Duke University Health System Pays $3,743,600 to Resolve Website Tracking Tools Lawsuit
A lawsuit filed against Duke University Health System concerning the use of tracking tools on its website has been settled, with Duke University Health System agreeing to establish a $3,743,600 settlement fund.
The lawsuit concerned tracking tools, including pixels, that had been added to the Duke University Health System website. According to the lawsuit, these tools collect information about website users and can be used to improve web services. The lawsuit also stated that the tools can transmit collected information to third parties and that HIPAA-covered information transmitted from healthcare websites may include health information depending on a user’s interactions with the website.
Plaintiffs Afrika Williams and Kim Naugle initially filed the litigation against Duke University Health System, WakeMed, Meta Platforms, and a defendant class of Facebook partner healthcare providers.
A separate class action lawsuit was filed against Meta Platforms in California titled In re Meta Pixel Healthcare Litigation. The lawsuits against WakeMed were consolidated into an existing state court case involving that organization.
Plaintiff Afrika Williams voluntarily dismissed the original lawsuit and filed another case against Duke University Health System. The case, titled Afrika Williams v. Duke University Health System, Inc., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Allegations in the Lawsuit
The lawsuit alleged that Duke University Health System placed tracking tools on its website without the knowledge or consent of users. The complaint further alleged that personally identifiable information (PII) was transmitted to third parties, including Meta.
Duke University Health System challenged the claims through a motion to dismiss. The lawsuit survived that motion. During the course of the litigation, the claims against a defendant class of medical providers were dropped. Several claims against Duke University Health System were also dropped.
The case continued against Duke University Health System on claims of breach of contract and negligence.
Settlement Terms
Duke University Health System denies wrongdoing, fault, and liability. Following mediation, the parties agreed to settle the lawsuit. Under the settlement, Duke University Health System will establish a settlement fund totaling $3,743,600.
The settlement fund will cover attorneys’ fees of $1,235,388 and litigation expenses of up to $30,000. The fund will also pay notification and settlement management costs, a $7,500 service award for the class representative, and the remaining funds will be paid as pro rata as cash to class members who submit valid claims.
Settlement Deadlines
Class members who wish to object to the settlement or request exclusion from the settlement class must do so by July 20, 2026. The deadline for submitting a claim is August 16, 2026. A final fairness hearing is scheduled for August 27, 2026.
The settlement resolves claims that Duke University Health System’s website tracking tools resulted in the transmission of PII to third parties. Duke University Health System continues to deny wrongdoing, fault, and liability as part of the settlement.