Strauss Borrelli PLLC, a leading data breach law firm, is investigating Valleygate Dental Surgery Centers of Charlotte, Fayetteville, and the West, LLC (“Valleygate”), regarding its recent data breach. The Valleygate data breach may have involved sensitive personal identifiable information and protected health information belonging to over 14,500 individuals.
ABOUT VALLEYGATE DENTAL SURGERY CENTERS OF CHARLOTTE, FAYETTEVILLE, AND THE WEST, LLC:
Valleygate is a group of dental only ambulatory surgery centers located in North Carolina. Founded in 2017, Valleygate’s oral and maxillofacial surgeons manage a wide variety of problems relating to the mouth, teeth, and facial regions.3 Today, these services include digital imaging, tooth extractions, pulpotomies, stainless steal crowns, sealants, and anesthesia.3 Headquartered in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Valleygate has two additional locations in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina, and employs over 50 individuals.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Recently, Valleygate announced that it had experienced a data breach in which the sensitive personal identifiable information and protected health information in its systems may have been accessed. According to the breach notice, on November 17, 2023, Valleygate detected anomalous activity on its network.1 As a result, Valleygate launched an investigation to determine the nature of the incident.
Through its investigation, on September 17, 2024, Valleygate confirmed that sensitive personal information in its systems may have been compromised by an unauthorized third-party on or around November 16, 2023. As a result, Valleygate began a review of the data to determine what information had been impacted as well as identify the specific individuals affected. While the information impacted varies depending on the individual, the type of information potentially exposed includes:
- Name
- Social Security number
- Address
- Date of birth
- Birth certificate
- Mothers maiden name
- Contact information (e.g., telephone number, fax number, email address)
- Chart number
- Government issued identification number
- Financial account information
- Digital or electronic signature
- Medical information (e.g., patient identification number, provider name, medical treatment or procedure information, mental or physical condition)
- Health insurance policy number
- Medicaid or Medicare number
On December 29, 2023, Valleygate posted an initial notice of the incident on its website. Additionally, on October 17, 2024, Valleygate began mailing data breach notification letters to impacted individuals. Based on the website breach notice, Valleygate is providing affected individuals with a list of the specific types of sensitive information impacted. A link to the form breach notification that Valleygate posted to its website is below.
If you are a current or former patient of, or have received a breach notification letter from, Valleygate Dental Surgery Centers of Charlotte, Fayetteville, and the West, LLC:
We would like to speak with you about your rights and potential legal remedies in response to this data breach. Please fill out the form, below, or contact us at 872.263.1100 or sam@straussborrelli.com.
