The Dakota Eye Institute is a US-based eye-care organization, which provides medical and surgical eye care services. Back in October 2023, hackers got the computer server of this company, due to which personal and medical information of more than 170,000 individuals was compromised.
After that the affected individuals were notified, and many class action lawsuits were filed against the organization with allegations that they failed to protect the details of their customers. Later they were consolidated into one, and then the company agreed to a settlement of $1M to resolve the matter.
Because of this cybersecurity incident, many individuals faced ordinary and extraordinary losses. If you are one among them, you can get up to $6,000 by taking the action required. Here, we have discussed who can get this payout, what one is required to get it, and much more about the settlement.
Who is eligible for compensation?
To receive payment from this settlement, you must be a resident of the United States, and your personal and medical information was exposed in the October 2023 cybersecurity incident at the Dakota Eye Institute.
Apart from this, it is also necessary that you have received a notice from DEI regarding the data breach incident and also a notice from the settlement administration, on which the claim ID and PIN are available.
What is required to get the payout from this settlement?
To receive a payout from this settlement, it is mandatory to submit a claim form. If you are one of the individuals whose personal or medical information was leaked in a cybersecurity incident, you must file a claim form by the due date to get compensated.
The deadline for filing it is January 12, 2026. When filing, ensure that all details you enter are accurate. If you enter even a single detail incorrectly, you will not receive any payment. It’s crucial to cross-check the payment gateway details before entering them, as you won’t be able to update them later.
How much will be received from the settlement fund?
The total settlement fund is $1 million, of which approximately 30% will go towards attorney fees and administration costs, and the remaining amount will be distributed among the class members, i.e., those affected by this data breach incident.
The amount of payout you will receive depends on the type of loss you have suffered due to this cybersecurity incident. If you have suffered an ordinary loss, you will receive only $1,000, and if you have suffered an extraordinary loss, you will receive an additional $5,000.
If you haven’t encountered ordinary or extraordinary loss, but your personal information was exposed in this cybersecurity incident, the payment you receive will be $50. The payment will be distributed on a pro rata basis, meaning these types of claimants will get the same amount.
In addition to the payment, all class members will also receive two years of single-bureau credit monitoring that covers $1 million in fraud insurance.
How to file a claim form for this settlement?
Filling a claim form for this settlement is quite an easy process; go through the step-by-step instructions to file it online.
- Go to the settlement website at https://dakotaeyesecurityincident.com/.
- Find and click on the ‘File a Claim’ button and go to the next page.
- Opt for ‘I have a Claim Number and PIN, and I would like to securely file a claim online,’ and tap on the Next button.
- Enter your Claim Number and PIN, and then click on the Submit button to log in.
- Fill in your name, mobile number, email address, and other details.
- Attach proof for ordinary or extraordinary losses, and then click on and choose a payment gateway to receive the payout.
- Review all the details you have provided, and then click on the Submit button to file a claim form.
To file it offline, you have to download the claim form PDF, make a print copy, fill in the details, attach proof, envelope it, and mail it to DED9 Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132.
When to expect the payout?
The payment for this settlement will be received among the claimants after the final approval. The hearing for the same is all set to take place on January 12, 2026. Note that if it receives the final approval on this date without any delay, you will get the payment within 90 days or even earlier.
Disclaimer: Dakota Eye Institute $1M data breach settlement details are for informational purposes only. Confirm eligibility and payout information through official settlement sources.