By Ashley Robinson A proposed $3,027,874.44 class action settlement has been reached in Strong v. LifeStance Health Group Incorporated, a federal privacy case pending in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. The lawsuit alleges that LifeStance used tracking technologies on its public website to collect and disclose patients’ personally identifiable information to third parties without proper authorization.
LifeStance denies wrongdoing. The settlement does not mean that a court has found the company liable. Instead, the agreement would resolve the claims, provide cash payments to eligible class members, and require changes to certain tracking practices if the court grants final approval.
What the lawsuit alleges
The case concerns third-party tracking pixels, including technologies that can send information about a visitor’s activity to companies such as Meta or Google. The complaint alleges that LifeStance’s website could reveal information connected with patients, appointments, providers, treatment-related pages, and online booking activity.
Who may be included in the settlement
The settlement covers certain LifeStance patients who used the company’s public website between March 1, 2020, and April 30, 2023. The class is divided into two settlement subclasses because the agreement provides separate funds for different types of website users.
Settlement Subclass 1 generally includes patients who booked at least one session through the online booking tool on lifestance.com during the class period. Settlement Subclass 2 generally includes other LifeStance patients during the same period who did not use that online booking tool.
The official settlement notice controls eligibility. A person who received a mailed or emailed notice should check the subclass identified in that notice. People who are unsure about eligibility should use the official settlement website or contact the settlement administrator rather than rely on social-media posts.
How the $3.02 million fund is divided
The total settlement fund is divided between the two subclasses. The Settlement Subclass 1 Fund is listed as $1,203,405. The Settlement Subclass 2 Fund is listed as $1,824,469.44.
Approved claimants will receive a pro rata cash payment from the fund connected with their subclass. The final amount will depend on the number of valid claims and deductions approved by the court, including attorneys’ fees, administration expenses, and service awards. The settlement does not promise a fixed payment to every claimant.
Claim deadline and payment options
The deadline to submit a claim is September 29, 2026. Online claims must be submitted by that date, while mailed claim forms must be postmarked no later than September 29.
The settlement website says that submitting a claim form is the only way to become eligible for a pro rata cash payment. Doing nothing means a class member will not receive settlement benefits and may give up the right to bring a separate lawsuit over the claims covered by the agreement.
Exclusion and objection deadlines
Class members who want to preserve the right to sue LifeStance separately over the same claims must request exclusion from the settlement by August 31, 2026. A person who excludes themselves will not receive a settlement payment.
Final approval hearing
The court has scheduled the final approval hearing for October 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time. The hearing will address whether the settlement should receive final approval and whether requested attorneys’ fees, expenses, and service awards are reasonable.
Privacy changes under the agreement
The settlement also includes non-monetary relief. LifeStance has agreed to discontinue the use of certain third-party tracking pixels that are not compliant with applicable health-privacy requirements, subject to the terms of the agreement. These changes are intended to address the website practices challenged in the lawsuit.
What patients should remember
Strong v. LifeStance is a proposed settlement, not a final judgment yet. Eligible patients must submit a valid claim by September 29, 2026, if they want to seek a cash payment. They should use only the official settlement website, keep their notice information private, and avoid anyone demanding a fee to file a claim.
The court’s final decision will determine whether the settlement becomes effective. Claimants should verify all instructions on the official settlement website before acting. This article is for general information and is not legal advice.