CIRCLES OF CARE LAWSUIT
Class-Action data breach lawsuit filed again Circles of Care. What we know:
May 25, 2024
MELBOURNE, FL
--------------------------------------------Patients of the mental health facility that primarily operates in Brevard County received "Notice of Class-Action Lawsuits" via the mail this week.
The lawsuit filed in the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Brevard County, alleges that a data breach happened on Circles of Care's network computers and servers and a result, patient's sensitive information, such as, social security numbers were stolen.
"We are proud to provide the most comprehensive, highest quality behavioral healthcare services throughout the Brevard community" ~ Circles of Care
The mailer instructs claimants to go to www.CirclesOfCareDataSettlement.com to fill out the form and provide proper documentation.
Class-Action participants, according to the mailer, can receive up to $3,500 per-person if their SSN was breached. Other litigants can get a Measley sum of just $45.
Meanwhile, high-profile hotshot attorneys from Moran-and-Morgan gets a whopping 200,000$ in attorney's fees and services plus another $2,000 in bonuses.
The incident follows OSHA investigations into two other serious incidents in 2020 at the company’s facility on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Melbourne:
OTHER PENDING INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST CIRCLES
Earlier this year, the federal government's Department of Labor opened up an investigation into Circles of Care in regard to several incidents that happened inside several facilities.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration began an investigation late last year after a worker was attacked with a hole puncher located at the nurse's station. The worker, according to the report, was struck in the head, face, hands and arms. The worker's hospitalization was reported 2 days later. A second employee was also injured while restraining the patient.
OSHA fined the Melbourne-based behavioral health service company $101,000 in proposed penalties for repeat violations of protocol and for not providing a workplace free of recognized safety and health hazards. OSHA charges Circles of Care for not providing adequate tools to combat workplace violence.
In December of 2020, OSHA Investigated a fatal shooting of an employee in the parking lot of Circles of Care. The report says a former disgruntled patient of Circles was pacing back and forth in the parking lot of the business. An employee was walking toward the car in the parking lot to leave work, the patient pulled at a gun and shot the worker in the chest and head.
STATEMENT BY OSHA:
“Circles of Care’s reluctance to protect its employees from the recognized danger of patient assault is shocking. These attacks often occur suddenly and swiftly, causing serious and, as we’ve seen, fatal harm to workers and leaving their co-workers traumatized. Workplace violence remains a real threat that healthcare employers and employees cannot underestimate. Industry employers like Circles of Care must prepare and train employees properly and practice emergency response actions to combat these incidents and ensure their employees are able to end their shifts safely.” ~ OSHA Area Office Director Erin Sanchez in Orlando, Florida.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate the rate of nonfatal assaults on hospital workers at 8.3 per 10,000 workers, significantly higher than the rate of 2.0 per 10,000 workers in all private sector industries.
Based in Melbourne, Circles of Care Inc. operates 10 facilities, including four outpatient locations, providing behavioral health, substance abuse disorder and other healthcare services. The company has a workforce of about 480 employees statewide. Police officers from all jurisdictions bring "BAKER ACT" patients to Circles of Care on a frequent basis.
ALLIGATIONS AGAINST CIRCLES OF CARE:
An anonymous e-mailer, who has been reaching out to THE BLAKE MOIA SHOW the past few months sent out this bizarre series of e-mails. In this disturbing correspondence the ex- patient of Circles of Care claims he was BAKER ACTED, "chained down" and was "prescribed" " mandatory forced handjobs" to help the patient "calm down", the e-mail said.
"Freezing cold 62-degree water was hosed down on me", He said and insisted that this "abuse" cannot be allowed to go on.
THE BLAKE MOIA SHOW reached out to the Federal Department of Labor for comment regarding these shocking allegations, but due it being the long Memorial Day Holiday weekend, nobody was at the office. A spokesperson with the healthcare and mental health profession declined to comment on patient matters as it would violate HIPPA laws.
Shortly thereafter, the crazy e-mailer's sister e-mailed the show contradicting her brother's claims. She said his brother "had the best care he's ever received". She also reached out to us regarding other concerns.
THE BLAKE MOIA SHOW has received similar complaints about the corrupt mental health care service which operates and headquartered in Melbourne. The grievances include "humiliation rituals", "penis shaming", "neglect" and other abuses by staff.
Strip search is required upon entry of the facility. Any drawstrings, show laces, belts or anything that can be deemed as a danger is taken away. The rooms always kept cold at 60 degrees. Clothing is usually lacking and leaving patients either in their boxers or completely nude with a blanket covering the patients, to prevent hanging and suicide attempts. Staff have been reportedly watching sports games on the TV rather than watching over the patients, and other neglect issues, The BLAKE MOIA SHOW has learned.
The BAKER ACT is State Law that allows any law enforcement officer to physically bring a suicidal person, or any other person that presents a danger to themselves into a secured facility for treatment against their own will.
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