Patients of Watson Clinic may soon receive compensation from a $10 million settlement after their personal data was leaked on the dark web.
WASHINGTON — Individuals who have been patients at Watson Clinic LLC, both current and former, may find themselves eligible for a share of a proposed $10 million settlement following a security breach in 2024. This breach led to the exposure of sensitive personal data and images on the “dark web.”
The settlement comes after Watson Clinic admitted to a data breach incident discovered in February 2024, where an “unauthorized third-party” accessed a variety of sensitive information. This data included names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers, driver’s license details, financial account information, as well as medical information such as pre- and post-operative images and medical record numbers.
Watson Clinic, according to its official site, employs a team of over 1,600 members, including more than 350 physicians and providers. It operates 19 cutting-edge locations that offer 40 different medical and surgical specialties, catering to over a million outpatient visits annually.
For those affected by the data breach, it’s essential to be aware of the forthcoming deadlines related to the settlement process, depending on their desired course of action.
Important deadlines:
Those impacted by the breach have deadlines to meet depending on what they want to do.
- Submit a claim form: Thursday, Feb. 5
- Opt-out of the settlement: Tuesday, Jan. 6
- Object to settlement: Tuesday, Jan. 6
Who is eligible to file a claim for the Watson Clinic LLC settlement?
Current or former Watson Clinic patients in the United States who had their information or data accessed in the February 2024 breach are eligible to file a claim.
If you’re not sure if you’re included in the Settlement, you can contact Kroll Settlement Administration by calling (833) 630-5410 or using their contact form here.
How to file a claim for the Watson Clinic LLC settlement
A website has been set up for current or former Watson Clinic patients who may have been involved in the data breach.
To submit a claim, click “Submit Claim” in the top right of the website. Customers will be prompted to include a Class Member ID, which can be found in a letter sent to impacted patients.
Contact Kroll Settlement Administration at (833) 890-4930 for more information.
Once you submit a claim, you’re waiving the right to sue Watson Clinic LLC for issues related to this settlement.
How much will you get?
Depending on what information was accessed and published, patients could earn up to $75,000 for a single claim but be eligible for more. These funds will be sent as a cash payment via check if the settlement is approved by a judge in March.
- Full face and exposed sensitive areas (ESA). A cash payment of $75,000 will be sent to each Settlement Class Member who had at least one (1) digital image published containing (i) his or her face (including eyes) and (ii) an Exposed Sensitive Area (“ESA”) (the “Full Face and ESA Group”).
- Partial face and ESA. A cash payment of $40,000 will be sent to each Settlement Class Member who is not in the Full Face and ESA Group and had at least one (1) digital image published containing (i) part of his or her face (below the eyes) and (ii) an ESA (the “Partial Face and ESA Group”).
- No face and ESA. A cash payment of $10,000 will be sent to each Settlement Class Member who is not in the Full Face and ESA Group or the Partial Face and ESA Group and had at least one (1) digital image published containing (i) none of his or her face and (ii) an ESA (the “No Face and ESA Group”).
- Full face and partial clothing of sensitive areas. A cash payment of $10,000 will be sent to each Settlement Class Member who is not in the Full Face and ESA Group, the Partial Face and ESA Group, or the No Face and ESA Group and had at least one (1) digital image published containing (i) his or her face (including eyes) and (ii) a sensitive portion of his or her body covered by undergarments (the “Full Face and Partial Clothing Group”).
- Partial face and partial clothing of sensitive areas. A cash payment of $7,500 will be sent to each Settlement Class Member who is not in the Full Face and ESA Group, the Partial Face and ESA Group, the No Face and ESA Group, or the Full Face and Partial Clothing Group and had at least one (1) digital image published containing (i) part of his or her face (below the eyes) and (ii) a sensitive portion of his or her body covered by undergarments (the “Partial Face and Partial Clothing Group”).
- No face and partial clothing of sensitive areas. A cash payment of $5,000 will be sent to each Settlement Class Member who is not in the Full Face and ESA Group, the Partial Face and ESA Group, the No Face and ESA Group, the Full Face and Partial Clothing Group, or the Partial Face and Partial Clothing Group and had at least one (1) digital image published containing (i) none of his or her face and (ii) a sensitive portion of his or her body covered by undergarments (the “No Face and Partial Clothing Group”).
- Non-Sensitive. A cash payment of $100 will be sent to each Settlement Class Member who is not in the Full Face and ESA Group, the Partial Face and ESA Group, the No Face and ESA Group, the Full Face and Partial Clothing Group, the Partial Face and Partial Clothing Group, or the No Face and Partial Clothing Group and had at least one (1) digital image published containing any portion of his or her body, but which was neither an ESA nor sensitive (the “Non-Sensitive Group”).
Patients can also be eligible for “out-of-pocket losses” up to $500 per individual, “extraordinary losses” up to $6,500 per individual and “residual cash payment” for $50 on a claims-made basis.
When do I have to file the claim against Watson Clinic LLC by?
All claims must be submitted and/or postmarked by Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.
When will I get my payment?
According to the settlement site, the court will hold a hearing Monday, March 9 to decide whether to approve the settlement. Claimants should know that even if the settlement is approved, there could be appeals and other court required processes that may delay payments going out.
There are no estimates for when payments could go out, with or without the appellate process involved.
Why does the settlement exist?
The settlement agreement, drafted July 17, 2025, revolves around a February 2024 data security incident where an “unauthorized third-party” gained access to information including names, addresses, birthdates, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information and medical information including pre- and post-operative images and medical record numbers.
The settlement exists to avoid “the cost and risk of a trial and related appeals, while providing benefits to Settlement Class Members,” according to the settlement website.
Watson Clinic denies any wrongdoing and denies it has any liability.
