at 800-314-5731 or [email protected] to confirm whether you are a class member and request your notice ID. If SMHCS’s records show you received a qualifying billing letter, you may still be eligible.

What happens to my check if I do not cash it in time? 

If your check goes uncashed for 60 days after issuance, the funds go to the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation as a cy pres award. Cash your check promptly once you receive it.

Is the Sarasota Memorial settlement legitimate? 

Yes. The case is filed in Florida state court under Case No. 2019-CA-003178 NC. The court-appointed settlement administrator is Atticus Administration, a professional legal administration firm. The only legitimate claim portal is fldaughertyclasssettlement.com.

Sources & References

• Official settlement website: fldaughertyclasssettlement.com
• Settlement documents: fldaughertyclasssettlement.com/settlement-documents/
• Claim form login: fldaughertyclasssettlement.com/daugherty-v-sarasota-claim-form-login/
• Settlement FAQ: fldaughertyclasssettlement.com/faqs-2/
• Important dates: fldaughertyclasssettlement.com/important-dates/

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official settlement administrator website and court documents on May 16, 2026. Last Updated: May 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.