Great Expressions Dental Lawsuit 2026: The $2.7M Data Breach Settlement and Active Cases
Quick Answer
- Great Expressions settled a class action over its February 2023 data breach for $2.7 million, covering approximately 1.9 million affected individuals.
- The settlement had two subclasses: SSN subclass members could claim up to $500 cash plus documented losses, while non-SSN members could claim up to $40 for lost time.
- The claim deadline was November 8, 2024, and the settlement is now closed to new claims.
Great Expressions Dental Centers, a Michigan-based chain with 246 practices across nine states, agreed to pay $2.7 million to resolve claims stemming from a February 2023 cyberattack that compromised the personal and health information of approximately 1,925,397 individuals .
The settlement resolved a consolidated class action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The lawsuit alleged that Great Expressions failed to implement reasonable cybersecurity measures to protect patient data, allowing hackers to access its network and steal files containing names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information, and medical histories .
This article breaks down what the settlement covered, how much class members could claim, and what other legal disputes involve Great Expressions in 2026. One important detail: the settlement is closed, so anyone who missed the November 2024 claim deadline cannot file a new claim.
The Facts
| Case | In re Great Expressions Data Security Incident Litigation |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan |
| Case Number | 2:23-cv-11185-JJCG-CI |
| Status | Settled, final approval granted December 12, 2024 |
| Fund Size | $2,700,000 |
| Est. Per Person | Up to $500 cash for SSN subclass; up to $40 for non-SSN subclass |
| Claim Deadline | November 8, 2024 (passed) |
| Administrator | Kroll Settlement Administration LLC |
| Proof Needed | Claim form, documentation for losses |
Is the Great Expressions Dental Lawsuit Legit or a Scam?
The Great Expressions Dental lawsuit is legitimate and resolved. The data breach settlement was approved by a federal judge in the Eastern District of Michigan, and the official settlement website confirms the case details and deadlines .
The scam risk now comes from sites claiming you can still file a claim or get a new payment. The claim deadline was November 8, 2024, and the opt-out deadline was October 11, 2024 . Those dates have passed. Anyone claiming you can still join this settlement is misleading you.
Legitimate settlement administrators do not contact people after a deadline to demand upfront fees. Kroll Settlement Administration LLC handled this settlement, and any official notice came from that firm or the court .
Key Takeaway: The Great Expressions data breach settlement is real and closed. The claim deadline passed in November 2024. No new claims can be filed.
How Much Could You Get From the Great Expressions Settlement?
The Great Expressions settlement created two subclasses with different benefit levels. The amount you could receive depended on whether your Social Security number was exposed in the breach .
Here is the verified breakdown:
| Benefit Type | SSN Subclass | Non-SSN Subclass |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Payment | Up to $500 | None |
| Ordinary Out-of-Pocket Losses | Up to $500 | None |
| Ordinary Attested Time | Up to $40 (2 hrs at $20/hr) | Up to $40 (2 hrs at $20/hr) |
| Extraordinary Losses | Up to $5,000 | None |
The cash payment for SSN subclass members was subject to an aggregate cap of $300,000. If total cash claims exceeded that cap, payments would be reduced pro rata . The extraordinary losses category covered unreimbursed costs fairly traceable to the breach, supported by documentation .
The settlement also required Great Expressions to improve its data security practices, though the specific terms of those improvements are not detailed in the public notice .
Key Takeaway: SSN subclass members could claim up to $500 cash plus documented losses up to $5,000. Non-SSN members could claim up to $40 for lost time. The settlement is now closed.
Who Qualified for the Great Expressions Data Breach Settlement?
Class members were all individual U.S. residents who received notice from Great Expressions that their personal information was potentially impacted in the February 2023 data breach . The breach affected approximately 1.9 million patients and employees .
The class was divided into two subclasses based on whether Social Security numbers were compromised. SSN subclass members received higher benefits. Non-SSN subclass members received lower benefits, primarily compensation for time spent responding to the breach .
Excluded from the settlement were the judge, court staff, plaintiffs’ counsel, and defendants’ counsel .
If you received a notification letter from Great Expressions in early May 2023, you were likely a class member. The notification letters were mailed to affected individuals beginning in May 2023 .
Key Takeaway: If you received a breach notification letter from Great Expressions, you were likely a class member. The settlement is now closed.
What Was the Great Expressions Data Breach About?
The Great Expressions data breach occurred in February 2023 when hackers accessed the company’s internal network and stole files containing patient and employee data . The attackers had access to the systems for six days, between February 17 and February 22, 2023 .
The compromised data included names, birth dates, contact information, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information, credit and debit card numbers, billing records, health insurance information, prescription information, diagnoses, treatment information, x-ray images, and medical and dental histories .
Great Expressions reported the breach to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on May 12, 2023, as affecting 1.92 million individuals . The company notified affected individuals beginning in May 2023.
The lawsuit alleged that Great Expressions stored patient data in an unencrypted, internet-accessible network environment, and that the company failed to implement reasonable safeguards .
Key Takeaway: The breach exposed highly sensitive data including Social Security numbers, medical records, and financial information for nearly 2 million people.
Reality Check: The Great Expressions settlement is closed. You cannot file a new claim or receive a payment if you missed the November 8, 2024 deadline. Any website or service claiming you can still get money from this settlement is misleading you. If you were affected by the breach, monitor your credit and watch for identity theft, since stolen data can be used years later.
What Other Lawsuits Involve Great Expressions in 2026?
Great Expressions faces several other lawsuits beyond the data breach settlement. These include employment claims, malpractice cases, and other civil disputes.
A search of federal court records shows multiple active and closed cases involving Great Expressions Dental Centers . These include:
| Case | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Singleton v. Great Expressions Dental Centers | Labor/FMLA | Dismissed (stipulated) 2025 |
| Barberi v. Dental Health Group | ADA | Jury trial set for Nov 30, 2026 |
| Vazquez v. ADG, LLC | Wiretapping | Filed 2025 |
| Patterson v. Great Expressions | Personal Injury | Filed 2023 |
| Chen v. Great Expressions | Medical Malpractice | Filed 2022 |
The Barberi case involves a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The court set a jury trial for November 30, 2026, with a calendar call on November 18 .
The Singleton case was a Family and Medical Leave Act claim that was dismissed by stipulated order in 2025 .
The Vazquez case involves a wiretapping claim under 18 U.S.C. ยง 2511 .
Key Takeaway: Multiple lawsuits involving Great Expressions remain active, including an ADA case with a jury trial set for late 2026.
What Happens Next
November 18, 2026: Calendar call in the Barberi ADA case before Judge Raag Singhal.
November 30, 2026: Jury trial scheduled in the Barberi ADA case.
Ongoing: Other cases involving Great Expressions continue through federal courts.
Closed: The data breach settlement is fully resolved. Payments have been distributed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Great Expressions Dental lawsuit about?
The primary lawsuit was a class action over a February 2023 data breach that compromised the personal and health information of approximately 1.9 million individuals. Great Expressions settled for $2.7 million .
How much was the Great Expressions settlement?
The settlement fund was $2.7 million. SSN subclass members could claim up to $500 cash plus documented losses. Non-SSN subclass members could claim up to $40 for lost time .
Can I still file a claim for the Great Expressions settlement?
No. The claim deadline was November 8, 2024. The settlement is closed, and no new claims can be filed .
Who qualified for the Great Expressions data breach settlement?
All U.S. residents who received notice from Great Expressions that their information was potentially impacted in the February 2023 breach were class members .
Who was the settlement administrator?
Kroll Settlement Administration LLC handled the settlement. The mailing address was PO Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324 .
What data was exposed in the Great Expressions breach?
Names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information, credit card numbers, billing records, health insurance information, diagnoses, treatment information, and medical histories .
Are there other lawsuits against Great Expressions?
Yes. Multiple cases are active or closed, including an ADA case (Barberi) with a jury trial set for November 30, 2026, and a wiretapping case (Vazquez) .
What should I do if I was affected by the breach?
Monitor your credit reports for signs of identity theft and consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze. The settlement deadline has passed, but the risk of identity theft remains.
