Two more healthcare providers have settled lawsuits over their use of website tracking technologies: Duke University Health System and Derick Dermatology. Duke University Health System Pixel Settlement A lawsuit filed against North Carolina’s Duke University Health System over the use of tracking tools on its website has been settled. Like many healthcare providers, Duke University Health System had added tracking tools such as pixels to its website.
These tools collect information about website users, which can be used to improve web services. These tools can also transmit the collected information to third parties, and when placed on healthcare websites, that information may include health information, depending on a user’s interactions on the website. A lawsuit was filed against Meta Platforms, Duke University Health System, WakeMed, and a defendant class of Facebook partner medical providers by plaintiffs Kim Naugle and Afrika Williams over the use of these tools.
The claims against Meta Platforms were transferred to a separate class action lawsuit in California – In re Meta Pixel Healthcare Litigation – and the claims against WakeMed were consolidated into an existing state court case against the company. After voluntarily dismissing the lawsuit, plaintiff Afrika Williams filed a new lawsuit against Duke University Health System – Afrika Williams v.
Duke University Health System, Inc. – in the U. S.
District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The lawsuit alleged that tracking tools had been added to its website by Duke University Health System without users’ knowledge or consent and resulted in personally identifiable information being transmitted to third parties, such as Meta. The lawsuit survived a motion to dismiss, and the claims against a defendant class of medical providers were dropped, along with several claims against Duke University Health System.
The lawsuit proceeded against Duke University Health System for breach of contract and negligence. Duke University Health System denies any wrongdoing, fault, and liability; however, following mediation, Duke University Health System agreed to a settlement. Duke University Health System will establish a $3,743,600 settlement fund to cover attorneys’ fees ($1,235,388) and expenses (up to $30,000), notification and settlement costs, and a $7,500 service award for the class representative.
The remainder of the settlement fund will be used to pay pro rata cash payments to class members who submit a claim. The deadline for objection and exclusion is July 20, 2026. The deadline for submitting a claim is August 16, 2026, and the final fairness hearing has been scheduled for August 27, 2026.
Derick Dermatology Pixel Settlement Derick Dermatology, a dermatology practice with locations in Chicago, IL, and Tampa Bay, FL, has agreed to settle class action litigation over its use of pixels, cookies, code, and/or tracking or analytics, which are alleged to have disclosed website users’ personal information to third parties without their knowledge or consent.
The lawsuit – Jeffries v. Derick Dermatology PLLC – was filed in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County, Florida, and alleged that the use of these tools violated the Federal Wiretap Act, and that the actions of the defendant constituted a breach of fiduciary duty/confidentiality, invasion of privacy, breach of implied contract, unjust enrichment, and negligence.
The defendant denied and continues to deny any wrongdoing, and that they committed, or threatened or attempted to commit, any wrongful act or violation of law or duty alleged in the action. After considering the likely costs, distraction, disruption to business operations, and risks associated with any litigation, the defendant agreed to settle the lawsuit. Derik Dermatology has agreed to pay up to $1,000,000 to settle the lawsuit.
From that amount, attorneys’ fees and expenses, settlement administration and notification costs, and a service award for the class representative will be deducted. Class members are entitled to claim a one-year subscription to a privacy shield product, and may submit a claim for a one-time cash payment, which is expected to be up to $12. 50 per class member.
The deadline for objection and exclusion is June 22, 2026. The deadline for submitting a claim is July 21, 2026, and the final fairness hearing has been scheduled for August 17, 2026. The post Duke University Health System; Derick Dermatology Settle Class Action Pixel Lawsuits appeared first on The HIPAA Journal .
Originally published at hipaajournal.com
