Southern Illinois Healthcare Enterprises, Southern Illinois Hospital Services, and Southern Illinois Medical Services have agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that website tracking technologies disclosed personally identifiable information (PII) to third parties without user knowledge or permission.
Litigation Background and Parties
The lawsuit, Doe v. Southern Illinois Healthcare Enterprises, Inc., was filed in Williamson County Circuit Court in Illinois. The plaintiff, identified as John Doe, brought the case individually and on behalf of similarly situated individuals against HIPAA-covered entities Southern Illinois Healthcare Enterprises, Southern Illinois Hospital Services, and Southern Illinois Medical Services.
The allegations centered on the use of third-party website tracking tools that allegedly transmitted PII from website visitors to Meta (Facebook). The complaint asserted that this transmission occurred without the knowledge or permission of individuals accessing the defendants’ websites.
The defendants removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. A motion to dismiss was filed by the defendants and was partially granted. Following that decision, an amended complaint was submitted.
Claims Raised in the Amended Complaint
The amended complaint expanded the legal theories asserted against the defendants. The claims included negligence, negligence per se, breach of express contract, invasion of privacy, breach of implied contract, breach of bailment, unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, trespass to chattel, violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the Illinois Eavesdropping Statute.
The defendants again sought dismissal of the amended complaint. The court denied the motion, allowing the litigation to proceed further.
Settlement Resolution
The defendants denied and continue to deny any wrongdoing or liability. Despite this position, the parties agreed to a settlement to avoid the costs associated with extended litigation and the risks associated with trial proceedings.
The settlement resolves the claims brought in the class action lawsuit involving alleged disclosure of website visitor information through tracking technologies.
Class Member Relief and Benefits
Under the settlement terms, eligible class members may submit a claim for a one-year membership to CyEx Privacy Shield Pro service. Class members are also eligible for a one-time cash payment of $17.50. These forms of relief apply to individuals included in the defined class of website visitors referenced in the litigation.
Deadlines and Court Schedule
The objection, exclusion, and claims deadline has been set for June 15, 2026. Class members must act by this date to participate in, exclude themselves from, or object to the settlement terms.
A final fairness hearing is scheduled for August 24, 2026. The court will review the settlement terms and determine whether final approval is appropriate.
Procedural Status of the Case
The litigation involved multiple stages of judicial review, including removal from state court to federal court, partial success on an initial motion to dismiss, amendment of claims, and denial of a subsequent motion to dismiss. These procedural steps preceded the settlement agreement between the parties.
The settlement concludes the current litigation phase while maintaining the defendants’ denial of liability.
Image credit: milkyway, AdobeStock / logo©SouthernIllinoisHealthcare
