Claim DeadlineAugust 16, 2026opt-out / objection deadline July 20, 2026 · final approval hearing August 27, 2026
Settlement Fund$3.74 Million$3,743,600 total · pro rata cash payment from Net Settlement Fund
Proof RequiredYes (Notice from Settlement Administrator)no medical records needed · Duke Health's records establish class membership
What Is the Duke Health MyChart Privacy Settlement About?
Did you log into the Duke MyChart patient portal or the MyDuke Health mobile app
between February 2019 and June 2022? You may be eligible for a pro rata cash
payment from a $3.74 million class action settlement that alleges Duke University
Health System used the Meta Pixel and other tracking tools to disclose patient
information to a third-party vendor. The Duke Health claim deadline is August 16,
2026, and the final approval hearing is August 27, 2026.
The lawsuit, captioned Afrika Williams v. Duke University Health System,
Inc., Case No. 1:22-cv-00727, is pending in the U.S. District Court for the
Middle District of North Carolina before Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., with
Magistrate Judge Joi Elizabeth Peake. Named plaintiff Afrika Williams alleges that
Duke Health installed the Meta Pixel and other Internet tracking technologies on
its website and patient portal, and that those technologies caused personal or
health-related information to be transmitted to a third-party vendor when patients
used the Duke Health website.
Duke Health denies any wrongdoing and is settling the Duke Health class action
without admitting liability. The Court granted Preliminary Approval of the
Settlement on March 19, 2026, conditionally certifying the Settlement Class for
settlement purposes. The Settlement Administrator is Epiq. The official Settlement
Website is at
duhssettlement.com.
30-Second Self-Test: Do I Qualify for the Duke Health Settlement?
If you can answer yes to the question below, you are likely a Settlement Class
Member.
• Did you log into the Duke MyChart patient portal or the MyDuke Health
mobile app at least once between February 18, 2019 and June 17, 2022, while
residing in the United States? If yes, and if Duke Health's records
identify you as a portal or app user during that 28-month window, you are within
the Settlement Class.
The Settlement Administrator (Epiq) mailed or emailed notices to identified class
members starting after the Court's March 19, 2026 Preliminary Approval Order. If
you received an "Afrika Williams v. Duke University Health System" notice by mail
or email, you are on the class list. If you used Duke MyChart or MyDuke Health
during the class period but did not receive a notice, the official Settlement
Website provides a way to confirm your class membership and request a Claim Form.
What Is Duke University Health System? (A Common Question)
Duke University Health System, also known as Duke Health or DUHS, is a major
academic health care system based in Durham, North Carolina. It is the clinical
health care arm of Duke University and one of the largest hospital systems in the
Southeast.
The Duke Health network includes Duke University Hospital (the main academic
medical center in Durham), Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, plus a
broad network of specialty clinics and primary care practices across the Triangle
region of North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) and beyond. Patients
interact with Duke Health digitally through the Duke MyChart patient portal
(the web-based portal built on Epic's MyChart platform) and the MyDuke Health
mobile app. These are the platforms patients use to schedule appointments,
view test and lab results, message providers, request prescription refills, and
access medical records.
The Duke Health MyChart portal and app are at the center of this lawsuit because
those are the platforms where patients allegedly accessed personal and
health-related information that the lawsuit alleges was transmitted to a
third-party vendor via tracking technologies.
What Did Duke Health Allegedly Do With the Meta Pixel?
The Williams lawsuit and similar healthcare Meta Pixel cases follow a comparable
pattern, but the Duke Health case has heightened sensitivity because the alleged
disclosure involved the patient portal, where personal medical information lives.
What is the Meta Pixel? The Meta Pixel is a snippet of JavaScript code
that thousands of websites embed to track visitor behavior. When the Pixel fires,
it transmits data about what the visitor is doing (which pages they view, which
forms they fill out, sometimes individual button clicks) back to Meta (Facebook
and Instagram) for advertising, analytics, and audience-building purposes.
What did the lawsuit allege? The Williams lawsuit alleges that Duke Health
installed the Meta Pixel and other Internet tracking technologies on its website
and the MyChart patient portal between February 18, 2019 and June 17, 2022. When
patients used the Duke Health website (including logging into the patient portal
or app), the tracking technologies allegedly caused certain personal or
health-related information to be transmitted to a third-party vendor without
patient consent. The original Class Action Complaint included legal claims for
breach of contract, invasion of privacy, violation of the Electronic
Communications Privacy Act (federal wiretap act), negligent misrepresentation,
and negligence.
What about the original Meta defendant? The original complaint named both
Duke Health and Meta Platforms, Inc. as defendants. On December 28, 2022,
Magistrate Judge Joi Elizabeth Peake granted a Joint Motion to Transfer and Sever
the claims against Meta, transferring them to the U.S. District Court for the
Northern District of California for coordination with the broader
In re Meta Pixel Healthcare Litigation, Case No. 3:22-cv-03580-WHO. This
settlement resolves only the claims against Duke Health, not the separate claims
against Meta.
Duke Health denies all allegations and is settling without admitting wrongdoing or
liability. The Court has not ruled that Duke Health did anything wrong.
How Many People Are in the Duke Health Settlement?
The Settlement Notice does not publicly state a specific class size. The class
includes all U.S. residents whom Duke Health identified as having logged into the
Duke MyChart patient portal or the MyDuke Health mobile app at least once during
the 28-month class period from February 18, 2019 through June 17, 2022. Given
Duke Health's size as a major regional academic medical system serving the
Triangle region of North Carolina and surrounding areas, the class likely
includes hundreds of thousands of patients.
The Settlement Administrator's CAFA notice filings and notice administration
reports on the case docket would contain the exact class size figure used for
notice planning purposes. Class members who want to confirm the figure can review
the public court docket for Case No. 1:22-cv-00727 (M.D.N.C.) or check the
official Settlement Website for notice administration filings.
What Benefits Does the Duke Health Settlement Provide?
The Settlement establishes a $3,743,600 Settlement Fund. The Net Settlement Fund
(what gets distributed to class members) is what remains after court-approved
deductions:
• Notice and Settlement Administration Costs — the costs of
sending mail and email notices, the Settlement Administrator's services, and
related expenses
• CAFA Notice Costs — the costs of sending the Class Action
Fairness Act notices to state and federal officials
• Class Representative Service Award — $7,500 to Afrika Williams
• Attorneys' Fees and Expenses Award — up to 33% of the
Settlement Fund or $1,235,388, plus expenses up to $30,000
Whatever remains is the Net Settlement Fund, which is divided pro rata among class
members who submit valid Claim Forms. Per-claimant payment depends on how many
class members submit valid claims; the smaller the claim rate, the larger each
individual payment.
Do I Need Proof to File a Duke Health Claim?
No purchase receipts, medical records, or supporting documentation are required.
Class membership is established by Duke Health's own records. Here is how the
proof structure works.
• Notice receipt is your proof of eligibility. If you received a
notice of the Settlement from the Settlement Administrator (Epiq) by U.S. mail or
email, Duke Health's records show you logged into MyChart or MyDuke Health during
the class period. That is the only proof required.
• No medical records or test results are involved. The Claim Form
asks for basic identifying information so the Settlement Administrator can match
your claim to your record and process the payment. Do not send medical records,
test results, or sensitive health information with your claim; they are not
required and the Settlement Administrator does not need them.
• If you did not receive a notice but believe you used Duke MyChart or
MyDuke Health during the class period, the official Settlement Website provides
a way to verify your class membership and request a Claim Form. The Settlement
Administrator can look up your record using basic identifying information.
How to File a Duke Health Settlement Claim Online or by Mail in 2026
Two methods are available, both with the same August 16, 2026 deadline.
Method 1: Online (recommended for speed). Visit
duhssettlement.com and click "Submit a
Claim." Complete the Claim Form with your identifying information and select
your payment preference. Online submissions must be completed by August 16, 2026.
Method 2: U.S. Mail. Download the printable Claim Form from the Settlement
Website. Complete it with your identifying information and mail it to the
Settlement Administrator at the address printed on the form. Mailed claims must
be postmarked by August 16, 2026.
One claim per Settlement Class Member. Only one valid and timely Claim Form
per class member is allowed. Duplicate submissions will be rejected.
Key Duke Health Settlement Deadlines
• Court Preliminary Approval Order: March 19, 2026
• Opt-out deadline (exclusion): Monday, July 20, 2026
• Objection deadline: Monday, July 20, 2026
• Claim Form deadline: Sunday, August 16, 2026 (online or postmarked
by mail)
• Final Approval Hearing: Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern
Time, before Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., in Greensboro, North Carolina
(may be held remotely; instructions on the official Settlement Website)
• Class period covered: February 18, 2019 through June 17, 2022
The hearing may be postponed without further notice, so class members planning to
attend should check the official Settlement Website for the current hearing
arrangements.
When Will I Get My Duke Health Settlement Payment?
Payment timing depends on the Court's final approval and any appeals.
• Final Approval Hearing: August 27, 2026. The Court considers
whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate.
• Settlement becomes final: after the Court enters final approval and
any appeal period passes with no appeals filed (typically 30 days after the
Final Approval Order).
• Payment distribution: typically begins several weeks to several
months after the settlement becomes final.
• Best case (no appeals): first payments could reach class members in
late 2026 or early 2027.
• If appeals are filed: distribution can be delayed by 12 to 36 months.
Pro rata distribution means the exact per-claimant amount depends on how many
class members submit valid claims. Class members who selected electronic payment
options typically receive payment faster than those who selected a paper check.
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
If you do nothing, you will not receive any settlement benefits, and you will be
bound by the settlement release. The release means you cannot sue, continue to
sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against Duke Health relating to the alleged
Pixel Disclosure or Duke Health's use of Tracking Tools during the class period.
For eligible class members, doing nothing leaves a cash payment unclaimed. The
Claim Form takes only a few minutes online with your identifying information. The
trade-off for receiving the settlement payment is releasing your individual
claims against Duke Health for the tracking-technology allegations in this case.
How to Opt Out or Object to the Settlement
Class members who do not want to be bound by the settlement have two alternatives,
both with the same July 20, 2026 deadline.
Opting out (excluding yourself). Opt-out means receiving no settlement
benefits but preserving your right to file your own lawsuit against Duke Health
over the alleged Pixel Disclosure. Opt-out requests must be in writing,
postmarked by July 20, 2026, and mailed to the Settlement Administrator at the
address printed on the Settlement Notice. Your written request must include the
case name and number, your full name, address, telephone number, your original
personal signature, and a clear statement that you want to be excluded. Only
individual exclusion requests are accepted; one person cannot opt out for another.
Objecting. Objection means staying in the class (and remaining eligible
for the settlement payment) but asking the Court to reject or modify the
settlement. Written objections must be filed with the Court and a copy mailed to
Class Counsel and Defendant's Counsel at the addresses on the Settlement Notice,
all postmarked by July 20, 2026. Objections must include the case name and
number, your name and contact information, the basis for your class membership,
the specific grounds for your objection with any supporting evidence or legal
argument, identification of any attorneys helping you, a statement of whether
you intend to appear at the Final Approval Hearing, and your original personal
signature.
Watch Out for Settlement Scams
Settlement scams targeting class action class members tend to increase around
high-profile cases. The Duke Health case has additional scam exposure because the
class involves patients, and patient identifiers are valuable to bad actors. A few
common-sense guidelines:
• Use the official Settlement Website only:duhssettlement.com. Bookmark it. Be
cautious of any email or text linking to a "Duke Health Settlement" or "MyChart
Settlement" page from a different domain.
• Never pay a fee to receive your payment. Legitimate class action
settlements never require an activation fee, release fee, or tax payment to
release benefits.
• Never share medical records or your MyChart login. The Settlement
Administrator does not need your MyChart username, password, medical record
number, or any test results. The Claim Form asks for basic identifying
information only.
• Be skeptical of phone calls. The Settlement Administrator does not
need to call you to process your claim. Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls
claiming to be from the Duke Health Settlement, especially calls requesting
sensitive personal or medical information.
Other Active Healthcare Privacy & Meta Pixel Settlements
The Duke Health settlement is part of a broader wave of class action lawsuits and
settlements targeting healthcare providers and hospital systems that used the
Meta Pixel or similar tracking technologies on websites and patient portals. The
broader In re Meta Pixel Healthcare Litigation, Case No. 3:22-cv-03580-WHO,
pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California,
consolidates many of the related claims against Meta itself. Individual hospital
and health system defendants like Duke Health are typically litigated separately
and have produced multi-million-dollar settlements over the past several years.
Class membership in one healthcare privacy case does not affect eligibility for
any other unrelated settlement. Many patients qualify for multiple healthcare
privacy and consumer privacy settlements simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Duke Health Settlement
Who qualifies for the Duke Health MyChart privacy settlement?
U.S. residents whom Duke Health identified as having logged into the Duke MyChart
patient portal or the MyDuke Health mobile app at least once between February 18,
2019 and June 17, 2022 qualify as Settlement Class Members.
How much will I get from the Duke Health settlement?
Class members who submit valid Claim Forms receive a pro rata share of the Net
Settlement Fund (the $3,743,600 Settlement Fund minus court-approved attorneys'
fees, expenses, the $7,500 service award, and administrative costs). Per-claimant
payment depends on how many class members file valid claims.
What is Duke University Health System?
Duke Health is a major academic health care system based in Durham, North
Carolina, including Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke
Raleigh Hospital, and a network of specialty and primary care clinics across the
Triangle region.
What did Duke Health allegedly do?
The lawsuit alleges Duke Health installed the Meta Pixel and other tracking
technologies on its website and the MyChart patient portal between February 2019
and June 2022, and that those technologies caused personal or health-related
information to be transmitted to a third-party vendor without patient consent.
Duke Health denies the allegations and is settling without admitting liability.
Do I need proof to file a Duke Health claim?
No. No purchase receipts, medical records, or supporting documents are required.
If you received a notice of the Settlement from the Settlement Administrator
(Epiq), you have been identified as a class member based on Duke Health's own
records.
What is the claim deadline?
All Claim Forms must be submitted online or postmarked by mail no later than
August 16, 2026.
How many people are in the Duke Health settlement?
The Notice does not publicly state a specific class size. The class includes all
U.S. residents whom Duke Health identified as MyChart or MyDuke Health users
during the 28-month class period; given Duke Health's size, the class likely
includes hundreds of thousands of patients.
When will I get my payment?
If the Court grants final approval at the August 27, 2026 hearing and no appeals
are filed, payments typically begin several weeks to several months later.
Electronic payments arrive faster than paper checks. Appeals can delay
distribution by 12 to 36 months.
Official Settlement Notice
Sources
• Official Settlement Website: DUHSSettlement.com
• Afrika Williams v. Duke University Health System, Inc., Case No.
1:22-cv-00727, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina,
Hon. William L. Osteen, Jr. presiding; Magistrate Judge Joi Elizabeth Peake
• Long-Form Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement
• Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement (March 19,
2026)
• Settlement Agreement and Release (dated May 2, 2025)
• Class Counsel: CR Legal Team, LLC (Peter H. Burke, James R. Harrell) and
Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. (Karen Hanson Riebel, Kate M. Baxter-Kauf,
Maureen Kane Berg)
• Defendant's Counsel: Baker & Hostetler LLP (Elizabeth A. Scully)
• Settlement Administrator: Epiq
• Related case: In re Meta Pixel Healthcare Litigation, Case No.
3:22-cv-03580-WHO, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
(consolidated Meta defendant claims)
Filing Class Action Settlement Claims
Please submit only truthful information through the Settlement Website. False or
fraudulent submissions can be rejected and may lead to penalties. The official
Settlement Website (duhssettlement.com) is the authoritative source for benefit
amounts, deadlines, and payment instructions. If you are not sure whether you
qualify, contact the Settlement Administrator (Epiq) through the Settlement
Website. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer news site and is not the Settlement
Administrator or a law firm, and we do not process or decide claims.
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Amount
$3,743,600
Case Title
Afrika Williams v. Duke University Health System, Inc.
Case Number
1:22-cv-00727
Court
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
Final Approval Hearing
August 27, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. ET Before Hon. William L. Osteen, Jr., Greensboro, NC (may be remote)