Published
September 30, 2026
People whose information was exposed in the 2024 Texas Retina Associates data incident, including patients sent a breach notice around June 28, 2024, may qualify to claim a $45 cash payment or up to $4,000 in documented losses, plus three years of identity theft protection, from the Texas Retina Associates data breach class action settlement. Claims close November 30, 2026; the final fairness hearing is set for December 3, 2026.
Current Status
Claims are open. The deadline is November 30, 2026, for claims submitted online or mailed with a postmark by that date. The court has preliminarily approved the settlement and scheduled the final fairness hearing for December 3, 2026; no payment date had been announced as of September 30, 2026. Class members who want the $45 payment, expense reimbursement or identity theft protection need to file a claim.Free settlement alerts
Get notified when new class actions open to claims
Join thousands of readers who get the latest class action settlements you may qualify for — delivered straight to your inbox.
Status
Claims Open
Final fairness hearing December 3, 2026
Claim Deadline
November 30, 2026
Online or postmarked by that date
Estimated Payout
$45, or up to $4,000 documented
Pick one · plus 3 years of identity theft protection
Proof Required
Yes — Class Member ID and PIN
Printed on the postcard notice · required online and on paper · receipts only for losses
What Changed Recently?
Texas Retina Associates, a Dallas-based retina specialty practice with offices across Texas, agreed to settle Covey v. Texas Retina Associates, a consolidated class action in the 101st Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas. The settlement agreement is dated July 1, 2026, and the court-authorized notice program has opened the claim period.The case concerns a cyberattack on the practice’s network. According to the breach notice quoted in the complaint, Texas Retina detected unusual network activity on March 27, 2024, and its investigation found that an unauthorized actor had accessed its systems beginning October 8, 2023. The practice began mailing notices around June 28, 2024. The settlement notice lists the information involved as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, gender, Social Security numbers, medical record numbers, clinical and prescription information, medical and health information, and health insurance information. The consolidated complaint alleges that the BianLian ransomware group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Four related lawsuits filed in Dallas County were consolidated into the Covey case, and the consolidated complaint, filed September 27, 2024, asserted claims including negligence, breach of implied contract and invasion of privacy. The parties mediated in May 2025 without a deal, moved into formal discovery, and later reached this settlement. Texas Retina Associates denies the claims and any wrongdoing or liability.
Who Qualifies?
The settlement class is everyone whose private information was accessed or acquired by an unauthorized party in the data incident Texas Retina Associates reported in April 2024, including people the practice sent a notification on or around June 28, 2024. The settlement agreement puts the class at about 311,880 people.Excluded are Texas Retina Associates itself, the judge presiding over the case and the judge’s staff and family, and anyone who opts out. A parent or legal guardian can file a Minor Claim Form for a class member under 18.
How Much Can You Get?
Class members choose between two cash options, and anyone can add identity theft protection:- A $45 cash payment, with no documentation of losses.
- Up to $4,000 in reimbursement for documented, unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses incurred between March 27, 2024 and November 30, 2026 that more likely than not resulted from the data incident: unreimbursed bank fees, long-distance phone charges, cell phone charges billed by the minute, data charges billed by usage, postage, gasoline for local travel, and fees for credit reports, credit monitoring or identity theft insurance.
- Three years of identity theft protection, including credit monitoring with one credit bureau and $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance.
What Proof or Notice ID Is Required?
Filing requires the Class Member ID and PIN printed on the postcard notice. The settlement website and claim form say both are needed to access the online and the paper claim forms, so a class member without them should contact the claims administrator through the official settlement website before the deadline.The $45 payment and identity theft protection need no receipts, only a claim form certifying class membership. Expense reimbursement needs documentation not prepared by the claimant, such as receipts, bank statements or bills, that shows the cost and supports that it more likely than not came from the data incident. Handwritten or other self-prepared records can add detail but are not enough on their own. Every claim is signed under penalty of perjury, and the administrator can ask for more information or send a cure notice for an incomplete claim.
What Is the Deadline?
Claims must be submitted online by November 30, 2026, or mailed with a postmark no later than November 30, 2026. Requests to be excluded must be individually signed and postmarked by October 30, 2026. Objections must be received by the Dallas County district clerk by October 30, 2026, with copies postmarked to the claims administrator and the lawyers for both sides by the same date. The notice does not specify a time zone.How Do You Take Action?
File on the online claim portal using the Class Member ID and PIN from the notice, or download the paper claim form from the official Texas Retina settlement website and mail it with any supporting documents. The website also posts the long form notice, court documents and instructions for opting out or objecting.Class members who want payment by electronic means can select that on the claim form and provide an email address; otherwise payment is mailed by check. Class members who choose identity theft protection receive an activation code by email once settlement benefits are distributed, so the claim needs a working email address.
What Happens Next?
The court will hold the final fairness hearing at 10:30 a.m. on December 3, 2026, by Zoom, according to the notice. It will consider whether to approve the settlement and rule on the requests for attorneys’ fees, expenses and service awards. The hearing may be moved without further notice. Texas Retina may void the settlement if more than 100 class members validly opt out.If the settlement is approved, it becomes effective after any appeals are resolved. Approved claims are to be paid by check or electronic payment within 45 days after that Effective Date. Settlement checks expire 90 days after they are issued.
Sources and Verification
• Official settlement website, administered by RG/2 Claims Administration: TX Retina Data Settlement• Online claim portal: File a Texas Retina Claim
• Notice, claim form and court documents: Court Documents
• Settlement notice, claim form, consolidated complaint and settlement agreement (PDF): Texas Retina Settlement Documents
Questions
Can I claim both the $45 payment and my documented losses?
No. The $45 cash payment is offered in place of a documented-loss claim, so a class member chooses one or the other. The three years of identity theft protection can be added to either choice.
Does the settlement pay for time spent dealing with the breach?
No. Unlike many data breach settlements, this one has no separate payment for lost time. It covers documented out-of-pocket expenses up to $4,000, or a $45 cash payment instead, plus identity theft protection.
Will attorneys’ fees reduce my payment?
No. Texas Retina Associates pays attorneys’ fees and expenses of up to $1,000,000, service awards and the cost of notice and administration separately, and the agreement says those payments do not reduce the benefits available to the class. There is no shared fund that is divided among claimants.
I lost my postcard notice. Can I still file?
Both the online and the paper claim forms require the Class Member ID and PIN printed on the notice. A class member who believes they are included but does not have them should contact the claims administrator through the official settlement website before the November 30, 2026 deadline.
When will payments be sent?
Not before the settlement is final. Under the agreement, checks or electronic payments for approved claims go out within 45 days after the Effective Date, which follows final approval and the end of any appeals. The final fairness hearing is set for December 3, 2026, and no payment date had been announced as of September 30, 2026. Settlement checks expire 90 days after they are issued.
Official Settlement Notice
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Amount
$45 or up to $4,000 per claimant
No overall fund cap · plus 3 years of identity theft protection
Case Title
Covey v. Texas Retina Associates
Case Number
DC-24-09642
Court
101st Judicial District Court, Dallas County, Texas
Final Approval Hearing
December 3, 2026 at 10:30 AM
By Zoom, per the notice
Administrator
RG/2 Claims Administration
Official Website
TX Retina Data Settlement
