VT · AG Filing: Aug 24, 2026 · Recently disclosed — legal window is open
No cost. No obligation. If your data was exposed by University Surgical Associates, PLLC, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Start Free Review →You may have been affected by the University Surgical Associates, PLLC data breach if:
The following entry is drawn from a VT state breach notification filing. University Surgical Associates, PLLC was responsible for safeguarding the personal data of its customers and employees. University Surgical Associates, PLLC experienced a data security incident affecting an undisclosed number of individuals, exposing protected health information and medical records. The precise date the breach occurred was not disclosed in the filing; the date below reflects when University Surgical Associates, PLLC notified the VT Attorney General. The filing summarized the incident as follows: "University Surgical Associates, PLLC operates as a specialized medical practice providing advanced surgical care, consultations, and post-operative treatment services to patients throughout the region. Because of the critical nature of their medical operations, this healthcare provider collects and maintains vast repositories of highly sensitive patient records. This includes comprehensive electronic health records, detailed surgical histories, insurance billing documents, and personal identification data necessary for coordinating specialized medical procedures and managing patient accounts. In 2026, University Surgical Associates, PLLC reported a significant data security incident to the Vermont Attorney General, alerting patients and regulatory authorities that unauthorized actors had compromised their network environment. Incidents targeting specialized medical practices typically involve sophisticated cyberattacks such as ransomware deployments, unauthorized entry into database systems housing electronic protected health information, or vulnerabilities exploited within third-party medical billing and administrative vendor platforms. Regardless of the exact vector, these security failures allow cybercriminals to infiltrate internal networks and exfiltrate confidential files before detection. Data breach notifications stemming from a specialized surgical practice routinely involve the exposure of deeply personal and immutable information, including full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, medical record numbers, health insurance details, and clinical diagnosis or treatment summaries. The compromise of this specific combination of medical and financial data creates profound, long-term risks for affected individuals. Unlike a stolen credit card, medical data cannot be easily replaced. Victims face severe threats of medical identity theft, where unauthorized parties obtain healthcare services under a victim's name, potentially corrupting medical charts, as well as targeted phishing schemes, fraudulent insurance claims, and financial devastation. As a covered entity handling protected health information, University Surgical Associates, PLLC was legally bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), alongside state consumer protection statutes, to implement rigorous administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. These legal obligations require maintaining robust data encryption, continuous network monitoring, strict access controls, and regular security audits. The occurrence of this data breach strongly indicates a failure to maintain these federally mandated standards, leaving confidential patient files vulnerable to unauthorized access and exploitation. Receiving an official data breach notification letter from University Surgical Associates, PLLC serves as formal legal acknowledgment that your private information was compromised due to inadequate security measures. Under established legal principles, this notification establishes the necessary standing to participate in a class action lawsuit aimed at holding the organization accountable for failing to protect your data. Victims do not need to prove that they have already suffered direct financial loss to seek legal recourse, as the increased risk of future identity theft and the loss of privacy constitute actionable harm. Our firm handles these complex data privacy cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket and owe no legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf." Requesting your medical records and insurance explanations of benefits lets you spot any care billed in your name. Because this breach was recently disclosed, affected individuals may wish to review their options promptly.
Student data is protected by both the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the applicable Vermont Security Breach Notice Act. A breach at an educational institution carries specific compliance obligations, and affected individuals — including parents of minor students — may have grounds for legal action if FERPA and state law protections were not honored.
University Surgical Associates, PLLC operates as a specialized medical practice providing advanced surgical care, consultations, and post-operative treatment services to patients throughout the region. Because of the critical nature of their medical operations, this healthcare provider collects and maintains vast repositories of highly sensitive patient records. This includes comprehensive electronic health records, detailed surgical histories, insurance billing documents, and personal identification data necessary for coordinating specialized medical procedures and managing patient accounts. In 2026, University Surgical Associates, PLLC reported a significant data security incident to the Vermont Attorney General, alerting patients and regulatory authorities that unauthorized actors had compromised their network environment. Incidents targeting specialized medical practices typically involve sophisticated cyberattacks such as ransomware deployments, unauthorized entry into database systems housing electronic protected health information, or vulnerabilities exploited within third-party medical billing and administrative vendor platforms. Regardless of the exact vector, these security failures allow cybercriminals to infiltrate internal networks and exfiltrate confidential files before detection. Data breach notifications stemming from a specialized surgical practice routinely involve the exposure of deeply personal and immutable information, including full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, medical record numbers, health insurance details, and clinical diagnosis or treatment summaries. The compromise of this specific combination of medical and financial data creates profound, long-term risks for affected individuals. Unlike a stolen credit card, medical data cannot be easily replaced. Victims face severe threats of medical identity theft, where unauthorized parties obtain healthcare services under a victim's name, potentially corrupting medical charts, as well as targeted phishing schemes, fraudulent insurance claims, and financial devastation. As a covered entity handling protected health information, University Surgical Associates, PLLC was legally bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), alongside state consumer protection statutes, to implement rigorous administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. These legal obligations require maintaining robust data encryption, continuous network monitoring, strict access controls, and regular security audits. The occurrence of this data breach strongly indicates a failure to maintain these federally mandated standards, leaving confidential patient files vulnerable to unauthorized access and exploitation. Receiving an official data breach notification letter from University Surgical Associates, PLLC serves as formal legal acknowledgment that your private information was compromised due to inadequate security measures. Under established legal principles, this notification establishes the necessary standing to participate in a class action lawsuit aimed at holding the organization accountable for failing to protect your data. Victims do not need to prove that they have already suffered direct financial loss to seek legal recourse, as the increased risk of future identity theft and the loss of privacy constitute actionable harm. Our firm handles these complex data privacy cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket and owe no legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
Based on the data types reported in this filing:
Your SSN is the master key to your identity. Once exposed, criminals can open new lines of credit, take out loans, or file taxes in your name.
Combined with a name and other leaked data, date of birth helps criminals pass identity verification questions at banks and government agencies.
Common categories of compensation in data breach class actions
The hours spent responding to a data breach — canceling accounts, contacting credit bureaus, updating passwords, and investigating fraud — represent compensable economic harm in data breach litigation.
Once your SSN is exposed, protection becomes an ongoing expense. Plaintiffs in data breach settlements have recovered costs for credit freezes, identity protection subscriptions, and time spent dealing with fraudulent accounts — sometimes covering multiple years of exposure.
HIPAA violations carry civil penalties between $100 and $50,000 per violation. Where a healthcare organization's negligence led to the exposure of protected health information, class members may recover statutory damages in addition to actual losses.
Several state data breach laws provide for statutory minimum damages — fixed amounts recoverable per affected individual regardless of actual loss. These provisions exist specifically to make legal action viable for victims who have not yet experienced direct harm.
Applicable State Law
This breach was reported under the Vermont Security Breach Notice Act, which mandates notification and establishes your right to seek damages.
No. Under Vermont Security Breach Notice Act and federal law, the unauthorized exposure of your personal data — regardless of whether it has been actively misused — can be sufficient grounds for a claim. The breach itself is the injury.
Nothing. The Law Office of David S. Harris handles data breach cases on contingency — you pay zero upfront and owe nothing unless compensation is recovered.
Immediately place a free credit freeze at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). A freeze blocks new accounts from being opened in your name. Then file a complaint with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and contact our office — SSN exposure is one of the most serious breach types.
If University Surgical Associates, PLLC is a covered healthcare entity or business associate under HIPAA, affected patients have additional rights — including the right to an HHS complaint. These HIPAA violations also strengthen civil damages claims. Consult an attorney to understand your full remedies.
State statutes of limitations for data breach claims typically run 2–4 years from the date of the breach or its discovery. Because this breach was recently disclosed, the window is open — but acting early preserves your options and strengthens the case.
Accepting free credit monitoring from University Surgical Associates, PLLC does not waive your right to pursue legal action unless you signed a specific release waiving claims. In most cases, victims who accepted monitoring can still file.
Not necessarily. Many data breach victims are never notified directly. If your personal information was held by University Surgical Associates, PLLC during the relevant period, you may still qualify even without receiving a letter. A free eligibility review can confirm your status.
Received a notification letter from University Surgical Associates, PLLC?
Read our dedicated guide — what the letter means and what to do.
Learn how to participate in the class action and what compensation you may be entitled to.
Join the Class Action →Use our verification tool to confirm your letter matches this official AG filing.
Verify My Notice LetterThis case file references a public filing made with the state filing in VT. This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any state government agency.
This registry entry documents a notice associated with University Surgical Associates, PLLC that was filed in VT on August 24, 2026. The filing describes Full Name, Date of Birth, Social Security Number.
Public filing source
View filing source →University Surgical Associates, PLLC breach?
Free case review · No fee unless you win