Published
June 25, 2026
Updated
August 14, 2026
If you received a breach notice from Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat, you can claim up to $5,000 in documented losses, a $50 cash payment, or two years of medical monitoring before the July 23, 2026 deadline.
What Is This Settlement About?
Alpine Ear, Nose, & Throat, PLLC (AENT), a Fort Collins, Colorado ear, nose, and throat practice with several locations across the state, has agreed to a class action settlement resolving claims over an October 2024 data breach. The case is Pfirrman v. Alpine Ear, Nose, & Throat, PLLC, Case No. 2025CV127, pending in the District Court for Larimer County, Colorado.According to the settlement notice, the case concerns a targeted third-party cyberattack on AENT's network in October 2024, during which certain files containing private information may have been accessible. The complaint alleges AENT failed to adequately protect that information. AENT denies the allegations and any wrongdoing, and no court has found that the practice did anything wrong. The two sides agreed to settle to resolve the claims and avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation.
Status
Claims Closed
Claim Deadline
July 23, 2026
Estimated Payout
Up to $5,000
Documented losses + lost time · or $50 cash · plus 2 yrs CyEx Medical Shield Complete
Proof Required
Yes
Login ID & PIN from the AENT notice are required to file online
What Happened?
According to the settlement notice, the case stems from a targeted third-party cyberattack on AENT's network in October 2024, during which certain files containing private information may have been accessible. The BianLian ransomware group was reported to have claimed responsibility for the attack and to have posted stolen data online; those attacker claims are reported allegations that have not been independently confirmed, and the settlement notice itself describes the event only as a targeted third-party cyberattack.The private information potentially involved varied by individual and, according to reporting on the breach, may have included names, dates of birth, demographic information, medical and health information, financial account information, payment card numbers, and Social Security numbers. Reporting indicates the incident affected approximately 65,648 individuals. AENT mailed notification letters to affected individuals and offered complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft services. If you received a notice letter from AENT about this incident, your information was among the data identified as potentially affected.
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Who Qualifies?
The Court defined the settlement class as all individuals residing in the United States whose private information was or may have been involved in the October 2024 data incident, including those who received notice of it. Directors and officers of AENT, governmental entities, and the assigned Judge, the Judge's immediate family, and Court staff are excluded. In practical terms, if AENT mailed you a breach notice about this incident, you are a class member and may file a claim.Keep your notice handy, because the online claim form requires the Login ID and PIN printed at the top of it. If you believe you were affected but cannot locate your Login ID or PIN, you can request it through the official settlement website's contact page rather than letting the deadline pass.
How Much Can You Get?
The settlement gives class members a choice between filing for their actual losses or taking a flat cash payment, plus monitoring that everyone can claim.Documented out-of-pocket loss reimbursement (up to $5,000). You can claim up to $5,000 for documented, unreimbursed losses fairly traceable to the breach and incurred between October 9, 2024 and July 23, 2026. This can include losses from identity theft or fraud, fees for credit reports or freezing and unfreezing your credit, the cost to replace IDs, postage, and similar related expenses. You must provide supporting documents such as receipts or bank statements; self-prepared notes alone are not enough, and you cannot claim expenses already reimbursed by a third party.
Lost time (up to 4 hours at $20 per hour). As part of a claim, you may also be reimbursed for time spent dealing with the breach — up to 4 hours at $20 per hour, or up to $80. You attest to the time you spent.
Alternative cash payment ($50). Instead of claiming documented losses and lost time, you can choose a one-time alternative cash payment of $50. No documentation of losses is required for this option.
Two years of medical monitoring. Every class member can also claim two years of CyEx Medical Shield Complete, which provides medical monitoring and single-bureau credit monitoring, includes $1 million of medical identity theft insurance, and monitors for healthcare insurance ID exposure, Medical Record Number exposure, and unauthorized Health Savings Account spending. No documentation is required to select this benefit.
Is Proof Required?
Yes. Filing online requires you to log in to the claim portal using the Login ID and PIN printed at the top of the notice AENT sent you, so the page is marked proof required. A claimant who never received a notice, or who discarded it, cannot file online without first requesting that information from the administrator through the official settlement website.Beyond confirming class membership, the documentation needed depends on which option you choose. The $50 alternative cash payment, the lost-time payment, and the two years of monitoring require no receipts. The up to $5,000 documented-loss reimbursement does require supporting documentation — receipts, bank or credit card statements, or similar records showing the loss and that it was fairly traceable to the breach.
Important Dates
• Opt-Out (Exclusion) Deadline: June 23, 2026
• Objection Deadline: June 23, 2026
• Claim Deadline: July 23, 2026 (online or mailed)
• Final Approval (Fairness) Hearing: August 11, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. Mountain Time
If you are a class member and want a payment or monitoring, the remaining step is to file a claim by July 23, 2026. The hearing date can change, so check the official settlement website for updates.
Attorneys' Fees and Service Awards
Class Counsel will ask the Court to approve attorneys' fees and reimbursement of litigation costs of up to $330,000, plus a service award of up to $2,500 for the class representative. These amounts are subject to Court approval and do not reduce the individual benefits described above. The exact figures are set out in the settlement documents available on the official settlement website.How to File a Claim
File your claim online or by mail through the official settlement website, AENTDataSettlement.com. You will need the Login ID and PIN from your notice to log in to the online claim form. Choose either the documented-loss-and-lost-time option or the $50 alternative cash payment, add the two years of monitoring if you want it, and upload supporting documents if you are claiming documented losses. The deadline is July 23, 2026.File a Claim
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat settlement?
The settlement covers individuals who were sent notice that their personal information may have been involved in the Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat (AENT) data security incident. If you received a breach notice from AENT, you are a class member and may file a claim.
How much can I get from the AENT data breach settlement?
You can claim reimbursement of up to $5,000 for documented out-of-pocket losses, plus up to 4 hours of lost time at $20 per hour. Instead of claiming losses, you can choose a one-time alternative cash payment of $50. Every class member can also claim two years of CyEx Medical Shield Complete credit and medical monitoring.
Is proof required to file a claim?
Yes. To file online, you must log in using the Login ID and PIN printed at the top of your AENT notice. No receipts are needed for the $50 alternative cash payment, the lost-time payment, or the monitoring, but the up to $5,000 documented-loss reimbursement requires documents such as receipts or bank statements showing the loss and that it was tied to the breach.
What is the deadline to file an Alpine ENT settlement claim?
The claim deadline is July 23, 2026. Claims can be filed online or by mail through the official settlement website, AENTDataSettlement.com.
What happens if I do nothing?
If you do nothing, you will not receive a payment or monitoring, and you will give up your right to sue Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat over this data breach. The only way to receive a benefit is to file a claim by July 23, 2026.
Official Settlement Notice
Sources
• Official Settlement Website: AENTDataSettlement.com• Pfirrman v. Alpine Ear, Nose, & Throat, PLLC, Case No. 2025CV127, District Court, Larimer County, Colorado
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Settlement Amount
Varies — individual benefits (claims-made)
Case Title
Pfirrman v. Alpine Ear, Nose, & Throat, PLLC
Case Number
2025CV127
Court
District Court, Larimer County, Colorado
Final Approval Hearing
August 11, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. MT
Administrator
Simpluris
Official Website
AENT Data Settlement.com
