Williams v. Duke University Health System

The Court authorized the Long-Form Notice of the proposed Settlement (the “Settlement”) of a class action lawsuit (the “Litigation”), Afrika Williams v. Duke University Health System, Inc., Case No. 1:22-cv-00727, pending in the U.S. District for the Middle District of North Carolina (the “Court”). The Settlement resolved claims alleging that because Duke Health used certain Internet tracking technology supplied by a third party on its website, including a piece of code known as a “pixel” (referred to herein as “Tracking Tools”), certain personal or health-related information may have been disclosed to a vendor when patients used the Duke Health website. Duke Health denies all claims asserted against it in the Litigation, denies all allegations of wrongdoing and liability, and denies all material allegations of the Class Action Complaint. The Court granted Preliminary Approval of the Settlement Agreement and conditionally certified the Settlement Class for purposes of Settlement only. On August 27, 2026, the Court granted final approval of the Settlement and entered final judgment. The Long-Form Notice explains the nature of the Litigation, the terms of the Settlement Agreement, and the legal rights and obligations of members of the Settlement Class. Please read the instructions and explanations carefully so that you can better understand your legal rights. The Settlement Administrator in this case is Epiq.

The Court authorized the Notice because as an identified potential Class Member you had the right to know about the Settlement of this class action lawsuit and about all of your rights and options before the Court decided whether to grant Final Approval of the Settlement. On August 27, 2026, the Court granted final approval of the Settlement and entered final judgment.

The Litigation arose out of Duke Health’s use of Tracking Tools on its website, which Plaintiff alleged caused their web usage data containing patient’s personal or health-related information to potentially be shared with a third party vendor, thereby allegedly resulting in the invasion of Plaintiffs’ and Settlement Class Members’ privacy (referred to herein as the “Pixel Disclosure”). Plaintiff alleged that the “Pixel Disclosure” occurred between February 18, 2019, and June 17, 2022. Duke Health denies all claims asserted against it in the Litigation, denies all allegations of wrongdoing and liability, and denies all material allegations of the Class Action Complaint.

A class action is a lawsuit in which an individual called a “Class Representative” (“Afrika Williams”) brings a single lawsuit on behalf of other people who have similar claims. In a class action settlement, all of these people together are a “Settlement Class” or “Settlement Class Members.” When a class action is settled, the Settlement, which must be approved by the Court, resolves the claims for all Settlement Class Members, except for those who exclude themselves from the Settlement.

To resolve this matter without the expense, delay, and uncertainties of protracted litigation, the Parties reached a Settlement that, if approved by the Court, would resolve all claims brought on behalf of the Settlement Class related to the alleged Pixel Disclosure. The Court approved the Settlement Agreement and required Duke Health to make a payment into a Settlement Fund that will be used to provide cash compensation to Settlement Class Members who submit valid and timely Claim Forms. The Settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing by Duke Health and does not imply that there has been, or would be, any finding that Duke Health violated the law. The Court overseeing the Litigation has not determined that Duke Health did anything wrong.

The Court previously granted preliminary approval of the Settlement Agreement and the Court conditionally certified the Settlement Class for settlement purposes only, so that members of the Settlement Class could be given notice and the opportunity to exclude themselves from the Settlement Class or to voice their support or opposition to final approval of the Settlement Agreement. The Court granted final approval of the Settlement Agreement on August 27, 2026.

You are a member of the Settlement Class if you reside in the United States and you are among the individuals who Duke Health identified as having logged into the Duke MyChart patient portal or MyDuke Health mobile app at least once between February 18, 2019, and June 17, 2022 (“Settlement Class”).

Excluded from the Class are (i) Duke Health, and Duke Health’s affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, officers, and directors; (ii) any judge, justice, or judicial officer presiding over the Litigation and the members of their immediate families and clerks of said judge(s); and (iii) any individual who timely and validly excludes themselves from the Settlement. This exclusion does not apply, and should not be read to apply, to those employees of Defendant who receive notification from the Settlement Administrator regarding this Settlement Agreement.

If you received a notice of the Settlement from the Settlement Administrator via mail or email, then you have been identified as a Settlement Class member based on Defendant’s records.

Settlement Class Members who submitted a valid and timely Claim Form may receive a pro rata cash payment from the Net Settlement Fund. The Net Settlement Fund is what remains of the $3,743,600 Settlement Fund following the payment of Notice and Settlement Administration Costs, CAFA Notice Costs, Class Representative Service Award of ($7,500 for one Class Representative), and Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses Award (fees up to 33% of the Settlement Fund or $1,235,388, plus expenses up to $30,000.00), subject to the Court’s approval.

The deadline to submit a Claim Form was August 16, 2026. Claim Forms are no longer being accepted.

If you timely submit a valid Claim Form for a cash payment, you will receive payment in the amount approved by the Settlement Administrator once the Settlement is Final and has become effective.

The deadline to submit a Claim Form was August 16, 2026. Claim Forms are no longer being accepted.

By staying in the Settlement Class, you will give Duke Health a “release,” and all the Court’s orders will apply to you and bind you. A release means you cannot sue or be part of any other lawsuit or other legal action against Duke Health about or arising from the claims or issues in this Litigation, Duke Health’s use of Tracking Tools, or the alleged Pixel Disclosure.

The precise terms of the release are in the Settlement Agreement, which is available on the Important Documents page. Unless you formally exclude yourself from this Settlement, you will release your claims. If you have any questions, you can talk for free to Class Counsel identified below who have been appointed by the Court to represent the Settlement Class, or you are welcome to talk to any other lawyer of your choosing at your own expense.

The deadline to submit a Claim Form was August 16, 2026. Claim Forms are no longer being accepted.

The deadline to opt out of the settlement was July 20, 2026. Opt outs are no longer being accepted.

No, if you submitted an exclusion request prior to the July 20, 2026 deadline, you will not receive anything from the Settlement, but you may sue Duke Health over the claims raised in the Litigation.

The Court has appointed the following attorneys to represent the Settlement Class as Class Counsel:

If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

Class Counsel will be paid from the Settlement Fund. Class Counsel will seek Court approval to be paid reasonable attorneys’ fees up to 33% of the Settlement Fund or $1,235,388, plus their expenses incurred in the Litigation up to $30,000. The motion for attorneys’ fees and expenses is posted on the Important Documents page.

The deadline to submit an objection was July 20, 2026. Objections are no longer being accepted.

The Court previously granted Preliminary Approval of the Settlement Agreement. Following the Final Approval Hearing on August 27, 2026, the Court granted final approval of the Settlement and entered Final Judgment.

The Court held a hearing on August 27, 2026, at 9:30 am ET in the courtroom of the Honorable William L Osteen, Jr., which is located at 324 W. Market St., Greensboro, North Carolina 27401. At the hearing, the Court considered whether the Settlement was fair, reasonable, and adequate, as well as the requests concerning attorneys’ fees, expenses, and the Class Representative Service Award. The Court granted final approval of the Settlement and entered Final Judgment.

The Granted Final Approval Order and Judgment is available on the Important Documents page.

Attendance at the hearing was not required to receive benefits from the Settlement.

The website provides a summary of the Settlement. Complete details about the Settlement can be found in the Settlement Agreement available on the Important Documents page.

If you have any questions, you can contact the Settlement Administrator or Class Counsel at the phone numbers listed above. In addition to the documents available on the Important Documents page, all pleadings and documents filed in this Litigation may be reviewed or copied at the Clerk of Court’s office.

Do Not Call or Send Any Questions About the Settlement or The Litigation to The Clerk of the Court, The Judge, Or Duke Health or Its Counsel. All Questions about the Settlement Should Be Referred to the Settlement Administrator or Class Counsel.

Claims review is still in progress. If more information is needed, the Settlement Administrator may contact you.

The settlement payment amount is not known yet. It will be determined after all claims have been reviewed and finalized.

Yes. If your address, email, or other contact information has changed, contact the Settlement Administrator at info@DUHSSettlement.com and provide your previous and new updated information.

Settlement updates will be posted on this Website.