KANSAS CITY (AP) - Lawyers have asked a Jackson County judge to approve about a $400,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed after personal medical records that were put in the trash were blown across a neighborhood in May.
The settlement was between Midwest Women's Healthcare Specialists and 1,532 of its clients, the Kansas City Star reported.
Mitchell L. Burgess, the attorney representing the clients, said lawyers don't have any evidence that anyone used the information for illegal or improper purposes.
"We felt this was a very good result," Burgess said of the settlement in the lawsuit, which was filed in June. "It didn't drag on for years and we were able to get this resolved fairly promptly."
Nikki Slater of the medical group said: "As we said previously, we have taken steps to enhance the security of patient information."
Under the proposed settlement, clients who file claims would receive two years of credit monitoring and a pledge by Midwest to provide more training ts staff on disposing medical and billing records.
About 1,430 clients whose documents never left the dumpster will split about $141,000 when their claims are approved, Burgess said. About 102 clients whose records weren't recovered will split about $114,000 once their claims are OK'd.
Brittany Shorts, the lead plaintiff in the suit, would receive $2,500 if the judge approves the settlement. Attorneys representing the clients would get about $140,000, according to court paperwork.