People whose private information was potentially compromised in a December 2024 cyberattack involving Fort Wayne Medical Education Program may qualify for benefits from a proposed class action settlement. The court-authorized settlement website says claims must be submitted online or postmarked by October 27, 2026.
Fort Wayne Medical Education Program, commonly shortened to FWMEP, is an Indiana medical education and research foundation. Its official website describes a family medicine residency, medical student training, continuing medical education, research, and clinical training relationships in the Fort Wayne area. The settlement concerns private information in files accessed during a targeted cyberattack on FWMEP’s computer systems—not the quality of medical education or patient care.
The case is In re Fort Wayne Medical Education Program Data Incident Litigation, Case No. 02D02-2510-CE-000038, in the Superior Court for Allen County, Indiana. FWMEP denies wrongdoing, and the court has not decided whether the plaintiffs or FWMEP are right. The court still must decide whether to grant final approval.
Key facts
- Who may be covered: People on the settlement class list whose private information was potentially compromised in the December 2024 incident.
- Claim deadline: October 27, 2026.
- Available benefits: Credit or medical monitoring, documented-loss reimbursement, lost-time compensation, or a $40 alternative cash payment, depending on the claim.
- Case status: Proposed settlement awaiting a final approval hearing on December 7, 2026.
- Important limitation: Receiving notice or submitting a claim does not guarantee payment or establish that FWMEP did anything wrong.
Who may qualify for the FWMEP settlement
The court-authorized FAQ defines the class as all people whose private information was potentially compromised as a result of the incident and who are included on the settlement class list. FWMEP’s records determine who is on that list. Class members may have received an earlier incident notice from FWMEP and a settlement notice from the administrator.
“Private information” is a general term for information linked to a person. The settlement notice says files accessed during the cyberattack may have contained personally identifiable information, or PII, and protected health information, or PHI. PII can include information used to identify a person. PHI generally refers to individually identifiable health information protected in certain healthcare settings. The public settlement materials do not say that every class member had the same data elements involved.
The Maine Attorney General’s breach-notice record identifies FWMEP as a healthcare organization and describes the incident as an external system breach, or hacking. It says written consumer notification occurred on October 2, 2025. The regulator record also says FWMEP offered 12 months of single-bureau credit monitoring, fraud consultation, and identity-theft restoration through Haystack to people whose Social Security numbers were included in the affected data set. Those earlier incident-response services are separate from the benefits available under the proposed class settlement.
Excluded from the settlement class are the judge and certain court personnel and family members; FWMEP and related entities and representatives; and anyone found guilty of causing, aiding, or abetting the criminal activity behind the incident, as described in the official notice.
Coverage depends on FWMEP’s records The class is notice-based and tied to the settlement class list. A person should use the official administrator’s materials to confirm whether they are included; Class Action Pulse cannot determine individual eligibility.
What benefits are available
The settlement offers monitoring services and cash-payment options. The exact combination depends on which benefit a class member chooses and, for monitoring, whether the person’s Social Security number may have been compromised.
Credit or medical monitoring
The official FAQ divides class members into two monitoring groups.
- Group 1: People whose Social Security numbers may have been compromised may claim two years of CyEx Financial Shield Complete. The official materials say the service includes $1 million in financial-fraud insurance, monitoring for fraud or identity theft and certain high-risk transactions, and access to a fraud-resolution agent.
- Group 2: People whose Social Security numbers were not identified as potentially compromised may claim two years of CyEx Medical Shield Complete. The official materials say the service includes $1 million in medical identity-theft insurance, monitoring involving healthcare insurance identifiers, medical record numbers, and unauthorized health savings account spending, plus access to a fraud-resolution agent.
FWMEP provided the group information to the settlement administrator. Class members who are unsure which group applies can contact the administrator through the official settlement website.
Ordinary out-of-pocket losses
Class members may seek reimbursement of up to $500 for actual, documented out-of-pocket expenses attributed to the incident. The official FAQ gives examples such as fees for credit reports or monitoring, costs to freeze or unfreeze credit, replacement identification costs, and postage used to contact financial institutions.
The expense must have occurred between December 12, 2024, and October 27, 2026. Supporting documentation is required. Personal notes may help explain other proof, but the notice says notes alone are not sufficient. Expenses already reimbursed by another source cannot be claimed again.
Extraordinary losses involving identity theft or fraud
Class members who lost money through identity theft or fraud may seek reimbursement of up to $5,000. The official materials require the claimant to show that the loss was probably caused by the incident, was not already covered as an ordinary expense, and was not reimbursed. Claimants must also show that they tried to prevent or recover the loss, such as by using available insurance.
The same December 12, 2024, through October 27, 2026, loss period applies, and documentation is required.
Lost time
A class member who spent time responding to the incident may claim up to four hours at $20 per hour, for a maximum of $80. The claimant must briefly explain what work was performed, such as changing passwords, reviewing suspicious account activity, or researching the incident.
The lost-time payment counts toward the $500 ordinary out-of-pocket-loss cap. It is not an additional $80 on top of a fully paid $500 ordinary-loss claim.
$40 alternative cash payment
Instead of the other payments and benefits, a class member may claim a one-time $40 alternative cash payment. The official FAQ says no proof or explanation is required for this option.
The word “alternative” matters. The $40 option is offered instead of the other settlement payments and services described in the official materials, not as an automatic add-on to every claim.
Benefit choices are not all cumulative The $40 payment is an alternative to the other benefits. Documented-loss claims require proof, and lost-time compensation counts toward the ordinary-loss cap. Review the official claim form before selecting an option.
How to file a claim
The court-authorized website provides an online claim form and a printable form. A valid claim must be submitted online by October 27, 2026, or mailed with a postmark no later than October 27, 2026. The settlement administrator’s official mailing address appears on the claim form and notice.
Claimants seeking documented reimbursement should gather records that connect each expense or loss to the incident. Examples can include receipts, statements, identification-replacement costs, correspondence, or other third-party documentation. A lost-time claim requires a short description of the tasks and hours claimed.
Filing through the official administrator is free. No settlement payment is guaranteed. The administrator must review claims, the court must decide whether to approve the settlement, and appeals could delay or prevent distribution.
The same October 27 date controls three decisions
October 27, 2026, is not only the claim deadline. It is also the deadline to opt out and the deadline to object.
Opting out means asking to be excluded from the settlement. A person who validly opts out will not receive settlement benefits but generally preserves the ability to pursue their own lawsuit over the released claims. Objecting means staying in the settlement while telling the court why the person opposes some or all of it. The official notice contains different procedures for each choice.
Doing nothing is also a choice with consequences. According to the notice, a class member who does nothing receives no benefit and, unless they opt out, remains bound by the settlement’s release if it becomes final.
One deadline, different legal effects Claiming benefits, opting out, and objecting are separate actions even though all are due October 27. People considering an objection or exclusion should follow the official notice and seek legal advice if needed.
What the lawsuit alleges
The lawsuit alleges that files containing private information were accessed during the December 2024 targeted cyberattack on FWMEP systems. The settlement notice does not represent a finding that FWMEP violated the law or caused anyone’s losses.
A class action allows named plaintiffs to pursue claims for a larger group with similar issues, subject to court oversight. Here, the parties agreed to settle before a decision on the merits. Settling avoids the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation, while class members receive a defined process to request benefits if the settlement becomes final.
FWMEP denies that it did anything wrong. The court’s role at the final approval stage is to decide whether the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate—not to conduct a trial on every allegation.
What happens next
The final approval hearing is scheduled for December 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time in Room 316 of the Superior Court for Allen County, Indiana. The date or time may change, so class members should check the official website for updates.
If the court grants final approval, benefits will not necessarily be issued immediately. The official notice says distribution occurs after approval and after any appeals are resolved. The public materials do not provide a guaranteed payment date.
Class Action Pulse evaluated whether an animated timeline or benefit-comparison graphic would improve this article. It was omitted because the group rules, alternative benefit choices, caps, and shared deadline are clearer and more accessible in text and lists. A visual could incorrectly suggest that options are cumulative or that payments are guaranteed.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. It does not determine whether anyone qualifies, which benefit is best, whether documentation is sufficient, or what legal rights a person should exercise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FWMEP claim deadline?
Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by October 27, 2026, according to the court-authorized settlement website.
Can every class member claim $5,500 plus $40?
No. The official materials describe separate benefit rules and caps. The $40 payment is an alternative to the other payments and services, while ordinary and extraordinary losses require documentation and different proof.
Who gets credit monitoring instead of medical monitoring?
The settlement administrator uses FWMEP’s records. Group 1 members, whose Social Security numbers may have been compromised, may claim credit monitoring. Group 2 members may claim medical monitoring.
Has the settlement received final approval?
No. The final approval hearing is scheduled for December 7, 2026. The court may approve, reject, or otherwise address the settlement.
Does filing a claim guarantee payment?
No. Claims must be valid and approved, and distribution depends on final approval and the resolution of any appeals.